Photo by Georgetown Voice

Unlike the loosely organized, sometimes chaotic Critical Mass or the free and festive D.C. Bike Party, the inaugural DC Bike Ride will be a rather more official affair. The city is doing the work of shutting down the streets, and organizers are expecting around 8,000 people to take to the streets on two wheels at once.

The recreational ride on May 22 will be similar to New York City’s Five Boro Bike Tour, albeit on a smaller scale. While the 39-year-old New York ride traverses 40 miles and (duh) all five boroughs, D.C.’s new event will span 17 miles and two quadrants of the city, plus part of Arlington.

But Capital Sports Ventures, the ride’s organizer, believes this is just the beginning, and they predict that future years will see as many as 18,000 riders. “DC Bike Ride will celebrate and promote biking, a healthy lifestyle, and street safety while allowing participants from throughout the region and beyond to enjoy a one-of-a-kind journey through the District,” said the company’s CEO, Greg Bibb, in a release. They’ve been working to bring the ride to D.C. for the past two years.

Early bird tickets are $50 until March 1, after which they will go up to $60, and VIP registration will run participants $195.

Events D.C. (the city’s convention and sports authority) and Carefirst Bluecross Blueshield are “presenting partners,” and part of the proceeds will benefit the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.

“DCBR represents the return of a family-friendly, traffic-free bike ride to the District of Columbia, and our community couldn’t be more thrilled,” said WABA director Greg Billings. “We believe the best way to experience our region is on the seat of a bicycle.”

WABA is among the groups working toward the administration’s goal of eliminating all fatalities and serious injuries to people using the city’s transportation systems, otherwise known as Vision Zero. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District Department of Transportation released an action plan in December to bring the Swedish concept to Washington and reach such zero deaths or injuries by 2024.

The DC Bike Ride is also scheduled for the middle of “National Bike Month,” and there will be a celebratory festival at the finish line (the ride will start and end near the Capitol).