Family (Biking) Matters: I’m a huge Nats fan gearing up for opening day. I’ve seen that Nats Park has a bike valet, but have always been hesitant to use it. Should I use it? Any advice for a newbie? Are there other professional sporting events in DC I should bike to? Bike Me Out to the Ballgame
Dear Bike Me,
Spring is in the air, which means baseball season is near. The Washington Nationals’ opening day is on Thursday, March 27th, and we can’t wait. (Get tickets here!) With the proliferation of protected bike lanes in Southeast and Southwest DC, including the newly-installed I Street SE lanes, getting to the ballpark by bike has never been easier. It is a great way to spend the afternoon with the family outdoors. Make sure you check out the Nats’ perks like the Kids Eat Free program and $5 ticket deals for DC residents: See details here.
The Nats Park bike valet is located on First Street Southeast, just south of N Street SE on the northeast corner of the stadium. The valet opens two hours before the game and closes one hour after the game ends, and is super easy to use. Just roll in and follow the directions of the attendant, who will give you a claim tag that matches the one they put on your bike. It isn’t required, but we usually lock our bike frame to itself. If we’re a group, we’ll lock multiple bikes together for extra security. When you pick up your bike, a tip for the attendant is welcome. For more details, check out the Nats’ information here.
There are also 250 bike racks located outside of the stadium, if you want to get in and out of the crowds faster. We would not feel comfortable leaving e-bikes outside the stadium, but we have left fully loaded bikes and bags with the valet and have never had any issues.
Aside from baseball, there are many other sporting events in the DC area that you can easily bike to with your family or friends. Audi Field, home to the Washington Spirit and DC United soccer teams, also has a bike valet. It’s located on the southwest corner of the stadium at 2nd and T Streets Southwest. The attendants here will put a numbered cover on your seat and text you a code that you show when picking up your bike after the game. We also recommend taking a picture of your bike and seat cover just in case the valet’s text does not come through (a frequent occurrence). You can learn more about bike parking at Audi Field here. The line at pick up after the game can get long, so if you are in a hurry, you can lock your bike to one of the many racks around the stadium.
Unfortunately, Capital One Arena does not currently have a bike valet, but there are several Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) stations nearby. Hopefully the next round of upgrades will include safe and secure bike parking at this venue. (Hint, hint Ted Leonsis!)
We think you’ll find biking to DC sports venues and feeling secure about the safety of your bike while you are enjoying the game is a win-win. Let us know about your experience, enjoy the ride and play ball!
And the start of baseball season also brings the Hill Family Biking 2 year anniversary! We’re having a big birthday bash on April 26th starting at 12th and K NE to celebrate the new Florida Ave NE bike lanes and ending at Lincoln Park with a magician, face painting, pizza and more. We hope to see you soon.