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Explore your two-wheel options.

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EXPLORE DC BY BIKE

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Bicycle-friendly Roads

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Bike Lanes

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LEARN THE BASICS

  • Lessons

    Offered for all skill levels, join a certified Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA) instructor teaching biking for transportation, fun and fitness.

  • Laws

    Download the Pocket Guide to DC Bike Laws to review the rights and responsibilities of cyclists on DC streets.

  • Advocacy

    From commuter amenities to protected bike lanes, learn more about how to help improve bicycling in the Washington, DC area.

Experience DC on Two Wheels

Download the 2018 DC Bike Map

Explore all the bike-friendliness Washington, DC has to offer. The new map is colorful and easy-to-read, making it a perfect guide for experienced and new riders to venture out and experience DC by bike.

GET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD

RESOURCES & INFORMATION

Biking Benefits:

  • Fast Commute to Work
    Biking to work saves time and is often the fastest way to get around in the District, especially during rush hour.
  • Meeting People in the Community
    Biking helps you get familiar with a neighborhood and increases the likelihood of meeting your neighbors.
  • Improved Health
    Biking improves your health and lowers your risk of serious illness like cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes.
  • It’s Good for the Environment
    Twenty bikes take up the same space as one car, and biking produces zero pollution.
  • Improved Performance at Work
    Biking, as a form of aerobic exercise, improves time and workload management, helping you feel motivated and more prepared to deal with stress.
  • Better Sleep
    Biking for just 20-30 minutes every other day can help you fall asleep faster, sleep better and longer.

Safety Best Practices:

  • Wear a helmet.
    Helmets dramatically reduce the risk of head injury in a bicycle accident.
  • Ride on sidewalks only when necessary and always yield to pedestrians.
    Riding on the sidewalk is illegal in downtown Washington, DC.
  • Follow all traffic laws.
    Bicyclists are required to obey all regulatory signs and traffic lights.
  • Use hand signals.
    Tell motorists, cyclists and pedestrians what you intend to do. Be predictable!
  • Beware of parked cars.
    Ride at least five feet away from parked vehicles, and watch for people exiting—doors can open at any time.
  • Be careful at intersections.
    Watch for crossing vehicle traffic at intersections, even if you have the right-of-way.
  • Never ride against traffic.
    Ride with traffic to avoid potential crashes .
  • Ride in single file, except when passing.
  • Be alert.
    Scan the road. Always know your surroundings.
  • Be Vocal.
    Give an audible signal when passing other people on bicycles, and pass only on the left

Tips for Getting Started:

  • Start Slow.
    Go on a few short rides around your neighborhood before you venture out further. Take it easy to start off with, and have fun!
  • Find good routes.
    Remember: The best route by car might not be the best by bike. Some of the best bicycle routes are hidden from the busy car-filled streets. Use our transit map to plan the quickest safe route.
  • Get the right equipment.
    Make sure your bike fits your body and is working well. DC has many great local bike shops that can help you get what you need.
  • Make a goal.
    Take at least one trip a week by bike instead of driving. Add more trips as you feel ready. Practice discipline and self-forgiveness, and remember—the more you ride, the more fun it will be, and…the more you’ll ride.

For more than a decade, the District has been building a citywide network of on-street bike lanes, signed routes and other bicycle facilities. These efforts are successful in not only attracting a rapidly-growing number of cyclists, but also making streets safer for all users—drivers, pedestrians, transit riders and cyclists.

moveDC is a collaborative effort led by DDOT to develop a bold and implementation-focused vision for DC’s transportation future. Continued expansion of the bike network, bike parking and the bikeshare program are moveDC priorities that will help ensure a safe and convenient bicycling environment in the District for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

Learn more about moveDC’s bike element.

The 2005 Bicycle Master Plan establishes fourteen core recommendations in three goal areas to improve bicycle transportation in the District:

GOAL 1: MORE AND BETTER BIKE FACILITIES

  1. Improve and expand the bike route system and provide functional and distinctive signs for the system.
  2. Provide bike facilities on roadways.
  3. Complete ongoing trail development and improvement projects.
  4. Improve bridge access for bicyclists.
  5. Provide bicycle parking in public space.
  6. Encourage bicycle parking in private space.

GOAL 2: MORE BIKE-FRIENDLY POLICIES

  1. Update District of Columbia laws, regulations and policy documents to address bicycle accommodation.
  2. Provide training to District staff.
  3. Review District of Columbia projects to ensure they provide bicycle accommodation.

