Capital Bikeshare is offering good news for DowntownDC commuters, visitors and residents: a new docking station at 15th & M Street NW featuring a Fob-Vendor Kiosk so new members can pick up keys and ride rather than wait for them in the mail.
The Fob-Vendor Kiosk will allow riders to more quickly and easily access bikes and will make biking a more viable and accessible option for cyclists on an irregular schedule who previously required an authorization hold to use a short-term Capital Bikeshare membership.
The new docking station features a new map panel display that offers step-by-step visual and bilingual instructions for bike rentals, a larger map view and a radial key with ride time estimates.
D.C. cyclists are already excited for the new docking station:
#bikedc dreams come true!! Meet the @bikeshare unicorn of DC: new keyfob-dispsensing station 15/M NW. New, no-yank docks & signage too OMG! pic.twitter.com/LD31TEZw1N
— Andrea Adleman (@ARAdleman) June 1, 2017
The 15th & M station is a part of a three-year citywide joint expansion with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to identify locations for new stations based on demand and gaps in the existing system, factoring in access to transit, hotels and other tourist destinations.
Capital Bikeshare offers opportunities for residents to commute to work and school as well as get to events and allows for tourists to discover the city. The organization works with DDOT and many businesses in the area to provide commuter benefits to employees to save money, increase fitness and help alleviate stress through biking to work.
Capital Bikeshare and DDOT also offer services to the hospitality industry and tourists by allowing bulk orders of 24-hour and 3-day membership passes and travel coordination for groups. This also includes transportation to events with features like valet bike parking and offering bike corrals.
DDOT also plans to improve infrastructure and resources for D.C. cyclists. This includes the 145 miles of existing bike lanes, the DC Bike Map 2017 and by encouraging businesses to offer biker commuter benefits such as the Capital Bikeshare Corporate Membership Program, which already has 167 employers on board.
Capital Bikeshare bikes feature adjustable seats, sturdy frames, handlebar shifters, responsive brakes, front baskets, light reflectors, durable tires and chainguard and fenders on their bikes.
The organization now known as Capital Bike share was first piloted in DowntownDC in 2008 with only 120 bikes at 10 docking stations. Today, with over 400 docking stations holding 3,500, bikes, Capital Bikeshare has totaled over 350,000 rides in D.C. alone.