BikeDC

54 Proposed New Capital Bikeshare Stations Announced

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From Capital Bikeshare:

The District Department of Transportation today announced proposed locations for 54 new Capital Bikeshare stations to be installed this winter in the District of Columbia. The list includes proposed new stations in all 8 wards of the city.

“These new locations will mean a 40% increase in the number of CaBi stations in DC,” said DDOT Director Terry Bellamy. “Combined with new stations in Arlington, Alexandria and soon in Montgomery County, we’re building a robust and truly regional system.”

There are currently 138 stations in DC, 45 in Arlington, and 8 Alexandria.

DDOT selected the 54 locations from a longer list of 78 suggested locations submitted by the public over the past 2 years. DDOT evaluated the locations using several criteria, including population density, employment density, bike-to-work rate, proximity to metro, and proximity to other Bikeshare stations. Residents also ‘voted’ for their preferences using an interactive crowdsourcing map.

The proposed stations are in a mix and new and existing bikeshare neighborhoods. “We need to balance the desire to expand into new areas with the need for more docks and bikes in existing areas, particularly downtown, where demand is heaviest.” said Chris Holben, DDOT Project Manager for Capital Bikeshare. “Basically, for every ‘expansion’ station we also need more spaces downtown to keep up with demand.”

DDOT plans to start installing new stations and bikes in January and finish in March. Locations not selected in this round of 54 will be considered for the next round. The complete list is below. You can also view the proposed locations alongside existing stations on a map at http://goo.gl/maps/UJPZs.

To comment on the list of proposed locations, please email [email protected] by January 15, 2013.

Full list after the jump. (more…)

Sweet City Ride – Snake Skin Bike

By Prince Of Petworth

This is amazing! A reader writes:

I passed this bike just south of Thomas Circle and thought it had an interesting paint job that looked quite a bit like snakeskin. Curious to see how the pattern was done I took a closer look.

Woah.

ACTUAL snakeskin. Painstakingly sewn around all the components of the bike.

This one is a classic.

New L Street NW Cycle Track (Bike Lane) Officially Open, M Street Cycle Track to be Installed Next Year

By Prince Of Petworth

In early Nov. we noted the cycle track was looking good, if slightly confusing at times.

From a press release:

Mayor Vincent C. Gray, District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Terry Bellamy, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and other local bicyclists today cut a ribbon to officially open the new separated bike lane on L Street NW. The celebration was held at the intersection of L Street and 15th Street, where the new lane intersects with one of the District’s other cycle tracks.

“Here, where the L Street and 15th Street bike lanes cross paths, you can see a new transportation network taking shape – one that treats cyclists with respect and concern for their safety,” said Mayor Gray. “I believe that having such a network is critical if we are going to meet our goal of becoming a more sustainable city by reducing our dependence on the automobile to get around town. Increasing safety for cyclists and growing the number of bike lanes in the District are parts of my One City Action Plan.”

The L Street NW cycle track runs east from New Hampshire Avenue to 12th Street and gives cyclists more protection from motor vehicles than a typical bike lane. A painted buffer and plastic bollards separate the bike lane from the through lanes for vehicular traffic on L Street, which is one-way eastbound. Vehicle loading, unloading or parking in the bike lane is not permitted at any time.

At intersections, the bike lane is painted green for greater visibility. Merge zones permit vehicles to carefully cross the bike lane to gain access to the left turn lanes.

“Every street is a little different, and we designed this bike lane with two primary goals in mind: to protect cyclists as best we could from turning vehicles, and to ensure we did not severely degrade the level of service for other traffic in this busy corridor,” said Director Bellamy.

The District now has almost four miles of protected bike lanes, including the existing bike infrastructure on 15th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

“I think it’s no accident that we’re seeing a healthy increase in cycling in the District,” added Mayor Gray. “The safer you make cycling, the more people will choose to bike.”

DDOT plans to install another cycle track on M Street NW next year. It will parallel the L Street lane and serve westbound bicycle traffic.

Free Coffee for Bike Commuters Heading Through Logan Circle Wed. Morning

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

From an email:

“The Bike Rack is offering free coffee for bicycle commuters Wednesday morning, November 21st from 7:30 to 9:30. We will be at the corner of 14th and Q, NW handing out free cups of Peregrine coffee as you make your way into work or wherever you may be headed. Look for our banner, stop by and have a cup of joe on us! “

Props to the Cops – Bike Thieves Getting Bolder

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu

Dear PoPville,

I was sitting in my Mt. Vernon Square house around 10 tonight and hear the sound of a saw outside, look out the window to see sparks flying from where my bike is locked up! Call the police, they show up in about 5 minutes. Two guys run away down the street, but leave the saw, a backpack, jacket, and two already-stolen wheels. (The two wheels recovered were Campagnolo quick-release. If anyone had them stolen tonight they should contact police.)

I almost didn’t believe it when I saw it. I was surprised they would use a loud saw when most people are at home. Lucky for me it wasn’t too sharp–they barely made a scratch in my u-lock during the 5 minutes they were going at it.

Props to the Cops – Bike Recovery Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoPville,

A few months back I wrote with a pretty bad story of a bike accident resulting in a head injury and the theft of my bike. I’m happy to report today on a happy ending.

Friday night after work at Smoke & Barrel on 18th Street, I was walking with my new bike, lock in my back pocket, when I spotted my old bike locked to a tree fence in front of Pharmacy Bar. I locked my old bike with my lock and this morning returned to the scene and called MPD.

Armed with my receipt and serial number I was able to prove the bike was mine, and I swore out a statement that I had not sold the bike, and it had in fact been stolen. Officer Henderson (3rd District) was excellent and called DC FEMS to the scene to cut the lock.

The scene got a little comical when a mix up between MPD and DCFEMS dispatchers resulted in a call of a Box Alarm (structural fire involving multiple buildings) and seven fire trucks showed up. But after the police assured them the dispatchers screwed things up, the scene calmed down, and my bike was recovered.

Kind of a cluster, but I sure am happy with the ending.

P.S. Anyone want to buy a new bike?! Now I have two!

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