GOAL 3: MORE BICYCLE-RELATE EDUCATION, PROMOTION AND ENFORCEMENT

  1. Educate motorists about safe operating behavior around bicyclists.
  2. Educate bicyclists about safe bicycling.
  3. Enforce traffic laws related to bicycling.
  4. Establish a Youth Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education Program.
  5. Distribute the District of Columbia Bicycle Map to a wide audience.

Learn more about DDOT’s Long-range Bike Master Plan
Learn about progress made on DDOT’s Long-range Bike Master Plan

  • Anacostia Tributaries Trail System

    A link in the national shore-to-shore American Discovery Trail, this trail provides miles of uninterrupted trails along the tributaries of the Anacostia River.

  • Baltimore and Annapolis Trail

    An established recreational greenway following the route of the old Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad from Glen Burnie to Annapolis.

  • BWI Trail

    A 12.5-mile scenic trail that encircles BWI Airport property and connects hikers, bicyclists, walkers and joggers to community resources, public transportation and area attractions.

  • Capital Crescent Trail

    Rails-To-Trails converted the old Georgetown Branch of the C&O Railroad from a railroad bed to this paved trail with gentle gradients.

  • Custis Trail (I-66 Trail)

    This noise-protected trails runs along I-66 in Arlington County and is accessible 24-hours a day and lit at night.

  • Four Mile Run Trail

    An East/West running trail that follows Four Mile Run, linking the W&OD Trail and the Mt. Vernon Trail.

  • Henson Creek Trail

    A scenic, recreational route through Henson Creek Stream Valley Park in southern Prince George’s County.

  • Metropolitan Branch Trail

    An eight-mile linear park and trail running parallel to Metro’s Red Line from Union Station in DC to Silver Spring, Maryland, connecting to the Capital Crescent Trail.

  • Mount Vernon Trail

    An 18.5 mile path along the Potomac River, parallel to the George Washington Parkway, connecting to the Custis and Washington & Old Dominion trails.

  • Rock Creek Trail

    This popular 18-mile asphalt trail runs from Lake Needwood in Montgomery County into DC.

It’s no secret that Washington, DC is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. In addition to the abundance of bike lanes, trails, and infrastructure, there are also multiple biking options accessible in the District.

goDCgo has put together a guide to help you navigate which biking system is best for you.

I take two wheels because:

See what others are saying #goDCgo

MAPS & TOOLS

Finding a good route is important when you are trying to get around metro DC by bike. Fortunately, there are maps, apps, websites and tools to help you find your way.

State & District Maps

  • District of Columbia Bike Map PDF 10.82mb
  • Maryland Bike Map PDF 3.61mb
  • State of Virginia Bike Map PDF 8.57mb

City & County Maps

  • Arlington County, VA Bike Map PDF 3.8mb
  • City of Alexandria, VA Bike Map PDF 20.42mb
  • Fairfax County, VA Bike Map
  • Montgomery County, MD Bike Map PDF 2.66mb
  • Prince George’s County, MD Bike Map PDF 4.02mb
  • City of Takoma Park, MD Bike Map PDF 2.4mb
To order a printed version, visit CommuterPage.com. For bulk copies, visit our brochure requests center.
Preview

  • goDCgo Transit Map

    A robust, interactive transit map that shows metropolitan DC’s complete bike network. From bike-friendly roads to dirt paths and trails, this handy tool will help you get going on two wheels.

  • Ride The City

    Web tool helping you find safer bike routes.

  • Ride.Report

    Ride Report tracks your miles, maps your routes and awards ride streaks for your daily errands and commutes.

  • WashCycle.com

    Map specializing in bike shops, trail access, incidents and DC routes.

  • Bikely

    Search bike routes submitted by other cyclists

  • Spotcycle

    Available on:   iOS Android

    App locating nearby Capital Bikeshare stations for bike and dock availabilities.

  • Strava

    Available on:   iOS Android

    Social network connecting runners and cyclists through the sports they love.

  • RackSpotter

    Web tool identifying bike parking locations throughout the Washington, DC region.

  • Bike Counter

    Continuous automatic counter to detect and record bicycle volumes in the DC area.

Plan your next two-wheel adventure with our Transit Map.

PLAN A TRIP

A membership with Capital Bikeshare offers 24/7 access to thousands of bike at hundreds of stations in Washington, DC; Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax, VA and Montgomery County, MD.

Visit Capitalbikeshare.com | Download the Capital Bikeshare App iOS Android

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BIKE FORUM

Make Your Voice Heard

The Washington Area Bike Forum is the perfect place to share stories, ask questions or offer up tried-and-true cycling tips and tricks. From beginner tips to maintenance and equipment, there’s a topic of interest for everyone!

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