Monday, June 9, 2014
WABA's BikeFest on Friday June 13
BikeFest is WABA's annual fundraiser and celebration of bicycling. The big event is Friday, June 13 at Eastern Market in DC. From WABA's BikeFest page:
DATE: Friday, June 13, 2014
TIME: 8 p.m. to Midnight
LOCATION: Eastern Market North Hall
TICKETS: $45 for WABA members; $55 for the public.
Can you imagine what it would be like without the Capital Crescent Trail, Beach Drive closed to cars on weekends or bike access on Metrorail and bus? Can you imagine how the region might have developed without an organization dedicated to making sure that bicycling is part of the transportation solution?
Join us for
- A one night Biketopia exhibit of bicycling undone: an artistic showcase of beautiful and idealistic bicycle infrastructure and design
- Silent auction featuring desirable packages & experiences
- A live band & dancing, with local jazz music by The Greater U St Jazz Collective
- Libations (ticket price includes 2 drink tickets)
- Food (a fancy buffet, courtesy of our sponsor Chipotle) & desserts
BikeFest is WABA’s opportunity to raise the funds needed to continue our advocacy, outreach and education efforts. Join us at BikeFest 2014 and you can help fund the expansion of trail networks, bike lanes, bikesharing and safer streets. Buy tickets here.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
MAY-JUNE 2013 FABB News
A bi-monthly publication of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
WABA's BikeFest - Purchase tickets by May 2
BikeFest, WABA's annual party and fundraiser, will be held on Friday evening, May 3 at Eastern Market in DC. This a way to support WABA while having a good time dancing to live jazz and swing music, playing card games, and checking out the BikeBuild contest. Tickets are $45 for WABA members and $55 for non-members. Ticket sales end on May 2. Tickets will not be available at the door.
Bike to School Day - May 8
Bike to School Day is being celebrated at more than 30 schools in Fairfax County this year. The event raises awareness of the need to create safer routes for bicycling and walking and emphasizes the importance of increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, reducing traffic congestion, and concern for the environment. The event builds connections between families, schools, and the broader community. The event also highlights the need for teaching bike safety skills in our schools. Visit the Bike to School Day site to find which Virginia schools are celebrating the event. If your school is not participating this year, contact your principal and other parents and start organizing for next year.
Bike to Work Day - May 17
Now is the time to sign up for Bike to Work Day, which is Friday, May 17. Whether you are a new bike commuter or an experienced one, signing up for Bike to Work Day is important because the numbers are used as one measure of the growth of cycling over the years. Choose from the many events held around the DC Metro area, including several in Fairfax County: Burke VRE Station, Fairfax Corner, Herndon, Merrifield-Mosaic District (new), Merrifield-W&OD Trail, Collingwood Park (new), Reston, Springfield Metro at Walker Lane, Tysons Corner Center, and Vienna. There is also a Fairfax City pit stop. We plan to have a FABB rep at each of these events to provide route information, answer questions, and to ask people to sign up for our e-newsletter.
Tour de Fat returns on June 1 - Volunteers needed
Tour de Fat is returning to DC on June 1. The free event is a full day of fun bike-related activities starting with a bike parade, costumes preferred. The event will again be held at The Yards Park on the banks of the Anacostia River two blocks from Navy Yard Metro station and Nationals Park. The goal of Tour de Fat is to celebrate bicycling and to raise money for local advocacy groups including FABB. FABB will receive a percentage of the proceeds so your participation will help us raise money.
To get a flavor of the event see our blog post about last year's event, including videos of the bike parade and the "bike pit" that features trick bikes. You can also enjoy live music, games, food, and beverages. The main sponsor is New Belgium brewery.
FABB will be working the wristband/ID booth again this year and we need more volunteers. We check the IDs of people who want to drink beer to make sure no one is underage. To sign up visit our Volunteer Spot page, enter your email address, and choose the June 1 event. There are 3 shifts. We need 2 more for the morning shift (10:00-1:30pm), 1 more for the overlapping shift (11:00-2:30pm), and 7 for the afternoon shift (1:30-5:00pm). Volunteers receive 2 beverage coupons and a t-shirt.
Fairfax County Parkway Trail repairs
VDOT has funds to begin to repair major sections of the Fairfax County Parkway Trail. While we think that most of the trail needs repaving, repairs of some of the more badly damaged sections is a start. Last year FABB conducted an assessment of the condition of the trail as we reported in our April-May 2012 Newsletter. That information was used as the basis for a study done by VDOT to determine where to make the repairs. We hope the work will be completed this year.
