DC Offers Free Capital Bikeshare Memberships As Metro Struggles With Service

WASHINGTON, DC — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Lyft announced that Capital Bikeshare will be offering free 30-day memberships to all D.C. residents starting Monday to help ease travel disruptions caused by the reduce service on Metro.

To participate, riders should go to the “Ride Plans” section of the Capital Bikeshare or Lyft Mobile apps, or the “Pricing” section of the Capital Bikeshare website, capitalbikeshare.com, and select a 30-day membership for $0.

Lyft is the operator of the Capital Bikeshare program, which is owned by the District government and other jurisdictions in the D.C. area.

“The service disruptions at Metro are deeply troubling for D.C. and the region. DC is open and we need a fully functioning transit system to get workers, students, and visitors across the city,” Bowser said in a statement Monday.

Commuters in the D.C. area will face longer waits for Metro trains through at least the end of October and probably longer, as more than half the fleet of train cars will remain out of service over safety issues.

Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said Friday there is no timeline for the return of the transit authority's 7000-series train cars, which were pulled from service after a derailing revealed a chronic problem with the wheels and axles. The 748 cars are the newest and make up more than 60 percent of the fleet.

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Once registered for the free bikeshare membership, residents can take unlimited free 45-minute rides on the red classic Capital Bikeshare bikes. There will be no unlocking or travel fee. Rides longer than 45 minutes will cost 5 cents per minute for a pedal bike. Ebike rides will cost 10 ccenter per minute from the first minute, a 33-percent discount from the normal rate.

Taxes and out of hub fees will be charged separately. Participants will need a valid credit card and phone number to participate.

The District’s partnership with Lyft is managed through the Department of Transportation.

“Capital Bikeshare system stands ready to do everything it can to help serve as a backstop to rail during this reduction in Metro service,” said Caroline Samponaro, vice president of Transit, Bike and Scooter Policy at Lyft.

Capital Bikeshare, founded in 2010, has more than 5,000 bikes available at 650 stations region-wide. The system was founded in September 2010.