More bicycle parking is coming to DowntownDC this summer as the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) installs six new in-street bike racks to provide safe places to lock up your bike while reducing sidewalk clutter and increasing safety. The bike racks will be located in the street in areas already designated as no-parking zones, so no car parking spaces will be eliminated through this effort. Each bike rack can hold ten bikes and will be cushioned by a bike lane.
The DowntownDC BID is ahead of schedule, already installing four of the six scheduled bike racks.
In its 21 years of existence, the BID has had an ongoing reimbursement program with the District Department of Transportation to install bike racks.
The latest series of installations are unique because of their creative use of curb space as the city’s sidewalks are becoming increasingly busy with new outdoor cafes and heavy pedestrian use. The BID met with property owners and stakeholders in each area to properly assess bike rack placement and volume. In the event of emergency work, racks and flex bolts can quickly be removed. Installations will not take place during rush hour.
The planned locations are:
– Southeast corner of 11th & K
– Northeast corner of 11th & H
– Northwest corner of 11th & G
– Northwest corner of 11th & F
– Southeast corner of 11th & F
– Southeast corner of 11th & E
The BID also continues to support the city’s work with Capital Bikeshare to provide short-term bike rentals throughout the BID. Capital Bikeshare is in discussions to increase the capacity of several of its 24 stations within the BID and add an additional nine stations across the city.
Dockless scooter and motorized bike companies also influence the BID’s bicycle infrastructure scene and represent the District’s growing demand for convenient transportation. Two motorized bike companies, Hopr and Ridecell, have recently received conditional approval to operate in the District.
Washington DC is one of the nation’s leading cities for bicycle transportation, and in 2018 was named a “Gold” Bike Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.
For questions or input on the bike rack locations, please email Dan Bramley at daniel@downtowndcbid.org.