CaBi Relationship with WMATA?

[lordofthemark]

@Drewdane 125707 wrote:

Does CaBi have any sort of formal arrangement with Metro to plan bikeshare expansion along rail lines? It seems to me an explicit goal for CaBi should be a kiosk near the entrance to every station, and partnering with WMATA would be a good way to advance that goal.

IIUC expansion is planned by each jurisdiction’s local transportation dept – so in DC that is DDOT, in Alexandria it is Transportation and Environmental Services, etc. I know in Alexandria’s master plan bike access to metro is a high priority and IIRC that is reflected in the latest proposal for new CaBi stations.

[jrenaut]

I fear if we involve WMATA the stations may begin to randomly catch fire.

[PotomacCyclist]

The CaBi jurisdictions do look to add stations at or near busy Metro stations, but the process has not always been smooth. When Montgomery County joined CaBi, there were notable gaps in coverage at the MD Metro stations. The negotiating process gets drawn out. I’m not sure why.

There are bike stations near many Metro stations in DC, Arlington and Alexandria, but not always on official Metro property. It doesn’t appear that there is an established coordination process, although there should be. With all the recent issues and criticism of WMATA recently, I don’t know if bikeshare arrangements are going to be high on their list of priorities. But I hope the area jurisdictions can improve on their communication and coordination with WMATA.

[Tim Kelley]

Something to think about: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/transportation/metro-blames-bikeshare-for-lost-passengers-but-bikeshare-is-just-going-to-get-bigger.php

[S. Arlington Observer]

@PotomacCyclist 125717 wrote:

The CaBi jurisdictions do look to add stations at or near busy Metro stations, but the process has not always been smooth. When Montgomery County joined CaBi, there were notable gaps in coverage at the MD Metro stations. The negotiating process gets drawn out. I’m not sure why.

There are bike stations near many Metro stations in DC, Arlington and Alexandria, but not always on official Metro property. It doesn’t appear that there is an established coordination process, although there should be. With all the recent issues and criticism of WMATA recently, I don’t know if bikeshare arrangements are going to be high on their list of priorities. But I hope the area jurisdictions can improve on their communication and coordination with WMATA.

It is crucial to have stations near Metro stations so that bikes can augment the Metro ride (and vice-versa). CaBi certainly makes it more feasible for me to Metro into the District and bike to non Metro friendly parts of the city.

BUT… The jurisdictions also need to fan out to other destinations. For some reason Arlington placed many of its original stations ALONG THE METRO ROUTE, not just at the stations. As a result, the Bikeshare bikes were largely redundant with the Metro system, not an expansion of possibilities. This has gotten better with further expansion, but I never understood the concept of mimicking the Metro line route between stations instead of allowing people to ride to a station and then go “sideways” on a bicycle. To me the best part of the bikes is being able to go where Metro does not go (albeit using Metro to get to the jumping off point) — not riding a bike along the same well worn route that buses and Metros are already serving.

[Tim Kelley]

@S. Arlington Observer 125727 wrote:

It is crucial to have stations near Metro stations so that bikes can augment the Metro ride (and vice-versa). CaBi certainly makes it more feasible for me to Metro into the District and bike to non Metro friendly parts of the city.

BUT… The jurisdictions also need to fan out to other destinations. For some reason Arlington placed many of its original stations ALONG THE METRO ROUTE, not just at the stations. As a result, the Bikeshare bikes were largely redundant with the Metro system, not an expansion of possibilities. This has gotten better with further expansion, but I never understood the concept of mimicking the Metro line route between stations instead of allowing people to ride to a station and then go “sideways” on a bicycle. To me the best part of the bikes is being able to go where Metro does not go (albeit using Metro to get to the jumping off point) — not riding a bike along the same well worn route that buses and Metros are already serving.

Arlington put a lot of thought into this in 2012–including dozens of meetings with the community, and input online and in person.

http://www.bikearlington.com/tasks/sites/bike/assets/File/Building_Bikeshare_Together.pdf

http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/bikesharing/arlington-bikeshare-transit-development-plan/

Bikeshare needs to go where the people are–where it will be used. If Arlington’s stations were spread out there isn’t enough population density to make it viable. Metro stations and urban villages are where the people are. Once that backbone is in place then it can begin to spread out more. That’s why the first 14 stations that went in were all located in Crystal City, instead of trying to initially cover the entire County.

If you’re interested in other models Arlington was considering, PM me and I’ll see if I can dig up old files from meetings.

Edit: And more on station density: http://www.shareable.net/blog/nacto-report-links-station-density-to-bike-share-usage-equity

[TwoWheelsDC]

@S. Arlington Observer 125727 wrote:

It is crucial to have stations near Metro stations so that bikes can augment the Metro ride (and vice-versa). CaBi certainly makes it more feasible for me to Metro into the District and bike to non Metro friendly parts of the city.

