Virginia Launches First-Ever Bike Month Challenge, Calling on Mayors to Compete for Most Bike-Friendly City
Residents across the Commonwealth invited to log rides, win prizes, and help their city take the top spot
 RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is kicking off Bike Month this May with a new statewide competition, the Bike Month Challenge, inviting communities across the Commonwealth to compete for the title of Virginia’s most bike-friendly community.
Driven by a friendly rivalry among mayors, the month-long challenge kicks off May 1 and encourages residents to log their bike trips using the ConnectingVA app, with Bike to Work Day on May 15 serving as a key moment for participation. Every ride contributes to a city’s total, with standings updated each Friday throughout May, and a winning city announced on June 1.
“This initiative highlights how simple choices, such as biking for commuting, running errands, or connecting to transit, can have a meaningful impact for both individuals and communities,” said DRPT Director Mariia Zimmerman. “It also offers a practical, cost-effective way to reduce everyday transportation expenses while staying connected to essential destinations.”
In Richmond, Mayor Danny Avula called the challenge a chance to bring people together while showing how biking can fit into everyday life across the city, adding that, “Richmond is proud to be part of this statewide Bike Month Challenge. It’s a fun way to bring our community together, get people moving, and show how biking can fit into everyday life. We’re ready to log some miles and show Virginia how Richmond rides.”
Participants who log rides in the ConnectingVA app throughout May will not only help their city climb the leaderboard, but will also be entered for a chance to win one of four prizes, including two $500 and two $250 gift cards.
As the competition builds through the month, Mayor Joe Cobb said Roanoke is ready to lean into the challenge and rally residents to take part. “Roanoke is committed to creating a bike-friendly community, with safe access on our roads, greenways, mountain biking trails, and in every corridor of our city. We want to make it easy to ride our bikes to work, for exercise, or just plain fun. Please join me for Virginia's Bike Month!”
Residents can participate by downloading the ConnectingVA app and logging every bike trip throughout the month. Whether commuting, running errands, or riding for recreation, every mile counts toward their city’s total.
For more information about Bike Month and the Bike Month Challenge, visit https://connectingva.drpt.virginia.gov/ or download the ConnectingVA app.
About the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
DRPT's mission is to connect and improve the quality of life for all Virginians with innovative transportation solutions. The agency works with rail and public transportation stakeholders to provide service to people throughout Virginia and promotes transportation options to the general public, businesses, and community decision makers. DRPT's vision is a connected Commonwealth with an integrated multimodal network that serves every person, every business, and every need. For more information, please visit www.drpt.virginia.gov.
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
|
