edited by: Andy Cline,
Cycling Editor
We've lately seen a ideas we thought discarded or quaint return to prominence. From streetcars to windmills, clotheslines to back yard gardens, the early 21st century has a lot more in common with the early 20th century than people expected. Another retro move that is taking [...]
Dominion Virginia Power is building a 12-mile power transmission line from the Pleasant View substation east of Leesburg to a new substation just east of the Purcellville town boundary. 1.8 miles of the power line will be buried along the W&OD Trail ROW, so a [...]
I find the combination of symbol and word interesting. Where is Robert Langdon when you need him?
[...]A New Jersey driver was texting about a drug deal when he hit and injured a cyclist.
GGW has a roundup of cyclist assaults. The N.C. firefighter who shot at a cyclist's head because he disagreed with the cyclist's parenting skills got his charges reduced and then a [...]
The CTB decided to limit Transportation Enhancement funding to only 5 of the 12 federally designated programs. The original proposal was to limit it to only the top four on this list.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Education Landscaping and Scenic Beautification along Transportation Corridors (including [...]
A man cycling the 900 block of H St NE, on his way to the tweed ride starting point. The construction is due to tracks being laid for a new trolley line. Washington, DC.
[...]Not to work or anything. If so he'd know that trails can help ease congestion. But he at least rides one at times - so he says.
Meanwhile House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, in a flamboyant red highlighter jacket, smack-talked the congressional [football] team.
"They're a bunch of old guys, [...]
My notes from BAC meetings don't have the benefit of review, so sometimes I make mistakes. This month I reported on the bike sharing expansion and what I wrote may have included some statements that weren't from DDOT or were outright wrong. DDOT's official position is:
They plan to expand [...]GGW has a leak from a French Canadian news site that Bixi is on the verge of signing a deal with DC.
So London will showcase for the European market, while our American neighbors, the City of Boston has purchased 2,800 bikes [...]
The Examiner calls out the DOE as part of it's daily outrage.
WHO: Department of Energy
WHAT: The department has given Columbus, Ohio, $490,000 in stimulus money for bike shelters, bike lockers and bike parking in downtown garages.
WHY IT'S AN OUTRAGE: Less than 1 percent of the city's residents even ride bikes.
Maybe that's [...]
The City of Alexandria’s Strategic Goal for Transportation to Be Discussed at November 30 Public Meeting
Residents
are invited to a roundtable discussion by members of a stakeholder
panel about the City of Alexandria’s strategic goal for Transportation
Monday, November 30, from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., located at Charles
Barrett Elementary School, [...]
Edmonston, MD is going to rebuild Decatur Street as an environmentally friendly street with a parallel bike path (or bike lanes - it's hard to say). Since the original announcement the only work done was the painting of a mural on the bridge over the NE Branch. But yesterday [...]
An electronic sign below the 14th St Bridge, warning cyclists that the trail will be closed at night for a month or so. Arlington, VA.
[...]GGW writes
Please submit comments on the Greater Washington 2050 report. It recommends shaping the region's growth around environmental sustainability, healthy businesses, good jobs, quality education, and a choice of transportation modes including roads, rails, bicycling and walking.
[...]Critics Say Roads Safer, but danger still lurks - this one includes a brief element on Complete Streets.
Diverging Diamond - no bike element but an interesting new highway interchange design.
The whole series can be found here.
[...]This happened last month, but I missed it. Scary.
D.C. firefighters rescued a bicyclist from under a sport utility vehicle after an early morning crash Wednesday.
Rescue crews used hydraulics systems and airbags to lift and stabilize the vehicle to remove the man, said D.C. fire spokesman Pete Piringer.
The cyclist was struck by [...]
That's In My Back Yard, Please. As in, build that bike trail in my back yard please.
I am one of the Fort Washington property owners on the water and I want the trail.
I knew about the trail and the easement when I bought the property. The trail was an [...]
I mentioned this in a previous post, but I missed that the WaPo covered it.
More than 30 children gathered Friday afternoon at Beacon House to receive a new bicycle from the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy, a nonprofit group dedicated to creating public trails, and their enthusiasm could hardly be contained.
The nonprofit group provided [...]
The bike lane with the sharrows too.
At the bottom of the hill, the road is two way to give access to a garage, so the bike lane is gone for about 40 feet before [...]
Fellow bike nerds, read this slowly, lest you begin hyperventilating. The only thing that could make it better is if Secretary Chu and Jessica Alba showed up too.
