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​​​​​​​​​​​​​Caleb Darden and the NIH Bicycle Commuting Club

Caleb Darden is a postbaccalaureate in the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). He is also the newly elected president of the NIH Bicycle Commuting Club (BCC). Caleb has been cycling and enjoying the mechanics of bikes since he was a child. As he grew older, his love for the hobby shifted.

“It's a great way to get exercise and also go out and see a city, or see a new place, or look at the season change, or all of these different things. There's definitely a meditative component there for me personally; that’s why I do it so much.”

The BCC represents a perfect intersection for Caleb. Not only is biking a way to get meditative exercise and explore his surroundings,  it also boosts a sense of community. Members of the club are of varying skill levels and backgrounds, and club rides are a relaxed time where everyone can experience some togetherness.

“The goal is not how fast can you go. The goal is: can we get people together outside that have some interest in biking?”

Caleb and the Bike Club are especially excited for Bike To Work Day on May 15. He admits that there can be some challenges to biking to work: inclement weather, road hazards and showing up to work sweaty. However,  Division of Amenities and Transportation Services (DATS)  and the BCC have resources to help. 

At the end of the day, Caleb just wants people to have a community and conduit for people to enjoy themselves. He hopes others will find that in the BCC.

“I'm not sure if everyone would relate to this, but I feel unbelievably good and energized after starting the day with coffee and a quick bike ride to work.”

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​​DATS Programs​ While it may be exciting to see your coworkers every day, traffic and parking might not be so pleasant. In this article, we will review some alternative transportation options supported by the Division of Amenities and Transportation Services (DATS) that can help avoid those pesky parking problems and reduce travel emissions. ​LEA​RN MORE​​​​

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​​​	​Bike To Work Day ​ Get ready! The annual Bike to Work Day is returning to the NIH this year. The event will take place on Thursday, May 15. LEARN MORE​​

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NEMS Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Did you know? ​​In 2023, NIH won the Bike To Work Day (BTWD) Employer Challenge for being the organization with the most participants biking to work in the Washington, D.C. area! To learn more about sustainability at the NIH​​​​​​​​​​​​​​, please visit the NEMS Training webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.

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