The Maryland Department of Transportation has announced that MCDOT has received a $1,008,000 grant for a proposed bike share program for the downcounty areas of Friendship Heights, Bethesda, Medical Center, Takoma Park and Silver Spring.  In addition, during its regular session, the Maryland legislature approved a bill that will provide a $250,000 bond to the bike share program.  The grant and bond will help pay for a portion of the construction and equipment costs for 50 bikeshare docking stations and 350 bikes. Montgomery County has also received $252,000 in private sector funding commitments towards the cost of bikesharing stations in the downcounty , pending assurance that the bikeshare network will be established.

The downcounty bikeshare program would build on the success of the Capital Bikeshare program in Washington D.C. and Arlington, which, in its first 18 months, logged more than 1.5 million bike trips.  The downcounty system is expected to expand the reach of Metrorail and other transit; provide low-cost transportation options in the most urbanized and congested portion of Montgomery County; help get people out of their cars for short trips; and produce environmental benefits while enhancing economic activity.

For more information, see the County's press release.

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