TheWashCycle

Friday Afternoon Commute - Fulparkerare

Good afternoon

• DDOT Spanish-language outreach.
• CaBi expansion in DC has been delayed, according to Mayor Gray's spokesperson Pedro Ribeiro "because of delays getting them from the supplier...but DDOT thinks in the next 6 weeks they will have all the stations in."
• There's only one word for someone who parks in the L Street cycletrack - Fulparkerare
• Other bike stuff I missed from Mayor Gray's budget
  • "There is a pot of $10.7 million for bike lanes and trails, which appears to be entirely new; formerly, there was no dedicated local bike money. The budget staff have promised to follow up to confirm this. Another $5.1 million will go to "bike-friendly streetscapes," which will be interesting to see in more detail."
  • The new Douglass Bridge gets fully funded.
• A profile of locally-educated Alta Planning + Design president and bike-lover Mia Birk. It's interesting that in all the talk of how women are under-represented in biking, there are quite a few bike businesses operating in DC that are led by women (Alta, Toole Design, BikeStation, Capitol Hill Bikes, etc...)
• And an interview with Alta's Eric Gilliland, Director of Capital Bikeshare. The article includes a photo of an artistic bike rack in DC that I haven't seen before. 
• "It is bike lanes. It is dog parks. It is about state-of-the-art swimming facilities. It is about recreation centers. Capital Bikeshare. Car2Go. Streetcars. It's about a way of life. Black folks want this stuff, they're just not as passionate about it.""
• Following another installment of the argument charlie and I have every 6 months on the appropriateness of using CMAQ funds for bike-sharing, streetsblog has a post on how difficult it is to calculate calculating the carbon-reduction benefits of increased biking. If only I had my own research staff and grad school students to deploy. 
• Chicago might finally get a riverwalk trail along the Chicago River, but based on the photos, I don't think it will be for cyclists. 
• Check out the Fire and EMS bicycle. 
• "This is the make or break year, so we know that we need additional revenue, the state needs additional revenue in the trust fund to actual build the Purple Line," said Madden. "So far we are optimistic, based on the discussions going on, that will happen."

Tuesday Morning Commute - SXSW

Good morning

• DC Bike party - tomorrow night. 
• Mayor Gray rides one of Austin's 2nd Class trailer-style pedicabs. I prefer DC's, but I'm a snob.
• Maryland has agreed to take responsibility for the portion of Maryland Route 410 in Takoma Park. "Before the council’s Feb. 19 vote to authorize the agreement, public comments included both support from residents who were glad to see responsibility for the road clarified, as well as concerns that if bike lanes were added — as allowed by the agreement — they could turn into a different type of lane, Acting City Manager Suzanne Ludlow said."

Thursday Morning Commute - One City

Good morning

• Mayor Gray's One City Action Plan calls for expanding bike share stations (by 87 by the end of the year which has already been reported) and bike lanes. Bike lanes would go from 56 now to 61 by 2014, which doesn't sound that aggressive compared to the Action Agenda from 2010 which aspired to have 80 miles by 2012. The One City Plan adds "DDOT will also add high visibility bike lanes with green paint beginning on L Street and in other high conflict areas. Lastly, additional pavement markers that help to better identify bike lanes will also be added to help increase bicycle safety."
• WAMU is not finding as many abandoned bikes as I'd expect. Maybe next they can focus on something that impacts safety.
• Ray LaHood "If accessibility advocates and biking and walking advocates make their voices heard in their state capitols and in their county and city councils, there's no reason to believe that the tremendous progress we've made in the last three years can't continue." Except that many state capitals are dominated by the kind of people who oppose spending money on biking. 
• Velib is 5 years old. 10% of Parisians are members, and car trips are down 25%. Velib has turned a profit the last 3 years. 

Complying with the Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act of 2008

Nearly four years ago, in the wake of the Alice Swanson fatality, the DC Council unanimously passed the Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act of 2008. One section of the law required the Mayor to add safety features to some District-owned vehicles and to require DC government drivers to get training.

