The graph above illustrates Capital Bikeshare bicycle usage data during the first stages of their programing year, beginning in September 2010 – December 2010. You can see exponential growth in renting, reaching it’s peak in November of that year. Following with a steep decline leading towards the month of December.

In the first initial month of operation Capital Bikeshare had only 3,090 users, with Wednesday having the most at 865 riders. Rider usage increased in the month of October by 19,629, followed by another 8,694 in November. With the average bike rider usage at 8,000 for their first quarter/fourth quarter operation.

To date Capital Bikeshare has over 22,00 registered annual members, with 176 stations in the metropolitan areas and growing.

-Information gathered does not reflect registered membership, only Bicycle usage for the following months.
-Data gathered from Capital Bikeshare Dashboard.

Courtesy of Alec Eiffel of the Washington Post

In North America, Washington, D.C. became the first city to institute the bikesharing system. Unlike most new startups it failed within two years. In September 2010 the District of Columbia tried its hand again, creating Capital Bikeshare. This time they succeeded, with over 22,00 members averaging up to six trips per bike a day.

Data gathered from the failure helped to aid in this success. Kimbelry Lucas, Bike Program Specialist from the Department of Transportation stated “density, commute patterns, location, proximity and other transportation modes assisted in deciding where the stations were to be placed.” To be successful accessibility plays a major role. Organizations such as Bank On DC encourages those, who do not have bank accounts, to come through their service. This in turn provides access to bikes, that they wouldn’t have been able to rent otherwise due to the credit/debit card forms of payment. WABA(Washington area Bicylist Association) helps to get the “word” out to the communities, where Bikesharing usage is low or nonexistent.

Lucas, “Capital Bikeshare is transparent,” this we could now see. Capital Bikeshare wants to keep making bicycling accessible to everyone. And they have done just that, for 30minutes anyone with access can ride a bicycle free of charge. Even returning bicycles to another station for reuse. This system intention has never been for long trips, built primarily for shorter trips averaging about 12 minutes per ride. With over 22,000 bicycles on the streets, Lucas stated.

Capital Bikeshare so far has sought out to accomplish its original goals. They are constantly adding new stations weekly. With plans on building stations in Montgomery County Maryland, making it virtually accessible to all in the metropolitan, and surrounding areas. Many other cities in the United States are following suit. Aiding in the many other forms of transportation the city has to offer.

At the age of twenty-six the first day of school is still overwhelming. From being out of school for three years and not knowing what to expect. To the many personalities I encountered, to having homework on the first day. Personally, I’m not the type of person who gets overwhelmed easily. But I must admit that I was nervous, a feeling that was most likely mutual within the room. Seeing all those saucy eyes, eagerly waiting to see what would happen. Yet here we are July 29th 2013 and the first day is over. Somehow I managed to navigate my first day of graduate school at American University unscathed. Not one bruise, bite or hurt feeling. I felt stronger than ever.

Now its time to WORK! The bar and expectations have been set high. Our professors made sure to inform us of what they expect from us. What they expect is nothing but the best. With an emphasis on no PLAGIRISM. I’m sure the thought hadn’t crossed the minds of my classmates. Yet they made sure we got the point. Today was very educational. We had an opportunity to meet with the faculty that will be heading our three-week Journalism Boot Camp program. A course that everyone must pass to be fully admitted into the eleven month program. The staff engaged us, giving a crash course in subjects dealing with excel, html, css, and the history o the Internet. All the information needed one would need to succeed in this program.

Now where do we start? My first official website post. I’m so excited! Writing online content makes me a bit nervous. Everything must be perfect, and perfection is something that’s hard for me to capture. There is no way that my nervousness will stop me for trying. With the reassurance that someone will always be there lending a ear, with open arms. Not only that, but they all have real world work experiences in the field of journalism. That’s a lot more than I can say about most universities.

My hope is that by the end of this course I have the necessary tools needed to complete this program; graduation. Making my professors proud of my work, myself included. I hope to see the progression in my writing style, importantly my journalistic writing style. Overall I hope to learn how to be a top-notch journalist in this ever changing field of journalism. While still marinating who I am.