D.C. SmartBike program pedaling toward success

WASHINGTON - The District's SmartBike program is racing out of the gate.

The D.C. Department of Transportation tells WTOP about 350 people registered for the program during its first week -- and the total number of registered SmartBike users in the city is now around 450.

"It's been a big success," DDOT spokesperson Karyn LeBlanc says.

But with 450 registered users, and only 120 bikes (10 racks with 12 bikes each), D.C. is moving quickly with plans for expansion.

"At this point we are fairly sure of an expansion," LeBlanc says.

The plans call for SmartBike racks to be set up in a gradual, circular motion away from the downtown core of the city. The racks would be no more than five to eight blocks away from one another.

One area that seems destined for SmartBike is Capitol Hill.

"Capitol Hill is definitely near the top of our list for expansion," says Jim Sebastian, bicycle program coordinator for DDOT. "I would say SmartBike will be there by next spring at the latest."

DDOT is also studying whether a cap has to be set up for the number of registered SmartBike users. Early figures show a cap may be needed at 2,000 or 3,000 users.

"We will have to continue to monitor that," LeBlanc says. "We have to see how quickly the bikes are being circulated."

For a $40 annual membership fee, renters can take SmartBikes for three hours at a time and for an unlimited number of trips a day.

D.C.'s SmartBike program is considered the first of its kind in North America.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)