Saturday Evening Ride - the No. 1 concern

Good evening

• Capital Bikeshare users aren't wearing helmets. There are no numbers on what percentage do and don't, but Tom Sherwood thinks most or even a "vast majority" do not. I'm not sure that's accurate. Or that it is particularly a problem, as he notes "since Capital Bikeshare launched in the fall, about 800,000 individual rides have been recorded with only 13 accidents" with no word on how many of them involve a head injury that would be mitigated by a helmet. Still, some people think it's a problem. He reports that DDOT is going to try to get out 500 helmets to users, something first reported last week. You can see the video below the fold.
• Speaking of Tom Sherwood, when he was on Kojo's show, Kojo felt the new to address criticism from cyclists. "As for the suggestion that I would seriously advocate that motorists hit bicycle riders, well, maybe you've missed every show we did with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, encouraging bicycle riding and the fact that we've never done a show encouraging more driving." Personally I thought his earlier comments were harmless ribbing of Sherwood.
• Metro locker rentals have dropped by about a third since the price increase in 2010. Revenue us up $46,000, far short of the $200,000 predicted. In fact the total revenue is still far short of that number at $103,800. So they have $46,000 more, but with potentially 300 fewer customers.
• The Greyhound depot is going to be razed and redeveloped after buses move to Union Station. As the terminal is across the street from the Met Branch Trail, it would be great if the trail could be extended over L street and then down, gradually, to K. It would be a nice thing to push for if they seek rezoning.
• DC's Living Social has a bike rack inside the office.
• New pedicabs rules have gone into effect as of Aug 1. They'll be in effect for up to 120 days. Please send me comments on these rules if you have a strong opinion. The rules have been tweaked since last posted, but I'm not sure how. And if that isn't enough, NPS is drafting it's own rules that will “probably” be based on the city’s, but not necessarily. "we are not bound and compelled by it. Safety always has been, always will be and must remain forever the No. 1 concern. Someone, frankly, could get killed.” In that case, they should issue new rules for trucks. As to when NPS will be done “When we’re ready, we’ll let you know,” he said. “It’s much more important for the Park Service to get it right than hurry through something and get it wrong.” Glad that both DC and NPS had hearings on this - oh wait...NPS really just needs one rule "No pedicabs near the Mall."
• The Examiner fails to report that most trail users support the Purple line, and instead reported that "Trail users and environmentalists have cried out over the paving and massive tree-cutting a light rail line would bring."
• A profile of the Reston Bike Club.

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

Comments

[IMGoph]

the extension of the met branch south a block would be more than just "great," this is something the cycling community REALLY needs to push for. we should definitely get this on the NoMa BID's radar, as well as the office of planning. there's a good chance they'll seek a PUD for this property, and getting the trail extended would be a perfect amenity for them to provide.

it's a shame the trail can't go any farther than that due to the building that was built on the SE corner of 1st and K.

[washcycle]

IMGoph. I agree about the building at 1st and K. That one started before I even knew about it. You would really only need to set aside space on one floor and could build both above and below the trail. There was plans - at one time - to run a streetcar through a building in Memphis (I think) one side would be a restaurant, and the other would be a hotel lobby and there would have been windows that highlight the light rail. One could do the same with a trail.

[Richard Layman]

I had the same thought as you about the Greyhound terminal and just didn't get around to blogging about it yet.

Regarding both your comments, the problem with that building at 1st and K is as Tony Goodman, an east of the yard neighborhood activist pointed out to me, that space would have been perfect as an entry point to the some day platform over the yard, not unlike the high line.

Be that as it may, the same thing can happen at the site at the NE corner of that intersection. I don't know who owns that property now, maybe JBG.

Anyway, a proposal for access to the platform + extension of the trail should be created and forwarded to WABA, DDOT, OP, ANC6C, NOMA BID, JBG, the property owner of the bus terminal, and the property owner of the other site, which as best as I can determine from the DC Property Tax Database is probably J St. Development. (one of the principals of that company is on the NOMA BID board).

I seem to remember that the triangle of land between NY Ave. and Florida Ave. abutting the trail (the project is called Washington Gateway) embraces connections to the trail.

That could be the precedent relied upon as a model for this site.

[oboe]

"People don't like that!"

Go fuck yourself.