Capital Bikeshare Expansion Planned in New Year

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced today that it has secured funding to expand the Capital Bikeshare system in 2011, adding 20 new stations and 200 additional bikes in the District. Arlington also plans to add new stations next year and the joint expansion will boost the size of the nation’s first regional bikesharing network by nearly a third, before the system has completed its first full year of operation.

“I really don’t think we can add stations fast enough to match the demand and incredible enthusiasm for Capital Bikeshare,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein. “The response from residents and visitors has exceeded our expectations—more than 5,000 members and 100,000 trips already—and expanding the network will make it even more convenient and successful.”

The planning process for selecting locations for the new stations will be completed in the spring and the installations could begin as early as May. The new stations and bikes will be purchased with funding from the US DOT’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. Additional bikes and stations will help grow membership and revenues, putting Capital Bikeshare on the path towards self sufficiency.

Arlington County currently has 14 Capital Bikeshare stations in the areas of Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard, and in 2011 plans to expand the system to the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor.

“Funding has been identified for 16 new stations,” said Dennis Leach, the Director of the Arlington Department of Transportation. “The County is interested in partnering with businesses in the corridor to expand this development.”

For more information about Capital Bikeshare or to become a member, visit www.CapitalBikeshare.com .

Increase in Cycling in the District

The early adoption and popularity of Capital Bikeshare coincides with a notable spike in cycling documented by DDOT. Annual counts conducted in key corridors show rush hour bicycle trips increased by 82% between 2007 and 2010 at 20 locations throughout the District.

“Bicycling in DC has been increasing for many years, but we saw a real boost in the past two,” said Director Klein. “Thousands of people have discovered this clean, convenient way to get around, with help from DDOT’s hard work on bike lanes, parking and safety outreach”

DDOT finished work this week on the extension of the 15th Street cycletrack, a two-way, separated bike lane from V Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, including a new bicycle traffic signal at the intersection of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. Cyclists can now ride from V Street to the Capitol on 2.5 miles of bike lanes. Similar lanes are planned for L Street and M Street, NW in the spring.

With a total of 4½ miles added this year, including the lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue, the District now has more than 50 miles of bike lanes throughout the city.

To learn more about DDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs please visit ddot.dc.gov.