Bike Awards & Recognitions

Golden Gear Award

In conjunction with the regional Bike to Work Day, Bethesda Transportation Solutions sponsors the Golden Gear Award. The award recognizes downtown Bethesda employees who are dedicated to biking to work. 

Come to the Bike to Work Day event on May 15 to see this year's winner! Questions? Contact Kristen Blackmon at kblackmon@bethesda.org or 301-656-0868 Ext. 119.

Last year's winner was Bethesda employee Alex Duarte!

2024 Winner

Pictured: Award Winner Alex Duarte and Del. Marc Korman

Mr. Alex Duarte was nominated by Maria Cho from ASHP here in downtown Bethesda. ASHP is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

In Ms. Cho nomination of Alex, she said that, “Although Alex only recently started biking to work, he has been very consistent the past few months. He seems to really enjoy it and it has led to increased productivity in the mornings. He also has been encouraging others to try it as an alternative to driving!”

Our winner, Alex says that ASHP makes bike commuting easy by providing showers in the building and secure bike parking in the garage. ASHP also reimburses employees for the Capital Bikeshare annual membership.

We asked Alex if he has any tips or lessons learned and he responded, “Although it may seem and feel difficult to bike to work, consistency is key and will make a significant difference in your biking experience.”

More advice from Alex -  “…there’s many different bike trails or bike paths to choose from. I ride on Capital Crescent Trail, a very scenic view but also encouraging as there are others on the trail running, walking, or biking as well. There are different ways to make your bike ride enjoyable. You just need to try and find them!”

For more information about the Bike Spirit Awards, contact Kristen Blackmon at (301) 656-0686 ext. 119 or Kblackmon@bethesda.org.

2023 Winner

Mark Fernandez was nominated by Terry Landers from property management company BF Saul. Ms. Landers said that, “Mark is a devoted cyclist and I admire that he cares about the environment and he has been instrumental in providing valuable input in the improvements we've made to our cycling amenities ... He has been helpful too when abandoned bikes needed to be removed, he took them for donation on our behalf.”

Mr. Fernandez also assisted with the building improvements at the BF Saul property where Bethesda Urban Partnership is located. Mr. Fernandez made sure that showers and lockers were added to the bathrooms in the building. These have been a wonderful benefit to staff.

Mark has some advice for all you novice cyclists. Mark says,  “Spend the money on many quality flashing lights. There is nothing like a strobe effect to get the motorist's attention.”

On personal level, Mark says that biking to work has been beneficial – he says that he is “more relaxed behind the handlebars than behind the steering wheel”. He “sees more of the neighbors, the neighborhood and he is able to do last-minute shopping”. He “also gets home faster”.

And finally, Mark says “Biking is only an option for some, but everyone can try it!”

2019 Winners

Mashrur Chowdhury bikes three and a half miles from his home in Rockville to his office in Downtown Bethesda every day, which takes about 20 minutes one-way. He has been biking to work for eight months.

Mashrur was nominated for a Bike Spirit Award by his colleague, Kathleen Mihm, who says that “Mashrur is not a biker, and the only reason he considered biking to work was he saw other people at work doing it year round.  More people would so it if they only knew it could be done! Mashrur rides his bike to work most days and is a great example of the benefits of biking to work.”

 

 

Maya Riser-Kositsky (pictured, at left) bikes seven miles from her home in Washington, DC to her office in Downtown Bethesda, which takes about 40 minutes one-way. She has been biking to work for 18 months.

Maya was nominated for a Bike Spirit Award by her colleague, Holly Peele, who says that she nominated Maya simply because “Because she bikes a lot!” Their employer offers a bike subsidy, shower and locker facilities, and bike parking.

 

 

Corporal Russ Rankin (pictured, at left) began with the Montgomery County Police Department in 1979 and began on the bike patrol on the original permanent Community Policing “Beat Team” in March of 1996 on the “Delta-2 Beat Team” or better known as the “CBD Unit” as the co-supervisor of the unit and remains there today, 23 years later! The Team has / had about 10 Officers that patrol the downtown Bethesda community mainly on bikes …7 days a week, 365 days a year staffing the bike team 6am-1am.

Russ was instrumental in the initial success of the Team setting the high standard of patrolling on bicycle in all weather and seasons! Russ would always be willing to hit the beat on the bike no matter how cold and even in the snow at times…I did some estimating on the number of miles he likely rode on bike patrol in his 23+ years … He would conservatively ride about 20 miles a week (more in the early years) for 40-45 weeks a year (time off, training, etc.) times 23 years gives you around 20,000 (plus/minus) biked miles !!

 

Bike Friendly Business

The Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) designation is officially bestowed upon a business by the League of American Bicyclists. A BFB is defined as a “corporation, organization, association, government agency, or non-profit that actively promotes bicycling for transportation, recreation, exercise, and sport.”

Click here for an overview of the BFB program

When you are recognized by the League, your business will receive a lovely certificate for your office lobby. In addition, BTS will add your business' name and website to our website. Your business will also be featured in our updated "Biking to Bethesda" brochure.

Providing supports to employees and customer who bike to your business can pay off in the long run, as evidenced in this article from Mobility Lab.

BTS will be happy to assist your business in the application process to become a Bicycle Friendly Business. Contact Kristen Blackmon at (301) 656-0868 x 119 or by e-mail at KBlackmon@bethesda.org for more information.