Federal Bikeshare Grant Funds 200 Bikes Near Gaithersburg

Twenty docks will make 200 rentable bikes available in various locations in Rockville later this year, county officials announced Tuesday. 

Along with 250 bikes in the , Montgomery County's bikeshare program is expected to begin by the end of the summer. Alta Bicycle Share, the company that already operates the bikeshare program in the District of Columbia and Arlington and Alexandria in Virginia, will run Montgomery's bikeshare program.

"Bikesharing can be a cost-effective, healthy way to provide better transportation connections that reduce the need to drive for short trips, provide efficient links to transit and reduce traffic congestion," said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D). 

The mid-county program was funded with a $1.3 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration. Montgomery County matched $553,000 of the funds and the City of Rockville put up $300,000 for the program. 

This portion of Montgomery County's bikeshare initiative is one of eight regional projects that are part of the Job Access Reverse Commute program, which uses bikes to provide more transportation options to low-income commuters. 

Workers who meet the program guidelines will receive a one-year membership to bikeshare for free along with a free bike helmet, classes on bicycle use and safety, a discount on user fees and help with planning safe bike routes, the release said. 

"Since bikesharing is low-cost and available 24/7, it may be particularly helpful for low-income residents, many of whom hold multiple jobs and try to participate in job training programs," Leggett said. 

Stations have not been finalized for either the mid-county or the downcounty programs, but officials have proposed placing the docks at Rockville and Shady Grove Metro stations, Rockville Town Center, King Farm, Fallsgrove, the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center, Montgomery College's Rockville campus, The Universities at Shady Grove and Johns Hopkins University, Montgomery County campus.