See How People Learned to Respond to a Disaster by Bike
Arlington County’s first Disaster Relief Trial was a success and riders learned just how vital bikes can be in responding to a disaster situation. If you missed the event, enjoy this recap!
During National Preparedness Month, Arlington’s Office of Emergency Management and BikeArlington hosted the region’s first Disaster Relief Trial (DRT). Over 40 riders took part in a simulation designed to teach them how to use bikes for disaster recovery efforts.
As in a real disaster, there wasn’t a lot of information disclosed ahead of time, so participants spent the early part of the morning determining where checkpoints were located, what supplies had to be picked up, and plotting their routes (with a paper map) to each checkpoint. Once they organized their information and routes, the challenge started.
Get a glimpse at the challenges riders’ faced once they hit the course!
It’s serious business when the maps come out. #DRTArlington #ArlingtonBikes #dcbikes #ARLPrep2018 pic.twitter.com/lZ8QRSIq6i
— BikeArlington (@BikeArlington) September 29, 2018
Riders Tackled Four Check Point Locations
Zachary Taylor Park
Challenges: Water Crossing and Rough Terrain; Critical Message Relay; Medicine Pick-up
Riders were tasked with crossing water and rough terrain which required most riders to dismount. Riders also picked up medicine—represented by real, raw eggs—that required a delicate touch to transport and received a critical message to take to Central Place Plaza. Staff and volunteers from Spokes, Etc! managed the checkpoint.
#DRTArlington2018 participants must go through a water crossing and over a barrier. Here they can also pickup (simulated) medication, and receive a critical message they must deliver to another checkpoint. pic.twitter.com/0m8oBP30d5
— Ready Arlington (@ReadyArlington) September 29, 2018
Quincy Park
Challenges: Food Pick up Challenge; Fire Extinguisher
At this checkpoint, riders pick up food—simulated by mulch—and put out a virtual fire with assistance from NCI Emergency Management. Members left this checkpoint with some added weight to carry for the rest of the challenge. Members of Team Rubicon organized and hosted this pit stop.
Our fire extinguisher challenge station is open for business at #DRTArlington2018! pic.twitter.com/eR5pyNvtNJ
— NCI Emergency Management (@ReadyNCI) September 29, 2018
Central Place Plaza
Challenges: Barrier Challenge; Critical Message Delivery
Perhaps one of the better locations for spectating, members of the Bike Rack Racing Team hosted a barrier challenge with plenty of over and under situations for riders to navigate. Riders also had to deliver the critical message picked up from Zachary Taylor Park. Most impressively, they had to get up the Lynn Street stairs!
Stairs, rails, cones, oh my! Obstacles will occur during natural disasters and learning how to navigate them is crucial. Needing to carry a bike is also a real possibility. @Bikerackracing @RosslynVA #DRTArlington #ArlingtonBikes #ARLPrep2018 #NATLPrep pic.twitter.com/rcB3BeSJRb
— BikeArlington (@BikeArlington) September 29, 2018
Arlington Mill Community Center
Challenges: Water Pick Up Challenge; Wound Packing
The water fill-up station ended up being the last stop for most riders, since it added the most weight to carry. Riders brought their own containers for water, and we saw some creative uses of everything from 5-gallon buckets to camping showers. Riders also learned the proper technique for packing a wound. Members of the Team Sticky Fingers and Phoenix Bikes hosted the activities at checkpoint.
#DRTArlington2018 participants can fill their water containers (they get points for how much they can carry) and conduct the wound packing skill. Thanks @stickyfingersdc for sponsoring and @ArlingtonDES for the water! pic.twitter.com/9hTkgb0yxz
— Ready Arlington (@ReadyArlington) September 29, 2018
Riders were able to choose their own course between checkpoints, leading to a diversity of options and explorations of Arlington’s bike facilities.
We demonstrated that bikes can haul a lot of food, water and medicine while navigating rough terrain, creeks, and downed trees and power lines. We will have more people to do this if we build a safe and connected bike network that encourages biking. pic.twitter.com/7rQ98vqU42
— Judd LumBOOjack (@JuddLumberjack) September 29, 2018
The Finish Line
The fun continued at the finish line. Riders checked back in, kids participated in their very own DRT, people learned about preparing for an emergency, and winners were announced!
Weighing the Goods
Riders rolled to the finish line at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, where they had to weigh their water and food, count their medicine, and tally up their points. Bikenetic Racing and volunteers assisted the riders at this final stop of the challenge.
The finish line is crowded and bikes are fully loaded. Weigh-ins and scoring are happening now. Winners to be announced at approx 2pm! Thank you @BikeneticFC and volunteers for counting! #DRTArlington @ReadyArlington #ArlingtonBikes #bikedc #ARLPrep2018 #NATLPrep pic.twitter.com/tEOrjGfJk5
— BikeArlington (@BikeArlington) September 29, 2018
What 142 lbs of water looks like @ the #DRTArlington2018 finish line. Great work, guys! @ReadyArlington @BikeArlington #Arlingtonbikes #ARLprep2018 #NATLprep pic.twitter.com/fx7GHPlmdR
— Meg Mitcham (@Mak5165) September 29, 2018
Disaster Preparedness Fair
Folks were able to stop by Thomas Jefferson Community Center and visit a Disaster Preparedness Fair with great partners sharing information about how to be prepared for emergencies when they happen.
Many thanks to @RedCrossNCR @AWLAArlington, ArlCERT and ECC for taking part in our Preparedness Fair at #DRTArlington2018 with @BikeArlington pic.twitter.com/ovRgqqVBEp
— Ready Arlington (@ReadyArlington) September 29, 2018
Kiddie DRT
We’ve got bike preparedness challenges for all ages! #DRTArlington2018 🚲👶🏻 @BikeArlington pic.twitter.com/ittE5AYOEG
— Ready Arlington (@ReadyArlington) September 29, 2018
Scores Were Tallied and Winners Announced
There were four different categories of competitive racers, and each category was scored separately. Riders received points for completing each checkpoint challenge, one point per pound of food and water, five points for each unit of medicine (eggs, in this case), and a special bonus for visiting all checkpoints.
Congratulations to the winners:
Team Categories
#DRTArlington team winners! pic.twitter.com/WXUBUxMmkG
— BikeArlington (@BikeArlington) September 29, 2018
Family Category
#DRTArlington is a family thing! #ArlingtonBikes #bikedc pic.twitter.com/h1kmwZXwNr
— BikeArlington (@BikeArlington) September 29, 2018
Individual Category
This is what (almost) #winning looks like. @TwoWheelsDC rides #DRTArlington2018 #bikeDC #ArlingtonBikes @BikeArlington @ReadyArlington #ARLprep2018 #NATLprep pic.twitter.com/NDakCulSaB
— Meg Mitcham (@Mak5165) September 29, 2018
Events like these, especially new ones, can’t happen without an army of people. So, THANK YOU to all of the volunteers and partners who supported and helped with the Disaster Relief Trials!
If you missed this event, there are more opportunities for you to ride along with us this fall.
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