Mr. Kevin Represents San Diego Cyclists at the National Bike Summit!

Mr. Kevin and Mr. Jim advocating for better cycling in Washington, DC at the National Bike Summit

For a born and raised San Diego kid, this was what I’d call a brisk and chilly day. But for those local to the Washington, DC area, the topic of conversation was an unseasonably warm February—perfect weather for exploring our nation’s capital by bicycle. So with a cool breeze at my back, and amongst the backdrop of political turmoil, the 2025 National Bike Summit had begun.

I arrived in the DC area after a day of travel by plane with a Capital Bikeshare promo burning a hole in my pocket. A quick metro ride later, I stepped out onto the streets of DC. Without exaggeration, the first thing I saw stunned me. I was surrounded by micro-mobility. Visions of pre-covid San Diego flashed before my eyes. At one point, we had nearly a dozen simultaneous bike and scooter share operators on our Southern California streets. They now seemed especially bare in comparison to the sidewalks of the capital.

Micromobility options are essential so that visitors can navigate the city without a car!

It turns out that “If you build it, they will come” isn’t just the favorite movie quote of Gen X dads everywhere; it’s also very true when it comes to getting folks to get out of their cars. Throughout the weekend, I spoke with servers, bartenders, and other service staff who use bikeshare every day but were very clear that they don’t consider themselves bicyclists. This is a good thing! They use bikeshare because it’s the easiest and most convenient way to get to work. No shaming or other incentives necessary.

Bike share docks act as traffic calming, as well as protection for the bike lane!

I was continually surprised by how much of what appeared revolutionary or groundbreaking to me was normalized for Washingtonians. I’ve been letting folks know about leading pedestrian intervals in San Diego for years and it’s been confusing for students every time I do (For those not in the know, busier intersections in San Diego will start the pedestrian crossing light a few seconds before the general traffic light, and bikes can go on the walk signal). But in Washington DC every single signalized intersection has a leading interval of 3-4 seconds, and bikes always go on the walk signal. Every time! And no one is bothered by it! Bike / ped traffic has increased visibility, and is well on its way before the car drivers start rolling. This is normalized and it works.

Also increasingly normalized is DC’s separated cycling facilities. Pennsylvania Avenue has the bike facilities right down the center of the road, with car traffic to the right on either side. The volume of tour buses and delivery vans stopping along the curb necessitates this, and while it does require a little getting used to and paying extra attention to your specific traffic lights, everyone seems to flow just fine.

Between the underground metro, bike share, and my own two feet, the very idea of renting a car upon arrival in Washington, DC was laughable, even if I wasn't there for the National Bicycle Summit. People will use whatever form of transportation is easiest and most convenient. Traffic laws, infrastructure changes, and micromobility options that currently seem impossible here in San Diego are already the norm elsewhere. A better world is possible when it comes to getting around by bike. It’s not a fact I expected to learn when visiting DC in 2025, but it turns out there’s still hope if you know where to look.