Bikeshare Rolls into Montgomery County

Capital Bikeshare made its Montgomery County debut in Rockville on Friday and local officials were glad to be seeing red.

“Red bikes make us happy,” said Del. Ariana B. Kelly, a Democrat who represents Bethesda.

Kelly was one of more than a dozen city, county and state officials who spoke at a ceremonial ribbon cutting at Rockville Town Center, marking the launch of 14 stations in Rockville/Shady Grove, Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Silver Spring and Takoma Park.

Friday’s ceremony was held at the newly minted, 15-dock station at Montgomery and Maryland Avenues. Washington, DC’s Bikeshare network has millions of riders, according to local officials’ estimates.

Bikeshare is part of a broader movement—particularly popular overseas—in which “sharable” bikes are made available typically for short-term trips. Riders can pick up and drop off bikes at any station within the Bikeshare network.

“It gives me the ability to get on the Metro, come to Rockville and go miles around without having to drag my bike with me,” said Maryland Sen. Brian E. Frosh, a Democrat from Montgomery County who introduced a $250,000 bond bill to support Bikeshare locally.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett said he couldn’t wait to see the Bikeshare bikes—whose signature color is bright red—rolling through the county.

Hopefully, some of those bikes will amount to fewer cars on the road, Leggett said.

“It is no secret that the Washington region has the worst traffic in the world,” Leggett said.

A total 51 stations will be installed countywide over the course of several weeks, which Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation Director Art Holmes said amounts to 450 bikes.

Greater Greater Washington reports that the project is one of the first in a suburban area and if it’s successful it could be used as an example for other regions.

“There’s no question that Montgomery County is the leader in bike paths, bike ways and bike share,” Maryland Transportation Secretary James T. Smith said during Friday’s ribbon cutting.

The initiative was boosted by a $1 million grant from the Department of Transportation, federal funding, and public-private partnerships.

Chevy Chase Land Co. contributed $200,000 for two Bikeshare stations in Bethesda and Friendship Heights.

The City of Rockville contributed $300,000 to a program that enables low-income people to bike for free, a program known as the Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC).

The city was recognized as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists, according to Rockville Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio.

Kevin Belanger, Rockville's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, said there were three Rockville Bikeshare stations were open as of Friday. He said there were plans to add nearly a dozen more in the coming months.

“It shows that we are serious about having alternatives, that it’s no longer just about using cars for getting around in Rockville,” Belanger said.

Montgomery County Council members were also strong supporters of bringing the network to Montgomery County.

County Councilman Hans Riemer said the bikes were a “symbol of change.” 

“Every time you see a red bike, just recognize that we are moving forward into a better future,” Riemer said.