With the D.C. area’s celebration of riding your bike to work known as Bike to Work Day happening this Friday, I’m revisiting some inspiring words from the #BikeDC cyclists I interviewed several months ago.

One of several questions I asked of this group was:

What word or phrase describes your D.C. bicycling experience?

I love this question because cycling can mean so many different things to people. Yet common themes also exist among us. Below is what some of the members of #BikeDC had to say in response to that question.

Life-changing!

-Marc M.

Maturity. I was still a neophyte to bicycling when I arrived at DC, and I feel I’m learning more and more about city and recreational cycling as I go. I think my experience here has been about growing up, and it’s been a supportive environment to learn.

-Lisa

Fun. I always have fun on my bike.

-Joan

Educational. I’ve started actually thinking about infrastructure and culture and how communities can thrive if our government systems take more than just the car into consideration.

-Laura

Getting better all the time — in most respects.

-Leslie

Grateful. I’m grateful to have the kind of cycling environment that I get to share with my daughter. It’s a warm community with welcoming places to ride.

-Chris

Freedom!

–Kate and Kirstin

What are you waiting for? Tell me what word sums it up for you, and let’s all go ride our bikes! Maybe I’ll see you out during Bike to Work Day?

P.S. Thanks again to everybody who participated in the original #BikeDC Speaks series.