November 2018: The Return of the Jr Park Ranger ride!

In early November, Kidical Mass Arlington will team up again with BikeArlington and the National Park Service and our riders will become Junior Park Rangers!!!

Kidical Mass Arlington is teaming up with BikeArlington to learn about the National Park in our backyard—The George Washington Memorial Parkway.  WalkArlington is also hosting a walk that will meet up at the end with the bike ride. National Parks Service Rangers will join both groups and share family-friendly information and neat activities. At the end of the event, everyone gets sworn in as Junior Rangers!


The event is free, but registration here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/junior-ranger-walk-or-ride-tickets-51460504755

We're going to ride around Arlington's own national park: the George Washington Memorial Park. This route hits the close-in highlights of the park that is lovingly called GW Parkway: We'll start at the Marine Corps War Memorial ("Iwo Jima"), then bike to the Netherlands Carillon. We'll then take trails to the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove, and then ride on the Mt Vernon Trail back to Theodore Roosevelt Island. In a little twist to the normal Kidical Mass Arlington ride, we will stop at all of the parks!

And there's more! BikeArlington and NPS Park Rangers have organized some activities for us -- we'll do a few activities at each park. At the end of the ride, all of the riders will have earned Junior Park Ranger credentials for the GWMP and Roosevelt Island. Yay!

The route is on the longer side and hillier side for one of our rides, but there will be stops. The route is all on trail, though there are some places where we'll cross streets in crosswalks - we'll be careful there. We can expect the Mt Vernon Trail to be used by others, and we will be respectful to others, staying to the right and allowing others to pass. Kids on their own bikes must be able to follow directions well. Expect the whole ride to last 60-90 minutes. Bring snacks and water to last to the end.

After the ride, families may wish to spend more time on TR Island. The route back from TR Island to Iwo Jima is a little less than a mile, and involves a short, steep hill. Through Rosslyn, families may be more comfortable biking on the sidewalk.

When: Saturday, November 3, 2018 9:30am (activities start at 9:30am!)

Meet: US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) N Meade St & Arlington Blvd; Arlington

Parking: On the surrounding residential streets.

End: Theodore Roosevelt Island

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14922725

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/junior-ranger-walk-or-ride-tickets-51460504755

All are welcome. Hope to see you there!

Halloween 2018: October 28 4:00pm.Clay Park

**NOTE: DUE TO THE NOR'EASTER, WE WILL RIDE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, MEETING AT 4PM**

It's ba-ack...: time to put on your costume, light up your bike, and prepare to eat copious amounts of candy! Kidical Mass Arlington loves Halloween and this year we're partnering up with the Contes again to celebrate! 

Conte's Bike Shop in Virginia Square is throwing us a pizza party at the end of the ride!  Please respond to the facebook event (https://bit.ly/2OnDKCh)https://bit.ly/2OnDKCh)  so we know numbers (it's ok to to add on last minute, but it's better if you RSVP)! 

Same as last year, we'll meet at Clay Park in Lyon Park, where families can come early to play. Then we will bike off through the Ashton Heights neighborhood. We'll continue through the spooky parts of Ashton Heights and Lyon Park, including through a cemetery and past some of the best Halloween decorations in Arlington. Finally, we'll roll to Conte's Bike Shop on Wilson Boulevard, where we've been invited over for a pizza party! Thanks, Conte's, we can't wait!

When: Sunday, October 28, 2018
Meet: 4:00pm - Clay Park - North Highland Street and 7th Street North (roll out 4:15pm)
Parking: Neighborhood streets
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26217631

The ride back to Clay Park from Conte's is very easy: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17384347 

The route is 3 miles and fairly flat.  We will be riding during dusk and it will be dark by the time you're riding home: be sure you're adequately lit and reflective!

October 2018, Ride 1: Arlington Fun Ride

Kidical Mass Arlington will ride twice this month, and the first is the Arlington Fun Ride this Saturday, October 13, for a super-extra special Family Ride.

When: Saturday, October 13
Meet: 10:00am - Crystal City - 18th Street and Crystal Drive
Parking: All over Crystal City (garages and on-street)
Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3379060

Yes, this is our fifth year teaming up with the Fun Ride (there was a short hiatus in 2017)! We'll start in Crystal City, after the intrepid souls doing the full Arlington Fun Ride leave for the (long and hilly) Arlington loop.  After a safety briefing, we'll roll out along the streets of Crystal City, then through the new and amazing Long Bridge Park.  We'll bump over the "developing" pavement of Long Bridge Drive and head into the Pentagon Reservation on Boundary Channel.  After a jaunt over the Connector Road, through the Pentagon Parking Lot tunnel, we'll ride beside Pentagon City Mall.  After riding through Aurora Highlands, we'll join the festivities in Crystal City celebrating the Arlington Fun Ride and Phoenix Bikes. And, just like last year, we'll have a police escort! Amazing!

Registration for the Fun Ride is encouraged! (though not mandatory -- your fee does get you a cool t-shirt and goes to support Phoenix Bikes).

The entire ride is 3.5 miles and flat (only 102 total feet of going up).  It's a perfect ride for anyone new to group riding (with or without kids).

Hope to see y'all there!