TheWashCycle

Competition for TIGER II funding

In an area where things truly are in competition for funding, DC's TIGER II grant application for Supersizing Capital Bikeshare is competing with this project out of DE, PA and NJ

The request for $35 million out of a total project cost of $51 million is called GREAT-Mid-Atlantic, and would complete trails and bikeways all over the 3 states. Nine of the 30 sub-projects included in the application are on the East Coast Greenway in PA, NJ, and DE - with many more located on connecting trail systems, such as the Delaware & Lehigh Canal Trail (from Bristol to Wilkes-Barre, PA), the Schuylkill River Trail (from Philadelphia to Schuylkill County, PA) and the Great Allegheny Passage (from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, PA). Please take a look at the grant application at this link.

Looking at the map to the right. DC becomes the crossroads of all these networks, so there is probably some  benefit to our region - but it's not nearly as good for us as Bikeshare. Hopefully we'll both win.

Example project:

The Steel Valley section of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) is one of the final remaining gaps between Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh. This project will construct 3,500’ of trail in the City of Duquesne, which connects to existing trail at Grant Avenue and a pedestrian bridge at Port Perry (under construction). Trail construction will include bituminous paving, grading, fencing, trail protection and signage. This trail segment will provide dedicated ROW and much safer alignment, by moving bicyclists off the shoulder of SR 837.

Competition for funding

Just a couple of notes on this line

That explains the frequent criticism that the mayor has spent too much money on bike lanes and dog parks, and too little on affordable housing and jobs.

Much of the money DC spends on bike lanes comes from federal funds set aside for Transportation Enhancements, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Safe Routes to Schools, Recreational Trails etc... [Note: I'm not sure that bike lane funding has come from any/all of these programs specifically, I'm just giving examples]. So most of the time it isn't a choice between bike lanes and affordable housing. It's a choice between bike lanes and "Control and removal of outdoor advertising" or other allowed expenditures for federally defined programs.

Most of DDOT's budget comes from federal-aid programs. "In 2003, the District expended a total of about $242 million on its bridge and road infrastructure, of which almost $158 million were federal-aid expenditures." That's about 65%, and I'm not sure if it includes matching dollars. From conversations I've had with DDOT bike program staff, I would not be surprised if that percentage were not higher for bike program funding. 

But, dog parks are a whole other issue.

Columbia Heights Day 2010 Bike Parking

CH Day 2010 Bike Parking, originally uploaded by Mr. T in DC.

Tour de Links - Bicycle Girl

Maillot Jaune: No surprise, a Republican Congress would not prioritize bike paths.

[House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.)] also said Republicans would focus on ...ending ..the building of bike paths, which he considers “nice, but certainly shouldn’t be the priority."

Podium: Zombies+Bicycles=Awesome

Podium: Kids in Brookline, MA successfully advocate for a fine for blocking the bike lane. (tip Michael H)

Maillot Vert: Richard Layman blogs about neighborhood based bike planning, and road diets.

Maillot a Pois Rouge: In 2001, a cyclist in New Jersey hit a two-foot wide "depression" and fell off her bike. The fall resulted in a massive head injury (she was wearing a helmet) and her death and now her husband is suing the county - which had inspected the road just five weeks prior - for creating a hazardous situation. The case has been dismissed and reinstated, and is still being fought.

Maillot Blanc: The War on Drivers comes to Seattle.

Lanterne Rouge: This:

Hill And Go Seek

IMAG0224, originally uploaded by volcrano.

Interview with Arlington Board Chief Jay Fisette

He likes bikes (and a lot of areas outside of Arlington).

2. BEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
Bicycle. I feel best when I bike to work or take short local trips on my bike. I love coasting down the bike lane on Clarendon Boulevard past the cars.  

3. FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS EVENT
The U.S. Air Force Cycling Classic with its signature Crystal Bike Ride – usually in May.

7. FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A LAZY SUNDAY
Biking through Rock Creek Park or along the Potomac on the Mount Vernon trail or kayaking on the Potomac. More often than not, however, I end up working in my yard.

Leisure time used to sell work pants

Saturday Morning Ride - I like the other Beck better

Feet in the Street is today, if you're looking for something to do.

• tbd interviews WABA bicycle ambassador Daniel Hoagland about the New Hampshire/U/16th intersection as he works the morning commute informing cyclists about how to use the new facilities.
• Another crash in Maryland, this one in Ocean City, the cyclist appears to have unsafely run a traffic light and was hit by a police cruiser.
• LAB Smart Cycling seminar comes to DC Nov. 19th.
• Gene Weingarten does not care for sidewalk cycling.
• Travel to see the Paw Paw Tunnel - the 5th longest bike tunnel in the world.
• Ghost bike article was a bummer.
• I just watched "The Road" with Viggo Mortensen. They needed bicycles something awful.
• More about race, elections and bike lanes. Robinson is making the classic false choice argument, pitting juvenile crime against transportation - as though we can't deal with both.
• Reward!
• The Wakefield Bridge over I-495 might be closed for 8 Weeks.
• Fort Meade cyclist injured by item from truck " A male teenager was shot by a projectile while riding his bike. The projectile came from a dark four-door vehicle occupied by two males. The bicyclist rode home, realized his head was bleeding and was taken to a hospital."
• The Greenbelt racing series is over.

Danny, WABA's new Bike Parking Program Coordinator's first installation...

Danny, our new Bike Parking Program Coordinator's first installation..., originally uploaded by Washington Area Bicyclist Association.

"Not all accidents are criminal"

True, but this one probably is

Robert Roedell, 24, was arrested in January 2009 -- one year after he allegedly struck and killed Luis Rivera Ortega on Forsyth Road in Orange County.

Luis and his cousin were riding their bicycles New Year's Day 2008 on the sidewalk near Cheney Elementary School when he was struck by a 1995 Dodge driven by Roedell, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The car was northbound on Forsyth Road traveling about 50 mph in a 35 mph zone, troopers said.

FHP's early report said Roedell lost control of his car, began to spin counterclockwise, traveled across the turn lane, the southbound lane, struck the raised concrete curb and then traveled onto the sidewalk, where it struck Luis.

a state prosecutor argued Roedell was racing on a public road, his vehicle was modified with zero-tread tires,