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Bike to Work Day: Celebrating pedal power
Bike? Check. Helmet? Check. Rain gear? Check. All are essential to John Brewer, 24, in his nearly daily trek from Arlington to his office in Sterling via pedal power. But they pale to the one must-have his employer, Orbital Sciences Inc., offers its two-wheeled commuters: a shower.
"That's the only way this is possible," he said, expressing no desire to expose co-workers to the fragrance of a 20-mile bike ride in the middle of summer. "I also keep a change of clothes in the office."
Most days, biking to work and back home is a lonely endeavor along the Washington and Old Dominion Trail for Brewer. But that'll change on May 16 as Loudoun takes part in the region's annual Bike to Work Day.
Thousands of residents across the region are expected to forgo their cars Friday and instead hit the bike trails and side roads during morning and afternoon rush hours.
For the event, Loudoun will host two pit stops for riders, featuring free food, giveaways and raffles. The stops will be along the W&OD Trail at Raflo Park in Leesburg, 6-9 a.m., and at the Orbital Sciences campus in Sterling, 6:30-9 a.m.
As of Monday, local organizer Judy Galen, with Loudoun's Office of Transportation Services, said 228 people had signed up to participate in events planned for Loudoun's stops, up slightly from last year.
"What we need now is for the rain to hold off," she said. "But it will take place rain or shine."
Brewer, who said several dozen other workers at Orbital are expected to participate Friday, said it takes him more than an hour to bike to Sterling from his home near the East Falls Church Metro station.
But why the physical anguish so early in the morning?
Exercise, for one, Brewer explained.
And another reason?
"I save $10 a day in gas and tolls," he said. "With the gas prices the way they are, I feel guilty driving now."
Visit www.waba.org to learn more.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
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