On December 8, the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) will bring together civic and business [...]
There has been so much talk and publicity around the 15th Street cycletrack, that we missed DC's other contraflow lane opening. I noticed during WABA's move that the bike lane on Champlain Street is open now. [Please pardon my terrible cell phone [...]
John alerted me that the NPS recently paved a portion of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (ART) on the east side of the river. The section is located south of East Capitol Street, between the River and DC-295, down to the railroad tracks. [...]
These are the draft minutes to a meeting I didn't attend, so there may be errors.
Trail Maintenance Issues: The county is working to keep leaves cleared from the trail with the switchbacks at Lyons Village on the Custis Trail treated as a major priority.
Kevin Stalica (Arlington County) passed around examples [...]
I mentioned this fatality last month, and now the driver has been charged with reckless driving.
Joseph V. Mirenda, a 49-year-old from Virginia Beach, was struck from behind while riding his bike, State Police said. He died at the scene.
Jessica L. Chandler, a 22-year-old from Port Republic, now faces a Class 1 [...]
GGW has a link to a story about how Philadelphia is cracking down on cyclists after two pedestrians died in collisions with cyclists. This line would be funny, were it not so sad
And unlike reckless drivers, bike scofflaws typically get off free.
Hitting pedestrians is bad. Hitting them and [...]
Here are the questions and responses from the live chat with DDOT Director Gabe Klein that had to do with cycling (and there were quite a few). Gabe Klein's responses are in blue.
As a commuting cyclist, I am delighted with the southbound bike lane on 15th St. Marking the [...]
College Park has asked Prince George's County to replace a yellow blinking light that drivers routinely ignore with a red light at the spot where the College Park Trolley Trail crosses Paint Branch Parkway. The site has been the location of three crashes, which resulted in a pedestrian, [...]
The District had a ceremony yesterday morning to cut the ribbon on the 15th Street contraflow bike lane. Borderstan, unlike me, was able to make it out. Mayor Fenty, Councilmember Jack Evans and DDOT Director Gabe Klein showed up [...]
R. Emmett Tyrrell, the founder of The American Spectator, wrote a letter to the Indianapolis Star in 1980 in which he wrote about bike lanes and cyclists. Salon.com has more and some commentary.
Not only are bicycles dangerous, they are as antiquated a form of transportation as the rickshaw. In no [...]
Alan Roth of Washington, thinks 15th Street still has problems. His first complaint is that cyclists aren't staying in the right lane.
The large, bright white lettering on the far left lane warns drivers turning left to watch for bicycles and pedestrians, but it also seems to signal northbound cyclists that they [...]
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) of Virginia has proposed prioritizing bicycle and pedestrian projects for funding through Transportation Enhancement(TE) money.
But, it seems historic preservationists are none-too-keen on setting aside the lion's share of TE money in Virginia for bicycle and pedestrian projects (to the detriment of historic preservation). If you'd like to [...]
An opinion writer to the post ask that half of the city streets be turned over to cyclists.
For example, even-numbered streets and D, F, H, K, M streets, etc., would be for bicyclists. Residents and those making deliveries or carrying out other local functions would still be allowed to drive [...]
Via JDLand comes this notice:
On or about November 30, 2009, the pedestrian bridge crossing DC 295 between Anacostia High School and Anacostia Fitness Center will close to allow 11th Street Bridge Project construction.
The pedestrian bridge must be demolished to enable construction of a new ramp from southbound DC [...]
The Convention Center Community Association reports that DDOT has installed a new bike lane on 5th St, NW from New York Avenue to Rhode Island Avenue.
Photo by CCCA
[...]The Mayor will be officially unveiling the 15th street bike lane tomorrow (Thursday, November 19) at 10:45am and the location is tentatively set for 15th and Caroline (between T and U).
[...]GGW has a post with 7 (maybe 6) ideas for improving the 15th Street configuration. It is something of an experiment, so making changes should be a natural part of the process. One change that DDOT is working on, Stephen Miller notes, is adding a Leading Pedestrian Interval, which [...]
PoP has an email from a person who saw a bike theft in progress, but wasn't sure what to do. In the end they ran over to a police car (empty it turned out) and that sent the bike thieves running. I think 911 and some camera phone pictures [...]
I saw at least three tweeders on SmartBikes on Sunday. Not retro, but still cool.
That's a little more than 3% of the fleet.
