At the recent EcoDistricts Summit in Downtown Washington, D.C., staff from the DowntownDC BID led a bike tour of Downtown that hit everything from rain gardens to cycletracks to sustainable development projects.
About 30 summit attendees set aside time during the summit Sept. 26 to follow BID staff on a two-hour bike tour of the DowntownDC ecoDistrict (established by the BID in 2011 and encompassing the BID’s entire 138-block area). Tour attendees were outfitted by Bike and Roll (901 G Street NW) and set off on a two-hour adventure to learn about the sustainable transportation options and projects throughout Downtown. Participants learned firsthand about Downtown cycletracks, saw rain gardens in NoMa, witnessed the progress of the decking over of I-395 at Capitol Crossing, checked out the Union Station bike station, the Metropolitan Branch Trail and more.
Other EcoDistrict Summit attendees last week snatched up printed walking tour maps provided by the BID and designed by ZGF Architects LLP showcasing the wide array of sustainable buildings, projects, transportation options and spaces that already exist in the BID and those in their infancy.
The walking maps allow users to build their own sustainable walking tours of Downtown. Map users can learn more information about past, present and future sustainable projects in the BID. Highlights include two ecoDistrict properties (Macy’s–1201 G Street NW and Hotel Monaco–700 F Street NW) that earned the Showcase Project designation from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge.
Now, you can take your own tour of Downtown!
Download your own bike tour or walking tour below and get exploring!
EcoDistrict Bike Tour Map (PDF)
EcoDistrict Walking Tour Map (PDF)
Sustainable development and transportation as well as fun activities such as bike and walking tours are part of the BID’s Healthy Communities initiative, which supports Downtown as a healthy place to live, work and play 24-7. #healthy247