US Airways - March 2013 - (Page 36)

Adventure are impossible to reach by Metro. I ride through Logan Circle dotted with outdoor cafes and street art, and Dupont Circle, where I happen upon a bustling farmers’ market. I ride along the National Mall, where newly installed bike stations allow for a leisurely tour from the Washington Monument to the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and for a new perspective on the capital’s much-photographed monuments. *** My close-up view of DC is made possible by Capital Bikeshare, a program much like other ventures of this sort in New York, Chicago, and even the car paradise of Los Angeles. To find the nearest Capital Bikeshare location, I use the Spotcycle app on my smart phone, which shows more than 175 bike stations dotting the District and adjacent Arlington, Virginia, and the number of bikes — 1,600 in total — available at each station. Downtown and near Metro stops, the nearest bike station is often just steps away. At the bike station, I swipe my to find the nearest available capital bikeshare location, i use the spotcycle app on my smart phone. credit card through the solar-powered kiosk to get the code that will release a bike. Cost: $7 for 24 hours or $15 for three days, with rides under 30 minutes free. Although the bike-sharing program is designed with residents in mind — annual members make up more than 75 percent of users — Capital Bikeshare has seen more than 250,000 day-trippers since it was launched two and a half years ago. On a pleasant, sunny weekend, the kiosks have few bicycles remaining. The bike stations also provide a map of area bike shops selling helmets, which aren’t required for adults under DC or Virginia law, but are recommended. The surprising popularity of Capital Bikeshare with tourists has led to a pilot program with the Kimpton hotel chain to provide free bike and helmet rentals. Biking DC isn’t exactly adventure travel; the city is bike-friendly, with miles of paved trails. Despite the welcoming environment, there are a few advisories. Cyclists are required to follow the rules of the road and to stay off the sidewalks in the downtown area. And stay alert — for pedestrians, potholes, car doors, and the unexpected city sights you might have missed when traveling by foot or on the Metro. *** To bike a city is to learn it and know it as a local would. You quickly develop a mental map and begin to orient yourself by noting landmarks. A helpful hint for navigating DC: Numbered streets run north-south, and lettered streets run east-west. Streets named for photos (from top) courtesy of spotcycle and capital bikeshare Outside the National Portrait Gallery

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - March 2013

US Airways - March 2013
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Best Musical Pilgrimages
Hub Crawl: Denver Airport
Wine & Dine: Chef's Tables
Wine & Dine: Artisan Cheeses
Great Escapes: Cypress Inn
Adventure: Washington, DC by Bike
Great Escapes: The Gathering in Ireland
Adventure: Puerto Rico Golf
Charlotte EDC
Great Escapes: Barcelo Hotels and Resorts
Gear Up: The Smart Kitchen
Travel Feature: The Rome Less Traveled
US Airways Feature: Order Up!
Great Tastes: Phoenix Dining
From Philly, With Love
Route of Discovery: San Luis Obispo, California
Atlantic 10 Conference
Great Dates
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - March 2013