Welcome to our new BCC President 

We are pleased to announce that Caleb Darden has agreed to step up into the role of club president!

Caleb has been with NIH for the past two years working in the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience as a research fellow studying neural circuits involved in addiction (even good ones like cycling).  His stated goals for the NIH Bike Club include –

• Enhance community 'feeling' amongst NIH cyclists through activities (group rides, coffee, BTWD, bike-safety workshops, etc)

• Continue to advocate on the behalf of all cyclists for safe routes to campus, bike lanes, lock-stations, etc.

• Continue to build and market a welcoming environment for both seasoned and first-time riders

"I think biking should be fun and ego-free. However, I recognize that it can be intimidating (especially in the DMV). I hope to foster a community where all people, age groups, and skill levels feel encouraged and excited participate."

Additional fun facts about Caleb 

He’s a former National Capital Velo Club (NCVC) with extensive group riding experience, his favorite place to bike in DC is Haynes Point and his favorite place to bike in Maryland is MacArthur Blvd.

BIKE TO WORK Friday, May 15, 2025

Note 

This year BTWD is on Thursday May 15

When you register, enter National Institutes of Health as your pit stop (that’s where your t-shirt will be for pick up) if you are coming to main campus. 

If you’re new to BTWD, check out the registration site for other info such as Guaranteed Ride Home program.

Tell others who may not yet be a part of the NIH Bike Club

We’ll continue to have coffee and breakfast snacks available as well as a presence from our other partners supporting the pit stop.

TENTATIVE PLANNING FOR THE 2025 BIKE TO WORK DAY EVENT

We would probably need NIH BTWD Volunteers in 3 categories:

We need help planning! We need three people to help us in a role that won’t take up too much of your time, but is crucial for our success. Plus, it makes a great line on a resume.

Publicity chair – help us get the word out and coordinate flyers and social media posts.

Registration table captain – be the point person for volunteers arriving to help with registration on the day.

Food table captain – be the point person for food and volunteers, helping to organize & distribute food on the day.

We need help on the actual day! This is a great opportunity to become involved in the Bicycle Club. Please let me know if you can help on that day (anytime between 6:00 and 10:00 am).

We need help with various tasks that need to get done ahead of the day. The publicity chair will need help spreading the word. Or, perhaps you aren’t able to volunteer on the actual day, but you can help us contact vendors for prize donations, or other small tasks that need to get done. Many hands make light work, and each individual task you can help with, helps to make BTWD a success. 

The next organizational meeting will TBA...

We hope for collaboration with generous donors for participant Raffle Prizes or support on the day.

BTWD is a great time -- come and celebrate bicycle commuting with your Bicycle Club and other NIH colleagues this year!

        Get news regarding bike commuter issues by e-mail;  join the NIH BCC listserv.

Note: See new information regarding NIH BCC Jerseys. Get them before this year's Bike to Work Day!

Thanks for helping NIH be a leader in environmentally conscious and healthy commuting.

note: Cyclists may use the vehicle gates. See here for more information.

The bicycle commuter club provides an interactive forum for NIH cyclists, contributes to NIH-wide events and provides a voice to  various NIH offices representing our bicycle commuting interests. 

A taste of the Celebration - See a collection of BTW videos below

The NIH Bicycle Commuter Club (NIHBCC) in conjunction with the NIH Recreation and Welfare Association (R&W) is seeking nominations for the annual Carl Henn Bicycling Advocacy Award. This award honors the memory and legacy of NIH employee and bicycle commuting advocate Carl Henn.

The award will be presented to an NIH staff member who has shown a commitment to NIH bicycle commuting through one or more of the following:

• Improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists on and near NIH campus or leased buildings

• Enhancing bicycle facilities on NIH campus or leased buildings (parking, showers, lockers, street signage)

• Improving outreach to current NIH bicycle commuters

• Riding to/from NIH facilities

• Improving outreach to promote and encourage new NIH bicycle commuters

• Advocating for cycling infrastructure in DC metro area neighborhood(s)

• Communicating with NIH administration, area bike shops, or local press on behalf of NIH bicycle commuting

Nominations

Please nominate an individual(s) for the award by describing why the nominee should be selected based on the award criteria listed above in approximately 200 words or less. Submit nominations via email to Lisa Finkelstein.

Award nominations are due by April 15, 2025.

The Carl Henn Bicycling Advocacy Award recipient will be announced on Thursday May 15, 2025 at the NIH Bike To Work Day pit-stop in front of Building One.

Past award recipients

2012 Angela Atwood-Moore
2013 Steve Friedman,
2014 Joe Cox
2015 Diane Bolton
2016 Peter Chines
2017 Bill DeGraff
2018 Vernon Anderson
2019 Ian Fingerman
2023 Frank Velez
2024 Sean Cullinane

About The Award

This award honors the memory of NIH employee and bicycle commuting advocate Carl Henn. In addition to the Carl Henn Bicycling Advocacy Award, there is also the Carl Henn Millennium Trail (https://explorerockville.org/places/carl-henn-millennium-trail/) – a nice 10 mile loop in the Rockville area. And the state of Maryland enacted Carl Henn’s Law (SB 0339, Public Safety – 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System) which was sponsored by Senator Cheryl Kagan who said that her dedication to the issue around updating the 9-1-1 system in Maryland stemmed from the 2010 death of Carl Henn (https://www.ncsl.org/state-legislatures-news/details/across-the-aisle-bipartisan-effort-powers-launch-of-marylands-ng911-system).

Witness below the audacity of Bike to Work 2014 participants...

Over 155 intrepid bicycle commuters arrived and signed-in at the BTWD pit stop this morning. We appreciate the generous contributions of the Pit Stop sponsors, Hudson Trail Outfitters, Proteus Bicycles, Giant Foods and Upper Crust Bakery. Our thanks also go to the Division of Amenities and Transportation Services that provided the indispensable infrastructure for Bike to Work Day.

 Joe Cox of NIH-DATS was awarded the Carl Henn statue for promoting and furthering the safety of bicycle commuters on the NIH campus.

Close Call Database

A new resource for bicyclists. This community-fed database lists details of negative to dangerous encounters with other vehicle operators. The idea is to become informed about bicycle commuting realities to help make every ride a safer one.  Check out http://closecalldatabase.com/ .

Emergency flat tire repair kits stationed around campus!

To promote the use of alternative transportation, the Division of Amenities and Transportation Services has generously purchased emergency kits for bicycle repairs. These repair kits are stored at 11 Colonial Parking Booths throughout the Bethesda campus. Just ask any of the Colonial Parking attendants to assist you with their locations. These emergency kits consist of a floor pump, patch kit, tire levers, and spare inner tubes. These inner tubes are for emergency use only and must be replaced by the person taking one. Please return all parts of the repair kit after use so others may continue to benefit from the kits. Three tube sizes are stocked at each station:

• 1. 26 x 1.25 -1.75

• 2. 27 x 1 1/8 – 1 ¼ (700 X 28C – 32C)

• 3. 700 x 18C -23C

Please check the tube valve (presta or shrader) to make sure it is consistent with your wheel before taking a tube. And if you have unwanted (new) tubes at home that you no longer need, feel free to donate to the collection. You could make someone's day! Enjoy and please respect this awesome investment in bike commuting by the NIH!