When riding your bike, either in the street or on the sidewalk, you are obligated to follow all appropriate laws as they relate to pedestrians, bikes and automobiles. This starting point allows all users of the road to be safe and respectful of each other.

(Washington, D.C.) Capital Bikeshare announced two new initiatives today as part of its continuing effort to ensure the system is safe and affordable. Members will now have the option to purchase helmets at a reasonable cost online and to pay for annual memberships in smaller, monthly installments. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Arlington County believe these new programs will encourage greater helmet use by members and help eliminate the financial barrier for some potential members by providing annual memberships at a low monthly rate.

In our efforts to continually improve the Capital Bikeshare service for our members, several adjustments have been made to our Bicycle Rental Agreement.  We invite you to review the document.

For any questions you may have, please call us at 1-877-430-BIKE(2453) or email customerservice@capitalbikeshare.com.  Thank you for your support!

When you’re on your bike, communicating with drivers can seem like an impossible task. But with a little thought and some practice, you can let drivers know what you are going to do before you do it, making yourself more predictable and safer. Use hand signals and body language to get your message out there:

1. For turns, simply hold out your arm in the direction you want to turn. You can also signal a right turn by holding your left arm out and bent up at the elbow.
2. Remember, bikes don’t have brake lights, so signal your stops by holding either arm out and bent down at the elbow. This is especially helpful on off-street trails.
3. Add motion to your signals! Movement attracts attention, so flex at the wrist or elbow as you make your hand signal.
4. Earlier is better, so try to signal your turns half a block or 500 feet before an intersection, whichever is further away.
5. For lane-changes, point at the lane you are moving into, so drivers don’t think you are turning off the roadway completely.
6. Don’t stop there: make eye contact, wave, smile and use other body language to communicate your intentions to drivers. If they can predict your actions, you stay safer.

This is just one tip for safer cycling, but the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) is a wellspring of more useful information. Make them your go-to resource for safety tips, bike classes, events and more at waba.org

Don’t diss the ‘burbs! Our April Member of the Month, Mike E. of Fairfax, VA, proves you don’t have to live in the District or Arlington to make Capital Bikeshare a big part of your life. When Mike had finally had enough of his 75-90 minute car commute to Navy Yard every day, he started eying CaBi as the potential silver bullet for alleviating his commuting nightmare.