Sites&Sounds

Chef Jean-Claude and I were invited to the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's annual gala and fundraiser last night at the German Embassy. Chef Jean Claude served his signature chocolate mousse and made fresh crepes for guests and provided one of his cooking classes for the auction. I went around the silent auction tables bidding for one of the many cool bikes that were on display, but I was outbid every time. The event celebrates the strides WABA has made to advocate for bicycle initiatives in DC, Maryland and Virginia like the nation's first SmartBike bike sharing program starting in DC, road issues policies and clean environmental policies. WABA has also supported the bike valet programs around the District like the one set up for the cherry blossom festival this year.

This year's bike valet near the Jefferson Memorial.

I spoke to the host of the event, Dr. Georg Schulze Zumkley, the Deputy Director of the German information Center (GIC) for the United States, who is from Muenster, Germany where apparently every citizen has 1.8 bikes and which ranks as one of the most livable cities in Germany. Germany spends roughly 100 million euros each year on the construction of bike lanes. This sets a high bar for places like Washington to aim towards.

Shaw's first SmartBike station will be on [S] T and 7th Streets NW, behind the CVS Pharmacy, across from the Wachovia bank, one block up from the Shaw/Howard University Metro stop.

The SmartBike stop in Gallery Place will be in front of the Museum of American Art at F and 7th Streets NW, across from the Verizon Center and Gallery Place Metro stop.