Capital Bikeshare Now in Mount Pleasant

Shame on me!  I was super skeptical last weekend when told that Capital Bikeshare would be ready for its September 20 launch.  1,000
bikes? 100 stations? No way!

Yes way!

And it's already here in Mount Pleasant. The new Capital Bikeshare station has been installed and is in service (sans bikes) right in our very own Lamont Park. The station is solar powered, the card reader is operational, signage is up and the automated bike dispensers are in place. Just awaiting the bikes!

One question I had was answered by visiting the station. I knew that a one-day membership was $5, but I wondered what CaBi (their abbreviation!) would do to insure riders returned the bike. Well, similar to a common car rental practice, CaBi will place a $101 hold on your credit card for a 24 hour membership until the 24 hour period is over.  Of course if you register for a longer term (30 days or 1 year), that won't be the case.  Your card will already be registered.  You'll get the bike for no cost for 30 minutes, then pay more depending on how long you keep the bike before docking it back in a station. According to Capital Bikeshare, they've signed up close to 1,000 members already.  They have an introductory offer of $50 for one year, down from the regular fee of $75.  Pretty cool.  Some photos:

Mount Pleasant Part of New Bikeshare

BIXI bikestation. Photo by stevey

As expected, Mount Pleasant will receive a bike station under the District's new bike sharing system,  Capital Bikeshare. This bike share will replace the SmartBike DC system which currently houses 100 bikes at 10 stations.  The new stations will accommodate over 1,000 bikes all over the city and some in Arlington as well, via regional partnership.

Capital Bikeshare is based on the BIXI system (BIcycle + taXI = BIXI).  BIXI was first active in Montreal, then Vancouver, Boston, Minneapolis, even Europe and Australia.  Now it's on the way to DC.  The new bikes are awesome looking, although I liked the SmartBike DC bikes, too.  DDOT plans to have the bikes and stations operational by the end of fall this year.  I am highly skeptical, but hey, surprise me DDOT.  The Mount Pleasant station will be near Lamont Park or the corner of 17th and Mount Pleasant Streets NW.  Don't quite have the exact location, but perhaps in the park itself?  Or near the H8 bus shelter?  

There are three other stations within walking distance of Lamont Park; 14th and Irving, 16th and Columbia, Adams Mill and Lanier Place.  And below is the DDOT map with all of the station locations, including Arlington VA.  Exciting stuff!  For all of its troubles, DDOT is really adopting a forward thinking philosophy regarding transit by instituting these types programs (Circulator, Streetcar, Bikeshare, etc).  To that I say huzzah!

View Capital Bikeshare in a larger map

Bicycle Transit Center Coming Along

The Union Station Bicycle Transit Center is slowly taking shape. The District's attempt at making the multi-modal transit center of union Station even better is about to take a giant leap forward. The Center will be able to securely house 180 bikes, parked inside. Outside there will be room for 30 additional parked and secured bikes.

The structure will encompass 1700+ square feet including some retail. The retail portion will include administrative space, bike rental and even bike repair. During business hours attendants will control access to the building. After hours, bike owners will have access to the inside space, and their bikes, by way of access card. Pretty neat! There will be some type of membership system. Initial rates were supposed to be something like $100 per year, or $1 per day to park. Cheap considering the convenience of knowing your bike is safely parked. I'm betting a SmartBike DC location won;t be far off, or part of the Center proper. Go DDOT! Keep it coming.

Still Waiting...

Smartbike DC. Coming soon, yea?

Smartbike is Coming Soon

Smartbike DC is almost here! This station is one of 10 planned stations. Its at F Street and 7th; on the sidewalk in front of the National Portrait Gallery. Smartbike DC is run by Clear Channel and DDOT. Its more of a bike share than a bike rental. There's a $40.00 annual fee, and riders are limited to three hour rides per share. There is no per hour charge. No hard and fast date set for the opening. There will be four rental locations on the 42 bus route. Pretty swell.