Capital Bikeshare
WANNA GO FOR A RIDE
[gallery columns="1" link="file" size="full" ids="2895"]Capital bikeshare is taking over the city two wheels at a time. This wonderful service is extremely convenient and can be found in Washington D.C., Arlington, VA, Alexandria,VA, Fairfax County, VA and Montgomery, MD. With close to 4,000 bikes to chose from, finding one to cruise around on shouldn't be an issue at all. Having them scattered across these five jurisdictions make it extremely easy and convenient for local residents and tourists. As a city gal who doesn't have a car, I learned firsthand how heavily reliant I am on public transportation and other useful ways to maneuver around town. Borrowing a bike to get from point A to B is a nice alternative option to have if taking the metro or ubering from place to place doesn't sound appealing. Capital bikeshare is a fun, modestly priced way to get around. Not only will you get to where you're trying to go, you will also get a workout in, which is an added bonus in my opinion.
JOIN. TAKE. RIDE. RETURN.
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These bikes are accessible any day, at any time. No matter if you're looking to ride leisurely around town or trying to make it to a specific destination, they are available for you to use. There is an enlarged map at every capital bikeshare location to reference. This is a good resource to have in case you're curious about nearby bike trials or just like getting a sense of where you are in relationship to other places. If all else fails, pull out your smartphone, plug in your destination and let google maps lead the way. 
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Alright, are you hooked yet or curious how this all works? Well, it's simple. Simply "JOIN, TAKE, RIDE, RETURN". Capital bikeshare has a a few different membership options to chose from. If you feel as though this may turn into a serious form of transportation, I would recommend getting the $85.00 annual pass which will provide you unlimited access for the entire year. If that long term commitment is not something you four see in the near future, try either the single trip, 24 hour, three day or one month membership first. After selecting a package, the website will then prompt you to sign up and complete a profile. After that is finished, all that's left is to locate a station that has a "key dispenser" and pick up your key. This is what will give you access to unlocking the bikes. Now you're all set! Find a location, unlock the bike of your choice, and go ride. One of the best things I like about this service is the bike return policy. You can literally drop off your bike to any bikeshare station after you're done using it! This feature is wonderful because you don't have to backtrack in order to return the bike to its original departing station. As your ride concludes, pull up to one of the nearest stations, slide the bike into the slot holder and wait for the little light to turn green; this indicates your bike has been successfully locked. It's as easy as that!
MY BIKE ESSENTIALS
- Baseball Cap / Hat
- Close Toed Shoes
- Light Jacket
These bikes are in great condition (considering their regular use). Even though they aren't mountain bikes or beach cruisers, they are still good bikes. They have comfortable seats, brakes located on the handle bars and pedals that work well to get you to where you're needing to go. This bright red racer should not be underestimated. Next time you're out and about, keep an eye open for one of these firecracker red two wheelers with bright yellow lettering on the side. If the weather is nice and you're feeling up to it, sign up for one of the capital bikeshare packages on your smartphone and take it out for a spin. Even if it's been a while, you never forget how to ride a bike.
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