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Ballston Bike Center & Commuter Store

 

The Ballston Bike Center & Commuter Store is to be two facilities located at the Ballston Metro plaza on N. Fairfax Drive between N. Stuart and N. Stafford Streets. The Ballston Bike Center (BBC) will provide sheltered doubledecker parking for 150 bikes. The Ballston Commuter Store (BCS) will be a new and improved store, which is presently located in the Ballston Mall. The BCS will continue selling transit fares and provide transit schedules and maps with friendly customer service and steps from the Ballston Metro.

Ballston Bike Center

Aerial drawing of BBC

 

Bike Parking

Presently, there is parking for about 30 bikes inside the "bike pit" with an additional 20 spaces around the perimeter (below). The existing parking is usually full during most of the year, so to better meet demand and encourage greater use of bikes for transport, plans are to more than triple the number of bike parking spaces to 150. Due to limited space on the plaza, a bike parking structure will be constructed on this spot and use double-decker racks.

bike pit

Existing bike parking facilities

 

The doubledecker racks are easy to use. To use the bottom level, one simply rolls his/her bike into the track and locks it to a pivoting "U", securing the bike in place. To use the top level, one slides out the top track horizontally, which then pivots down to a 45 degree angle, allowing the cyclist to more easily park his/her bike. The track is then made horizontal, the bike locked with a "U" lock, and slid back in.

 

Long Beach racks

Doubledecker bike racks (as shown at the Long Beach Bikestation)

 

doubledecker racks

Doubledecker bike rack pivoting downward for ease of use

 

To keep bikes dry, the facility will be sheltered from the elements with a bike shelter.


Ballston Commuter Store

The existing Commuter Store inside Ballston Mall will move to this highly visible and accessible location on the plaza by the escalator of the Ballston Metro, thereby allowing it to better serve customers. The BCS will provide all of its existing services such as transit fare sales and offer a variety of transit commuter information.

 

Ballston Commuter Store

Aerial drawing of BCS

 

Timeline

The project is presently being designed by Velazquez/tony architects. This project is made possible by generous grants from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and matching funds by Arlington County. Drawings will be posted to this Website in the future as they are available. For more information on bike facilities similar to the Ballston Bike Center & Commuter Store, visit Chicago's McDonald's Cycle Center, the Bikestation of multiple West Coast and future D.C. location, and Josta.


Questions/Comments? Contact Paul DeMaio at 703-228-5027.