http://bikearlingtonforum.com/ Post your questions, comments or suggestions on the regional bikesharing program here! en Sat, 25 May 2013 16:37:48 GMT vBulletin 60 http://bikearlingtonforum.com/images/misc/rss.png http://bikearlingtonforum.com/ http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?5063-Washington-Post-quot-The-Business-of-Bike-Sharing-quot&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 00:42:20 GMT http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/the-business-of-bike-sharing/2013/05/19/0a343eda-7789-11e2-8f84-3e4b513b1a13_story.html The... http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...a13_story.html

The article was also the cover story of the Post Express paper. The author covers the accomplishments and successes of Capital Bikeshare along with some of the frustrations. I only skimmed it, so I don't know how balanced or reasonable the piece is. There are comments from administrators of the CaBi system in D.C. and Arlington, at least one quote from a CaBi rebalancing van driver, and quotes from members, former members and bike store employees.

Seems like a decent article. I often use CaBi, even though I have two bikes of my own. CaBi is great for running minor errands, one-way trips and (sometimes) for commuting. However, dockblocking is an ongoing issue, especially for those who use CaBi for commuting to downtown D.C. I ran into this problem myself yesterday when I tried bike-commuting on CaBi for the first time in a couple months.

I think there is a quote about CaBi being successful but that the demand was outstripping the supply. Well, that only means one thing. We need to boost the supply! New stations are being installed this year (on a slower schedule than planned), but most of the new D.C. stations are being added to neighborhoods other than the central business district.

There are at least three ways that local jurisdictions can continue to improve CaBi service in downtown D.C. Nothing original here. Just emphasizing that CaBi can continue to get better at serving member needs downtown:

1) Add more stations or expand existing stations, in the areas around Metro Center, McPherson Square, Franklin Square and Farragut Square (Farragut North and West).

2) Expand the idea of the morning bike corral to make it a regular and ongoing feature. Perhaps a bike corral at Freedom Plaza and another at either Farragut Square or McPherson Square.

3) Expand the incentive program for people to take bikes from the downtown stations during the morning rush hour and ride them to other D.C. stations. There was a short-term contest that offered prizes for those who took the most trips out of downtown during morning rush hour. There could be an ongoing feature. Maybe something like this: Those who rent a bike from a select set of downtown D.C. stations and ride them toward stations that empty out in the mornings could receive points. There could be monthly drawings with prizes of 3 free months of CaBi membership or a 3-month extension. The prizes could be based on those with the most points that month or it could be a drawing like the NBA draft lottery, where those with the most points get a better chance of winning the prizes but they aren't guaranteed to win those prizes. There could be a quarterly drawing of a free annual membership.

The total costs of the giveaways would be minimal while the benefits could potentially be huge, depending on how many riders are motivated to help with the dockblocking issue because of the contest. There are a lot of college students in and around D.C. Maybe some of them could be motivated by the prospect of a free CaBi membership or extension to help take bikes out of downtown in the mornings. ]]> Capital Bikeshare PotomacCyclist http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?5063-Washington-Post-quot-The-Business-of-Bike-Sharing-quot http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?4989-Bixi&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 15:43:08 GMT First time riding Toronto in a few years and finally got to see their BIXI (https://toronto.bixi.com) program. I noticed a bunch of folks using them,... First time riding Toronto in a few years and finally got to see their BIXI program. I noticed a bunch of folks using them, even though it was raining and cold. Pretty awesome.

]]> Capital Bikeshare Dickie http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?4989-Bixi http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?4940-Gunston-Park-station-(Arlington)-closed-because-of-damage&goto=newpost Sat, 04 May 2013 22:36:43 GMT From the official Facebook page:

"Due to station damage, the 28th and Meade station will be closed until further notice. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."

The station in south Arlington has only been open for a month or so. I wonder what happened. Did a car hit it? Or did vandals destroy the station? If so, that's disturbing news. I don't remember any other station being closed because of damage. ]]> Capital Bikeshare PotomacCyclist http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?4940-Gunston-Park-station-(Arlington)-closed-because-of-damage