What we’re about
Established in 1999, the Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee (RBAC) is a group of volunteers of all bicycling levels. As a committee, we make recommendations to the City of Rockville Mayor and City Council and staff on bicycling issues from policies to implementation to infrastructure to improving conditions for biking in the City.
As part of these goals RBAC volunteers lead group rides to showcase the infrastructure, connectivity and other cycling features such as parking, signage and bikeshare stations. Our rides are designed to show cyclists how navigate our City streets and how Rockville earned a bronze level for being a League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Bicycle-Friendly Community. With these community bike rides, we hope you discover the bikeable routes in and round the City and join us to help promote safe cycling in Rockville.
More about the RBAC can be found on the CIty’s website: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?nid=327
There is a $5 per year membership to help pay for the cost of the Meetup and group liability insurance. Thanks for the support!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Celebrating Juneteenth in RockvilleMattie J.T. Stepanek Park, Rockville, MD
Juneteenth National Independence Day is celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in America. It was on June 19, 1865 when Major General Gordan Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth
The City of Rockville offers a walking tour of its own local African-American heritage: https://www.rockvillemd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/978/Historic-Rockville-African-American-Walking-Tour-Brochure?bidId=
We will not be taking this tour but biking an 8.5-mile loop and stopping at a couple of historic sites and then celebrating at some local Black-owned businesses, including Ethiopis Restaurant, Island Pride and York Castle Ice Cream. The Rockville Economic Development, Inc (REDI) offers a complete list of Black-owned business in the City: https://rockvilleredi.org/celebrating-and-elevating-rockvilles-black-businesses/
Learn about local Black history as we ride using neighborhood streets, a shared-use paths and bike lanes. Learn some useful cut-throughs and bike routes to get from King Farm to Town Center and back.
READ THE FINE PRINT, PLEASE:
• Bicycling involves inherent risks and requires that participants be in proper physical condition. When you RSVP "yes" to a Bike Rockville event, that RSVP is your digital signature attesting that you have read, understood, and agreed to the group's Liability Waiver and Release, located here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BocKiaMJwba62c7b583CoOxIYamFiaWN/view?usp=sharing
• HELMETS ARE REQUIRED for all riders on every ride.
• We strongly recommend you bring a water bottle, spare tube, cell phone, ID card, and cash or credit card for emergencies.
• Rain at start cancels the ride; Wet pavement does not. - Neighborhood Trails Loop Ride with a Silver Branch FinishRockville Beerworks, Derwood, MD
We’ll do a 21-mile loop around Rockville and Aspen Hill starting from the recently opened Silver Branch Rockville Beerworks off of Gude Dr. in the Rock East District. The route will include the ICC Trail, Matthew Henson Trail, and a short segment of the Rock Creek Trail. We will have to ride on the road with traffic to connect these trails, but Crabbs Branch has a wide lane and low traffic volume on a Sunday morning and Layhill Rd has a designated bike lane. Emory Lane has a designated bike path. Fearless riders may opt to take the road. All other roads used to connect the trails are in neighborhoods. We can reward ourselves at the end of the ride with a pint (or half-pint or tasters) and pub food.
This is a social ride. No rider will be left behind. However, we expect riders to maintain a 9-10 mph pace and there are hills. The Ride with GPS map is located here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51054569
READ THE FINE PRINT, PLEASE:
• Bicycling involves inherent risks and requires that participants be in proper physical condition. When you RSVP "yes" to a Bike Rockville event, that RSVP is your digital signature attesting that you have read, understood, and agreed to the group's Liability Waiver and Release, located here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BocKiaMJwba62c7b583CoOxIYamFiaWN/view?usp=sharing
• HELMETS ARE REQUIRED for all riders on every ride.
• We strongly recommend you bring a water bottle, spare tube, cell phone, ID card, and cash or credit card for emergencies.
• Rain at start cancels the ride; Wet pavement does not. - Connecting to North Potomac with an Ice Cream stopMattie J.T. Stepanek Park, Rockville, MD
Join us for a 9.4 mile ride to a North Potomac neighborhood and reward yourself with a scoop of ice cream from Sarah’s Homemade Ice Cream in the Fallsgrove Village Center!
We’ll start at Mattie Stepanek Park in the King Farm neighborhood and ride on roads that connect Rockville to North Potomac. Most of these roads have a shared use path or a bike lane and they can serve as connections to other parts of Montgomery County. If you were to extend the ride, these roads would take you to the C&O Canal, Germantown, Darnestown, and Poolesville. We’ll finally pass through the Fallsgrove Village Center so that we can stop for a scoop at Sarah’s Homemade Ice Cream before returning to King Farm.
This 9.4-mile loop will be on a paved route and suitable for all types of bikes. Hope you will join us!
For those who love maps:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47184923READ THE FINE PRINT, PLEASE:
• Bicycling involves inherent risks and requires that participants be in proper physical condition. When you RSVP "yes" to a Bike Rockville event, that RSVP is your digital signature attesting that you have read, understood, and agreed to the group's Liability Waiver and Release, located here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BocKiaMJwba62c7b583CoOxIYamFiaWN/view?usp=sharing
• HELMETS ARE REQUIRED for all riders on every ride.
• We strongly recommend you bring a water bottle, spare tube, cell phone, ID card, and cash or credit card for emergencies.
• Rain at start cancels the ride; Wet pavement does not. - Monthly MeetingsLink visible for attendees
The Rockville Bike Advisory Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Are you a bike enthusiast?
Are you interested in the bikeways in Rockville?
Would you like to see more trails or bike lanes?
Would you like to make a difference on how the bikeways are maintained?Then join RBAC!
Since its creation, our volunteer committee has held regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year, carried out its mandated tasks, and has become an important and valuable resource to the City on bicycling issues. The active participation of the RBAC is vital to Rockville's continued success in implementing the Bikeway Master Plan Update and in improving conditions for bicycling in the City.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D67FY8yFuU8&list=UUcfUJA6KhJVfIXr54S9us3Q
In 2019, the Rockville Mayor and City Council adopted a complete streets policy (to provide facilities that serve all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and motorists) and in 2018 they adopted a Vision Zero resolution (to reduce traffic-related deaths to zero by 2030). RBAC members are working with the City to help with these goals and serve as liaisons to interested residents.
RBAC's Mission (http://www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?nid=327):
The committee's mandate for action includes the following tasks:•Assist in the development of the City's bicycle and pedestrian specific policies, as well as other policies that affect the conditions for bicycling in the City;
•Oversee the implementation of the City’s Bikeway Master Plan Update and report progress toward completion to the Mayor and City Council;
•Review current and proposed CIP projects to ensure bicycle needs are incorporated into design and construction when appropriate; and
•Deliver updates on the needs and desires of bicyclists in the community, with recommendations for action to the Mayor and City Council.
Join us to share your thoughts and feedback.
