Photo used under Creative Commons license from flickr.com user afagen
Visitors to Union Station can add a new mode of transportation to the trains, metro and buses galore: rental bikes. Most people only see the famed transportation hub as a way out of the city but it’s also a great jumping-off point for customized tours around town.
Union Station opened in 1907, just as the United States began to fully embrace the industrial age. According to the station’s official website, the various platforms and carriers accommodated 42,000 passengers per day by 1937. To put it in perspective that’s about the entire university student body, faculty and staff combined.
The station closed for two years in the 1970s and reopened with a gala in 1988 after it was added to the list of national landmarks. Today, visitors to the station can take a train or bus to most major cities on the east coast, as well as visit the 114 shops and restaurants added during the renovation.
Capital Bikeshare has a rental stand just outside of Union Station on Columbus Circle. Visitors and locals alike use the kiosks located all over the city to rent bikes by the hour.
Renters can pay with a credit card at the kiosk and return the bike to any stand in the area, regardless of where they started their trip. Here is a map of kiosk locations and information on how many bikes are available to rent at each stand.
Use a site like Google Maps to plan a route with designated bike lanes before you go. The relatively short ride to the Washington Monument and around the Tidal Basin could be a relaxing way to see the more famous monuments in one day but there are an unlimited number of itineraries to choose from.
To get to Union Station take the 104 metro bus from Stamp to the College Park Metro Station and board a Green Line train towards Branch Avenue. Transfer to the Red line at the Gallery Place/Chinatown station and get off at Union Station. The one-way trip should take around 25 minutes and cost $2.75 with a SmarTrip card.
Regardless of whether you’re coming or going, Union Station should be on your list of places to stop and check out. Take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and get out there before it’s too late.
