Metro Responds to Bike Parking Demand at McLean Station

September 29th, 2014

Demand for bicycle parking at the new McLean Station exceeded capacity in the Silver Line’s first few weeks, so Metro has already added more racks.

When Metro planners learned that bike racks were not prominent in the Silver Line station designs (completed by our partners in Virginia), Metro fought hard to make sure that bike racks were planned for and installed at the stations.  And that’s good news, indeed, because by August, nearly all of the bike racks were full at McLean station.  Recognizing this need, Metro added space for 20 more bicycles (10 racks) at the station.  The new racks bring the total capacity for bikes to 72 on racks. Bike lockers are still available at McLean, too.

Increasing bike access to the Silver Line is a good sign for ridership, revenue, and station access. Metro will keep an eye on utilization this fall and add capacity where needed.

Bike Parking at McLean station on the Silver Line last Thursday.

Nearly full bike racks at McLean station on the Silver Line a few weeks ago, before Metro added more racks.

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  1. Chet
    September 30th, 2014 at 20:07 | #1

    I laughed when I read this. I worked at the Dulles Rail office when it was on Spring Hill Road in Vienna and can say that WMATA’s planners signed off on the stations, including the bike racks, kiss and ride, bus bays, etc… So when you say “When Metro planners learned that bike racks were not prominent in the Silver Line station designs (completed by our partners in Virginia), Metro fought hard to make sure that bike racks were planned for and installed at the stations,” that sounds 1) like a slam against “Virginia” when in fact the project was, and still is, covered with WMATA staff at multiple levels, including final review, and 2) as if no one at WMATA knew what they were getting with the Silver Line.

    Let me pose this question: Did “Metro planners” bother to ask years ago (or even in 2012 or 2013) when they could have suggested added racks as part of station construction? It’s great news that the Silver Line has attracted bike riders to McLean and Tysons, but please don’t make it sound as if WMATA was not aware of what was being planned at the Silver Line Phase 1 stations. Cheers!

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