The project began as a grant-funded initiative by the Department of Energy and the Environment, a district agency, with the idea of distributing 15 e-bikes to low-income residents, explained Lexie Albe, managing director of the Southwest Business Improvement District.
“The initial scope of the pilot was to simply distribute bikes and see how they are used,” said Albe. “We then took that initiative and built it into a sharing ‘library’ concept to hopefully increase access to this technology, as well as to help people become more familiar with different types of e-bikes, such as e-cargo bikes that carry heavy loads, like groceries, and can be rented out by the hour.”
The project is part of a larger effort known as the Mobility Innovation District, located in southwest Washington, an area that has seen significant residential and commercial growth with projects like The Wharf, a redevelopment project along the Potomac River. That area is also near recreational opportunities, the National Mall, Navy Yard and other attractions.
The southwest part of the district has about 6,200 cars registered among the nearly 8,400 housing units, according to statistics provided by the Southwest Business Improvement District. That ratio is prompting officials to explore a range of shared transportation options including improved transit access, bikes and the Circuit, a fleet of nine small electric shuttles serving the area. To ride the newly launched Circuit, users download the app and arrange for door-to-service within the neighborhood.
More than 500 riders used the service in the first week, said Albe.
“As we continue to expand our services, we are aiming for a sustained monthly ridership of 4,000 monthly rides,” Albe added.
The Circuit is funded via a city grant through 2025, with the aim of searching for additional funding after the introductory period to keep fares low. Rides are $2 per trip.
Initiatives like these are part of a broader concept “to remove barriers to nontraditional forms of transportation," said Albe. The idea is create a “mobility wallet” of transportation resources available to the district.
“It’s still in the early stages, but we are hoping that when it is developed, we’ll be able to provide additional resources to qualified Southwest residents and/or employees to ease the financial burdens of commuting, reaching child care or accessing medical amenities,” said Albe.
