?Norton Commends National Park Service for Listening to Residents and Moving Forward on Capital Bikeshare

Norton Commends National Park Service for Listening to Residents and Moving Forward on Capital Bikeshare

November 22, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today applauded the National Park Service (NPS) for listening to the District, particularly the city's bikers, and agreeing to allow Capital Bikeshare stations on the National Mall. In a letter last year, Norton urged NPS to allow Bikeshare on or near the Mall, but it was only after residents and bikers spoke up that NPS announced a review of its initial decision disallowing Bikeshare stations on NPS property.Norton, who has repeatedly urged low-cost and unfettered access to an eco-friendly National Mall area, earlier this month sent a letter to NPS officials expressing her hope that the new transportation plan for the National Mall, now under consideration, will allow for a variety of fuel-efficient and alternative means of transportation.

"Today's announcement is a major step forward in carrying out the commitment top NPS officials made at my Parks Town Meeting in October to be attentive to local needs," Norton said. "The Mall is among the first areas of the city where bikers and Bikeshare should be welcome. We are tremendously pleased that NPS sees that there can be a natural fit between Bikeshare and the Mall."

Just last month, Norton hosted a Parks Town Meeting with NPS to promote greater communication between NPS, which controls most D.C. parks, and D.C. residents. In July, Norton offered an amendment on the House floor for a study of whether NPS tailors its policies sufficiently to local communities. She withdrew the amendment after both the chair and the ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies agreed to be helpful.

As a result of an investigation of NPS regulations, along with the commitment of NPS officials to work more closely with local communities, Norton has requested language in the Interior appropriations committee report directing NPS to use maximum flexibility to meet the needs of local communities. NPS had already agreed to implement Norton's recommendation to allow more music and cultural activities during lunchtime on the Mall, a provision in a pending Norton bill. The public is invited to submit comments for the proposed plan through December 28, 2011.