Last week, I asked the County Executive to lend his support to expanding a robust bikeshare program to the Bethesda area. Both DC and Arlington have an extensive network of bikeshare stations, and I believe including Bethesda in the continued development of this network makes a lot of sense.

Because of its high metro ridership, proximity to existing bikeshare stations, and connectivity to biking trails in DC - not to mention the traffic impacts related to BRAC - Bethesda is an excellent candidate for expansion of the existing system. In fact, over 200 residents of Bethesda are already Capital Bikeshare members – and that’s with zero stations in Montgomery County.

I also believe that White Flint, with its exciting new mixed-use development taking place right now, is also a good fit for bikeshare. As this new paradigm in transit-oriented development takes shape, the time is now to ensure that bikesharing is included in the landscape of White Flint. When it is installed, it could be a link between the stations planned in Rockville and the new stations in Bethesda.

I asked the County Executive to think creatively about how we can move forward on bikeshare quickly. This could include continuing our County’s pursuit of federal grant money to match interest in funding at the state level, and developing a sponsorship model, which could be similar to one in place in Crystal City, to leverage interest from the private sector. With over 110 stations in DC and Arlington, Montgomery County’s partnership in the bikesharing network is overdue.

I look forward to working with Senator Brian Frosh, who has assumed a strong leadership role in supporting this project at the state level; Council President Ervin, who has been and continues to be a strong advocate for bikeshare; our Montgomery County Department of Transportation, which has already secured funding for establishing stations in Rockville and Gaithersburg; and Bethesda stakeholders to explore ways we can make bikeshare happen there, sooner rather than later. You can read my letter to the County Executive here.