The Red Bikes Are Coming
Alexandria to join Capital Bikeshare program with six-station pilot project in Old Town, Carlyle.
Photos
The Alexandria City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to join the popular Capital Bikeshare program already in place in Arlington County and Washington, D.C.
However, the first wave of red bikes will be confined to the Old Town and Carlyle neighborhoods of the city.
Council approved a pilot program of six stations containing a total of 54 bikes that will be installed in Old Town and Carlyle in the spring or summer of 2012. The locations of the solar-powered stations have not been determined.
No general funds from the city will be used to launch the pilot program, which will be implemented with $400,000 in existing federal grant money.
Last month, Council approved another $400,000 in federal grant funds for fiscal year 2013 to eventually double the number of stations and bikes.
Initial operating costs will be covered by revenue from bikeshare and Transportation Management Plan funds. Carrie Sanders, a transportation planner with the city, anticipated annual operating costs would likely be covered by bikeshare revenues in three years.
“I just think this is the perfect city for this plan,” Councilwoman Del Pepper said.
Mayor Bille Euille said the Council was inundated with emails from citizens about the program in the hours leading up to Tuesday’s meeting. A handful of citizens biked to City Hall to attend the meeting. Some wore pro-cycling T-shirts.
Councilman Paul Smedberg, citing the demographics in Del Ray and the interest expressed by citizens in the neighborhood, asked city staff why the program is not starting there instead. Del Ray is also closer to existing Capital Bikeshare stations in Arlington’s Crystal City.
Sanders said, after consulting national experts, it was determined that the best course was “to build a strong core” in one area.
Vice Mayor Kerry Donley, who was a strong proponent of the plan, said he felt the initial rollout of six stations was too small. He said he'd like to see Braddock Road Metro station connected to Del Ray by bikeshare.
“I think the pilot is meager,” Donley said. “I am fine with the recommendation, but I’d like to see it expanded. … The goal is not to cover the city. It’s to connect Metro stations and activity centers to other activity centers.”
Smedberg also cautioned that there are more dedicated bike lanes in Arlington and the District than in Alexandria, which makes Capital Bikeshare a safer and easier transportation option for citizens and tourists.
“I hope we monitor how we are integrating these bikes into our limited infrastructure,” he said. “I know it’s hard in a place like Old Town.”
Lisa
6:46 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
It's good that Council voted this in to the city, but agree taht it's too little and the wrong place, Del-Ray and Braddock Metro makes much more sense.
karen
6:54 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I agree with Kerry Donely. Del Ray, Braddock Road (and Potomac Yard) are ideal connectors for Old Town and Crystal City -- and DC. To counter Smedberg's points -- we are actually on the bike path.
Does anyone know if this decision can be modified?
Ashley
7:08 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
This is a great example of why we need local citizens representing our needs with City Planners and City Council. There is a Del Ray Citizens Association Transportation/Parking Committee with no leadership and no volunteers....this would be a great issue to have a member track for the DRCA!
karen
7:19 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Perhaps the DRCA can still weigh in on this with council.
Rob Krupicka
9:16 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
There was a lot of conversation by the Council about expanding the program quickly. There are areas on the east and west sides of the city that make sense for expansion. Del Ray is certainly high on that list. The people that run the program in Arlington and DC felt that the proposed pilot locations had the highest likelihood for use and success and would form a strong foundation to expand the program. The Council also discussed looking at city budget and/or grant funds to expand the pilot as quickly as possible. The good news is that this is a program that can be expanded quickly provided funds are available.
Demian
11:12 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
$800K?! What a waste of taxpayer dollars. If this program is as popular as claimed, it should be able to operate on its own without public money. Sheesh, are we subsidizing Zip Car, too?? And meanwhile, the City Council increased the property tax rate to fund "critical transportation ... needs". Something doesn't add up. If the City Council can't scheme up better projects, we'd all be better off if it lowered the taxes and returned the grant money to the federal government, which, if you haven't noticed, is running a significant deficit.
FYI from DRCA
11:40 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Executive Board of the DRCA did send a letter to City Council. The letter presented selected results from the survey conducted by the Del Ray Citizens Association earlier this year of the members and the neighborhood.
The particular question asked people to evaluate a list of potential transportation projects. The strongest "Good for the neighborhood" response (82%) was for a bike share station. It actually rated higher than the metro stop at Potomac Yard and a trolly connection to Old Town. This was the basis for the demographics referred to by Councilman Smedberg.
The proposal to start the small pilot program in Old Town had reasonable arguments (to build a strong core) and was unlikely to be significantly changed at this late date. Consequently, the letter requested that the strong interest in Del Ray be taken into consideration when the bike share program is evaluated for expansion.
Drew Hansen
3:01 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Thanks for all the comments, folks. Last night it did seem members of Council (including one who posted on this story) want to expand this program as quickly as possible. It's just a matter of funding.
We will have more on Bikeshare in the days ahead. Stay tuned.
Tyson Cheng
1:26 pm on Thursday, October 27, 2011
This is a great idea, before this I actually got my bike from a website, www.2wheelbikes.com, I think now that they are implementing the bike share idea I will start using it for my commute!