The Walk & Ride Challenge
Prizes
The following prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the three-week Challenge:
1st Place - $50 gift card for each team member
2nd Place - $35 gift card for each team member
3rd Place - $25 gift card for each team member
NOTE: Montgomery County Government (MCG) employees are not eligible for cash prizes. Instead, weekly individual prize drawings will be held exclusively for MCG employees. “Grand prizes” consisting of special promotional items will be awarded to the top three MCG employee teams with the highest step counts at the end of the Challenge. Winning teams and participants may also be recognized in departmental newsletters and other forms of communication.
Rules
1. Dates & Locations:
The 2025 Walk & Ride Challenge will run from October 13 through October 31, 2025 in the following Transportation Management Districts (TMDs):
• Bethesda
• Friendship Heights
• Greater Shady Grove
• North Bethesda
• Silver Spring
• White Oak
2. Step Logging:
Participants should log walking steps taken Monday through Friday each week. All walking steps count—from wake-up to bedtime. (See Rules #7 and #8 for more information on eligible steps.)
• No T-shirts or pedometers will be provided this year.
• Registration is free.
NOTE: While we are not supplying pedometers, a limited number are available for those who truly need one. Participants are encouraged to use smartphones or fitness trackers to track their steps. Visit here for guidance on using your smartphone to track steps.
• Steps for the previous week must be logged by 5:00 PM on Monday.
3. Eligibility:
All team members must be employed by or work remotely for a company or organization located in their Transportation Management District.
4. Team Size:
Teams must consist of 3 to 5 members.
•Teams with fewer than three members are welcome to participate but will not be eligible for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prizes.
5. Registration:
• Registration closes Friday, October 11 at 5:00 PM EDT.
• Each team member must create their Walk & Ride login account by Monday, October 13 at 5:00 PM EDT.
• Do not use special characters (! @ # $ % & ? = +, etc.) in your team’s name, as it may not display properly on standings pages.
6. Team Composition:
Teams may include members from different companies, but all members must work within the same Transportation Management District.
7. Purpose of Challenge:
The Walk & Ride Challenge encourages walking to and from work, transit, meetings, lunch, errands, or around your home/office throughout the workday.
• Please include only walking steps.
• Do not include steps from other forms of exercise like aerobics, running, rollerblading, cycling, swimming, or yoga.
Not sure which Transportation Management District you're in? Use our mapping tool or visit the map for your district below:
• Bethesda
• Friendship Heights
• Greater Shady Grove
• North Bethesda
• Silver Spring
• White Oak
8. Determining Winners:
Winning teams will be determined by the average total steps of all team members.
9. Weekly Drawings:
Participants who walk more than 10,000 steps in a week will be entered into random prize drawings. Additional prize opportunities may be announced during the Challenge.
10. Prize Distribution:
(See Prize section at the top for details.)
11. Winner Announcement:
Winners will be announced by November 8, 2025.
Prizes are subject to change but will remain comparable in value.
12. Publicity Release:
Participants agree to allow Montgomery County Commuter Services to use their photograph(s) to promote future events and alternative commuting options.
13. Liability Waiver:
By participating, individuals accept all associated risks. Injuries incurred during participation will not be the responsibility of:
• Montgomery County Government
• Bethesda Urban Partnership / Bethesda Transportation Solutions / Bethesda TMD
• Transportation Action Partnership, Inc. / North Bethesda Transportation Center / North Bethesda TMD .
Participants should follow all pedestrian safety laws. Visit Lookout – Montgomery County Department of Transportation to learn more about walking safely.
14. Most importantly – Have fun!