Georgetown University Bikeshare

[Mikey]

Dickenson college in Carlysle, PA has a similar program. They take abandoned and donated bikes, have a full service bike shop with a paid mechanic that teaches the students how to maintain their bikes. They let students check out a bike for the day/weekend, and also give work/study credits for students who volunteer. It seemed like a nice program.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Although Capital Bikeshare operates a station right outside the front gates, Pincus said there is still a need for a Georgetown-specific program.

“Capital Bikeshare was insufficient for student needs,” Pincus said. “Not that Capital Bikeshare is a bad program in any way, but it’s mostly geared toward tourists or commuters rather than students.”

::facepalm::

[dasgeh]

I’m a little torn. On the one hand, they’re right that CaBi isn’t set up to be helpful to GU students (look at the map – it’s really not helpful). And students have some needs that CaBi wouldn’t really address.

But then, again, if there were CaBi stations in the right places, those needs probably could be addressed. GU could use the financial resources earmarked to administer their own program, and just install more stations in more places. Then GU could take a hard look at infrastructure on campus and figure out how it could help cyclists (can you get from Prospect to Canal on a bike? I don’t think they let cars through the security gates). They also have official and non-official housing in Arlington, and they could lend their voice to improving Gtown-Rosslyn bike connections…

Oh, and those abandoned bikes? Donate them to Pheonix.

[Author]

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