We are absolutely thrilled with the rise in bicycle travel across the District. The launch of Capital Bikeshare, better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and a community of bike evangelists‘an extremely enthusiastic band of bike-supporters’ have all contributed. As you can imagine, with an increase in bicycling comes a swell in the amount of bikes zooming around town. And bikes need a place to hang out while their owners are busy doing things at places their trusty bikes took them to. So, we would like to remind you, that while both trees and bikes have similar goals in life—like saving the planet—they should NOT be forcibly held together with your bike lock. Locking a bike to a tree can stunt a tree’s growth and even kill it. Not to mention that little-known law that makes it completely ILLEGAL to lock your bike to any tree less than 10” in diameter (and as a bit of advice, if you don’t lock a bike to a tree of any size, you won’t need to carry your tape measure around with you).
Bicycling is becoming a more popular form of transportation (awesome!) as people begin to understand all the amazing benefits that come from bike travel—it’s good for you, great for the community and excellent for the environment. Unfortunately, locking your bike to a tree cancels out your “greenness” for the day. So, please continue to do great things for the quality of air (and life!) here in the District and keep your bike travel completely earth-friendly by looking out for the closest available bike rack and securing it there instead.
If you can’t find a rack, please contact the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center by dialing 311 to request one. If you are a business located in the District and would like one, please contact goDCgo at 202.299.2186. DDOT’s Urban Forestry Administration wants you to remember that biking isn’t green if you harm a tree! Love trees? Become a Canopy Keeper by adopting one. It’s like having a pet that knows what “stay” means. Call (202) 671-5133 or visit ddot.dc.gov/trees for more information.
Have some place you could help us spread the word? Please pass along this poster.
By Kristin Howard at goDCgo
Hi, Kristin,
Can you please explain how simply locking a bike to a tree can stunt the tree’s growth?
Absent some aggressive locking technique, the idea that a cable and/or an appropriately sized u-lock and a bicycle touching a tree for a few hours will stunt its growth–or (especially) kill it–sounds patently absurd and alarmist.
Yes, if you break off bark or branches, or otherwise physically harm the tree while you lock up to it, you could stunt its growth. But that’s a different matter altogether.
Am I missing something? Thanks.
Thank you for your comment, below is an explanation straight from our friends at Urban Forestry.Trees, especially in high traffic areas, often experience many bikes and locks slamming and rubbing against them throughout the day and night, no matter how careful a few individuals might be.The result, especially on young and thin bark trees, is that when the bark is removed or otherwise damaged, the vascular cambium (which can be as little as 1/16th of an inch beneath the surface) is exposed. This allows for disease and insect infestation, as well as severe wounds that can permanently disrupt the flow of water and nutrients through the xylem and phloem to the rest of the tree.
Also, when bike thieves cut the tree in half to steal your bike, that’s not good for trees either. This happens more often than you might think. I’m personally aware of at least two instances in the past two years in DC where a sapling was cut, or snapped at the trunk in order to steal a U-locked bike.
I am wondering who enforces this law you mention “locking a bike to a tree” is a crime? Never heard of the law before nor of anyone getting a citation. How much is the fine? Jail time?
Thanks for the warning. I love trees and would always look for a metal pole before I would cozy up my bicycle to a tree with a lock.
I had a sticker placed on my Bike today in Georgetown, I felt as if I had a stalker. I am going to make it my life goal to visit this tree and park my bike on it.
The “Green” sticker, that went on the tree… Its not green to put stickers on bikes that will be placed on trees….
You guys have way too much time….
@Will
Yes, definitely NOT green to cut a tree to steal a bike. Luckily, racks are a lot more difficult to cut down.
@Frederick
We are waiting on a direct response from our friends at Urban Forestry on that.
@Anon
I’m not sure what you are referring to, but goDCgo has not placed any stickers on bikes or trees.
@Frederick
I am told it is a “public right of way violation”. DDOT inspectors have authority over these citations.
Who puts those stickers on the bikes that are not harming the trees?? I got one today in Georgetown – not a bike rack in the area!
@Jack We’re not sure who is placing stickers on bikes, but if you have a picture, please tweet, Facebook or email it to us (info@godcgo.com). Thanks!
Look, I can completely sympathize with the mindset behind this initiative. Urban trees are incredibly important and deserve to be protected. However, the WAY in which this message is delivered is just as important as the message itself. Let’s be honest – this law is FAR from being enforced, and to advocate for it to be more strictly enforced creates a breach between those protecting trees and those biking, two groups of people that are likely to have similar visions of what kind of city DC should be. Bikers are not at all likely to stop locking their bikes to trees until there are viable and plentiful bike parking alternatives. Instead of pushing arborists into confrontations with bikers (as if bikers are the sole culprit endangering urban trees), we should focus on banding together to advocate for universal distribution of bike parking throughout the city.
*Sidenote – today I was accosted by an older woman for locking my bike to a tree. Instead of politely informing me of the risk to the tree, and letting me know that by calling certain numbers I can advocate for more bike parking, she brusquely chastised me and was unwilling to engage in dialogue. This is the type of division we should work harder to avoid.
Thanks for reading.
Thank you for your feedback, Cory. We certainly sympathize. The message was intended simply to inform bicyclists about the law and the damage that can be inflicted on trees of a certain size. Many bikers may not have been aware of this and we assumed that those who are environmentally conscious would appreciate knowing. We in no way intended to create a rift between bikers and self-appointed tree-protectors, and the interaction that you described is indeed unfortunate and obnoxious on her part. DDOT is always working on new projects to make DC more bike-friendly and are always available to hear suggestions for additional bike parking. For our part, we will do what we can to promote your idea of creating a city where citizens “band together” to make biking in the District safer and more convenient.