Action Alert: DDOT Backtracking on L & M Street Cycletracks

From WABA

Much of last week's confirmation hearing for DDOT Director Terry Bellamy went smoothly.  He said the right things, including stating support for improved bicycling.  But when asked about specific projects, things went less smoothly.

Specifically, Director Bellamy said that the L and M Street cycletracks were "on hold" and that "we may not do them" due to concerns over parking removal.

CLICK HERE to email the District leaders responsible for the future of the downtown cycletracks.

In recent months, we have seen little progress in improving the District's cycling infrastructure.  This is especially disappointing given the success, obvious even to the most casual rush-hour observer, of the 15th Street cycletrack and the Pennsylvania Avenue lanes (which are frequently characterized as a cycletrack as well).

The L & M Street cycletracks are crucial to providing a much-needed east-west connection through downtown that is safe and accessible--not only to experienced cyclists but also to the many novices who cycle downtown, encouraged by the success of Capital Bikeshare and other infrastructure improvements.

For many, these cycletracks are seen as a litmus test for the Gray administration's support of cycling.  While District cyclists have been consistently reassured that Mayor Gray supports cycling and shares our vision of a bike friendly District, we have seen extremely limited improvement in bicycle infrastructure or enforcement during his tenure to-date.  This project provides the Mayor and DDOT Director Bellamy the opportunity to continue the progress in improving the District's downtown for cyclists.

Please take a moment to email Mayor Gray, DDOT Director Bellamy, DDOT Bike & Pedestrian Coordinator Jim Sebastian, and Councilmember Tommy Wells stating your support for the L and M Street cycletracks.

Thank you,

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association

 

Comments

[Shawn]

Cool, done.

[DaveS]

I was one of the community folks who felt honored to take part in developing the 2005 Bike / Ped Master Plan. Just as a reminder, that came to completion under Mayor Anthony Williams, WABA Director Ellen Jones, and DDOT director Dan Tangherlini - all of whom have moved on and been replaced twice since then. (No tears to shed, they're all doing great...)

Establishing crosstown cycling facilities (on M Street!) was a critical part of that plan, and one that may have had roots in the previous Master Plan dating back to the 70's.

Point being, this is not a new idea, or something ginned up by the city's current set of cycle friendly pols. This was a forward-looking concept that was carefully and deliberately put down as a Good Idea for all of Washington back when Fenty was a council member and Wells was still (or maybe not even yet) on the board of ed. To hear Bellamy - during his confirmation hearings no less - announce for more or less the first time that this dream may once again be deferred somehow should have been a serious concern for granting him his current position.

(Paging DDOT Bike / Ped Coordinator Jim Sebastian - where'd you go, man? Where've you been?)

[Greenbelt]

Mr. Sebastian's email has an auto-reply that he's out of the office until the 30th. Hopefully this is more a lack of coordination than a major policy shift. That east-west track would be really helpful to a whole lot of potential bike commuters from NE DC getting to jobs downtown via the MBT in my opinion.

[ontarioroader]

Mayor Gray doesn't care about bike people. There, someone said it. Honestly, we'll be lucky if we get more than a token expansion of bikeshare and a mile or two of bike lanes during his [hopefully only] 4 years.

[Joe]

I think emails to Jim are misdirected. He works for the Mayor....I would email the mayor and leave poor Jim alone!

[washcycle]

I would agree, except that at BAC meetings I've heard Jim instruct the BAC to put pressure on him to get things done. [Besides if you write the mayor or Director Bellamy, they just forward the emails to Jim anyway]

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