The Legislative Committee discussed several considered legislative initiatives.
Complete Streets legislation would require DDOT to consider pedestrian and bicyclist concerns when redesigning roads. This is close to approval, but may need to wait for Mr. Klein to come into office. It may need passage by the DC Council.
The committee needs to draft some materials to explain the Comparative vs. Contributory negligence issue, and then meet with councilmembers to discuss it. They're moving to a standard where the plaintiff need only be less at fault than the defendant. They've talked with the Trial Lawyer's Association about it and the TLA is worried about losing joint and several liability - which gives plaintiffs access to deep pockets.
For the Cyclist Safe Stopping Act, they have the draft language from Idaho, but the consensus is that this isn't a good idea yet. It might be better to pursue a demonstration project.
They're also waiting on the IRS to write the regulations for the Bicycle Commuter Benefit and once they have will push the DC Government to become a first mover on offering it.
Additionally, for the Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act, we learned that the portion dealing with side-underrun guards on all District owned heavy duty vehicles won't become law until funded, and right now there is no funding.
Nor is their funding this year for the Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Enhancement fund or the BAC administrative support position.
Finally, Councilmember Graham has been getting an increasing amount of mail from constituents about cyclists who fail to follow the law. He would like to create a bicycle patrol within DDOT (instead of MPD) which has enforcement powers. They would be trained to enforce laws for cyclists and will enforce the laws that most endanger cyclists and others. The BAC and WABA supported the idea. [So do I, new studies show that enforcement of traffic laws increases safety] as long as it's not safety theater or revenue oriented.
Aside: Rockville added 14 new locations for speed enforcement in Rockville, bringing the total number of monitored streets to 25. Money collected from the speed camera program are used to fund pedestrian safety projects, such as sidewalk construction, streetlights, crosswalks, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and two new traffic enforcement officers
DDOT updates:
SmartBike - There is a great deal of interest in more kiosks from businesses (Commerce Dept, Williard Hotel for example), community groups, etc...DDOT is negotiating the next round of expansion with the vendor and it will probably include instructions in Spanish and a way for short-term users (tourists for example) to use it. Probably will not include solar-powered kiosks as requested. DDOT is definitely going to expand this and the money has been identified. Not sure how many more kiosks they will add, but I feel it is going to be MUCH more than the 20 previously reported. We were only told it would be big.
With so many groups and businesses interested, DDOT will be able to use that to help expansion. Whereas before they ran into opposition, now people will be begging them to move in; maybe even offering to share in costs.
Right now use is down to about 70 users a day from 140 during the good weather. 900 total users. Average use time is 27 minutes. Still only 1 bike stolen and 1 damaged.
Wilson Bridge - DDOT is working on concept plans for both the South Capitol Street trail and the upgraded Oxon Run Trail both of which terminate within a mile of the Wilson Bridge. Unfortunately, Maryland and the NPS are needed to get the last mile built. WABA hopes to reach out to the Oxon Hill Bicycle Club to get things moving on that end.
Racks - There is a backlog of work to do and not enough people to do it. DDOT would love to find one or two contractors that they could refer businesses to and use themselves, but so far have not. DDOT doesn't want to convert old parking meters into bike parking because they often aren't in the right spot; but they are changing the parking meter replacement contract to include new bike rack installation.
Aside: From the Official Newsletter of NYC DOT's Bike Program
Outdoors
Due to high volumes of requests for CityRacks, NYCDOT is prioritizing installation in areas that would benefit from clusters of bicycle parking. We will target installations in areas where we have received multiple requests and/or a "bulk" request from a Community Board, Business Improvement District, civic association or other group of community members.
Indoors
Support the Department of City Planning's proposed change to the zoning code
which would require new buildings to provide indoor bicycle parking. On
November 17, 2008, the Department of City Planning referred for a
60-day period the proposed text amendment (N 090191 ZRY) to all
community boards, borough boards and borough presidents for review and
comment. The City Planning Commission will then hold a public hearing
on the proposal. Following the Commission's vote, the City Council will
have up to 50 days to review the proposed text amendment. You can talk
to your Community Board now, or attend the public hearing in a few
weeks.
Metropolitan Branch Trail - They're about 9% of the way through the Design/Build of the next section. Still hope to break ground in March and open it by the end of summer.
BikeStation - Will open in February or March. Should pick an operator soon.
Bike lanes - DDOT added 8.5 miles this year, their best year ever. Including G St NW from 7th to 15th, 11th St NW from Q to Massachusetts and 4th St NW from Eye to M. New York City, by the way, has online access to what they're doing next.
Map - DDOT will have a new map in time for the Bike Summit in March. It will include SmartBike and new lanes, but it's more of an update than a revision (due to money or the lack thereof).
Photo by rfc1394
Enforcement: I wouldn't even mind if enforcement of bike traffic laws were given to the MPD, as long as they enforced actual bike laws and not imaginary ones.
On that note, is there a law against riding the wrong way in a bike lane? I've come head to head (almost literally) with wrong-way riders a couple of times, and it's especially hair-raising in heavy traffic. I find if drivers see construction or a double-parked car blocking the bike lane up ahead, they'll look out for bikers dodging out of the lane, but a cyclist coming the wrong way doesn't register in the same way.
Posted by: tpjim | January 13, 2009 at 12:51 PM