DC Bike Ride Announces Multi-Year Partnership with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Event Returns for Seventh Year Making Community Impact and Expects 10,000 Riders
WASHINGTON, D.C. – May, 2023 – The capital city’s signature recreational biking event, DC Bike Ride, will return to take over the streets of Washington D.C. this fall, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. The Ride has become a marquee event for the city and has generated approximately $11.5M in economic impact on the local economy since inception. The event is proud to announce continued support from its presenting sponsor, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst). The partnership was forged six years ago, and has continued to develop over the course of the event’s history and growth. CareFirst has committed through 2026 as the presenting sponsor, which will mark the 10th anniversary of the event. Through this partnership, the two entities have contributed over $200,000 in giveback efforts to the event’s charitable arm, Pedal For A Purpose, a program that supports food relief and community building in the area.
“We are committed to the mission of DC Bike Ride and couldn’t be more thrilled to announce this renewed partnership during National Bike Month,” said CareFirst Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Mack McGee. “Everything that encompasses the spirit of the Ride is what our company supports and believes. From the culture the event has created among riders from all over the community to celebrating our great city, we are proud to serve as the event’s presenting sponsor again this year and for many years to come.”
The annual event has seen more than 50,000 riders on two wheels from all over the world the past six years. Participants have been as young as three years old to riders in their 90s. The continued support will help bolster the philanthropic component supporting the mission of the Ride, where a portion of proceeds benefits nonprofit organizations and community programs, including the District’s own Dreaming Out Loud, which creates economic opportunities for marginalized communities through building a healthy and equitable food system.
“We are immensely grateful to continue our relationship with CareFirst as our event’s presenting sponsor,” said Chris Browne, Managing Director of DC Bike Ride. “Through this annual tradition, we are able to show that biking is for everyone no matter their gender, age, ethnicity or economic status. We can’t wait to see how our riders show up again this fall, and the positive impact we can make in our community.”
The 2023 event campaign features a new workplace focused initiative, Ride In Good Company. The group focused program aims to further participation in the event from local businesses and their employees by providing the opportunity to get outside and move together as a healthy, fun, team building activity – regardless of whether you own a bike.
This year’s event will showcase a new finish line festival location taking place in an unmatched setting on Pennsylvania Avenue with the iconic U.S. Capitol Building as a backdrop for attendees. The Finish Festival, which is free and open the public, is presented by Sibley Memorial Hospital and will include food trucks, fitness classes from #FITDC and live music.
The region’s only closed-road, car-free event will take place on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. EST at its traditional starting line in West Potomac Park. Riders of all levels are invited to tour the city’s famous monuments on 20 miles of uninterrupted roads full of selfie opportunities, live music, rest areas and more.
Prior to the September 9 event, there will be a Packet Pickup Party taking place September 7-8. The Packet Pickup Party and Finish Festival are both free and open to the general public to attend. For the weekend’s full schedule of events, see the full lineup here. The ride is created for participants of all ages (3+) and cycling levels. Riders ages 3-7 years old are free to ride, and children 8-17 are always half price. Adult registration starts at $69 and various registration add-ons, including bike and helmet rentals and cycling jerseys, are available.
In its 85th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.6 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2022, CareFirst invested $24.1 million to improve overall health, and increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of healthcare throughout its market areas. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit our website at www.carefirst.com and our transforming healthcare page at www.carefirst.com/transformation, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.
