With Bikeshare Come New Bike Lanes for Montgomery County

Capital Bikeshare's expansion to Montgomery County after successful runs in DC and Northern Virginia won't just mean more bikes on the streets. More bike lanes, more markings for shared lanes and more signage for cyclists will all be needed before customers begin renting bikes later this summer, said Al Roshdieh, deputy director of the county's Department of Transportation. 

About 29 docks for 250 rentable bikes , while a separately funded Capital Bikeshare program plans another 200 bikes at about eight docks in Rockville. 

A $250,000 surge of cash from fiscal 2014's budget will go in part toward a study of where bicycle docks will be located, Roshdieh said, to determine where new lanes, markings or signs need to be placed. 

The study's consultant will "see where the opportunity exists for creating a bike lane," Roshdieh said. "Sometimes you have sufficient width by taking away a parking lane or narrowing the lane, sometimes you can actually mark the streets for [sharing] the road."

The rest of the money will go toward maintaining existing bike trails, lanes and markings, he said.

"We have a certain amount of funds to do this and we are hoping to maximize whatever we can do," he said.

The study will begin soon, Roshdieh said, with cooperation from local bike advocates like WABA—the Washington Area Bicyclist Association—who have pushed for a set of changes to some downcounty roads and trails ahead of Capital Bikeshare's Maryland launch. 

"They're very much engaged and aware of our efforts and we'll communicate with them as we go forward," Roshdieh said of WABA.

The bikes are expected to be available for rent later this summer.