Sec. 2. Bicycle safety enhancements for District-owned, heavy-duty vehicles.
    (a) The Mayor shall:
        (1) Equip all District-owned, heavy-duty vehicles with the following:
                (A) Blind-spot mirrors;
                (B) Reflective blind-spot warning stickers; and
                (C) Side-underrun guards to prevent bicyclists, other vehicles, or pedestrians from sliding under                 rear wheels. [WC: Section 4 notes that this will apply once funding is provided in an approved budget]
        (2) Require that operators of District-owned, heavy-duty vehicles receive bicycle and pedestrian         safety training from a curriculum and instructors that are approved by the District Department of         Transportation

So, I contacted the Department of Public Works, since they own and operate most of DC's heavy-duty vehicles to see how compliance was going. Below is their response

Blind spot mirrors: Blind spot mirrors are required on all new heavy duty vehicles purchased by the Department and are being installed on existing heavy duty vehicles maintained by the Department as they are brought in for repairs or routine maintenance.

Blind spot stickers: have been placed on all of the heavy vehicles

Side-underrun guards: The law only requires side-underrun guards to be installed if this is provided for in an approved budget. No such provision has been made. Also, side-underrun guards are not readily available for most of the heavy duty vehicles maintained by DPW, so they would have to be custom made. For these reasons, the Department has not installed any on the vehicles  it maintains.

Safety Training: Bicycle and pedestrian safety is covered in the Defensive Driving for CDL Drivers course offered for those employees who drive commercial vehicles for the District (please note: in this context ‘commercial vehicles’ refers to large vehicles, not necessarily vehicles used in commerce). The District Department of Transportation's safety officer has agreed to participate when the course is offered in the future.

So, in general it's a positive development, though, I don't know how what percentage of vehicles have the blind-spot mirrors at this point.

It would be nice if the District could come up with a plan to provide money for side-underrun guards - or some reaonable alternative. It would be great if the law extended to all heavy-duty vehicles in the District, not just those owned by DC, even allowing for a more open requirement to simply remove blind spots - which would allow for blind-spot cameras, proximity sensors or other yet-to-be developed technology.  But it's nice to see that the law was not passed and promptly ignored.

Friday Afternoon Commute - Bikeshare goes Hollywood

Good afternoon

• Mayor Gray wanted to redirect Performance Parking Funds from non-automotive transportation projects to WMATA. In the past PPF money has paid for bike racks and bikeshare docks among other things. The council pushed back on this and half the money over "baseline" will go to the buses. "The budget also takes steps to restore the pedestrian and bicycle enhancement fund, which pays for a number of smaller pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects."
• "There’s plenty of bike parking around Nationals Park, including Capital Bikeshare stations and a bike valet in the garage on the northeast side of the stadium. "
• The Patch has details on the College Park bike share stations. "According to the city's grant application, four of the College Park stations will be located on the UMd. campus: Regents Drive parking garage, Stamp Student Union, McKeldin Library and the Eppley Recreation Center. The remaining four will be installed at the College Park Metro Station, downtown near the Knox Road and U.S. Route 1 intersection, The Varsity student apartments and the Hollywood Shopping Center. A total of 64 bikes will be available, according to the grant application." It could be online within a year. Bicycle Bug asks if the stations are well placed. 

Friday Morning Commute - stick with it

Good morning

• Mike Madden argues that Gray, policy-wise, isn't that different from Fenty and that includes bike lanes. That may be true, but when I look at what Gabe Klein is doing in Chicago, I sure miss him (and that is not a slam on Terry Bellamy, who seems to be doing a fine job). DeBonis quotes Gray saying about car/bike conflicts "We've got to recognize we're changing the culture in this city, and we have to stick with it."
• Bike share expansion (and small station movement) at 7th and Water St SW and 25th and Penn NW, 
• MoBike's Jake Cochrane sends a list of maintenance needs for Bradley Blvd to the SHA.
• 14 3 Bike Arlington employees  and 11 others spent the weekend earning their League Cycling Instructor certification.
• Indoor cycling studio coming to Clarendon.

Anacostia River Trails take more steps forward

When done the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail in DC and the Anacostia Tributary Trails in Maryland will connect to one another to create a 60 mile trail network, arguably the region's most extensive. Last week a new section was formally opened to much fanfare and it was announced that work that would close the gap between the two systems would begin in 2012. In addition work continues on four other sections in the District, with the next ribbon cutting two weeks away.

