City Suggests 4 Bikeshare Stations in Del Ray

Alexandria’s draft map for its Capital Bikeshare expansion includes four stations in Del Ray, three stations in Carlyle and one station on Slaters Lane.

The eight-station expansion—to be installed in 2013—will double Alexandria’s existing Capital Bikeshare network, which launched in 2012 with eight stations primarily in the Old Town area.

The draft expansion station locations are preliminary selections and remain open for discussion. 

Further engineering and site analysis still needs to be conducted to determine the specific locations, but the draft map includes three stations along Mount Vernon Avenue. They are located in the vicinity of intersections with E. Nelson Avenue, E. Oxford Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue. A fourth suggested station is located on E. Monroe Avenue near Simpson Stadium Park.  

Suggested Carlyle stations include near the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station, John Carlyle Square and third station on Mill Road or Ballenger Avenue.

The suggested Slaters Lane station is near the retail area that includes Rustico and Buzz Bakery.

According to the city’s Local Motion website:

"Suggested locations will be evaluated using criteria including connectivity to transit to expand between metrorail stations, mixed-use activity centers, potential bicycle activity, proximity to other Capital Bikeshare stations, as well technical considerations. Some technical considerations include direct sunlight, at least 11' X 32' of space, a minimum of a quarter mile from another station, sidewalk pedestrian clearance, flat ground and utility clearance." 

The draft map also lists five stations that will be implemented by new developments, many of which were developer contributions. These include new stations at the Harris Teeter complex in North Old Town, the (stalled) Mount Vernon Village Center project in Arlandria and new developments near Braddock Road Metro station and along Eisenhower Avenue.

Capital Bikeshare, which launched in 2010 in the District and Arlington County, makes bicycles available for shared use mainly for short rides. Primarily considered a form of transit, bikes are available at stations. Members who pay for an annual or short-term membership fee can remove bikes from stations and return them at stations elsewhere.

More meetings are expected to discuss the new locations in Alexandria. If you would like to comment on the draft station locations, who can email Carrie Sanders, Alexandria’s Capital Bikeshare coordinator, at Carrie.Sanders@alexandriava.gov.