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Capital Bikeshare

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Capital Bikeshare rental station near Eastern Market Metro station, Southeast Washington, D.C..

Capital Bikeshare is a bicycle sharing system with service in Washington, D.C. and Arlington County, Virginia. As of November 2010 the service had 4,700 annual members,[1] and once the full bicycle fleet is deployed, Capital Bikeshare is expected to become the largest bike sharing service in the U.S. with 1,100 bicycles and 110 stations.[2][3][4]

History

Capital Bikeshare automated rental facilities are powered with solar panels.

The Capital Bikeshare was deployed to replaced the SmartBike DC program created in 2008.[2][3][5] The extended bicycle sharing service began operations on September 20, 2010 with 400 bicycles at 49 rental stations, and additional stations are scheduled to be rolled out at a pace of three to five a day.[4][6][7] The service area includes Washington, D.C., with 100 stations including 10 from the SmartBike DC, and two neighborhoods in Arlington County, Virginia, Pentagon City and Crystal City, with 14 rental stations.[8][9]

The installation and equipment cost during the first year is US$6.8 million. Washington, D.C.'s share of the cost was financed by a US$6.0 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Arlington County's share of US$835,000 came from several public sources in Virginia.[2]

Future Expansions

Arlington County plans to add more rental stations beginning with Rosslyn in 2011.[3]

Technology

The rental stations are fully automated and are powered by solar panels. A wireless connection allows for the operation of the station and billing systems. Users who wish to sign up for a 24-hour membership can use a credit card at the station kiosk to sign up and pay the membership fee. The kiosk then provides the user with a code that can be used to unlock any bike at the station. The billing system then keeps track of the usage time from when the bike is checked out until it is "docked" at any other station. The same credit card can be used multiple times during the 24-hour period to check out bikes, one at a time. Users who sign up for a monthly or annual membership receive a barcoded "key" in the mail, which can be similarly used to unlock any bike at a station, bypassing the kiosk.

Each bike dock also has a "Repair" button which can be pressed to report if a bike is damaged or malfunctioning. Riders are expected to call Capital Bikeshare if a damaged bike is unable to be docked, and are responsible for checked out bikes until they have successfully docked their bike at a station.

Bike stations have differing numbers of bike docks depending on local demand, but generally each will begin the day half-filled. Capital Bikeshare operates vans that operate throughout the day and night to redistribute bikes among stations to meet demand. Members can use the Capital Bikeshare website to see how many bikes are available at each station, and how many empty docks are available to return bicycles. Smartphone applications are also available.[3][4] The kiosks also provide this information, and maps to nearby stations in case a station is completely filled with bikes or completely empty.

Capital Bikeshare also provides a website that allows monthly and annual members to view a complete history of their bike rentals and billing charges. This data collection also allows the system to track usage patterns to meet demand and plan for future bike stations.

The rental stations are supplied by Bixi, which has a successful experience with bike sharing services in Canada.[3] The fire-red aluminum bicycles have three gears and twin red taillights and strobelike headlights, which are powered by friction and are on whenever the bicycle is moving.[2][4] The bikes are also furnished with adjustable seats, a bell, and an integrated basked with a bungee cord.

Pricing

Two people riding Capital Bikeshare bicycles in Dupont Circle

There are three membership options, for 24 hours, for 30 days, and for a full year. Members who sign up for longer than a day receive palm-size cards that have bar codes and slip into a slot to release a bike. The first 30 minutes of each ride are free, after which usage fees accumulate according to the prices shown in the following table. The pricing structure is designed to encourage short hops from place to place rather than longer leisure trips.[2][10]

In the instance that a bike station is completely full with bikes, making it impossible for a rider to check their bike back in, the rider can use the kiosk at the station to add an additional 15 free minutes so that they can ride to another bike station to dock their bike.

Membership fee Usage fees Ride time Total usage fee
One Day (24 hrs)* $5 0-30 minutes Free 0-30 minutes Free
30 Day $25 31-60 minutes + $1.50 31-60 minutes $1.50
Annual $75 61-90 minutes + $3.00 61-90 minutes $4.50
Annual (introductory) $50 Each additional 30 minutes + $6.00 6.5 - 24 hours $70.50

A replacement fee of US$1,000 is charged in case the bike is not returned within 24 hours, at which time it is considered to have been stolen.[2]

  • For 24 hour memberships, a security deposit of $101 is charged to the user's credit card, and is refunded within a week if all bikes are returned by the completion of the membership period.

Severe Weather Policy

The Capital Bikeshare system is generally shut down under snow accumulations of two or more inches, or when operators believe that severe weather or road conditions endangers the safety of their users. System closures are announced on Capital Bikeshare's website, Twitter and Facebook accounts, and via e-mail to monthly and annual members. During closures, no bikes can be rented, but bikes already in use at the time of closure can still be returned at any station and usage fees still apply.

See also

References

  1. ^ Tim Craig (2010-11-26). "Bicycle program makes District easier place to get around, residents say". Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ashley Halsey III (2010-09-21). "New Bikeshare program provides wheels to casual cyclists in D.C., Arlington". Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  3. ^ a b c d e Christy Goodman (2010-05-23). "Expanded bike-sharing program to link D.C., Arlington". Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  4. ^ a b c d J. David Goodman (2010-09-20). "Bike Sharing Expands in Washington". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  5. ^ "District Department of Transportation - Bicycle Sharing". District of Columbia Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  6. ^ "Arlington Joins DC in Bike-Sharing Program". MyFoxDC.com. 2010-09-20. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
  7. ^ "Capital Bikeshare has launched!". Capital Bikeshare. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
  8. ^ Matt Martinez (2010-09-20). "Washington, D.C., launches the nation's largest bike share program". Grist (magazine). Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  9. ^ "DDOT Releases District Bikesharing Locations, Maps". MyFoxDC.com. 2010-07-20. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
  10. ^ "Capital Bikeshare Pricing". Capital Bikeshare. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
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