Monday Morning Commute - Emancipation

Happy sort-of-holiday

• I don't do this very often, but these comments on the NPS pedicab regulations are so good that I thought they needed to be singled out. Below are just highlights. Read them here and here. 
  
  • DC already has pedicab regulations. NPS is just adding an additional (and unnecessary and redundant) set of regulations that are overlapping and not coordinated with DC. Why isn't there just one uniform set of regulations? This is in direct violation of Obama's Executive Order 13563 -- Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.
  • regulations are neither inherently good or bad. Rather carefully crafted, well thought out, and coordinated regulations are good and hastily scraped together regulations that are overly prescriptive for emerging technologies or practices (which would include pedicabs) are bad. Yes, there should be some form of regulation and DC has that covered with their own set of pedicab regulations. Adding another layer of uncoordinated regulation at the national level is entirely unnecessary and is an example of bad regulation.
• The Montgomery County Bicycle Action Group (MCBAG) will meet this Thursday at 6:30pm.
• More on Woodmont East and the Capital Crescent Trail. "Some feared that the increased foot traffic along Bethesda Avenue could create safety and logistical problems for trail users. But they ultimately were satisfied with the plan to use landscaping, curbs, outdoor dining areas and pavement changes to separate the sidewalk from the trail."
• Cyclist assaulted in Manassas. "A man was riding his bicycle on the 8900 block of Mathis Ave. in Manassas at 5 p.m. when a man driving a blue Volkswagen Jetta with Virginia license plate JWE-4717 reached out his window and grabbed the victim’s arm." If they have the plate, why are they still looking for the driver?
• A recent study in Baltimore shows what many of us already know: About 1 in 6 drivers pass cyclists illegally. But compliance goes up on streets with bike lanes. Meanwhile, some bike lanes are put too far into the door zone.
• As part of the last Transportation bill (which I believe was signed by President Arthur) the DOT set up four pilot communities to receive extra funding as part of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP)  which granted them $25 million for additional investments in biking and walking. Last week the report detailing the impacts as measured was delivered to Congress and it should be made public soon. 
• In LA, about 100,000 people participated in CycLAvia. Unlike Feet in the Street, this was held downtown. If NYC and LA can do it, so can we (not that Feet in the Street should stop, it is a good program on its own). Also the Mayor announced that LA would be joining the bike sharing world. They plan to roll out a 4000 bike, 400 station system over the next 2 years. "L.A.'s bike sharing system will be implemented, operated and funded by a private company."
• You don't have to be riding in the road to get hit and killed by a driver. 
• So the funny thing about this GSA boondoggle story is the part where participants made bikes as a team building exercise. A friend of mine had to do the same exercise as part of a Price Waterhouse Cooper orientation.

Comments

[JeffB]

Re: You don't have to be riding in the road,

Great article by a reporter who gets it that these things aren't just "accidents" but are the predictable result of failed infrastructure design and car-centric bias.

[SJE]

News: WABA's Daniel Hoagland was hit by a car on Thursday, and is recovering. Wishing him a speedy recovery

[Greenbelt]

Re: Great article by a reporter who gets it that these things aren't just "accidents" but are the predictable result of failed infrastructure design and car-centric bias.

Plus the fact the 17 year olds are driving white Escalades.

[Michael H.]

Plus the fact that 17-year-olds are driving... just about any motorized vehicle.

Re LA bikeshare: Do they have the infrastructure in place to support a bikeshare system? There's the common perception of LA being filled with high-speed freeways. Perhaps they have improved their infrastructure in recent years to make it more bike and pedestrian-friendly, but I don't follow those developments too closely. Anyone know more about this? Southern Californians are known for being active in general but do they bike in the city center?

[JJJJJ]

Michael H,
http://ladotbikeblog.wordpress.com/