BUT… The jurisdictions also need to fan out to other destinations. For some reason Arlington placed many of its original stations ALONG THE METRO ROUTE, not just at the stations. As a result, the Bikeshare bikes were largely redundant with the Metro system, not an expansion of possibilities. This has gotten better with further expansion, but I never understood the concept of mimicking the Metro line route between stations instead of allowing people to ride to a station and then go “sideways” on a bicycle. To me the best part of the bikes is being able to go where Metro does not go (albeit using Metro to get to the jumping off point) — not riding a bike along the same well worn route that buses and Metros are already serving.

In the cases of Ballston and Rosslyn, the Metro stations are also major hubs from buses coming in from non-Metro accessible locations, so adding bikeshare there increases choice. When I was in grad school last year, I often took the bus to Ballston and then bikeshared from Ballston to Virginia Square. It was generally faster, cheaper, and germ-y. Rosslyn also gets a lot of people who then head into Georgetown and vice versa.

So there’s a bit of logic to it, but I do agree that Arlington needs to focus on reaching the peripheral neighborhoods…like, say, the bulk of north and west Arlington that are within pretty easy bikeshare distance to EFC, but have been totally ignored by the County/CaBi.

[Tim Kelley]

Also: https://twitter.com/mspbjHammer/status/651864035282022401

[S. Arlington Observer]

@TwoWheelsDC 125729 wrote:

In the cases of Ballston and Rosslyn, the Metro stations are also major hubs from buses coming in from non-Metro accessible locations, so adding bikeshare there increases choice. When I was in grad school last year, I often took the bus to Ballston and then bikeshared from Ballston to Virginia Square. It was generally faster, cheaper, and germ-y. Rosslyn also gets a lot of people who then head into Georgetown and vice versa.

So there’s a bit of logic to it, but I do agree that Arlington needs to focus on reaching the peripheral neighborhoods…like, say, the bulk of north and west Arlington that are within pretty easy bikeshare distance to EFC, but have been totally ignored by the County/CaBi.

Lord, I did not mean to question the planning process, etc. as I know people are very defensive about that. I was only stating my own user end observation. I work literally atop an Arlington Metro station. When Bikeshare first came to Arlington I thought it would expand my options. I was already a Metro and bus person (I hate to drive) but I found that Bikeshare basically (then) only gave me a chance to go where the Metro went anyway. Without arguing history (which, after all, is history) I do like being able to go places that Metro (and sometimes convenient buses) CAN’T take me.

I bike daily, but rarely ride a CaBi bike now. But it was the expansion of CaBi to Shirlington that got me on a bike in the first place and which lead to my current daily bike commuting — and regular bike trips to Crystal City venues and a gym on Glebe Road. And I still appreciate the ability to hop on one and grab a beer in Crystal City when I suspect that riding home (due to the hour or perhaps more than one beer) might not be the best option. I only wish Fairfax was on board (so I could go to Bailey’s Crossroads) and Alexandria realized there is more to the city than DelRay and Old Town.

So, to end on a positive note, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE Arlington bringing bikeshare to south Arlington. It literally changed my life. I hope the branching out from Metro corridors continues.

[Drewdane]

@TwoWheelsDC 125729 wrote:

In the cases of Ballston and Rosslyn, the Metro stations are also major hubs from buses coming in from non-Metro accessible locations, so adding bikeshare there increases choice. When I was in grad school last year, I often took the bus to Ballston and then bikeshared from Ballston to Virginia Square. It was generally faster, cheaper, and germ-y. Rosslyn also gets a lot of people who then head into Georgetown and vice versa.

So there’s a bit of logic to it, but I do agree that Arlington needs to focus on reaching the peripheral neighborhoods…like, say, the bulk of north and west Arlington that are within pretty easy bikeshare distance to EFC, but have been totally ignored by the County/CaBi.

Such as – *ahem!* – Westover, with something like 35 requests logged on the crowdsource map.

[bobco85]

@Drewdane 142840 wrote:

Such as – *ahem!* – Westover, with something like 35 requests logged on the crowdsource map.

Sometime this year, a CaBi station will be coming to the Westover Library: https://www.arlnow.com/2016/05/11/capital-bikeshare-stations-coming-to-westover-w-l-high-school/
Of course, this map shows it for 2017. I’m not sure when it’s coming: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XmSPZtlg2RsUdANkHVNQ8gTRDsc&hl=en_US

There is a newer station (installed this year?) near Westover at the corner of Washington Blvd/N Frederick St (Lacy Woods Park), though.

[Drewdane]

@bobco85 142849 wrote:

Sometime this year, a CaBi station will be coming to the Westover Library: https://www.arlnow.com/2016/05/11/capital-bikeshare-stations-coming-to-westover-w-l-high-school/
Of course, this map shows it for 2017. I’m not sure when it’s coming: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XmSPZtlg2RsUdANkHVNQ8gTRDsc&hl=en_US

There is a newer station (installed this year?) near Westover at the corner of Washington Blvd/N Frederick St (Lacy Woods Park), though.

Sweet! I wish it had been there Friday. On the other hand, given how much time I spent at Westover Market Friday, it’s probably best it wasn’t.

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