Downtown Wheaton Gets 6 New Capital Bikeshare Stations

WHEATON, MD — Montgomery County officials celebrated the opening of the Capital Bikeshare satellite network in downtown Wheaton with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning.

The new Bikeshare network will support the Wheaton Central Business District, as well as the surrounding commercial, residential and mixed use development areas.

The five stations are located at: Elkin Street and Amherst Avenue; Grandview and Blueridge Avenues; Wheaton Metrorail station; Amherst Avenue and Prichard Road; and Windham Lane and Amherst Avenue. A sixth station will be added this summer.

Residents will be able to access the Bikeshare stations from the new recreation center, new library and new public office building in downtown Wheaton.

“Bicycling is an important part of Montgomery County’s transportation network,” Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett said in a statement. “Bicycling offers an affordable, sustainable and healthy way for people to get where they need to go."

Residents can join Bikeshare for an annual, daily or three-day fee, or a ride for up to 30 minutes at a time. Once people enroll in Bikeshare, they can pick up their key at the key dispenser at any Bikeshare station. Alternatively, people can opt for a $2 single-trip fare, which doesn't require a key.

Those with certain income levels can also join Bikeshare for free.

Leggett took part in the ceremony, and was joined by Council President Roger Berliner, Council Vice President Hans Riemer, Councilmember Nancy Navarro, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Assistant Secretary for Transportation and more.

“Capital Bikeshare has become an essential element of our region’s transportation network, providing those first- and last-mile connections from Metro stations and other forms of mass transit,” said Berliner. “This new network of Capital Bikeshare stations can help provide that same ability in Wheaton, connecting people to its diverse and growing collection of shops, restaurants, businesses and homes.”

Capital Bikeshare has been installed around Metro stations in Shady Grove, Rockville, Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Takoma, Silver Spring, and Wheaton.

The sixth station added in Wheaton this summer will be the 67th Bikeshare station in Montgomery County. There are also plans to install six more Bikeshare stations in the Shady Grove area by the end of 2017.

“I am thrilled that this new transportation option will be coming to Wheaton,” said Riemer. “People seem to really appreciate the ease, flexibility, and affordability of Capital Bikeshare. It is really going to help people go where they want to go in Wheaton.”

Photo: MCDOT