Proposed Capital Bikeshare Locations opposed by Bluemont Civic Association – vote

[DismalScientist]

As far as I can tell, station location decision-making was started using a crowd-sourcing map, whose input was primarily from cyclists. As far as I know, the proposed station locations in my neighborhood have never been run by the local community organizations. This is a procedure that will likely cause conflicts at the last moment.

As I stated before, I don’t see why one would ever place stations that are not located at a significant destination, be it commercial districts, schools, (significant) parks, or apartment buildings. I see no reason to put stations at connections alone. Are people going to ride east to the connection point, change bikes, and ride north? This makes no sense.

In my neighborhood, there is a proposed station at Ohio and 14th, which is not a destination. I have proposed moving that to Madison Manor Park. Either station will (somewhat poorly) serve the WOD.

In Bluemont, I don’t see the reason for any station along the trail as there is no destination there.

[Steve O]

@sjclaeys 114155 wrote:

I was an email that went out to residents, though I do not live in Bluemont. I hope that sharing this encourages forum members in Bluemont to get involved and to let ArlCo know about the nature of the opposition.

It does not appear that one need be a resident of Bluemont to participate in the survey. Or at least there does not appear to be any way they could tell otherwise if one were not.

[83b]

@dasgeh 114158 wrote:

I’ve been stuck in this country for the past month. UGH.

Being there might actually be better than dealing with the 12 hour time difference! Dirty negotiating tactics plus 9PM-4AM teleconferences push people’s patience and civility past the breaking point even more quickly.

[mstone]

@DismalScientist 114174 wrote:

As I stated before, I don’t see why one would ever place stations that are not located at a significant destination, be it commercial districts, schools, (significant) parks, or apartment buildings. I see no reason to put stations at connections alone. Are people going to ride east to the connection point, change bikes, and ride north? This makes no sense.

In my neighborhood, there is a proposed station at Ohio and 14th, which is not a destination. I have proposed moving that to Madison Manor Park. Either station will (somewhat poorly) serve the WOD.

In Bluemont, I don’t see the reason for any station along the trail as there is no destination there.

Given the way the cabi pricing works, I can see that people may want to daisy chain to increase the range of free rides. Whether this quirk of pricing makes sense is a different question.

It also seems to me that there’s a set of people who would be more likely to walk to a trail to get on a bike than walk to a suburban commercial district to get on a bike. The trail then may take them to somewhere they want to go. So I don’t see this as completely insane. How many people would do this? I have no idea. The really neat thing is, we can conduct an experiment: put in the bikeshare station, see how much utilization it gets, and if it’s underutilized…move it. The things are designed to be easy to relocate.

[OneEighth]

@Steve O 114175 wrote:

It does not appear that one need be a resident of Bluemont to participate in the survey. Or at least there does not appear to be any way they could tell otherwise if one were not.

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

[bobco85]

Some useful information from http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/bikesharing/planned-arlington-stations/

Physical Criteria for Station Locations

Criteria for station locations include:

• 4+ hours of direct sunlight daily
• at least 11′ x 42′ 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
• would not block utility access, such as a manhole cover
• would not create a dangerous situation for street users

Given these criteria, the proposed locations (including future ones on the expansion map, see link above) make a lot more sense. These locations may become like the Virginia Square Metro a.k.a. “filler” stations that will help with further expansion while providing greater access to the network for people in Bluemont.

As someone who lives near and makes good use of a “filler” bikeshare station (Pershing/George Mason), I think the proposed locations are excellent for the people of Bluemont.

[baiskeli]

@mstone 114166 wrote:

Uh-huh. So if you convince the BCA, there will never be a “Friends of Keeping Children Safe” to drag the fight out even longer.

There might be, but who cares? If the BCA is on board, you point to that. And as you noted, BCA approval is not required either.

[DismalScientist]

Do you really think that CaBi should maintain stations every 5 blocks in a sea of single family homes?

The residential density at Pershing and George Mason is much higher than anything in Bluemont.

[arlmom]

Thanks for all of the conversation on this issue. I value the dialogue.

Regarding the single family home use question, I can answer for myself. I would use it. My husband, two kids (ages 1 and 4), and I enjoy riding our bikes from our single family home up the street from the proposed Harrison St. location. We tend to ride cargo bikes now to take the kids where we need and want to go. However, on the days that I can go into work on my own (having my husband drop the kids off at daycare/preschool), I could take a bikeshare bike to the Ballston metro from the N. Harrison St station and be at the metro in about 10 minutes (give or take). This is perfect on days when I don’t want to ride my own bike to Ballston and park it there with my concern of bike and accessory (child seat, lights, etc.) theft or vandalism.

I would also use it on the weekends to ride into Clarendon, Virginia Square, and the District. When the proposed Westover location is built, I’ll ride there too. I’ll also likely ride to other points on the W&OD and Custis Trails where there are playgrounds or other spots to get out and enjoy the outdoors. So, although it isn’t a hub of super dense housing, there are a lot of people that currently walk from the neighborhood into Ballston to catch the metro or get to work and return home every day. There are a lot of people that would likely use it to get to and from work, get to a local restaurant or bar, enjoy time with friends, pick up a few groceries, etc. I think that there are a number of families with children that will use the stations so they can explore areas with their kids, walk around, find another bikeshare location to rent from or take the metro, and then carry on. There is a simplicity in not having to keep your bike with you that comes with bikeshare. I also know that I would like to see a station for my kids when they are riding an adult sized bike (which will probably be here before I know it).

The bottom line is that a station like this will open up new avenues for bikeshare and get more people that may not be using the system much more engaged and riding more because they can ride from home or to home.

[bobco85]

@DismalScientist 114183 wrote:

Do you really think that CaBi should maintain stations every 5 blocks in a sea of single family homes?

The residential density at Pershing and George Mason is much higher than anything in Bluemont.

In the context of expanding the bikeshare network long-term, yes, because CaBi will need stepping stone locations such as the 2 being proposed.

I think CaBi’s goal is to provide more access, not necessarily have every station be in the densest and/or most profitable areas. Over time, I think the real value of the locations will be found in the fact that there will be more places where one won’t be very far from a CaBi station, making it always an option for transportation.

[baiskeli]

@DismalScientist 114183 wrote:

Do you really think that CaBi should maintain stations every 5 blocks in a sea of single family homes?

The residential density at Pershing and George Mason is much higher than anything in Bluemont.

I think there will be enough users from the neighborhoods to support it. However, I think it would make even more sense to put the stations near destinations such as parks, schools etc. so they get traffic going both directions.

I’d like to see it expand all the way to Falls Church.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

That location is very near the Arlington Forest Swimclub, a very popular destination for this part of Arlington. My neighborhood list-serve always gets queries about selling/buying/trading memberships.

[Steve O]

@baiskeli 114196 wrote:

I think there will be enough users from the neighborhoods to support it. However, I think it would make even more sense to put the stations near destinations such as parks, schools etc.

How about a church and a school?

[scoot]

@Steve O 114175 wrote:

It does not appear that one need be a resident of Bluemont to participate in the survey. Or at least there does not appear to be any way they could tell otherwise if one were not.

Well, if I truthfully answer what street I live on, they’ll certainly know. Then again, if I were to leave off the “S” they might assume it’s “N” and not catch on.

[baiskeli]

@Steve O 114200 wrote:

How about a church and a school?

Well, yes, those would be included.

I didn’t say I agreed with BCA’s opposition to the locations.

[Author]

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