Montgomery County could roll out CaBi within the next month.
Although she would not update the timeline with a specific date, signs are pointing toward the first two weeks of September.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is in the initial planning phases for the event, which will include a number of local officials. Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett tops the list.
"I cannot promise it will be in the first three weeks. The first week [of September] is probably out of play with Labor Day. They do need time to be able to put the finishing touches on the stations to be able to roll them out. It will be in September," she says.
But Leggett is scheduled to go on an official 10-day trip to China from Sept. 15 to 24. Because county transportation officials say Leggett will play a key role in the event, those dates are out.
Despite the uncertain start date, county residents can sign up for membership now. Earlier this spring, transportation officials urged residents to hold off on signing up because Alta Bikeshare, which runs Capital Bikeshare, would not share the membership revenue with the county.
At the time, Brecher told residents the county would inform them when to sign up, which would happen roughly 30 days before launch. That notice came on Aug. 8.
"All the station equipment, the bikes, are all being manufactured and being shipped. So everything is on target on our timeline," she says.
Not all 51 stations will be up and running the day of the official launch. Although most stations will be ready, there could be a small number that will need several more weeks before they open.
On one hand: woohoo!
OTOH: starting a bike sharing on MoCo program after the kids go back to school, and we all go into winter, doesnt sound like the best way to encourage usage.
Posted by: SJE | August 21, 2013 at 04:07 PM
Alexandria's started in Sept (w/ a soft launch during labor day weekend) and it seemed to work out. (though we had a mild winter last year)
Posted by: Kolohe | August 21, 2013 at 04:45 PM
Capital Bikeshare also started in September. Four-year anniversary coming up on September 21.
Posted by: washcycle | August 21, 2013 at 05:09 PM
OK, good points. Go MoCo!!!
I am so used to bike programs that are set up to fail.
Posted by: SJE | August 21, 2013 at 05:55 PM
Still not quite sure what the logical connections in MoCo are, other than Bethesda and Chevy Chase w/each other and DC and Silver Spring and Takoma Park w/DC.
Posted by: Crickey7 | August 21, 2013 at 06:00 PM
...and maybe east Red Line to west Red Line? Is this the interim Purple Line?
Posted by: JimT | August 22, 2013 at 08:50 AM
Shady Grove Metro to Shady Grove Life Sciences area.
Posted by: alurin | August 22, 2013 at 09:56 AM
Didn't CaBi start in Sept. 2010? That would make next month the 3rd anniversary.
Posted by: Michael H. | August 22, 2013 at 02:25 PM
With the planned shut down of the Red Line, they need to get CaBi at Medical Ctr, Bethesda and Friendship Hts STAT!
Posted by: SJE | August 26, 2013 at 12:04 PM