D.C.'s Bikeshare Program a Boon to Local Stores

Martin Di Caro reports on the enthusiastic response that the bike rental program Capital Bikeshare has produced in D.C., and the significant changes it's sparked in the local culture and economy.

2 minute read

July 12, 2012, 5:00 AM PDT

By Emily Williams


So goes the old saying, "if you build it, they will come." Di Caro reports that in the case of Capital Bikeshare, a bike rental service founded by a partnership of the District of Columbia and Arlington County, providing easy access to bicycles has prompted a new wave of bike enthusiasts going out and buying their own.

This phenomenon came as a surprise to local bicycle shops, who feared that the convenience of renting a bike for $50 per year would decrease their sales. However, many users of Bikeshare soon realized that they wanted a bike to call their own. Their enthusiasm was captured recently on Twitter, with users expressing excitement and gratitude for Bikeshare for turning them onto cycling. One user tweeted: "Loved Bikeshare. Bought a bike as a direct result."

The program has created a heightened awareness of bicyclists in the city as more and more riders take to the streets. Notes Di Caro, "bicycling is achieving 'critical mass' in Washington. There are enough bicyclists on the streets that motorists have to be courteous and accommodate them, even where there are no bike lanes."

In addition to the benefits of less cars on the road, the program also helps support the local economy. "AAA estimates that people spend on the average [$9,000 per year] related to their car," says Erik Kugler, the owner of Bicycle Space. "So if you can build an area where people don't need to spend that money every year, that money becomes available for the local economy. You see new restaurants open up, cafes, niche shops, and small businesses like ours. We employ 18 people here."

Friday, June 29, 2012 in WAMU

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight