Arlington's First Bike Shelter is Born

Ever striving to become more bike-friendly, the Arlington County Division of Transportation is nearing completion on a bike shelter at the Shirlington Transit Station. This shelter will provide parking for 28 bikes in a space that could park only two motor vehicles. The design of the shelter echoes the adjacent Shirlington Transit Station with its arched roof, materials, and color.

Why shelter bikes? Returning to one's bike after a storm and finding a dry seat is an encouragement to bicycling. Conversely, when the day is hot and the sun is pounding down on a dark leather bike seat, the shelter will ensure the seat does not overheat your rump. This type of amenity is a small and relatively inexpensive thing that really makes the cycling experience better.

Construction should be complete tomorrow and the shelter open for use. Once complete, the new shelter will encourage cycling to Shirlington and greater intermodality between bike and bus.

by Paul DeMaio, BikeArlington

Comments

[David]

Can't wait to try it!

[Paul DeMaio]

Not only does the shelter look nice - IT IS NICE.

There is indeed a need for more sheltered bike parking throughout the County, but you have to start somewhere.

Paul

p.s. - I believe the sheltering of bikes at the East Falls Church Metro comes from the bridging of I-66 above, not a actual bike shelter.

[Allen Muchnick]

This is not the first bike shelter in Arlington. WMATA has provided sheltered bicycle parking at the East Falls Church Metro station for at least a half-dozen years.

The new shelter in Shirlington looks nice, but similar ones have long been desperately needed near the Metrorail stations in Ballston, Virginia Square, Clarendon, Crystal City, Pentagon City, etc.

Arlington was awarded federal Transportation Enhancement funds several years ago to upgrade bicycle parking facilities at Metrorail stations and has yet to implement this funded and much-needed project. Much more could be done to improve bicycle facilities in Arlington if previously funded bicycle projects were implemented expeditiously.