Thursday, February 9, 2012

East of the River Connectivity

The Facilities Committee within the DC Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) plans to continue its focus on the challenges of bicyclists who travel to, from and within Ward 7 and Ward 8 this year.  BAC would like to hear from the people who live, work and play on the east side of the Anacostia River so that we can work with you to voice your concerns as decisions are being made for spending for next year's budget. Feel free to enter your suggestions in the comments section below.

BAC would like to highlight the transportation connectivity deficit at its Fiscal Year 2011 Oversight Hearing, Friday, March 2, 2012. It is important that those who live in Penn Branch, Marshall Heights, Fairfax Village, Deanwood, River Terrace, Fort Dupont and the other communities in these two Wards help determine how to best get to where they want to go by bike. While you  may leave comments below, we also encourage residents of these Wards either attend or testify before the D.C. Council at the Oversight Hearing next month about ways to correct historical transportation problems.

To clearly show the recommendations you suggest, we will create a web-based map to catalog your ideas, which will eventually presented to DC Council and the District Department of Transportation. Ideas could include more bicycle parking, dedicated bicycling routes, better bike-related signage, additional Capital Bikeshare locations, better / safer access to Metrorail stations, etc.

If you use twitter, please post your thoughts using  #EOTRbike so that we can follow your suggestions.

Last year, the Facilities Committee held rides to determine the impacts of the Far Northeast and Far Southeast Livability Studies.  BAC found that contrary to some reports, bicycling in these wards is relatively strong despite road, rail and natural barriers. BAC made the following observations:
  • Determining the optimal bicycle routes across the Wards and routes across the Anacostia River and in the Maryland
  • More Capital Bikeshare options and better signage identifying where stations are locally.
  • Change curb cuts on the downstream side of the Sousa bridge to facilitate bicycling across the ramps
  • Improve lighting and wider sidewalks that on streets that travel beneath 295 / Kenilworth Avenue
  • Work with the Community prior to installing signs
  • Improve bicyclist and pedestrian connections on the west side of the Benning Road bridge that crosses Kenliworth Avenue NE and the freight railroad tracks
  • Improve bicyclist and pedestrian connections on East Capitol Street, which is essentially a freeway from Benning Road to just east of RFK stadium, particularly along the East Capitol Street Bridge over the Anacostia River since it has no sidewalks.
What do you think should change?  Please let us know below.