The Gorove Slade team recently wrapped up an annual tradition that perfectly embodies our commitment to sustainable, multimodal transportation: the 4,600 Mile Challenge. This company-wide effort demonstrates how active transportation isn’t just something we design for communities—it’s a way of life we embrace every day.
The Challenge That Grows with Our Experience
Every year, we add another 100 miles to our annual challenge, creating a unique milestone that correlates with our firm’s years of expertise in transportation planning. For 2025, our team set an ambitious goal of collectively biking, walking, running, scooting, and rolling our way through 4,600 miles during the month of May. This challenge serves multiple purposes—building team community, encouraging active lifestyles, and connecting our staff with their local communities through active transportation.
The results speak to the dedication of our team across our multiple office locations:
- By week two, we had already logged 1,959 miles, gaining momentum with group office walks and individual contributions
- By the halfway mark, we had accumulated 3,152 miles, putting us well on track to exceed our goal
- In week three, we expanded the challenge to include a fun photo contest, with team members sharing scenic routes, directional choices, and their four-legged walking companions
- In week four, we had one team member hit the 1,000 mile-mark!
Now, without further ado, here are this year’s final results…
Total Team Mileage: 5,514.30!
From Planning to Practice
What makes our approach unique is how our transportation expertise informs our daily practices. For Bike to Work Day, we featured Sam Tignor, PE, providing a first-person ride along to our downtown DC office. His journey highlighted the benefits of dedicated bike infrastructure—the same type of facilities our transportation planners design for communities across the region.
This real-world experience reinforces our holistic approach to transportation planning, which prioritizes everyone’s mobility, not just drivers. We believe that achieving this vision requires more than just adding bike lanes or pedestrian crossings; it demands a fundamental shift in designing streets and networks.
Our commitment to active transportation extends far beyond the annual challenge. Approximately three-quarters of our urban office staff walk, bike, or take transit to work. As a result, we’ve cultivated a comprehensive culture of sustainability that includes WMATA SmartBenefits for all staff, free Capital Bikeshare membership, and bike parking at several of our offices. In 2023, Gorove Slade received Fairfax County’s “Best Workplaces for Commuters” award!
Building Community Through Movement
Our transportation planning philosophy centers on creating vibrant, accessible, and sustainable urban environments. The 4,600 Mile Challenge perfectly illustrates our core belief that effective transportation planning requires more than isolated solutions. By experiencing active transportation firsthand—whether through daily commutes or challenge participation—our team gains invaluable insights that inform our professional work.
Throughout the challenge, we’ve captured moments that showcase the diversity of our active transportation experiences. From scenic waterfront walks in Alexandria to navigating urban bike infrastructure in DC, from trail running in Maryland to group fitness sessions, our team has embraced every form of movement that counts toward our goal.
In the spirit of fun and creativity, one of our mini challenges invited participants to craft some Route Art.
We’ve discovered new routes through our communities, found the best walking spots with our furry companions, and even navigated some interesting directional choices along the way. The photo contest was particularly fun, allowing us to share these experiences and learn about the different places our colleagues call home.
We’re already looking ahead to next year’s challenge, when we’ll tackle 4,700 miles in celebration of our 47th year. This challenge reminds us daily why we do what we do: to create transportation systems that work for everyone, whether they’re walking, biking, rolling, or riding. And there’s no better way to understand these needs than by experiencing them ourselves, one mile at a time.
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Want to follow our progress or learn more about our approach to transportation planning? Follow us on LinkedIn to see how we’re putting active transportation principles into practice, both in our work and in our daily lives.
