Yes, every CaBi station is solar-powered.
This is the list of requirements for stations, according to BikeArlington:
Criteria for station locations include:
– 4+ hours of direct sunlight daily;
– at least 11’ x 32’ of space;
– between 2 – 5 blocks (500′ – 1,250′) from the nearest station;
– if on a sidewalk, minimum pedestrian clearance of 6’ is needed;
– if on-street, preference for being adjacent or near a bike lane;
– flat ground;
– would not block utility access, such as a manhole cover; and
– would not create a dangerous situation for street users.
****
Is that location at Pollard St.? If so, then I wouldn’t even worry about your suggested location, because Arlington is already planning to add a station in Cherrydale (when the supply problems are resolved, due to the Bixi bankruptcy). One of their older Google Map overlays shows a planned station near Oakland St., at the Safeway or the hardware store. The exact location hasn’t been announced but it should be very close to your suggested location.
All of the participating jurisdictions had planned to expand their CaBi networks this year, but not much has happened because Bixi, the Canadian company that supplies the bikes and stations, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. Bixi Int’l was bought by a Canadian furniture magnate. Alta, the company that operates Capital Bikeshare and other bikeshare systems across the U.S., also reached an agreement with 8D Technologies (the co. that created the software used for CaBi) to start up a new partnership to supply equipment for existing and new bikeshare systems. So there might be two options in the future for equipment.
But for now, everyone is mostly waiting on bikes and stations. Arlington plans to add a few stations along Lee Highway and a few other locations in the County.
If and when the new Arlington CaBi stations are installed, I would be sure to check the CaBi website or the free SpotCycle smartphone app (Android and iOS) for bike and dock availability. That Cherrydale station could be isolated. I’d imagine that it might have dockblocking issues (the station being either completely full or empty), with empty docks in the morning rush and full in the evening rush. If there aren’t any new stations added nearby, the full/empty status could be a problem there.
.
