SPEAK UP: Bike-share Station Locations in College Park

Where in College Park would it be most convenient to pick up a bike for borrowing?

The city learned on May 1—National Bike Month—. Cyclists are able to rent a bike from one station, pedal to a destination and leave it at another station.

In its application for the state grant, College Park proposed eight spots for bike-share stations, which you can view on the interactive map. Four are on the campus. Three of the remaining off-campus stations are at Knox Road and Baltimore Avenue, the Metro station and at student apartments.

The remaining off-campus station is proposed for the Hollywood Shopping Center, near and , about two miles away from the next closest proposed location.

One writer for Rethink College Park wonders if this spot might be too isolated from the rest of the proposed network.

Maybe the location anticipates the expansion of to Greenbelt, , writer Peter Schilling wonders.

“Undoubtedly, a bikeshare station should eventually be placed in the Hollywood neighborhood, but it may be premature at the start of the College Park bike sharing program, given budget constraints and the other proposed locations,” Schilling wrote.

College Park Senior Planner Elisa Vitale said she anticipates Greenbelt being approved for Capital Bikeshare as well, but regardless she also thinks the Hollywood Shopping Center isn’t too far from other proposed stations in the city. Rhode Island Avenue and the trail can be a connector, she said.

However, none of the proposed locations are set in stone, and the city will work with Capital Bikeshare to determine what spots make sense for stations, Vitale said.

Even if they don’t get it right the first time, the stations can be easily moved, since they’re solar powered, she added.

So what do you think? Check out the interactive map for the eight proposed locations. Is the Hollywood Shopping Center too far from the rest of the proposed network? What spots do you think would make great spots for Capital Bikeshare? Tell us in the comments.