Sick blogger links

Going to bed early

• DDOT replies to claims that money spent on biking is money not spent on jobs. "The bike share program created 25 brand new jobs in the District, all at a living wage and all but one filled by District residents from all across the District.  Though it will be hard to track, the improved reliability and travel options it affords to the transit dependent communities will help residents keep their current jobs and hopefully climb up the employment ladder while at the same time broadening their access to additional employment centers and opportunities."
• Why were bike lanes used as a wedge in the election? Gabe Klein thinks it has more to do with an age divide than a race divide. "The newer and younger types coming into the city are demanding a livable, bikeable town. I visit Ward 7 and people say "We need more bike lanes over here."
• The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge, at 10 a.m. Saturday on the Mall: "The event will feature a 20-mile bicycle course led by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) with Tour de France cyclists Bobby Julich and Christian Vande Velde, starting at the Washington Monument, proceeding up Pennsylvania Avenue, past the Capitol and through the city."
• Dr. Gridlock and I agree that Gray will continue to make DC more bikeable because that's what big city mayors have to do.

While we may be in for a change in mayoral style that involves more task forces and discussion, the city's transportation program is unlikely to undergo a dramatic shift. The D.C. government's priorities, policies and programs are pretty typical of those that 21st century city governments are pursuing.

City governments want to help people get where they're going as quickly and safely as possible through densely packed grid systems of streets, use transportation improvements to encourage economic development and offer alternatives to owning a car. (Real estate writer and editor Elizabeth Razzi noted that giving people opportunities to go car free helps them handle the high cost of urban housing.)

So the District is not alone in trying to improve bus services, add trolleys or light rail, put in bike lanes and improve pedestrian safety. The District's programs to do those things didn't start with Fenty and they won't end with Gray. Bike lanes weren't dreamed up by Fenty to make the world safe for triathletes.

• The new bike signal on the Mt. Vernon Trail has been installed. (photo below)
• GGW endorses Chris Zimmerman fro Arlington County Board. "He advocated installing bike racks on all Metrobuses...He worked with current Arlington Board Chairman Jay Fisette and DDOT to start the bikeshare program....He's advocated for installing more bicycle facilities at Metrorail stations....He's been working with WABA to figure out how to get more bicycles on to VRE trains....Mr. Zimmerman was one of the early promoters of Smart Growth, walkable development, traffic calming, pedestrian improvements through the Neighborhood Conservation program, and bike lanes."
• The dream is dead. No bike station in old Dupont Trolley station. But the world needs art too.
• DC Cyclocross race is tomorrow Sunday 
• Owen Wilson tools around DC on a folding bike.
• Some places did get TIGER II money for bike projects. Just not us.
• Something new to argue about! Airbags for cyclists.
• NYC to crack down on scofflaw cyclists. “You are having more incidents where pedestrians are getting seriously injured, or close calls, even if it’s in a bike lane,” Mr. Browne said.

photo by ajfroggie

Comments

[Jamie]

Quick correction -- DCCX is not tomorrow; it is on Sunday. For more info, check out http://www.dcmtb.com/blog/dccx-2010-2. There is a DC-ChiX women's race clinic at the course on Saturday. For more info, see http://www.dcmtb.com/blog/cx-clinics. Both the clinic and the race will be a great time. Come on out!

[Michael H.]

If you show up for the DCCX early packet pick-up tomorrow evening, you get a free appetizer at the restaurant and a discount on draft beer. Two better reasons for signing up for a race cannot be found anywhere in the universe.

[JJJ]

So what does that expensive bike signal accomplish that the pedestrian signal did not?