Tuesday Afternoon Commute - Snowquester

Driving and biking is not a zero sum game, IMO. But, I do think that driving is quite a steal, whereas biking is more accurately priced. So, policies that bring driving closer to the real price, make biking more competitive and probably result in more biking on the margin. That's why policies to more accurately price parking (through the removal of minimums or a change in the RPP system) or gasoline use (as Maryland is proposing) are likely to result in small upticks in biking, again IMO. Which is why I report on it here. In addition, the Maryland transportation funding issue is relevant because bikes are transportation and funding the Purple Line is key to extending the CCT.

Martin Di Caro's story at WAMU on the parking minimum issue is very good, and actually makes readers smarter, not just angrier. 

• 'US DOT will partner with the two-wheeled community for two safety summits this spring. After asking where it should be held (Portland got a loud response), LaHood clarified that D.C. is out of the running: “I’m sorry for all you D.C. people,” he said.' More from the Bike Summit here. 
• DC has to reopen the solicitation for it's streetlight contract. The new contract was going to include providing light on certain trails, but now that's been delayed.
• Bicycle Pub coming to Arlington. I heard that the first one of these was built for Burning Man, which just shows that you can't stop capitalism. 
• WABA has "prepared a fact sheet on MoveDC with complete talking points and supporting data" for the upcoming public meetings that DDOT will host. 
• Used bike sale this Saturday. And it's for a good cause. 
• " Curiously, a small portion of Americans walk or bike 60 minutes to work each way." I'm actually surprised that bicyclists aren't a larger percentage of super-commuters than they are of commuters, but then the data is for bicyclists and pedestrians, so cyclists probably get drowned out by pedestrians in the data. But I know many people who, like me, are willing to bike longer because it counts as their daily excercise too. 
• What do Capitol Hill pols think of bike advocates. And, sequester could impact some bike programs. 

Comments

[charlie]

"are likely to result in small upticks in biking, again IMO"

Or not. Focusing on where the two groups can cooperate -- for instance on countdown timers at lights -- is probably more useful.

Road maintenance and pushing for better road surfaces is another.

[Rootchopper]

I am a little surprised that the commuting survey picked up the 60 minutes + commuters who bike or walk. I've have a cohort to call my own.

[Ross Patterson]

My cycle-commute from Leesburg to Herndon is about 75 minutes. When the weather permits, I do it 3-4 times a week. Woo hoo, I'm extreme!