A reader writes in:
I live in North Arlington and work in Old Town Alexandria VA, from 7:45 am to 4:30 pm m-f. I am looking for someone that would be interested in commuting by bicycle.
If you are that person, send me an email and I'll connect you two.
Because if not, I'm letting you know about this after the fact. GGW had an announcement for a DDOT study of bicycle and pedestrian access at Fort Totten Metro. It was earlier tonight from 6:30-8:30pm.
Future meetings will be in January and March.
You can still make your thoughts known [...]
Starting today Mike Greene will be running a second blog under the Washcycle banner - Rock Creek Park Status. The idea is to create something similar to the W&OD Trail Report blog, but about the Rock Creek Park Trail [...]
DCist reminded me that the Bicycle Film Festival schedule is out. There are three movies being shown, and you can see all three for $20. All will be shown on Saturday at the United States Navy Memorial Theater - 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Lest you think it's more [...]
There is still more coverage of the 15th Street contraflow lane and the Sunday's Tweed Ride.
Dr. Gridlock writes about 15th Street again on his blog. He starts with a letter from someone who's not a cyclist but is a runner, skater, and driver in the District [Alex, I'll take [...]
Froggie sent a couple of cool photos of old bike maps he found at the Rockville Library.
Montgomery County's 1978 Master Plan of Bikeways.Dr. Gridlock followed up the Post's Saturday story on the 15th Street Contraflow Bike Lane with an article of his own. One cyclist, J. Justin Wilson, doesn't like the lane.
It was an interesting experiment, but it shouldn't have been on a one-way street. I have had too many close [...]
Whoops. I updated the ongoing bike/ped access to Montgomery College story last week, but I didn't read far enough ahead. The story again: Montgomery College banned smoking, smokers began to walk to this cul-de-sac to smoke off college property, neighbors hated that and complained and so Montgomery College built a fence [...]
If you missed yesterday's Tweed Ride, you missed a good time.
First of all, the weather was nothing short of spectacular. If anything, it was too warm for a Tweed Ride, but I didn't hear anyone complaining.
The turn out was impressive. Several hundred, I [...]
LAB announces the good news that the FTA is proposing a rule change that will expand FTA funding eligibility for bicycle and pedestrian improvements beyond the current threshold distances of one-half mile for pedestrian projects and within three miles for bicycle improvements. Currently, the catchment area is limited to 1500 feet [...]
States aren't using all of their bike and pedestrian money and pedestrian safety is suffering.
Using Federal Highway Administration records, the report's authors found an average of 1.5 percent of federal transportation spending is focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety, while pedestrians alone account for 11.5 percent of traffic fatalities.
On his blog, the Fast Lane, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood blogged about US DOT bike commuters, and one in particular.
Tom [Dorset] is in his late-ish 60s, works for our Federal Railroad Administration, and commutes the 10 miles to work (and 10 back) by bicycle.
If you talk to any [...]
The post ran a lengthy article on the 15th Street Contraflow bike lane, and on the larger efforts - and ensuing successes - that DC has been making toward creating a more bike friendly city.
In an attempt to minimize the conflicts, the [...]
Silver Spring Trails follows the Interim Metropolitan Branch Trail signs.
I was able to follow the signs for the interim on-road route from Piney Branch Road to Fort Totten Drive and back today.
All of the turns are marked by the directional turn signs. Route signs pointing straight were placed [...]
Tom Sherwood of NBC 4 covers the bike lane with a largely positive story. Most people seem to support the new lane and there is no "war on drivers" talk. The lane isn't formally open, whatever that means, but what do people think about it now. Is it working [...]
Whether you are a seasoned commuter or pondering pedal power as a mode of commute, visit our commuter bike open house to see the latest commuter bikes and accessories.
Our
showroom floor will be dedicated to 2010 commuter bikes and
accessories, and manned [...]
Capitol Hill Bikes is have a big, everything must go, sale because they lost their lease.
After 9 years, we've lost our lease and must liquidate our entire inventory!
Bikes, clothing, accessories, parts, fixtures--Everything must go!
Come in early for the best selection! Store opens at 11 a.m. sharp.
[...]
At the Metropolitan Branch Trail Coalition Meeting there were a few updates to the current status. They're still working on closing the small gap in the R to Franklin section, but making progress. Soon, once it's cold enough,DDOT plans to plant elm trees along the west side of the trail [...]
The police have released the name of the cyclists and the officer involved in last weekend's homicide.
