The District’s expanded bike-sharing program is set to begin Monday, with a planned 114 stations and 1,100 bicycles in the city and across the Potomac River in Arlington.
Capital Bikeshare will allow users to rent a bike for short trips and then drop it off throughout Arlington and the District.
“We’re really hoping people will consider using Capital Bikeshare for short trips so they don’t have to take their car,” said John Lisle, spokesman for D.C. Department of Transportation. “It’s more convenient and better for the environment.”
Though the program starts Monday, only half of the stations will be ready, with no set date for the completion of all 114. According to Lisle, stations will continue to be added every day, averaging about five stations per day.
Cyclists can sign up for a variety of memberships. Yearly use costs $50, monthly costs $25 and daily $5.
DDOT wanted to expand its bike-sharing program after the success of SmartBike DC, which started up two years ago. Arlington County also wanted to offer bike-sharing, which led to their collaboration.
“Arlington was interested in having a bike-sharing program, and the DDOT was interested in expanding outside of the District,” said Katie Sihler, of Arlington Transportation Partners and program director of goDCgo, a local transportation blog. “Collaborating on the project was more cost effective and efficient for the region.”
About 1,000 users are already registered, Lisle said.
The program might not be stopping in Arlington. The program has applied for a federal grant, which would allow it to expand throughout the Washington region.
