The City of Alexandria is nationally recognized Bike Friendly Community, committed to making cycling a safe and convenient method of travel for residents to live, work, and play. The City is committed to working with key stakeholders like businesses, residents, and visitors, to continue building Alexandria’s bicycle network into one that is safe for all types of cyclists. 

Some initiatives Alexandria has undertaken that highlight this commitment to safe and convenient cycling include:  

• Expansion of the Capital Bikeshare program  
  • Providing subsidized Capital Bikeshare membership thru the Community Partners program and CaBi For All
• Installation of new bike lanes and routes
• Continual installation of bicycle parking 
• Providing a City Bike Map to help you plan your route
• Providing discounted bike education classes for adults and children

Alexandria is a wonderful place to cycle. With more than 49 miles of on-street bike facilities, shared lanes, and trails, using a bike to quickly, safely, and enjoyably get around has never been easier. Join us and bike in the City! 

Registration for Bike to Work Day 2024 is now open! Whether you’re a first-time bike commuter or a seasoned pedal-pusher, we hope to see you at one of seven pit stops located here in the city or at over 100 pit stops across the region on Friday, May 17.

Register here for FREE giveaways, food, beverages and t-shirts at John Carlyle Square Park, Del Ray, Eisenhower Square, Fairlington Centre, Mark Center and City Hall all day, and National Landing in the afternoon!

A key part of being a Bike Friendly Community is having an expansive network of bicycle friendly facilities. See below for a map of the bike route network in Alexandria, and learn more about the types of bike facilities the City has to offer. 

• Map of bicycle routes in Alexandria

To learn more about what the City is doing to expand its bicycle network, visit our Complete Streets webpage.

Interested in cycling, but do not own a bicycle? Then the region’s bikeshare program, Capital Bikeshare (CaBi), is for you! With over 600 stations in the City and surrounding jurisdictions, CaBi allows residents and visitors to cycle from point A to point B within Alexandria or to spots in Arlington County, Fairfax County, D.C. and more. Visit the City’s CaBi page for more information. 

Here are some helpful tips for riding a bicycle in the City: 

• Give an audible signal for passing or use a bell, when riding on  sidewalks and trails. 
• Wear a helmet - bicycle helmets are required for those 14 years of age or younger. 
• Take the lane – cyclists are more visible and less likely to be passed when riding in the center of the travel lane. 

• Use hand signals before performing a turning movement. 
• Follow all signs, signals,  and path markings. 
• Watch out for car doors when passing parked vehicles. Ride outside of the door zone when possible.
• Riding a bicycle on a sidewalk is not permitted on King Street, from West Street to the Potomac River, and on Union Street, between Prince Street and Cameron Street (City Code, Chapter 7 of Title 10).
• If you ever feel uncomfortable on a particular road or ride hop off your bike and become a pedestrian until you feel safe to ride again. Remain visible to other road and trail users by using bike lights on the front and rear of your bike (white light in front, red light in back).Never swerve in and out of lanes or traffic. The best path is a straight path. Always lock your bike with a sturdy and reliable lock. Register your bike on BikeIndex.org in case it gets lost or stolen. Anticipate potential areas of conflict, particularly at intersections where you are traveling straight and drivers may be turning.

The City sponsors bicycle classes provided by the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA). Class types include:

• Learn to Ride: Class for adults to learn how to ride a bike.
• Youth Learn to Ride: Class for children to learn how to ride a bike.
• Basic Skills Clinic: Class for adults to practice their bike handling skills.
• Confident City Cycling: Class for adults to become more confident biking on City streets.

To learn more and register for upcoming classes, please visit the WABA webpage. Here is a list of the Spring 2024 classes in Alexandria:  

• Adult Learn to Ride - Saturday, April 6
• Youth Learn to Ride - Sunday, April 28
• Confident City Cycling - Sunday, April 28
• Adult Learn to Ride - Sunday, May 12
• Confident City Cycling - Sunday, May 12 (Cancelled)
• Basic Skills Clinic - Saturday, May 25
• Youth Learn to Ride - Saturday, May 25
• Confident City Cycling - Saturday, June 8
• Youth Learn to Ride - Sunday, June 9 (new date!)
• Youth Learn to Ride - Saturday, June 29 (new date!)
• E-Bike Confident City Cycling - Sunday, June 30

Alexandria is a bike friendly community! Learn more about this designation, awarded by the League of American Bicyclists, at bikeleague.org.