Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 12, 2009
Metro adding bike racks to accommodate more people biking to Metro
Riders encouraged to bike to Metro for Bike to Work Day, May 15
Metro has begun to install hundreds of new bike racks at Metrorail stations in time for Bike to Work Day, May 15, as part of an effort to improve bicycle access and accommodate more cyclists who are using the Metrorail and Metrobus system.
Between 2002 and 2007, the number of cyclists biking to a rail station during the morning rush hours increased 60 percent to 1,550. Last summer, even more people began biking to Metro as a way to avoid higher gas prices.
“Biking is a great way to connect people with public transportation,” said Nat Bottigheimer, Metro’s Assistant General Manager of Planning and Joint Development, who often bicycles to his local Metrorail station on the way to work. “With warmer weather quickly approaching and Bike to Work Day on May 15, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to bike to Metro.”
To help meet the demand, Metro has begun replacing 350 old bicycle racks and installing an additional 300 new racks at Metrorail stations throughout the system — a 20 percent increase in the number of bicycle racks that were at stations last year.
Metro currently has about 1,600 bicycle racks and an additional 1,300 lockers spread throughout the rail system at 86 Metrorail stations. Racks are available for free on a first-come, first-use basis. Lockers, which provide added protection from theft, vandalism and inclement weather, may be rented for $70 annually, plus a $10 key deposit.
In addition to providing storage for bicycles at Metrorail stations, Metrobuses can carry two bicycles on racks attached to the front of each bus. About 650 people utilize the bicycle racks on Metrobuses every day.
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| Metrobuses can carry two bicycles on racks attached to the front of each bus. |
Bicycles are welcome in the Metrorail system anytime except during weekday rush hours, from 7 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Cyclists who bring their bicycles on Metrorail during non-rush hours are asked to board trains through the end doors of rail cars.
“We’re increasing storage for bicycles at Metrorail stations because space is limited on trains during weekday rush hours,” said Bottigheimer. “We hope cyclists will take advantage of the new racks and continue to bike to Metro as we look at ways to make the system even more accessible.”
Metro planners are expected to begin a bicycle and pedestrian study this year. The study will evaluate existing and projected bicycle and pedestrian demand and access to stations, and propose facilities to improve bicycle storage, such as key swipe-card entry bicycle cages in parking lots and double-deck parking for bicycles.
Metro has proposed $45 million in bicycle and pedestrian improvements between 2011 and 2020 as part of its capital needs inventory, with investments focused on maintaining existing bicycle facilities, increasing bicycle parking capacity and improving connections to stations from local communities.
Many of Metro’s regional partners also are working to improve bicycle access to Metrorail stations. In the District of Columbia, the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) is installing a new, artistic bicycle rack that spells out the words “bike here” at the 19th Street, NW, entrance of Dupont Circle Metrorail station. The rack can accommodate more than 10 locked bicycles and will be in addition to 330 standard bicycle racks the BID has already installed in the central business district.
Also in the District of Columbia, the District Department of Transportation is in the midst of constructing the Metropolitan Branch Trail, an eight-mile multi-use trail that will run from Silver Spring, Md., to Union Station. Plans call for the trail to provide direct access to seven Metrorail stations along the Red Line.
In Montgomery County, a new path will be built to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to the Shady Grove Metrorail station.
In Fairfax County, on-road bike lanes will be added to Gallows Road to enhance access to the Dunn Loring Metrorail station. Arlington County is planning a bicycle sharing program similar to the District of Columbia’s program that will improve bicycle access to many of the Metrorail stations in the county.
The City of Alexandria is in the process of widening Eisenhower Avenue between Holland Lane and Stovall Street to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to Eisenhower Ave Metrorail station. In addition, a new shared-use path will open in 2010 and connect Fairfax County near the Huntington Metrorail station to Eisenhower Avenue.
For more information about Metro’s Bike ‘N Ride program, visit http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/bike_ride.
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Media contact for this news release: Angela Gates or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
News release issued at 2:23 pm, May 12, 2009.