2024 Year in Review
Cycling Unbound Community Impact
Building community through cycling advocacy and accessibility
As we close out 2024, Cycling Unbound reflects on a year of remarkable community engagement and impact. Our organization’s mission to make cycling accessible, safe, and equitable for all Northern Virginia residents has driven meaningful change through advocacy, education, and direct community programs.
Community Engagement: By the Numbers
317
Community Activities
Organized rides, training sessions, and advocacy events
5,360
Miles Logged
Collective community cycling miles
64,764
Feet of Elevation
Community climbed together
134
Group Rides
Organized outdoor cycling events
Gravel Cycling Leadership Program
Our flagship Gravel Cycling Leadership Program emerged as the cornerstone of Cycling Unbound’s community engagement in 2024. This program introduced Northern Virginia cyclists to the diverse gravel roads throughout the region while building advocacy skills and community connections.
Gravel Program Achievements:
- 79 gravel cycling events covering 3,126 miles across Northern Virginia
- Average ride distance: 39.6 miles, building endurance and confidence
- Route development: Mapped and documented safe gravel cycling corridors
- Year-round programming with events in 11 of 12 months
“Through our gravel cycling program, we’ve shown that cycling infrastructure goes beyond paved bike lanes. Virginia’s historic gravel roads offer incredible opportunities for safe, car-free cycling experiences while preserving our heritage.”
E-Bike Access and Equity Initiative
Recognizing that e-bikes dramatically expand cycling accessibility, Cycling Unbound launched comprehensive e-bike programming to ensure these technologies serve all community members, regardless of age, ability, or economic status.
E-Bike Access Program
- 31 community e-bike events
- 1,336 miles of e-bike advocacy rides
- 43.1 miles average group ride distance
- Demonstrated e-bike potential for transportation
E-Mountain Bike Trail Advocacy
- 2 e-MTB pilot programs
- 29.6 miles of trail access advocacy
- Partnerships with land management agencies
- Sustainable trail use education
Seasonal Community Building
Cycling Unbound’s year-round programming approach ensured consistent community engagement across all seasons, adapting activities to weather conditions and community needs.
Quarterly Program Highlights
Spring Peak
810.8 miles
March programming (19 events)
Summer Strong
632.9 miles
August endurance programming
Fall Focus
654.7 miles
November advocacy rides
Spring Growth
694.6 miles
May community building
Diverse Cycling Discipline Advocacy
Cycling Unbound’s comprehensive approach recognizes that different cycling disciplines serve different community needs. Our 2024 programming reflected this diversity while advocating for infrastructure that supports all types of cycling.
Road Cycling Advocacy
- 17 road cycling safety demonstrations
- 749.5 miles of road infrastructure assessment
- 44.1 miles average assessment ride
- Longest assessment: 76.1 miles
Mountain Bike Trail Access
- 3 mountain bike advocacy events
- 53.1 miles of trail assessment
- Sustainable trail use education
- Land manager partnerships
Competitive Cycling Support
- 2 racing community events
- 66.0 miles of race route advocacy
- Youth cycling development
- Racing safety initiatives
Comprehensive Fitness and Training Programs
Beyond outdoor cycling advocacy, Cycling Unbound developed comprehensive training programs to support cyclists of all levels while promoting cycling as a viable transportation and recreation option.
Training and Development Programs
102
Indoor cycling training sessions
67
Strength training workshops
12
Walking advocacy events
26.1
Miles of walkable community assessment
2024 Advocacy Achievements
Cycling Unbound’s advocacy efforts in 2024 achieved several significant milestones that will benefit the cycling community for years to come.
Major Advocacy Wins:
- Epic distance demonstrations: 76.1-mile and 71.4-mile advocacy rides showcasing long-distance cycling viability
- Consistent year-round presence: Active programming in 11 of 12 months demonstrating cycling as year-round transportation
- Multi-county engagement: Programming across Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Arlington Counties
- Infrastructure documentation: Comprehensive mapping of cycling-friendly routes and infrastructure gaps
Environmental Impact and Climate Action
Through community programming and advocacy, Cycling Unbound demonstrated cycling’s significant potential for addressing climate change and air quality concerns in Northern Virginia.
