Rideshare bike month challenge grows impact fivefold

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — RideShare, a program of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), is proud to announce the success of its third annual Bike Month Business Challenge, held throughout May in celebration of National Bike Month. This year’s challenge saw record participation and demonstrated the growing community commitment to active transportation, sustainability, and healthier commuting options across the region.

Results

• A total of 26 local businesses and organizations participated in this year’s challenge, collectively achieving impressive results:
• 4,702 total miles biked by participating employees
• 1,355 bike trips logged throughout the month
• 1.82 tons of greenhouse gas emissions reduced

This year’s impact saw fivefold the emissions reductions achieved during the challenge’s first year, highlighting the continued growth and enthusiasm surrounding biking as a practical and sustainable transportation option in Central Virginia.

RideShare extends thanks to Ben & Jerry’s, Community Bikes, and Grit Coffee for their generous support of this year’s challenge and for helping provide rewards to participants.

To all of the participants: thank you. Your dedication brought the energy, kept the leaderboard exciting, and made this year's challenge a ton of fun.

Additional gratitude goes to Bike Cville for serving as a valuable community resource throughout Bike Month and all year long, as well as to local bike shops that supported riders this month, including Blue Ridge Cyclery, Blue Wheel Bicycles, DSG House of Sport, and Endeavor Cycles.

Challenge winners

Congratulations to City of Charlottesville employees, who led this year’s competition with eight participants and 243 bike trips logged during the month of May in the regional competition. The City of Charlottesville residents also came out on top in the inaugural statewide Bike Friendly City Challenge, hosted by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). The challenge encouraged residents across Virginia’s cities and towns to log bike trips and compete for bragging rights. With 840 bike trips recorded, Charlottesville claimed first place, outpacing larger cities such as Richmond and Virginia Beach.

Looking ahead

Building on the success of this expanded challenge, RideShare remains dedicated to promoting alternative transportation and fostering a cleaner, healthier, and more connected Central Virginia. We look forward to even larger participation in next year's Bike Month Business Challenge.

About RideShare

RideShare is a free service operated by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission for residents, workers, commuters, and tourists in Virginia’s cities of Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro; and the counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Bath, Fluvanna, Greene, Highland, Louisa, Nelson, Rockbridge and Rockingham.

The commission has partnered with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and its Virginia-wide ConnectingVA program to provide free ridematching to find carpools, vanpools, and all forms of public transportation, trip planning, and information on park-and-ride lots, bike share services, electric vehicle charging stations, and rewards.