By goDCgo . on
12/14/2010
Ikea is our new hero! Last week, the Swedish company revealed 12, 400 bicycles as a holiday gift to each and every employee at all of their 37 U.S. locations. Citing health and environmental reasons as the impetus for selecting a bike as the 2010 employee gift, Ikea US President Mike Ward stated, “We hope this bike will be taken in the spirit of the season while supporting a healthy lifestyle and everyday sustainable transport."
We understand that not all companies can afford to be so generous. However, employers can work with goDCgo’s Employer Services to learn more about healthier, sustainable transportation alternatives to driving, which can be included in a customized transit benefits package to offer employees. If you’re looking to freshen up your transit benefits, check out “BikeBrand Your Biz,” a program designed to make businesses more bike-friendly. goDCgo...
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By goDCgo . on
12/8/2010
It’s hard to believe it’s already December! While the D.C. area doesn’t generally get the kind of snow we saw last year, we certainly see our fair share of occasional flurries, as well as miserably cold temperatures and wet weather which can make for slick and treacherous conditions when biking on roads and trails. And as the days get shorter, most cyclists will probably be riding home from work in the dark. So, if you plan to continue commuting by bike through the winter months, start preparing now in order to stay warm and safe as weather conditions shift.
For tips on cold-weather commuting, we turned to the experts on doing just about anything in frigid, inclement weather: Canadians. The city of Toronto put out an impressive compilation of winter biking tips. Here are just a few important suggestions:
Before You Ride:
Leave extra time to cycle more slowly in wet and snowy conditions.
In case of snow, adjust your fenders, if necessary, so that there...
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By goDCgo . on
11/15/2010
In September, the League of American Bicyclists released their findings on the bike commuter rates for the 70 largest cities in the United States. Washington, DC, which is considered to be a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community, saw a 7% drop in commuters who biked to work from 2008 to 2009, bringing the total percentage to 2.17%, down from 2.33%. The news is not all bad, however, as the District still experienced an 86% increase in bicycle commuting from 2000 to 2009. And there’s more good news – there’s still time to get the city moving back in the right direction! Here at goDCgo, we offer Capital Bikeshare corporate sales, which include extras such as a free Confident City Cycling Class conducted on-site at your office. This class is geared toward making employees feel more comfortable with commuting to work by bicycle if they did not consider it a viable option before. Supporting...
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By goDCgo . on
11/10/2010
 In 2009, a local pedestrian or cyclist died every five days, amounting to a total of 78 fatalities across the Washington, D.C., region and representing a staggering 27% of all traffic-related deaths in the area. This number is down by 8% from the previous year, but one fatality every five days is still a horrifying statistic. We have a long way to go.
Yesterday marked the kick-off of the Fall 2010 Street Smart Campaign. Initiated by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, the Street Smart program has one clear objective: to eliminate the needless injuries and deaths of pedestrians and cyclists. With bold, sometimes shocking, advertising campaigns,...
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By goDCgo . on
11/9/2010
 Capital Bikeshare and the other great sustainable transportation modes in our region work together to provide a diverse set of options to residents, employees and visitors. To plan your trip, Capital Bikeshare locations are now located on goDCgo’s interactive map that already offers information on tons of other options like Metro, Circulator and Zipcar. Check it out!
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By goDCgo . on
11/1/2010
Capital Bikeshare was BIZ-AY over the weekend. How do we know? We have cool apps feeding us real-time bike usage information any old time we want it. According to Bike-o-Meter, which compares usage rates of bikesharing systems around the globe, DC was up to around 31% usage at one point on Saturday afternoon during the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. With Metro (along with the rest of DC) completely overwhelmed and setting a record of 825,437 Metrorail trips taken in one day, many people found Capital Bikeshare a welcome alternative. One attendee wrote:
CaBi was great for the rally. After waiting in a…Metro station for about 35 minutes, as packed train after packed train went by, I finally left…and hopped on a CaBi. Spotcycle said there were plenty of racks free around the mall, and indeed, there were. It was nearly effortless…
While Bike-o-Meter is great for when you find yourself feeling inexplicably competitive with, oh say,...
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By goDCgo . on
10/18/2010
New to bicycling and don't know where to start? Have a cycling story you are dying to share and only your fellow bicycle enthusiasts would appreciate? Willing to divulge your cycling secrets and expertise? We have just the place for you - visit goDCgoBikeForum.com to discuss all your biking needs.
The forum is sponsored through goDCgo's partnership with BikeArlington and allows for cycling to grow throughout the region as a common form of transportation. The District and Arlington County have joined forces through many venues, including the recent launch of Capital Bikeshare, and now happily host this forum to encourage the sharing of ideas and wisdom for bicyclists throughout the region.
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By goDCgo . on
10/15/2010
 Not sure how best to accessorize this season? According to the NY Times Fashion & Style section, a bike (preferably oh-so-retro-chic) is your must-have addition to this season’s wardrobe. The biking –around-in-anything-that’s-not-spandex craze isn’t just limited to the common folk trekking to work day in and day out—no, this includes the likes of celebrities Chloë Sevigny and Naomi Watts. And if the New York Times tells you that all the cool kids are doing it, well…need I say more?
We found it impossible to really distill the overwhelming edginess and relevance of this piece into a paragraph or two, but here are some snippets of the article’s most priceless gems of fashion writing:
· “increasingly visible band of chic New...
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By goDCgo . on
10/14/2010
There is some very interesting data on Capital Bikeshare usage and demand located here. This great map looks like something CaBi members should check out!
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By goDCgo . on
9/30/2010
 Less than two weeks after the official Capital Bikeshare launch, and we’re already getting some great feedback from people who are taking advantage of DC’s newest transportation option. DC resident Dennis S. offered these glowing comments on ARLnow.com about his experience using the new bike system:
“I have ridden Capital Bikeshare four times in the past week, which is saying a lot, since up until then I had not ridden a bike in about ten years. One of the principal advantages to me is that I can get to work at Court House in about half the time it previously took. Instead of boarding the train at U Street, and having a 45-minute Metro ride, I ride the bike from 14th/U St. to Foggy Bottom (ten minutes in morning...
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