Community Environmental Impact
5,360
Advocacy Miles
Demonstrating cycling viability
2.1 Tons
CO₂ Demonstrated
Potential annual savings per cyclist
$2,400
Economic Impact
Annual transportation savings potential
Community Health and Wellness Promotion
Cycling Unbound’s holistic approach to community wellness combined physical activity programming with mental health advocacy and community building initiatives.
Physical Wellness Programming
- Cardiovascular fitness through cycling
- Strength training workshop series
- Endurance building through long rides
- Multi-generational fitness programming
Mental Health and Community
- Stress reduction through outdoor activity
- Community building through group rides
- Achievement and goal-setting programs
- Connection with natural environments
Looking Ahead: 2025 Goals and Expansion
Building on 2024’s successes, Cycling Unbound is planning ambitious expansion of programming and advocacy efforts for 2025.
6,000 Advocacy Miles
Expanded route documentation
Regional Expansion
Maryland and West Virginia partnerships
Event Partnerships
Collaborate with organized rides
Policy Advocacy
Infrastructure improvement campaigns
Building a Cycling-Friendly Northern Virginia
Looking back on 2024, Cycling Unbound is proud of our community’s commitment to making Northern Virginia a more cycling-friendly region. Through consistent programming, advocacy, and community building, we’ve demonstrated that cycling can be safe, accessible, and enjoyable for residents across all backgrounds and abilities.
Join Cycling Unbound in 2025
Whether you’re new to cycling or a seasoned advocate, there’s a place for you in the Cycling Unbound community. Together, we’re building a more sustainable, healthy, and connected Northern Virginia.
Ride
Join our group rides and events
Advocate
Support cycling infrastructure improvements
Learn
Participate in our training programs
Connect
Build community through cycling
Contact us: info@cyclingunbound.org | (703) 555-BIKE | cyclingunbound.org/get-involved
Cycling Unbound is a Northern Virginia-based advocacy organization dedicated to making cycling accessible, safe, and equitable for all residents. Through community programming, infrastructure advocacy, and education, we’re building a more sustainable and connected region, one pedal stroke at a time.
This is incredible! I participated in three of the gravel cycling events this year and they completely changed my perspective on cycling in Northern Virginia. The route documentation you’ve done has opened up so many new possibilities for safe, car-free cycling. Thank you for making cycling accessible to families like mine!
The e-bike program is a game-changer! As someone in my 60s who thought my cycling days were behind me, the e-bike events have brought me back to the cycling community. The 43-mile average ride distance shows these aren’t just casual rides – you’re proving e-bikes are serious transportation. Keep up the excellent advocacy work!
Wow – 5,360 miles collectively! This really demonstrates the scale of impact Cycling Unbound is having. I’m particularly interested in the infrastructure advocacy work. As a Fairfax County resident, I’d love to see more protected bike lanes. How can I get involved in the policy advocacy efforts for 2025?
The diversity of programming is impressive – from strength training to mountain biking to gravel rides. This holistic approach is exactly what the cycling community needs. I’ve been doing the indoor cycling sessions and they’ve really improved my outdoor performance. Looking forward to trying some of the gravel events in 2025!
As a working parent, I really appreciate the environmental impact data you’ve shared. Knowing that cycling can save $2,400 annually in transportation costs while reducing CO2 emissions makes a compelling case for bike commuting. The year-round programming also shows that cycling isn’t just a fair-weather activity. Great work!
Love seeing mountain biking included in the advocacy efforts! The trail access work and partnerships with land management agencies are crucial for the sport. While the numbers show most activity was gravel and road cycling, it’s encouraging to see support for all cycling disciplines. Hope to see more MTB events in 2025.
This report perfectly captures why I moved to Northern Virginia! The combination of advocacy, community building, and actual programming creates such a supportive environment for cyclists. The goal of reaching 6,000 advocacy miles in 2025 is ambitious and I’d love to be part of achieving it. Thank you for all the work you do to make our region more bike-friendly!