In celebration of Bike to Work Day on May 16, County Executive Ike Leggett announced that the County will offer employees a steep discount for a limited time on a Capital Bikeshare membership. To encourage its employees to become members, Montgomery County has become a silver-level corporate partner of Capital Bikeshare, entitling employees to purchase memberships at the reduced rate of $25. The offer is available to eligible employees until June 30. Members will be responsible for usage fees for trips lasting longer than 30 minutes. Individual Capital Bikeshare memberships cost $75 a year. Leggett also encouraged other employers and organizations in the County to become a corporate, hotel or community partner of Capital Bikeshare.
Leggett also released data on the County’s Capital Bikeshare usage in April, showing that it nearly doubled compared to March. The number of trips originating in Montgomery County grew from 1,630 in March to 3,182 in April, an increase of 95 percent. The total number of trips since the program began in September 2013 through April 2014 is 11,533.
The County’s bikeshare program now has 49 stations. Two more stations will be added upon arrival of additional station equipment.
On May 14, the State Board of Public Works approved $250,000 for purchase and construction of five additional Capital Bikeshare DownCounty stations. The funds were allocated to the County through a General Assembly Bond Bill passed in 2012. Bill sponsors were Senators Brian Frosh, Richard Madaleno and Jamie Raskin and Delegates Al Carr, William Frick, Ana Sol Gutierrez, Sheila Hixson, Tom Hucker, Ariana Kelly, Susan Lee, Eric Luedtke, Heather Mizeur and Jeff Waldstreicher.
A map of the County’s stations and more information on the regional Capital Bikeshare system are available at www.capitalbikeshare.com. For information on corporate Bikeshare memberships, eligibility for free memberships and program benefits available for low-income, reverse commuters and job trainees, contact Montgomery County Commuter Services at 240-777-8380 or email mcdot.CommuterServices@montgomerycountymd.gov.
