There's been a lot of talk about Capital Bikeshare recently, mostly due to the program's massive network of proposed sharing stations. But one question that we hadn't had answered yet was what kind of transition customers of the existing SmartBikeDC program could expect once the new system gets off the ground. That's a little bit clearer now -- an email sent to members of SmartBikeDC by DDOT indicated that existing customers will be offered a free membership to Capital Bikeshare through April 2011. Registration for the new program will begin sometime this month and get started in September -- that means about six free months of bike-sharing for people who are currently SmartBikeDC members. DDOT and Clear Channel Outdoor will continue to operate SmartBikeDC, which opened in August 2008, until shortly after the launch of Capital Bikeshare. more ›

On Friday, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and District Department of Transportation Director Gabe Klein were joined by Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette to announce a new regional bike-sharing service. The new system will bring 1,100 bikes to 114 stations throughout Arlington and D.C., enabling free egress between the District and the Commonwealth. Once it launches later in the year, it will be the largest bike-share program in the country. But no one knows yet what to call it. more ›

Just a quick update on SmartBike DC: the city's shared bicycle program resumed normal service as of 6 a.m. this morning, according to a message sent to subscribers. SmartBike service had been suspended since the snow storm, but it looks like they've finally since managed to clear all the ice and snow away from the rental stations. more ›

It's not hard to imagine that regular SmartBike DC customers have been having a hard time accessing the service for the last couple weeks. Many of the shared bicycle stations are still buried under snow banks, and besides, riding a bicycle with this much ice and snow still on the roads is not for the faint-hearted. more ›

more ›

Earlier in the week, we reported that bike-sharing operation SmartBike DC was finally operating, but with a few sites still under construction — Judiciary Square, Metro Center, and McPherson Square. Today we walked by the Judiciary Square rack on 4th Street NW between D and E, and it's ready, bikes and all. In case you wanted to ride from, say, the Albert Pike statue to somewhere. Or, less fun, you have to go to court. more ›

After a bit of a wait, District residents can finally sign up for SmartBike DC memberships online. The city's pilot bicycle sharing program is already being used by a small number of beta testers, and $40 annual subscriptions are now for sale, according to DDOT's Manager for Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transportation Demand Management Programs, Jim Sebastian. more ›

What's this? A rack full of SmartBike DC's shared bicycles all loaded up in front of the Reeves Center at 14th and U NW? Yes, but don't get excited: this was only for a photo op staged by the District Department of Transportation that we just happened to stumble upon earlier this afternoon (yo DDOT, how's about inviting us next time so we don't have to party crash?). These SmartBikes are going to be carted away and packed up again once they're done. more ›

We just ran into District Department of Transportation's Manager for Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transportation Demand Management Programs, Jim Sebastian, at the corner of R Street and Rhode Island Ave. NW, on his way to a meeting on one of the new SmartBikes we've been eagerly anticipating. Doesn't Jim look sporty? While he was test driving one of the bikes, which have smaller front wheels than standard bikes, Sebastian told us that the nation's first bicycle sharing program, SmartBike DC, should be fully operational in early June. more ›