Events: Learn how new highway construction threatens Montgomery County’s chances for a sustainable future

Throughout the Unites States’ history, highway construction has destroyed Black neighborhoods and continues to perpetuate environmental injustice. Decades of research have also shown that more highways and bigger highways lead to more driving, and that to combat climate change Americans must drive less. Montgomery County’s new general plan, Thrive 2050, originally included strong “No New Highways” language, but that language was watered down by the County Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee.

On Monday, May 16 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, the Coalition for Smarter Growth is convening regional transit and environmental justice experts for a discussion highlighting why a sustainable, equitable future is one without new highways or highway expansions, and why strong “No New Highways” language in the Thrive 2050 plan is critical for the future of Montgomery County. You can learn more and register on their event page.

Thursday, May 12

Women & Bicycles: Maintenance workshop: On Thursday, May 12 at 6:30 PM WABA is teaming up with expert bike mechanics and members of Women & Bicycles, Laurie Lemieux and Kate Schrock, for a workshop on bike maintenance. The conversation will be geared towards people who identify as woman/trans/femme/nonbinary and might be new(er) to biking and interested in learning about basic upkeep for their bike. Some of the topics we’ll be covering include going over different parts of the bike, how to adjust your brakes, and how to clean your chain and apply chain lube.

This event will take place in person and on Zoom, though in-person capacity is limited. You can learn more on the event registration page.

Miss the GGWash Gala? You can still party with regional urbanists! The Coalition for Smarter Growth is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Thursday, May 12 from 6-8 pm. Tickets start at $125, but there are free tickets available upon request. You can learn more and register on their event page.

Friday, May 13

Learn to scoot with Lyft: Join Lyft at 6:00 on Friday, May 13 for the second of their new monthly “Scooter Skills Clinics”. This engaging and informative scooter workshop will cover all the fundamentals of how to use our dockless electric scooters: how to use our app to unlock and begin your trip, tips and practice with safely maneuvering city streets and trails, and current local laws and regulations about both where to ride and where to park! Learn more and register on their event page.

Friday, May 20

Do you have a plan for Bike to Work Day? This year’s Bike to Work Day, hosted by Commuter Connections and WABA, is coming up on Friday, May 20, 2022. There’s no better time to get outside and experience the joys of active transportation!

Join a free bike convoy, find a ride buddy, or ride solo this Bike to Work Day, and you’ll have the opportunity to change up your commute, save some money, and do your part to improve regional air quality and reduce traffic congestion. Make sure to stop by one of the 96 pit stops located throughout DC, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia for free giveaways, food, and beverages, plus a chance to win raffle prizes.

The event is open to experienced and novice cyclers—and for those who would like to join a convoy led by experienced volunteer bicycle commuters, starting point information will be available on the event website. Registration and updates are available at www.biketoworkmetrodc.org.

Saturday, May 21

Designing Pennsylvania Avenue for people: Join the National Capital Planning Commission at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 21 for the second public meeting reimagining the design of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The proposed Pennsylvania Avenue Vision aims to transform the Avenue between the White House and the US Capitol into a venue that celebrates its civic role and spirit of democracy, creates an inspiring public realm, and modernizes infrastructure to make the Avenue a great street and an iconic destination. Three concepts explore different approaches on how to achieve this vision, with an emphasis on multimodal access and placemaking. They also provide a comparative and inspirational overview of potential options that can be mixed and matched. RSVP for the May 21 meeting here or visit the NCPC’s project Vision Page to learn more.