diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c7063a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# RideAware UI Environment Configuration
+
+# API URL - Set this to override the default
+# Development default: http://127.0.0.1:5010
+# Production default: https://dev-api.rideaware.org
+VUE_APP_API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:5010
+
+# Trainer App URL
+VUE_APP_TRAINER_URL=http://localhost:5173
diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile b/docker/Dockerfile
index 43c78bb..d410013 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ RUN npm install
 
 COPY . .
 
-ARG VUE_APP_API_URL=https://dev-api.rideaware.org
+ARG VUE_APP_API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:5010
 ENV VUE_APP_API_URL=$VUE_APP_API_URL
 
 RUN npm run build
diff --git a/docker/nginx.conf b/docker/nginx.conf
index f7d2461..4c53072 100644
--- a/docker/nginx.conf
+++ b/docker/nginx.conf
@@ -26,13 +26,15 @@ server {
     }
 
     # API proxy - strip /api prefix and send to backend
+    # For local dev, use: http://host.docker.internal:5010 (Mac/Windows) or http://172.17.0.1:5010 (Linux)
+    # For production, use: https://api.rideaware.org
     location /api/ {
         # Remove /api prefix when proxying
         rewrite ^/api/(.*)$ /$1 break;
-        
-        proxy_pass https://dev-api.rideaware.org;
+
+        proxy_pass http://172.17.0.1:5010;
         proxy_http_version 1.1;
-        proxy_set_header Host dev-api.rideaware.org;
+        proxy_set_header Host $host;
         proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
         proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
         proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;