Want to Go Biking with Your Out-of-Town Guests? Capital Bikeshare Has a Way

Capital Bikeshare, DC's new bike-sharing program, started in September 2010  but already it's been a huge success, giving thousands of DC residents a quick, convenient, energy-efficient way to get around the city. Of course, you need to be a member to be able to go up to any Bikeshare location and check out a bicycle for short-term use. Until now, that meant that your out-of-town guests would be unable to join you in an impromptu bike-ride.

But now all you need to do is suggest that out-of-town visitors stay at a hotel that participates in the Capital Bikeshare program, and you all can go biking together. Or your guests can check out a bicycle and use it to bike to your house -- saving you from having to go and pick them up, or saving them on cabfare.

So far just three hotels, all part of the Kimpton Hotel group, are participating. The Hotel Monaco near Gallery Place, Hotel Helix in Dupont Circle, and Hotel Rouge near Scott Circle, are all offering their guests complimentary 24-hour Bikeshare memberships. Guests who take advantage of the bicycle rentals will also be provided with helmets, safe biking guides, and bike maps.

Each of the three hotels is located close to a Capital Bikeshare station. Currently Capital Bikeshare has more than 1,100 bikes at 115 stations throughout the DC metropolitan area.

For more information about visitor use of Capital Bikeshare and other sustainable transportation programs in DC, visit goDCgo.