MoveDC lays out ambitious bike facility plan

At last night's Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting, those working on Washington's new transportation plan, MoveDC, presented draft maps of future facility plans, and if even half of what is proposed happens it will be like we've gone to bicycle heaven. You can see the Draft Blended Bike Network Map at this link (it is the third map down). Trying to put an image of it on the blog will not do it justice.

• The plan includes adding over 60 miles of new off-road trails to bring the total miles to 133.  This includes several trails on my wish lists, including the Palisades Neighborhood Trail, an expanded Suitland Parkway Trail, the Shepherd Branch, an extended Oxon Run Trail, a trail along New York Avenue to the Anacosita, completed Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and Metropolitan Branch Trail and new trail connections associated with Rock Creek Park Trails. 
• 70 miles of new cycletracks to add to the current 4. Again, that's 70. There would be cycletracks on all or part of Mount Olivet, Blandensburg Road, Rhode Island, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Missouri, Military, Connecticutt, Massachusetts, R St NW, East Capitol, South Capitol, Independence, Constitution, I St SW, Alabama, Good Hope, 4th and 6th SE/SW, Mississippi and Southern. And there would be plenty downtown on 5th, 6th, 21st and Virginia.
• 70 miles of new bike lanes to bring the total to 122. Major new bike lanes would be on 8th Street SE, Ridge Road, West Virginia Ave, Pennsylvania Ave SE, G & F SW, Albermarle and 34th NW.
• New bridges: to T. Roosevelt Island; across the Potomac with a new Long Bridge; across the Anacostia at Massachusetts Avenue, New York Avenue and at M Street NE. 

And additional CaBi stations citywide. Frankly, I had trouble coming up with things they'd left off or gaps they left in the network, though we did make a few comments at the meeting. 

The plan also has a policy primer that captures some of the best practices nationwide, like allowing bikes in bus only lanes.

It's all very encouraging and there is more here. So far comments about biking and specifically for making the city more bike-friendly have been some of the most common, creating a plurality I believe, but if you'd like to add a comment (and you should), you can sign up to stay in the loop at the website and find out about meetings and more. 

Comments

[Joey Bikesalot]

Wow! This would be truly incredible. There are some existing problem spots that are unfortunate omissions. For example, even with all this infrastructure, still no easy way to move north or south through Bloomingdale, a frequent obstacle for me.

My wishlist of problem spots I'd like to see addressed:

• 16th St NW - between Irving St and Arkansas Ave

• Florida Ave NW/NE - east of U St.

• Benning Rd. NE

• M St SE/SW

• Massachusetts Ave NW - east of Dupont Circle.

• New Jersey Ave NW (and for that matter, SE too)

[Robert]

AMAZING! Though I'll note that there is a big missed opportunity along North Capital (off street could fit here) and building a connection (whether lanes or cycle track) from Rock Creek Church Road to North Capital from Webster Street. That stretch of Roadway is at least 40-45 feet wide and carries only two lanes of vehicles and NO sidewalk on the north side... Again, maybe that would be icing on the cake because this would be INCREDIBLE as proposed!

[h_lina_k]

Before they start on this ambitious plan maybe they should concern themselves with enforcement on existing infrastructure and not allowing existing bike lanes to be removed and replaced with on street parking (ala 1st NE).

[washcycle]

h_lina_k, I understand the frustration, but that's not a good strategy. We have too much to do to be able to pursue things in series. We've got to move in parallel. Especially since the people who will build the infrastructure (DDOT mostly) and the people who enforce the laws (MPD) are different groups. It makes no sense for DDOT to do nothing until MPD does everything.

[MStreetDenizen]

Joey

With a Cycletrack on Eye SE/SW and completion of the Anacostia trail, I would think M SE/SW will be a lower priority - and auto ROW will presumably be removed for the streetcars there.

[J]

There were originally 3 approaches, "Stay the Course", "Get to the Core", and "Connect the Neighborhoods". The final plan is a blend of all 3. North Capital was on the "Get to the Core" approach and could easily be added back. I think it was removed because it closely parallels the Met Branch trail. Same with 16th NW running parallel to a 14th St NW cycle track.

[skeptic]

They mayoral election will have a lot to do with whether any of this comes to pass. Under Gray, easily 85% of this would be dead as soon as he gets one angry phone call... and the rest would occur more slowly than we can imagine. Under Jack Evans it would be worse.

[MStreetDenizen]

oh and a P Street SW cycle track - SW will just be filled with new bike infra.

[Joey]

@ MStreetDenizen

I see what you're saying but think this is the wrong decision. It never was particularly hard to cycle on Eye SE/SW, and M St is where most destinations are. I cycle to see all of the Nats games, and it could be much better. There's also no good connection to the paths at the far east end without facilities on M. The street seems to have width to spare.

Other cities have managed to integrate streetcars and bike facilities by using innovative designs. I hate to think that because we haven't tried this here yet, we're resigned to "as streetcars go in bike lanes must be ripped out".

It does take some more thinking to get the designs right, but considering the permanence of the tracks, an honest attempt really should be done first. Measure twice, cut once!

[Joey]

Not to mention the plan for the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is much more riverwalk than trail.

Hell, you're not even supposed to take your bike through the Navy Yard. This section at least is not a serious bike facility.

If you're trying to get anywhere, you're going to find yourself on M.

[Joey]

What is the point of a cycle track on P?

There's no traffic there and it doesn't get you anywhere useful.

[MStreetDenizen]

I routinely use Eye Street now.

The ART would provide access west and south even if the navy yard doesnt open up. The route east is indeed the most problematic.

P street is a short detour off M, and of course will have more development in a few years. And pretty much all the other E-W streets provide alternatives (though not crossing of South Cap)

M is going to be for cars and street cars and maybe wider sidewalks (which you can use for the last block). There will never be a cycle track there.

[paytonc]

Giant study of various alternatives for M St. SE/SW:
http://www.anacostiawaterfront.org/awi-transportation-projects/m-street-se-sw-transportation-study/

tl;dr: there are bits of the street that lack the ROW for everything, and ultimately when it comes down to it, transit lanes probably win out over bike lanes. P St. SW is the missing on-street link to get the ART around Fort McNair; the travel lane is too narrow for a bike lane, but there's room just outside the fort perimeter wall for a MUP/cycletrack.