Plan For 10 More Reston BikeShare Stations In The Works

RESTON, VA — Many Reston residents are reportedly taking advantage of the Capital Bikeshare services in town, prompting the Fairfax County Department of Transportation's bicycle program coordinator to think about adding ten additional stations, according to Reston Now.

The coordinator, Adam Lind, said he's hoping to use a previously received federal TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant to bring ten more stations to Reston.

So far, there's 12 stations already accessible and three more that have been scheduled for installation. Nine of the 12 stations opened in October, and Lind believes they'll be an even bigger increase in members and ridership as the weather gets warm again.

Lind said officials expected the stations at Reston Town Center and the Metro Station to be popular, and he's "pleasantly surprised" that other stations are getting a lot of usage as well. He said the station at Sunset Hills and Old Reston Avenue has seen high usage, as well as the new stations near Lake Anne.

Residents at a recent community meeting earlier this month discussed the proposed changes to street designs in Reston. This included the Proposal from the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to alter lanes on Twin Branches Road, Colts Neck Road and North Shore Drive. FCDOT officials said the changes would include adding more crosswalks and creating bike lanes to make the roads safer for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Some residents at the meeting welcomed the idea of making Reston a more bikeable and safer city, especially since two pedestrians have been killed crossing Colts Neck. Other residents are concerned with a potential loss of parking or increased congestion.

Lind said adding more bike lanes in Reston would “greatly assist the continued growth and expansion of Capital Bikeshare in Reston both north and south of the Toll Road.”

Reston residents interested in having a Bikeshare station installed in their neighborhood are asked to email their request to DOTBicyclePrograms@fairfaxcounty.org or use the interactive map here.

Read the complete Arlington Now article here.

Photo: James Schwartz/Flickr