Study: Capital Bikeshare Reduces Congestion

A study by Casey J. Wichman for the Resources for the Future (RFF) think tank examined Capital Bikeshare for its impact on transportation in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

A few of the study's key findings, according to the RFF page devoted to the study:

• "A causal effect exists between the introduction of bike-sharing programs and traffic congestion." In D.C., the reduction varies between two and three percent, according to the study.
• "A secondary, suggestive finding is that congestion increases in areas neighboring those with bike docks. It could be the case that motor vehicle drivers seek to avoid streets populated with cyclists, among other potential factors."

The study also argues for the growing relevance of similar studies as more cities expand bikeshare infrastructure.