Wednesday, July 27, 2011

New (and Expanded) Capital Bikeshare Locations (Map)

Below is a Google map showing 32 new Capital Bikeshare locations (Blue pins) and 18 current stations that will see expansion (red pins), most of which should be installed by the fall of 2011. 

According to a press release issued by goDCgo, the District Department of Transportation Director Terry Bellamy states that, "With this expansion we will not only increase the overall reach of the system, but we will expand the program’s capacity by 22 percent in the downtown area, by 80 percent in our East of the River operations and by an average of 38 percent throughout each of the additional Wards.”

Most of the new locations add capacity in the system's core but CaBi appears to also expanded east of the Anacostia River in the neighborhoods of Fairfax Village, Benning Ridge, Congress Heights and downtown Anacostia. Areas not receiving new or expanded stations include upper regions of Ward 3,  4, and 5.








View New (Blue) and Expanded (Red) CaBi Bike Stations in a larger map




Friday, July 22, 2011

Picture This

Picture This by uno000
Picture This, a photo by uno000 on Flickr.
Via Flickr:
The WMATA reminder, no bikes at the center doors!

Pedicab predicament

DCBAC is would like to here your comments and suggestions with regard to altercations between the District's Pedicab operators and the National Park Service Police (NPS) on or in the vicinity of the National Mall.  Also, DCBAC is interested in the public's thoughts on the proposed pedicabs operator regulations.

DCBAC plans to gather this information and will likely present it to local and federal authorities. DCBAC would especially like to hear comments from actual pedicab operators.  Comments can be left below or you can send an email to dcbac@dcbac.org.

As reported by various news outlets including Patrick Madden of WAMU radio and , the District's pedicab operators have been targeted by the NPS Park Police as part of its “education campaign” designed to remind pedicab operators of the laws they have to follow.  According to some Pedicab operators, however, the Park Police have been targeting them unfairly for tickets and arrest, in one case, being subdued by a Taser.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is drafting new regulations for pedicab operators.  The proposed rules would amend the DC Code, Title 18, “Vehicles and Traffic",  Chapter 12,  "Bicycles, Motorized Bicycles, and Miscellaneous Vehicles”, by adding a new section - 1213.  The full text of the proposed rules can be found on the Secretary of the District of Columbia website, the DC Municipal Regulations and Register

According to the Washington Post columnist , DDOT proposed new pedicab rules this past April (with an early draft in December of 2010), which included no riding on sidewalks, no riding on streets with speed limits of more than 30 mph, seat belts for passengers, but DDOT has not yet issued them.


Monday, July 18, 2011

Dr. Gridlock chat (7-18-11)

As a public service, below are bicycle-related comments/questions issued to Robert Thomson on his Monday midday Dr. Gridlock chat on the Washington Post website, unedited.

This week, two comments were posted on the discussion site regarding bicycling - comments about bike lanes and the improvements to Virginia trails.

Regarding these issues, the washcycle recent observations about the 15th street Cycletrack and the South Capital Street Trail.
Bike lanes
Q. How are the comments running about the bike lanes?

A. Robert Thomson - Not too much lately. Cyclists seem pretty happy with them, including the new lanes on 15th Street NW in DC. Drivers never like sharing the road with cyclists. They tend to object either to setting aside space for cyclists or to having the cyclists in the regular travel lanes.

Further Bike/Running Trail Evolution
Q. The recently completed links connecting Eisenhower valley through the Wilson Bridge are wonderful. There's now a "missing link", that if constructed, would be a boon to VA, PG County, DC, Nats Park, new Arena Stage, the rapidly rehabilitating Anacostia waterfront, etc . It would also facilitate a significant new non-car commuting capability to/from the military bases along 295, as well as the huge new DHS complex at St. Elizabeth's, and the Navy Yard area. That missing link is a bike/running trail between the Wilson Bridge and the South Capitol Street Bridge. Are there ANY plans for that, or even discussions about it.

A. Robert Thomson -
I did a Commuter page feature shortly after the Wilson Bridge trail opened. This one: http://wapo.st/ddYcYC . But I can't remember the prospects for connecting with a trail to the north. (Perhaps some cycling enthusiasts could help in this?)

I know that plans for the new 11th Street Bridge include a bike path but don't know how far south that might take you.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Picture This

Photo by thedceye
The group, Black Women Bike, hit the road early this past Saturday, July 17, at Eastern Market.  Getting more people to see bicycling as a transportation alternative requires a commitment to building the infrastructure and supporting groups like this.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Public Scoping Meeting for Broad Branch Road

Project area courtesy
of Google Maps
The first public scoping meeting regarding the rehabilitation of Broad Branch Road NW was held at the Chevy Chase Community Center on Thursday, July 14, 2011. DCBAC representative Eric Rosenberg (At-Large) also attended the meeting, provided comments and spoke to the project team.

DCBAC would like to hear bicyclists and pedestrians comments on this road and what amenities should be added. 
Early suggestions included adding a cycletrak, bike lanes, or even reducing automotive travel to one direction to make room for bicyclists and pedestrians.  DCBAC will include your comments and transmit a document to the project administrators.  You may leave your comments below or email them to blog@dcbac.org.

A small section of this road has been recently discussed due to the collapse and construction of a temporary bridge over Soapstone Creek in April.  The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) posted a sign that restricts bicyclists and pedestrians from the use of the bridge.  As an important transportation corridor, bicyclist voiced their concerns that the restriction undermined the complete streets practices that DDOT appeared to be implementing on other projects.  Your comments on this issue will possibly help reduce the exclusion of pedestrians and bicyclists consideration on other projects.