Hello Volunteer Ambassadors!
Well, the first big rush of the fall bike season is over, and we get a bit of a breather. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to do! Check out the events below or plan your own event! This can be anything from riding a trail and handing out info to attending a class at your local bike shop. But wherever you go, remember to introduce yourself as a DC Bike Ambassador!
Remember that there is a new way to sign up for events. Instead of emailing indivdual RSVPs, you can simply check this link each week and submit all your RSVPs at once. Pretty neat, right?
Thanks everybody! See you out on the road.
Oh, and don't forget about the Bike Ambassador Happy Hour tonight! See below for details...
Daniel Hoagland
DC Bike Ambassador
Upcoming Events & Ambassador Opportunities
DC Bike Ambassador Happy Hour - More info & sign-up here.
Friday, September 30th, 5:30pm
American Ice Co., 917 V St. NW
Solar Decathlon Bike Valet, Weekend 2 - More info & sign-up here.
Friday-Sunday, September 30th-October 2nd
West Potomac Park, West Basin Dr. SW
Crafty Bastards Bike Valet - More info & sign-up here.
Saturday, October 1st
Marie Reed Rec Center Athletic Field, California St. NW
Cycle Track Tuesday - More info & sign-up here.
Every Tuesday (through 11/22), 8am-10am (Riding) & 4pm-6pm (Outreach)
15th St. Cycle Track
International Walk to School Day - More info & sign-up here.
Wednesday, October 5th, 7:30am
Lincoln Park, East Capitol St.
Saturday Bike Rides on the Met Branch Trail
Every Saturday (through 11/9), 9am-10am
Brookland Kiosk, 12th St. & Newton St. NE
Cycle Track Tuesday - More info & sign-up here.
Every Tuesday (through 11/22), 8am-10am (Riding) & 4pm-6pm (Outreach)
15th St. Cycle Track
Bike Ambassador News
DC Bike Ambassador Google Group & Calendar
I want Ambassadors to never feel like they are left out of the loop, so in addition to emails like this one (which will be more frequent as the season picks up once again), I've enabled a google calendar and a google group.
Google accounts are free to set up, and if you already have one, then integrating these DCBA tools will be easy. If you don't already have a Google account, please create one. Being a Bike Ambassador is better when you're not out there on your own. Join the community, get to know us, and you'll have a lot more fun!
Apparently, the DCBA google calendar can't display in these emails, if you signed up to be a Bike Ambassador with your google account (gmail), you should already have received an invitation to view it. If you have just created a google account, shoot me an email and I will invite you.
And here is the new DCBA google group. I will be posting a number of things each week, including info about DCBA events, team-building rides, and the first DCBA happy hour!
DCBA Happy Hour
When: Friday, September 30th, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Where: American Ice Company, 917 V St. NW
Clear your schedule! Starting in September, we'll be heading out to the official DCBA Happy Hour on the last Friday of every month. The first one is at the American Ice Company just north of U St. NW. No RSVPs necessary, just show up. I'll be the one in the shirt that says "DC BIKE AMBASSADOR".
Upcoming Confident City Cycling Classes
For anyone who has yet to take the CCC1 class that we discussed at the Ambassador orientation, here is the latest schedule of classes (TS101 will also fill that requirement). For anyone else looking to take the next step in bike education, take a gander:
Other Opportunities
The Next DC Bike Ambassador Orientation Meeting
FOR NEW AMBASSADORS ONLY
Is on Thursday, October 13th, from 7pm-8pm. It will be held at the WABA office (2599 Ontario Rd. NW) Tell your friends and coworkers to go here if they're interested in becoming a Bike Ambassador.
Put the Bike Ambassadors to Work
Please keep your eyes and ears peeled for any community or office events that could use a Bike Ambassador or three. We're always looking for new places to go, questions to answer and people to introduce to biking. If you know of something going on--a farmers market, an expo, a movie screening, etc.--and you think Bike Ambassadors would be a welcome addition, send an email to dcba@waba.org and let us know!
Be an Ambassador Every Day
If you're looking for ways to help out, but find that scheduling conflicts keep you away from our BA events, here are some suggestions:
- Recruit your friends/family/coworkers to get on a bike, take a class and/or become WABA members. Depending on how bike-friendly they are, this could be a great opportunity to sharpen your persuasion/debate skills!
- Join the WABA Forum and start posting--answer questions, join rides, meet your fellow cyclists!
- Get your office/workplace prepped for Bike to Work Day. Talk to your employer about setting up a bike breakfast, organize some bike buddies to help new commuters ride home with an experienced bike rider, or bring WABA in to give a brown bag Bike Commuting Seminar at your office.
- Be a bicycling role model. Everyone else on the road is quick to jump on the anti-bike bandwagon, so don't give them a chance. Stand up to the scofflaw stereotype! Fight back by riding responsibly: you'll show drivers that bikes can be respectful and you'll show other bicyclists the right way to ride.
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