Bike Counts - Volunteers needed
FABB has conducted bike counts the last couple of years. We see more and more cyclists on the roads and trails but we don't have data to back up that observation. We want to know if more people are riding on the bike lanes on Gallows Road and whether more cyclists are using the W&OD Trail during rush hour and on the weekend. We've begun counting cyclists at a few locations around the County and we need volunteers to help. The count dates are Thursday, May 9 from 5-7pm and Saturday May 11 from 12-2pm. The locations where we need volunteers are: W&OD Trail at Gallows Rd, W&OD Trail at Maple Ave/Rt 123 in Vienna, Sunrise Valley Dr at South Lakes Dr in Reston, Saintsbury Dr at Vaden Dr near the Vienna Metro station, and Chain Bridge Rd at Westmoreland St in McLean. To volunteer visit Volunteer Spot, click on one of the two dates, and sign up.
We encourage everyone to ride your bikes and promote bicycling when you attend these events.
Friday, May 3 - WABA's BikeFest
Sunday, May 5 - Marshall Road ES Bike Rodeo
Wednesday, May 8 - Bike to School Day
Thursday, May 9 & Saturday, May 11 - Volunteer bike counts
Wednesday, May 15 - FABB Monthly Meeting
Friday, May 17 - Bike to Work Day
Saturday, June 1 - Tour de Fat
Wednesday, June 19, FABB Monthly Meeting
Labels: bicycle counts, bike to school day, bike to work day, bikefest, fabb newsletter, tour de fat
Friday, April 26, 2013
One week to WABA's BikeFest
BikeFest is WABA's biggest fundraising party of the year! Your admission to BikeFest includes:
- Two free drinks at the bar
- Live swing and jazz music
- A vote in the BikeBuild contest
- Tacos and taco salads from a Chipotle-catered buffet, plus dessert
- Casino games
- Participation in a spectacular silent auction and the chance to win great raffle prizes
Friday, April 19, 2013
BikeFest - WABA's annual fundraiser
What to Expect at BikeFest?
Tip your top hats to bicycles by coming out to our fanciest event of the year. There will be live jazz and swing music to get your hips swayin’ and we are bringing in professional dealers and card tables to make your gamblin’ hands feel like Humphrey Bogart at Rick’s Café in Casablanca. Once your chips stack up after playing blackjack, roulette, craps and poker, you can trade them in for tickets to win bike-themed prizes.
BikeFest will also feature a silent auction with “experience packages” and vintage bike art, so come prepared to shop!
Third Annual BikeBuild Contest
The BikeBuild is back again for the third annual contest. Local shops build their own creative, innovative, sometimes wacky build for the occasion and guests vote at BikeFest for their favorite bike. The shops will auction off their new creations and the shop winner will get bragging rights and a trophy.
Dress to Impress
If you’d like to dress up, please do. So gentleman, shine your shoes and don that suit and bowtie. Ladies, show us your highest heels and most sparkling attire. And everyone, practice those gambling hands as we get the dice rolling for BikeFest 2013.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
A big thank you to WABA’s generous BikeFest 2013 sponsors: The Boeing Company, Chipotle, Signal Financial, CH2M Hill, Toole Design Group, and Entertainment Sound Production.
Tickets
Buy your tickets now for BikeFest 2013. Space is limited and we will sell out! Tickets are $45 for members (You received your member discount code in your inbox. You will need that code to get the member price.) or $55 for the public.
Tip your top hats to bicycles by coming out to our fanciest event of the year. There will be live jazz and swing music to get your hips swayin’ and we are bringing in professional dealers and card tables to make your gamblin’ hands feel like Humphrey Bogart at Rick’s Café in Casablanca. Once your chips stack up after playing blackjack, roulette, craps and poker, you can trade them in for tickets to win bike-themed prizes.
BikeFest will also feature a silent auction with “experience packages” and vintage bike art, so come prepared to shop!
Third Annual BikeBuild Contest
The BikeBuild is back again for the third annual contest. Local shops build their own creative, innovative, sometimes wacky build for the occasion and guests vote at BikeFest for their favorite bike. The shops will auction off their new creations and the shop winner will get bragging rights and a trophy.
