According to a District Department of Transportation (DDOT) press release, the agency will reintroduce Capital Bikeshare E-bikes, which were removed from service nearly a year ago after users complained that the previous bikes suffered with unintended acceleration or poor breaking.
Throughout the spring, Capital Bikeshare will release a total of 1,500 new e-bikes, developed in partnership with Lyft.
Possibly to compete with dockless e-bikes from Jump and Helbiz, the new bikes will allow users to park bikes at bike racks and Cabi Stations.
The press release is a follows:
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and its six partner jurisdictions announced that e-bikes will return to the Capital Bikeshare system this spring with a new mobile app experience that will include a hybrid locking technology.
“The return of the e-bikes is part of Mayor Bowser’s ongoing effort to improve active transportation and mobility in the District,” said DDOT Director Jeff Marootian. “These new and improved e-bikes will allow Capital Bikeshare riders to lock the bikes to bike racks at their destination, allowing unprecedented accessibility across all eight wards of the District.”
The 1,500 e-bikes will be added to the existing Capital Bikeshare fleet in a phased roll out throughout the spring. The new e-bikes developed by Lyft will be equipped with a hybrid locking technology, allowing riders to either lock the bikes to one of the District’s 5,000 bike racks for a $1 out-of-station fee per trip; or dock at a Capital Bikeshare station. Capital Bikeshare users, including members, will be charged $1 e-bike fee per trip, in addition to the normal trip fees. The new out-of-station and e-bike fees will cover the additional costs associated with recharging and rebalancing the system when bikes are not docked at a Capital Bikeshare station. These fees will not apply to members in the Community Partners Program, which is Capital Bikeshare’s equity program; or customers riding classic Capital Bikeshare bikes.
Capital Bikeshare has also enhanced the functionality of its app by adding features that allow riders to easily unlock a bike by scanning a QR code; rate their experience with bikes, rides and stations; report service issues; and conveniently manage memberships.