The section that was celebrated last week was a 1.5 mile section from Bladensburg Park to a dead-end just north of US-50.

The trail consists mostly of a winding section along the river, much of which was finished three years ago as part of the Wilson Bridge Project, as well as a new connection to Kenilworth Avenue via Lloyd Street. Despite its limited utility, the ceremony attracted a lengthy list of prominent officials including cabinet secretaries, a governor and a senator. This list isn't even complete as there were several state legislators and county and local officials there as well. I even saw Tommy Wells there. The ceremony was about more than just the trail - or even the future promise of the completed trail- though. It was also about the restoration of the river and access to the state's $9.2 million 50-acre Anacostia Wetland Mitigation Project - paid for, at least in part, by the Wilson Bridge Project. [If you ride the trail, you'll see this on the southern end between the trail and the river. Go off trail,and on foot, and climb the hill it created for a pretty good view of the area. The view won't last once trees grow in.]

the restoration of the Anacostia River Watershed and the development of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail has twice been identified as a priority project for the Obama administration under the President’s America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) initiative and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP). Both initiatives seek to reconnect Americans to the great outdoors and revitalize urban waterways in underserved communities across the country.

It was also an opportunity for Democrats and the Obama administration to contrast themselves, and their support for these kinds of projects, against Republicans who want to cut funding for infrastructure and biking in particular.

"The Anacostia River Trail is a great example of the lasting benefits transportation projects can bring to a community by connecting people to jobs and schools, encouraging economic development, and protecting the environment," said Secretary LaHood. "The Obama Administration is committed to working with our community partners to build great projects like this that provide people with affordable and green transportation options."

“Connecting people and communities is what the Anacostia River Trail, like the Anacostia River itself, is all about,” said Senator Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee. “I’m proud to support federal investments that bring together the people of Maryland and the District of Columbia with each other, local economic opportunities and America’s Great Outdoors. Federal dollars are tight right now, so it is important that we invest in the right places, like here on the Anacostia River, to help make our local communities more livable and more economically viable.”

“It’s truly exciting to see the penultimate segment completed in one of the Nation’s largest trail networks,” said DOT Deputy Secretary John D. Porcari. “Let’s redouble our efforts to complete the last link in the District of Columbia and maximize the benefits of this magnificent system for bikers, walker and commuters throughout the region.”

Gov. O'Malley announced that the trail would be expanded south into DC starting late next year, and that Maryland will commit $1million towards that goal.

"The new section we’re opening today is a great start, but together with our partners in the District and in federal government, we are committed to completing the entire trail. We look forward to breaking ground in 2012.”

Once complete, the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail Network will offer nearly 60 miles of contiguous trails – including 39 miles in Maryland and 20 miles in the District of Columbia.

Project design on the new section will be complete this summer, but that isn't all.

With more than $25 million invested, 12 of 20 miles are complete, including segments linking Diamond Teague Park, the Pumphouse, the Yards, Navy Yard, RFK Stadium, River Terrace and Anacostia Park. The rest are in planning, design or under construction in coordination with the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. DOT and other agencies.

There are five other sections currently under construction, including the Maine Avenue section, the two Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Bridges, the 11th Street Bridge and the bridge between Yards Park and Diamond Teague Park, which opens in two weeks. 

The official dedication of the new pedestrian bridge connecting the Yards Park and Diamond Teague Park will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 1:30 pm. The mayor is expected to be there, along with George Hawkins of DC Water (since the bridge runs right past the main pumping station) and I'm sure a slew of other dignitaries.

Maine Avenue was supposed to be completed in October, so we can assume that is close. The two FRP bridges should be open by spring 2012, and the 11th Street Bridge is targeted for July 2013. That will leave 6 more sections to complete, including the one that connects to the trail opened last week. 

If you'd like to see some of the event, there is video here and here. And here is some more video below

 

Dedication Ceremony Anacostia River Trail Section in Prince George's County MD from Greenbelt Bike Videos on Vimeo.

Tour de Links - Street gamins and corner loafers.

