Photo by Mr. T in DC.

I don’t subscribe to Spokes Magazine. But fortunately, local cycling blog The Wash Cycle does — and in this month’s issue, the magazine features a story on the battle to put a Capital Bikeshare station on the National Mall. A Bikeshare station in such a centralized location sure would be handy, but according to an explanation given by National Park System Spokesman Bill Line in the story, sharing bikes on the Mall would be an affront to America and Americans:

“The National Park Service reflects an American heritage and what a particular park means to American citizens, not (necessarily) at (the) convenience of select individuals,” Line said.

Although a Bikeshare station would be convenient, it would destroy the nature of what makes the National Mall an American institution in the first place, he said.

“The National Park Service is an organization that strongly encourages (the) use of mass transit, but Capital Bikeshare wants to place a structure on the National Mall, which (the park service) does not allow under current regulations,” Line said.

Line then compared the installation of a Bikeshare station on the Mall to a T-shirt vendor being allowed to hawk on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. (A complete copy of the report can be read in PDF here; the story starts on page 23.)

Now, when it comes to installing a station on the Mall, it’s true that the National Park Service is currently handcuffed by act of Congress. But if Line’s comments are to be taken as the stance of the Service, it sure doesn’t appear like NPS is going to be rushing over to DDOT to request some docks even if such regulations were overturned.