SmartBike DC Tries to Catch a Green Wave

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Even though I rode my own bike to the convention, I couldn't help but to try out the new bike leasing program. It was incredibly easy to do and was a lot of fun too. I welcome when multiple kiosks will be established to enable more feasible transportation. It would be great if all the inner city workers adopted this program.
New Belgium Brewing has launched an interactive online blog for its 15,000 Team Wonderbike members, who pledge to bike instead of drive as often as possible - assuming, of course, they don't do either after tossing back a couple of Fat Tires. The brewery released its list of top 10 Marvelous Reasons Why Our Employees Love to Ride. See more reasons at teamwonderbike.com/blog.

Erik of CO 1:36PM October 01, 2008

It's so great to see DC launch SmartBike Sharing Program and I am sure that will boost citizens and visitors to know more and appreciate more the beauty of DC.
One great news to share here. Bike DC event is coming back this year, and will be held on September 27, 2008.
Bike DC is a noncompetitive, community bike ride through 17 car-free miles of Washington, DC. The route is designed to be enjoyed by experienced riders, novices and families. So that participants may fully appreciate the adventure of cycling on car free city streets, Bike DC is a ride, not a race.
Bike DC will begin on "America's Main Street" : Pennsylvania Avenue. With the U. S. Capitol as the backdrop, we will bike up Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House to Embassy Row. On Massachusetts Avenue the ride goes by 40 embassies—from Azerbaijan to Zambia.
The first rest stop on the route will be at Twin Oaks, adjacent to the National Cathedral. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has graciously allowed us to visit the 18-acre grounds of the Twin Oaks Estate. The Georgian Revival mansion was build by Gardiner Greene Hubbard, founder of the National Geographic Society, and once was home to Alexander Graham Bell. Later, this nationally registered historic site served as the official residence of ROC (Taiwan) ambassadors to the United States. It remains a symbol of friendly relations between Taiwan and the U.S. to this day.
For registration and more details, please check out http://www.bikedc.net/

meihui55 of DC 2:07PM September 03, 2008

...if there are many stations around common areas. people can pick up a bike near their home, ride to work, store the bike at the station near their office, then return the same way. not many people will have a three hour bike commute each way to work.
i don't know why they are taking a SMALL view of this program. Paris started with 20,600 bikes at 1,450 stations http://tinyurl.com/2fa9ze . People need to be able to use the bikes in a practical way, not see some half hearted gimmick.
I hope it quickly expands and succeeds.

kevin carrelli of IL 1:05PM June 18, 2008

If the bike is only available for 3 hours, it wouldn't be enough. I guess this will be suitable for tourists, but even so, 3 hours will not be enough to spend in one area. Unless there are kiosks near your regular destinations that you can just park it and go, these will be totally useless if you have to hold on to it throughout the day and return it at the same location at the end of the day.

RO of CA 3:02PM June 16, 2008

My city Brisbane, Australia, wants to do this but we have a stupid compulsory helmet law. They are coming up with bizarre schemes such as disposable helmet inserts! Sometimes the US is better...

Dr. Chris Kirtley of DC 8:51AM June 08, 2008