Dress to Impress
If you’d like to dress up, please do. So gentleman, shine your shoes and don that suit and bowtie. Ladies, show us your highest heels and most sparkling attire. And everyone, practice those gambling hands as we get the dice rolling for BikeFest 2013.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
A big thank you to WABA’s generous BikeFest 2013 sponsors: The Boeing Company, Chipotle, Signal Financial, CH2M Hill, Toole Design Group, and Entertainment Sound Production.
Tickets
Buy your tickets now for BikeFest 2013. Space is limited and we will sell out! Tickets are $45 for members (You received your member discount code in your inbox. You will need that code to get the member price.) or $55 for the public.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
WABA's BikeFest
WABA is positively jazzed to present this year’s BikeFest and for your pleasure, we invite you to pedal back in time and relive the jazz age!
For one night only, we’re turning DC’s Eastern Market into a bicycling speakeasy, so spread the word. Whether you’re a WABA member or not, come on down! Flappers, bootleggers, every day Joes and Joans will find joy and friends of all sorts in an unhurried evening of jazz, drink, food, treats, and more as we celebrate our victories and raise some funds.
As you’re perusing (and pursuing) the silent auction items and splurging on raffle tickets, we will have some splendid hors d’oeuvres to snack on and a secret specialty drink to toss back. To complete the experience, your eyes and ears will be treated to the The Jolley Brothers and the Brian Settles Quartet… and some surprise entertainment.
Last year’s successful Bikebuild contest is back, and our competitors (Papillon Cycle, ThreePenny Bikes, and Silver Cycles) are more clever than ever. Builders are given two rules: keep it cheap and keep it creative. The winning silent steed wil be decided by vote, and each bike will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Papillon took the trophy home last year but we hear Silver Cycles and Three Penny are going to give 'em a run for their money. Stay tuned to our blog for updates on the building process.
For one night only, we’re turning DC’s Eastern Market into a bicycling speakeasy, so spread the word. Whether you’re a WABA member or not, come on down! Flappers, bootleggers, every day Joes and Joans will find joy and friends of all sorts in an unhurried evening of jazz, drink, food, treats, and more as we celebrate our victories and raise some funds.
As you’re perusing (and pursuing) the silent auction items and splurging on raffle tickets, we will have some splendid hors d’oeuvres to snack on and a secret specialty drink to toss back. To complete the experience, your eyes and ears will be treated to the The Jolley Brothers and the Brian Settles Quartet… and some surprise entertainment.
Last year’s successful Bikebuild contest is back, and our competitors (Papillon Cycle, ThreePenny Bikes, and Silver Cycles) are more clever than ever. Builders are given two rules: keep it cheap and keep it creative. The winning silent steed wil be decided by vote, and each bike will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Papillon took the trophy home last year but we hear Silver Cycles and Three Penny are going to give 'em a run for their money. Stay tuned to our blog for updates on the building process.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Two days until BikeFest
Tomorrow is the last day to purchase tickets for Bikefest online. The event will be held in Crystal City this Saturday from 8pm to midnight:
The highlight of the evening will be a showcase of WABA's first-ever BikeBuild Contest. Three regional bike shops are going head to head to create custom bicycles with only 3 rules - builders can't spend over $250, may use recycled parts, and MUST be as creative as possible! This year's participants include Oasis Bike Works, City Bikes and Papillon Cycles. Guests will crown BikeFest's Best Builder of 2011 with a combination of their votes and a live auction, which means three lucky attendees will take home their very own handcrafted bikes.
There's lot's more planned for the evening, with "carnival-cycle games, a silent auction and raffle, sideshow performances, live music and dancing featuring DC's Second String Band and WABA's very own DJ Jennder, as well as bicycle art by Cranky Style, palm readings, photobooth and much more!" Why not support WABA and have some fun at Bikefest?
Monday, June 6, 2011
WABA's Bikefest is this Saturday
As a non-profit, WABA relies largely on community support for its funding. The fundraising event for 2011 follows a new model. With plenty of opportunities bike-related fun, games, and music, we are holding our BikeFest Celebration and Fundraiser on June 11, 2011 in Crystal City. As usual, car-free transportation to and from the event is encouraged, including transit, group rides, and combinations of bike-on-metro and trail riding. For more information,to purchase your tickets, or simply to contribute to WABA visit the BikeFest page.
