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In a place largely built around commuting by car, Jason Zogg has found another way to get around.
Zogg lives in Tysons, Virginia, a suburb that is growing up 鈥� literally 鈥� before our eyes.
While he does own a car, he relies on for much of his daily routine.
鈥淓very time I need to go somewhere, I look at the weather, how fast I can get there and which mode of transportation is appropriate for that moment in time,鈥� Zogg explained. 鈥淚 would say that especially during good weather, 75% of the time taking Capital Bikeshare is actually the fastest way to get around.鈥� Zogg believes that bikeshare is competitive with ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft, when factoring time and budget.
Launched in 2010, Capital Bikeshare spans D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia, with about 8,000 bikes and more than 800 stations across seven jurisdictions. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation owns and manages Capital Bikeshare in Fairfax County.
Riders can pick up a bike at one station and drop it off at another, making it a flexible option for short, one-way trips.
For Zogg, Capital Bikeshare is woven into nearly everything he does.
鈥淚 get around Tysons to do everything in my daily life, from grocery shopping to work meetings and doctor鈥檚 appointments to visiting friends,鈥� he said.
As an urban transportation planner, Zogg constantly evaluates the most efficient way to navigate Tysons, which is not always easy by car.
鈥淚n Tysons, there are ways to get around by bike that are more direct,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f I were to do the same thing driving, for example, I would have to take three lefts and two rights.鈥�
Biking opens up what he calls 鈥渟ecret pathways.鈥�
鈥淵ou can go from my apartment to my office, and I know specific off-road trails that you can take in a direct straight line,鈥� Zogg said.
That efficiency is one reason he often chooses bikeshare over ridesharing.
Extending Metro with bikes
Zogg frequently pairs Capital Bikeshare with the D.C. Metro system, using it to bridge the gap between stations and final destinations.
鈥淐apital Bikeshare helps you to extend the value of your Metro trip,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檒l take Metro as far as I can to the closest possible station, and then I鈥檒l hop on a Capital Bikeshare for that last one or two miles.鈥�
That last stretch, he said, can save 鈥渁n enormous amount of time,鈥� especially where stations aren鈥檛 within easy walking distance.
Zogg is a power user among Capital Bikeshare members, renting and docking at more than 120 Capital Bikeshare stations across the system. Last year alone, he took 184 rides and used 32 different stations.
Despite his frequent use, Zogg has no interest in owning a personal bike.
鈥淚 decided a long time ago that it was less stressful to have a membership to Capital Bikeshare than to own a bike,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have to worry about your bike getting stolen if you leave it on the street. I find it much easier to just dock the bike, walk away and not have to think about it.鈥�
Owning a bike brings storage and maintenance headaches, especially in apartments or office buildings.
Capital Bikeshare removes all those barriers.
E-Bikes are a gamechanger
In recent years, electric bikes have made the system even more appealing.
鈥淚鈥檓 a huge believer in the future of e-bikes,鈥� Zogg said. 鈥淚 really think e-bikes are going to be a game changer for all of society across the country.鈥�
In Tysons, where hills make traditional biking difficult, e-bikes are especially useful.
鈥淭he terrain is actually surprisingly hilly,鈥� Zogg said. 鈥淚f you can find a Capital Bikeshare e-bike, you can get around Tysons on a hot summer day significantly faster and with less sweat.鈥�
Beyond comfort, e-bikes open the door for more people to ride.
Zogg now chooses e-bikes most of the time.
鈥淓-bikes allow people who are hesitant to ride even if they鈥檙e wearing their work outfit,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t just transforms the experience for them and opens up more possibilities to a much greater population.鈥�
For Zogg, Capital Bikeshare isn鈥檛 just another way to travel.
It has transformed how he navigates his community, and how he manages his daily life.
鈥淩iding an e-bike to and from work each day when the weather is nice is such a joy. It is the least stressful, most fun way to get to work, and it puts me in a great mood.鈥�
