David Alpert has an article in the Post today about Capital Bikeshare, using CaBi's utility during the earthquake evacuation as a starting point. The article is about what a success the program has been and how to make it better.
But Capital Bikeshare became one of the region’s biggest success stories of recent years. It’s obvious that more people, of all shapes and colors, are now biking around Washington and Arlington. Many say that drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are even respecting each other more.
That’s not to say the system is perfect. Too often, Bikeshare users seeking to get or return a bike come upon stations that are empty or full. That can be frustrating, but there are two silver linings to this: It points out the need for expansion, and it encourages regular riders to use their own bikes.
A fascinating consequence of CaBi’s success has been more people taking their own bikes. Many people started riding around the District or Arlington with CaBi then began riding more overall. I’m one of those people. Previously, I used my bike only on occasion, but I now ride it, or CaBi, much more often.
His suggestions are solid.
Keep expanding. The District is adding 25 stations, Arlington 30, Rockville 20. More would be better, and Alexandria, College Park, Bethesda, Fairfax and others should join.
Add bike lanes and “cycle tracks.” Novice cyclists feel especially vulnerable on the roads. Bike lanes, especially the “cycle tracks” on 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, help. The D.C. Department of Transportation has wavered on adding similar lanes elsewhere downtown. It should move decisively to build them and to complete the 60 miles of lanes in the city’s Bicycle Master Plan. Other jurisdictions can do likewise.
Don’t cut federal bike (and pedestrian) funding. Twelve percent of all trips nationwide happen by bike or on foot, but states spend just 1 percent of transportation funds on bike and pedestrian facilities. Yet Congress is looking at eliminating dedicated bike/pedestrian funding entirely.
Add stations on federal property. Look at the Bikeshare map, and you see a giant hole amid Crystal City, Rosslyn and downtown D.C. It’s called the Mall and its associated parks. Yet the memorials are almost perfect places for stations.
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