Bladensburg police have identified the bicyclist killed when he was struck by a police cruiser Saturday as Rene Osmin Pineda-Paredas, 25, of the 5000 block of Tilden Road.
Police identified the officer [...]
For those in the "you don't need a helmet" or "helmets set back bike advocacy" crowd, John Kelly picks a fight by stating a list of thinks he knows are wrong.
Murder is wrong.
So is speeding. Speeding is wrong. And embezzlement. Torture is wrong. Bicycling without a helmet is [...]
Dr. Gridlock reports that work on the bridge that will carry the Rock Creek Park Trail over Viers Mill Road is underway. A rendering of it is above. Lanes will be closed this weekend as two cranes lift and position [...]
Hopefully this is the end of this tempest in a teapot.
View more news videos at: [www.nbcwashington.com].
The main things are that he won't be tailed by a motorcycle anymore, and that he didn't know the Clara Barton Parkway was off limits to cyclists - he's been riding it since [...]
The Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) will hold a public meeting about the King/Beauregard Intersection Improvements on Wednesday, November 18 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center located at 3801 West Braddock Road.
The King/Beauregard project is an intersection improvement project at the [...]
DCMud has some renderings of the new Catholic University Abdo development one of which includes the Metropolitan Branch Trail. It's in the bottom of this rendering, between the green space and the Arts Walk.
' [...]
On Dr. Gridlock's Monday chat a commenter wrote in to complain about the 15th Street contraflow bike lane.
The 15th street contraflow bike lane is an absolute disaster. Traffic has not slowed. It's still as dangerous for cyclists. Street cleaners cannot [...]
There was a presentation by the State Highway Administration (SHA) Bicycle and Pedestrain Planning team. The group is creating a database of SHA’s bicycle and pedestrian facilities and a plan to keep the database up-to-date. They're reviewing the SHA’s 2007 Bicycle and Pedestrian Design Guidelines with the intent of changing [...]
Mongomery County defined its new growth policy, which includes giving
developers discounts to build dense developments near transit stations as long as they also construct bike paths and walkways, put shops and other amenities nearby, and use environmentally friendly construction methods.
[...]I apologize if you're already getting bored with this...
View more news videos at: [www.nbcwashington.com].
[...]ReadySetDC reports that the 15th street contraflow lanes are now finished. There is no curb, but there are big, yellow plastic posts. Some, near the ends, are closer to the curb to discourage parking in the bike lane.
Photo by ReadySetDC
[...]First up, Fox News. Which focuses on Fenty riding on the Clara Barton Parkway, which is against the law ($70 ticket with $20 court fee); but as the report points out, there are no signs to let you know. I didn't know it until about a year ago and [...]
You've probably seen this already (I've had trouble blogging as my computer is being fixed and I had to spend about three hours getting my wife's computer to go fast enough to run typepad) but WTOP did an expose on Mayor Fenty's use of police escorts on training rides. [...]
WABA is changing offices again, and just like last time, they'll be doing it by bike.
Are you available to help us move boxes from our current space in Dupont Circle to our new space in Adams Morgan on November 22 between 10am and 2pm. There will be coffee and donuts in the [...]
This meeting ended 6 minutes ago, sorry
The City of Alexandria’s Strategic Goal for Transportation to Be Discussed at November 9 Public Forum
Residents are invited to speak at a public forum about the City of Alexandria’s
strategic goal for Transportation tonight November 9, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00
p.m., City Council [...]
Last May there was a small dust-up over a fence that Montgomery College erected that cut off easy bike/ped access to one neighborhood. The story goes like this: Montgomery College banned smoking, smokers began to walk to this cul-de-sac to smoke off college property, neighbors hated that and complained [...]
Frederick County issued a new policy this summer to not bus to school any elementary student who lives within a 1.25 mile walking distance of school or any middle school student within 1.75 miles of school. There are a lot of caveats to that - it has to be [...]
The DC Office of Planning is doing a study of Mount Vernon Square with the goal of creating a more distinctive place, solving traffic problems, creating a better pedestrian area, improve and activate open spaces, etc...Unfortunately the online material is a series of power [...]
For those wondering how Rockville got an honorable mention from the League of American Bicyclists, this may be a part of it.
The City Council on Monday unanimously adopted the Complete Streets policy, bringing together several road and pedestrian programs aimed at making Rockville's streets more inviting.
The policy provides a [...]
