August 20, 2008
SmartBike DC Already Talking Expansion
A lot of our commenters expressed skepticism about how effective the city's new bicycle sharing program, SmartBike DC, would really be with only ten stations and 100 bikes. Well WTOP is now reporting that with 450 registered users already signed up to the service, DDOT has declared it a success, and is "fairly sure" the pilot program will expand. Expect to wait on that expansion, though. DDOT says one of the top locations for the next bike rack, on Capitol Hill, would be ready "by next spring at the latest."
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"Next spring at the latest"? Just exactly how long does it take to set up a bike rack?
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In front of the DCUSA building or in the plaza at Columbia Heights would be an ideal location for a SmartBike rack.
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They really need to extend the hours until midnight at least. 10 is too early. I've used Smartbike five times already since Friday, but could have used it three more times if it didn't end so early at night.
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Wouldn't it make more sense to put any new locations where there is no Metro? Georgetown or Glover Park seem like good places (but I have no idea as to a good spot in either place).
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I second the DC USA location. Hell, if they had one there, I wouldn't have just bought a bike. Near some of the bike trails Rock Creek Park would be another great spot.
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Seriously, if they put on at DCUSA I'd just grab one and cruise downhill to work when I'm late, instead of waiting for two non-rush-hour trains.
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They have already planned the Georgetown one. It is going to go a block or so south of M on Wisconsin (I guess right near the canal). Another key one will be Union Station. Once they have those two, and the Capitol Hill one, it will create a nice string of stations going east-west through downtown.
Getting one down by the ballpark would also make a lot of sense. But I guess that is a little too far away from any other stations (the idea being that they won't add any station that is more than five blocks from another station).
Plus, nobody goes to Nats games.
They should wait till the pope comes back, then put a station there.
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Wait, these things have hours? They're bicycles, for crying out loud! Attached to an automated bike rack! Why on earth do they have hours?
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Wait, these things have hours? They're bicycles, for crying out loud! Attached to an automated bike rack! Why on earth do they have hours?
Since there's no obligation to return a bike to where you got it from, I'm guessing it's to give them time to move bikes from sites that had more arrivals than departures to sites that had more departures that arrivals.
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There is already a bike-sharing program on Capitol Hill.
(http://dcist.com/2008/04/08/us_house_to_lau.php)
The bikes are blue and the program is managed by the House (probably the CAO). There is a "blue bike" rack in the fenced in parking lot of the Ford Building (among other places I am sure). The bikes use a traditional "U-Lock" and cable, there is no fancy rack system like with DC's "red bikes."
I have no idea if the House program is open to anyone or just House staff, or if it is open to anyone, if it is being marketed outside of the Congressional office buildings. In any case, one would think that the House CAO and DC's bike guru could have gotten together a few months ago and merged these two programs into one that would benefit everyone.
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I love democracy, but sometimes you can really see the the benefits of a really strong executive. When the mayor of Paris wanted to set up a bike sharing program, he basically just had to snap his fingers and BAM! 10,000 bikes parked all around the city. (It's now up to 20,000).
I really want this to work, but it's just so sad to see this kind of chickenshit test program. (I don't blame DDOT for the test program, since that's the system we live with here. It's just sad, is all.)
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Well, this is a first. "Chickenshit" and "DDOT" used in the same breath. What's next? "Marion Barry" and "the Donner Party?"
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For everyone suggesting the DC USA complex for a bike rack, use the "ask the Director" feature on the d. website and maybe they'll get the message. Or better yet, write that cute guy at d. - because he seems to be the guy in charge of the program, and he's cute. Or ask the director to forward your message to the cute guy. This is how government works.
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One more rack by next spring, read: summer 2009 if the installation of the existing racks is anything to go by. At this rate, we might get close to Paris's level of service sometime around 2020.
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GEORGETOWN! maybe down by the waterfront... so many tourists go there and would be a great place to grab a bike and explore a little more of the city.
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Wait... Am I the only person who would be embarrassed to be SEEN on one of these bikes?? I really thought the program would bomb because they look so goofy.Call me superficial, but they look like something out of PeeWee's Playhouse! Get me a ten-speed and I am on board.
Like a tourist on a Segway, you are just ASKING to get gawked at, IMO.
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hillvada, the house "bike-sharing" program is not technically a bike-sharing program. Bike sharing is open to the general public. What they have is a bike fleet - open only to Congressional employees. It's a subtle difference.
I think the plan is to add 10 stations by the start of next summer - that's what I heard.