Breakfast links: Get on bikes
Bikeshare Grand Opening!
CaBi service starts in Montgomery County today and a Grand Opening will take place at corner of Maryland and Montgomery avenues in Rockville at 10:30 am. (WABA)
Crystal City peddles bikes
Crystal City will host two upcoming bike events, including multiple races on September 28 and the Arlington Fun Ride on Oct 5. Riders can use the recently installed bicycle repair vending machine for quick fixes. (ArlNow)
Bikeshare thefts in Paris
An estimated 9,000 bikes from Paris’ bikeshare program were damaged or stolen in 2012. This has forced the closure of 35 bike stations due to a lack of bikes. (Atlantic Cities)
Walkability and mortgage rates
Should mortgage lenders consider transportation costs when assessing risk and determining mortgage rates? If banks did factor their effects on foreclosure rates, home owners in walkable communities would have substantially lower interest rates. (Streetsblog)
No code red this summer
DC’s recent trend of air quality improvement was highlighted by having zero code red days this summer, an indicator of unhealthy air quality. This was the second time in 16 years that DC had no code red days in the summer. (Post)
Ground-floor retail made easy
Arlington County officials plan to ease zoning restrictions on ground-floor retail spaces. The plan broadens the type of businesses that can be placed in ground-floor retail spaces and allows for interim and temporary uses. (WBJ)
Twinbrook Metro development moves forward
Two mixed-used development projects near the Twinbrook Metro station will break ground on September 30. Combining for over 500 residential units, the developments have 130,000 square feet and will be anchored by a Safeway. (WBJ)
Reopened Union Station turns 25
This weekend will mark the 25th anniversary of the reopening of Union Station in 1988 after declining train travel and shoddy restorations led to the station’s decay in the 1960s and 1970s. (Elevation DC)
And…
A federal government shutdown could be worse for DC companies this time. (WBJ) … Maryland, DC, and Virginia colleges receive record donations from benefactors. (Post) … Eight ROTC students were injured in the parking lot of Hyattsville’s Northwestern High School after being struck by driver with a learner’s permit. (WTOP)