The 2023 50 States Ride is a fundraising bike event for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). It gives participants a choice of four ride routes exploring Washington, DC by bike.

Saturday, September 23, 2023.

The venue is located close to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station and is just off the Metropolitan Branch Trail.

For those who drive, there is a paid parking lot.

Diamond Route
Check-in: 7:00 AM-7:45 AM
Group Start: 8:00 AM

Roundabout Route
Check-in: 8:00 AM-8:45 AM
Group Start: 9:00 AM

Triangle Route
Check-in: 9:30 AM-10:00 AM
Group Start: 10:15 AM

Straightaway Route
Check-in: 10:30 AM-11:00 AM
Group Start: 11:15 AM

Roads are NOT closed for this ride. We do our best to plan the rides on low-stress streets, but you will be sharing the road with motor vehicles.  

Feel like you want to practice before the ride? Sign up for a Confident City Cycling Class. Or, for a refresher, watch this webinar on How to Ride in Traffic.

The shortest ride, the Straightaway Route, takes place entirely on the Metropolitan Branch Trail and separated from traffic. Volunteers will be stationed throughout to help make it especially safe and kid-friendly.

Otherwise, the three longest ride routes are generally unsupported. That means:

• Streets are not closed for this ride. You will ride on streets with motor vehicle traffic.
• The route is unmarked. 
• There is no support and gear vehicle to pick you up.  

Participants are expected to:

• Call 911 in case of an emergency.
• Have an emergency-contact who is not a ride participant “on call” during the ride.
• Carry a charged cell phone (and charged battery pack for the longer rides).

No. The route is unmarked.

Participants should navigate using the physical cue sheet provided in their check-in packet or with free turn-by-turn navigation on their smartphone using the Ride with GPS app.

Yes. 

Ride Marshals are volunteers who will be there to help participants navigate and offer encouragement and support. 

Lead Ride Marshals will lead an optional group start for those who wish to ride together.

Buddy Group Ride Marshals will lead and stay with those individuals that would like to ride with other bikers or feel that they will need a little encouragement along the way.

Sweep Ride Marshals will bring up the back of each check-in group.

Nope! There will be two or three group starts for each group (see timing above), but once you’ve checked in you can start your ride any time you’d like.

WABA will publish the 2023 50 States Ride routes on this website in early September and will share them by email to registrants the week of the ride in a digital ride guide.

In the meantime, check out previous 50 States Ride routes! (The 2023 routes will be different, but similar in difficulty, distance, and elevation.)

We’d love to talk to you about this and help you pick the route that is the best fit for the ride you want to have! Email us at events@waba.org if you’d like to chat about it.

Yes.  WABA asks and expects all participants to ride lawfully and with respect for other road users. This means:

• Stop at all red lights and stop signs as appropriate. Cyclists can use the leading pedestrian interval at stop lights and yield at stop signs except when others have right of way at the intersection.
• Always yield to pedestrians. 
• Follow posted signs.
• Use hand signals when turning.
• Communicate verbally with other riders. 
• Do not ride more than two abreast, and do not take up more than one lane of travel. When riding on sidewalks, trails, or paths, be cautious when passing other users and slow down.

Yes. WABA’s insurance requires that everyone riding a bicycle on a WABA ride wears a helmet while riding.

Click this link for a resource on how to properly fit your helmet.

• Bike
• Helmet (Required by our insurance. You can’t ride without one.)
• Bike lock (Even if you don’t plan to stop during the ride, it’s good to have a lock with you during the ride, in case of an unanticipated or emergency stop along the ride route. If you’d really rather not carry your lock during your ride you can leave it at bag drop with WABA staff when checking in and collect it at the finish line.)
• SmartTrip card (in case you decide you’d like to take the metro during or after the ride)
• Weather appropriate clothing (the 50 States Ride is rain or shine!)
• Water bottles (you can fill it at the check-in area if you need to)
• Saddle bag (to carry spare tube, tire levers, and pump or patch kit)
• Spare tube (especially if you have a non-standard rim size!)
• Charged cell phone and charger
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Additional snacks
• Money (in case of emergency situation and/or for purchasing drinks, snacks, or other goods displayed by vendors at the after party)
• An adventurous spirit!

There will be snacks and water available for registered attendees at the ride start, ride finish, and pit stops along the way.

There will be water jugs from which you can fill your reusable water bottle. WABA does not provide cups or plastic water bottles—bring your own!

Snacks will be vegetarian. There will be vegan and gluten-free options.

Snacks will be single-serving and pre-packaged (you can have more than one!)

At the after party we will provide a boxed lunch that you will select upon registration. You will also be given a drink ticket you can redeem to get a non-alcoholic drink of your choice such as soda, gatorade, juice, milk, seltzer, etc. The venue will allow you to apply the cost of your drink ticket towards an alcoholic drink if you prefer.

Consider bringing money to purchase other drinks and snacks at the after party (as well as other goods displayed by invited vendors).

Nope!  But current members can receive a discount on ride registration by using a discount code. WABA emailed this code to members. 

If you haven’t received it, email events@waba.org and we’ll be happy to help! 

If you’d like to become a member, visit waba.org/join!

Because this is a fundraiser there will be no refunds for this event except in case of illness.

If you are feeling sick or have symptoms of an illness, do not come to the event. Email events@waba.org and let us know you cannot come because you are sick, and we will transfer your registration fee to a 100% tax deductible donation or put your registration fee towards a future WABA ride.

Yes. However, there is a $25 admin fee for transferring registration. Please email us at events@waba.org to make your transfer.

Yes. Riders under 18 qualify for the youth rate.

Diamond Route:  $75
Roundabout Route:  $55
Triangle Route:  $45
Straightaway Route:  $25

You must purchase a ride registration for all individuals who will ride their own bicycle in the event. Any children being carried by you on your bike or in a trailer do not need a separate registration (but will also not receive all perks and premiums included).

Yes, unless riding solo is not an option available to one of the participants. If so, please register for one person and send us an email with contact information for the other rider so we know who is coming at events@waba.org.

Yes. You can register multiple people at one time. However, you must provide the name and email address of every attendee.

Please email events@waba.org and we will get this worked out.

Yes! Ride registration will be open until check-in closes. You can register yourself on your phone or WABA staff at the info table can help you register at check-in. Please arrive during the check-in time for the route you wish to ride, and we’ll get you set up. By registering late, be aware that you may not be able to receive all perks and premiums or have your preferred size or selection. 

Yes. Please arrive during the check-in window for the route you wish to ride, and we’ll get you set up.

If you are switching to a longer route, you may need to pay additional fees to cover the cost.