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Bike the Sites tour are a unique, active, and environmentally friendly way to enjoy Washington's history and architecture. Touring the nation's capital by bicycle gives you an opportunity to visit many memorable and sometimes remote places that you would otherwise miss. Knowledgeable and entertaining guides will escort you on your leisurely ride, providing historical facts, interesting stories, and little-known anecdotes. WHO can participate? The tours are completed at a relaxing pace and are for the "occasional" exerciser. They welcome anyone 9 years or older who is in sufficient health to comfortably ride a bicycle. Consult a physician if you are in doubt. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 16. The lead guides have been professionally licensed and trained in CPR and First Aid. All other guides are avid cyclists and may be professionally licensed and trained in CPR and First Aid. Gratuities for your guides are greatly appreciated, but are at your discretion.
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Because the
city was built from scratch, Washington's
regular town plan is easy to grasp. Centered
on Capitol Hill and its governmental
monoliths, the District is divided into four
quadrants - northeast, northwest, southeast
and southwest. Dozens of broad avenues , all
named after states, run diagonally across a
standard grid of streets , meeting up at
monumental traffic circles like Dupont
Circle. North-south streets are numbered,
east-west ones are lettered. There's no J
Street, an intentional slight to early
Supreme Court Justice John Jay, or X, Y or Z
Street. I Street is often written Eye
Street. Be sure to note the relevant
two-letter code in any address (NW, NE, SW,
SE), which shows its quadrant; 1600
Pennsylvania Ave NW is a long way from 1600
Pennsylvania Ave SE.
Once in the
city, stop at the
DC Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center ,
Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania
Ave NW (Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun noon-5pm; tel
202/328-4748), which can help with maps,
tours, bookings and citywide information.
Look for visitor information desks at the
airports and Union Station.
The White House Visitor Information Center
, 1450 Pennsylvania Ave NW (daily
7.30am-4pm; tel 202/208-1631), supplies free
maps and handy guides to museums and
attractions; the most useful is the free
Washington DC Visitors Guide .
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