LANHAM, Md. (CBSDC)- Though Capital Bikeshare already has 175 stations in the District, Arlington County and Alexandria, making it the largest bike share program in the country, “CaBi,” as it is sometimes called, plans to expand this winter.

The District Department of Transportation says 54 new locations will represent a 40 percent increase city stations. The spots were selected from a list of 78 suggested by the public over the past two years, based on factors like population density and proximity to Metro stations. Installation should be completed by March.

Capital Bikeshare was launched as SmartBike D.C. in 2008, and was the first system of its kind in the country. Founder Paul DeMaio had the idea while working on his master’s thesis at the University of Virginia. Metro areas like New York City and San Francisco now have similar programs.

Eventually, Capital Bikeshare plans to grow into Montgomery County. In November, the Montgomery County Council approved two measures designed to encourage the expansion. The county’s transportation department said then that the first stations could be operational by this spring or summer.

To comment on the list of proposed Bikeshare locations in the District, which can be found here, email ddot.bikeshare@dc.gov by Jan. 15.

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