Capital Bikeshare riders can once again earn angel status

Just in time for #vaxxeddevsummer (is this a thing? If not, we’re making it a thing), or anyone else desperate for the May sunshine, Capital Bikeshare is relaunching its Bike Angels program

The bikeshare, which is operated by Lyft, began the program in 2017 and DC bikers were more than a little competitive. But last year CaBi suspended the angels program as it revamped its app. Through the new Capital Bikeshare app, participants can see what stations are low on bikes, and ride them over from some of the more crowded docks. By doing this good deed, they’re also eligibile for rewards.

And now, with the relaunch there’s more to earn: The program originally started off with an 80 point cap on rewards, but the relaunch offers incentives up to 5,000 points. Bike Angels can cash them in for rewards like water bottles, bike gloves and…a key fob?

@bikeshare Bike Angels program is back with some nice rewards. I NEED a Bike Angels key fob. pic.twitter.com/ehOZ6NyAlm

— Judd Lumberjack (@JuddLumberjack) May 3, 2021

The app also includes data, updated every 15 minutes, on which stations earn the most points. It tracks trends on which stations are regular high point-earners, such as those that are harder to get to, frequently in need of bikes or don’t align with commutes to downtown that are easy to schedule into a routine (btw, for those heading back to the office, DC’s Bike to Work day is Friday, May 21).

Since parent company Motivate was acquired by Lyft in 2018 following Uber’s acquisition of bikeshare JUMP that same year, the Bike Angels program will also track points if you use the Lyft app to pike up a bike.

Capital Bikeshare has often merged tech with biking in DC over the past few years, offering dock-free technology for locating and unlocking bikes and rolling out a fleet of e-bikes in 2020.

In all, Capital Bikeshare operates about 4,300 bikes at 500 stations in DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church as well as Montgomery, Prince George’s and Fairfax counties.