I recently attended my first game at the new Nationals ballpark and was very impressed. The ballpark is shiny and new, the food was good, the grass is green, yadda yadda yadda, but what I liked the best was the free valet bike parking.
Never heard of valet bike parking before? Well, it's just like its polluting cousin but friendlier, cooler, and you don't have to worry about the valet stinking up your car (a la Seinfeld).
The valet bike parking is about 200 
feet from the main entrance to the ballpark at the intersection of 1st and N Streets SE. You ride a few feet into the garage and it's on the left. One of the bike valet will greet you, check your ID, and give you a valet ticket. The valet then parks your bike and you're off to the game. No bike locks are needed as the valet bike parking area is enclosed and the valet are always present at the facility during games. When you pick-up your bike, just show the valet your valet ticket and you're presented with your bike. No charge. Compare that with the $40 fee for valet vehicle parking at the ballpark. Save your money and buy a new helmet instead.
One of the best parts is when the tens of thousands of Nationals fans are leaving at the same time, you'll be out of the congested area in seconds. As you're rolling away from the ballpark, make sure to waive goodbye to everybody else stuck in traffic, so maybe next time they'll bike too.
Blogger WashCycle has put together a useful map of how to bike there.
Comments