Capital Bikeshare Adds Stations and Bicycles to Fleet, Washington, DC 2021

Capital Bikeshare, the bikeshare operator for the Washington, DC metropolitan area, plans to expand significantly as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Before the end of 2021, Washington, DC plans to add 60 stations and hundreds of bicycles across the District. As part of a six-year plan, Washington, DC plans to add another 80 stations and 3,500 electric bikes, more than doubling the bikeshare system’s fleet within the District itself. With this expansion, all District residents will be able to access a bikeshare station within .25 miles. Other municipal jurisdictions in the Washington, DC metropolitan area also have plans for Capital Bikeshare expansions, including:

1. 30 new stations and bicycles in Prince George’s County within the next two to three years
2. 20 new stations in Alexandria before the end of 2021
3. 29 new stations in Fairfax County, in areas like Reston, Vienna, and Merrifield in the summer of 2021
4. Six new stations in Arlington County before the end of 2021 with a call for three new stations each year

Bikeshare systems saw a significant decline in ridership as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more individuals expected to return to in-person work, planners, bikeshare operators, and other policymakers are optimistic that bikeshare systems will see an increase in usage that exceeds that of before the pandemic. These capital investments in the Capital Bikeshare system will hopefully see long-term sustainability in the bicycle and shared-mobility culture for the region.

Last updated July 12, 2021