New York City - Men continue to make up the majority of cyclists in New York City - more so than in other cities. “Within the United States, New York is far behind in terms of the percentage of women cyclists compared to cities like Washington, D.C., and San Francisco,” said John Pucher, a professor of planning and transportation at Rutgers University who is working on a book about global cycling trends. “I’m convinced that one of the reasons New York City has such a low percentage of women cyclists is that it’s dangerous.” I also think there are just more women in DC.  On the Times blog, one writer postulates that it has more to do with how friendly the transit is to cyclists. JSK replies to the Times "female bike ridership is actually increasing at a faster rate than male ridership" and criticizes them for looking only at bike commuting, which represents only 18% of bike trips in NYC. Author Sue Macy adds a story from the 1890's that shows just how far women have come. “We regret to see that cycling has at least one woman who so far forgets her own self-respect as to make a public exhibition of herself for the jeers of street gamins and the jibes of corner loafers.”

Also Ray Deter, owner of the beer bar d.b.a died after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle.

Also, cyclists have gained access to a previously off-limits shortcut across Central Park on an experimental basis, but the speed limit will be 5mph.

Pittsburgh - A bike collector has created a museum/bike shop.

Rhode Island - Republican Senate hopeful Barry Hinckley is biking to every city and town in Rhode Island to kick off his campaign. "He will ride a Heron bicycle — American-made, he is quick to point out. His 11-year-old daughter, Sasha, is planning to ride the full 35-mile loop with him through eight cities and towns. Hinckley hopes [Democratic Sen. Whitehouse] will come along on one of the rides.

Also, the state is opening a new on-road route that connects the Blackstone River Bikeway with the East Bay Bike Path

Jacksonville, NC - A child fell off his bike and broke his leg after hitting a pothole. Now the family is suing the DOT.

Chicago - A youth program tries to keep young men and women off the streets by teaching them bike repair.

Milwaukee - Bike polo continues to grow in popularity. But it won't arrive until it's in the X Games. "Other cities — such as Lexington, Ky., Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. — have been granted space to play from their cities, ranging from worn down tennis or basketball courts to a large enough area for three courts and lights that keep the pickup games going late into the evening."

Idaho/Washington - The Snoqualmie Tunnel on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, the longest bike tunnel in the world, has reopened after being repaired. It was closed for 2 years. 

United States - Nancy Folbre makes an argument for bike infrastructure at the NYT. I would have liked to see more numbers. If you're going to make an economic argument, tell me what the dividend is. Of course, I agree, but it wouldn't convince me if I'd never read anything about it before.

DOT has announced a third round of TIGER funding, perhaps it's another chance for CaBi super-expansion. It could be an easier sell with the success Capital Bikeshare has had so far. This one is only $527M.

Children who live in low-income homes, with single-parents and in cities are more likely than other children to walk or cycle to school, according to a new study. Also, having friends nearby, having friends who walk or bike and having pedestrian crossings increases the likelihood that one walks or bikes to school. Finally there is a connection between a child's weight and whether or not they bike or walk to school.

Paris - A bike tour to the palace of Versailles is very nice.

Como, Italy - Australian professional cyclist Carly Hibberd died after being hit by a car while training in Italy.

Wednesday Morning Commute - High heels

Good morning. Tonight is DDOT's Capital Bikeshare expansion meeting

• So far, the money for next year's expansion is still in the budget (this is beyond the expansion that will be discussed this evening).
• Request for comment-disproving photos please "A circulator bus can take you from the station to Adams Morgan faster or you can also utilize the city's rental bike share, but try doing that in high heels for a night on the town."
• Georgetown is one of three schools with no cars on campus. "Georgetown, for instance, does not allow students who live on campus to have cars there, though the school's Washington, D.C., location allows access to a vast public transportation system"
• This year's bicycle crashes in Fairfax County. Can DC get something like this going? The fault breakdown is ugly (14 bicyclists and only 6 drivers).  I'm intrigued by the cyclist who was "drunk in public" 34 minutes after the New Year. Weren't we all? And I'm curious about the cyclist who was at fault in a crash with a hit and run. Who did the running?
• More about Lance. Why he should confess and Sally Jenkins' thoughts on him. Oddly, she blames the BCS.

I guess he's glad they didn't send the Lady Gaga statue