Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update

As FABB pointed out, MWCOG has updated the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital Region.

Fifty-three projects from the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan have been completed, including the 11th Street Bridge Trail and several protected or buffered bike lanes. The region added 52 miles of multiuse path and 45 miles of bike lanes. This does not include many projects that have been partially completed, or any privately provided facilities, or projects such as sidewalk retrofits that were too small to be included in a regional plan.

The Washington region has become a national leader in innovative policies and designs, especially bike sharing (public self-service bicycle rental). In September 2010, the District of Columbia and Arlington County launched a regional bike sharing system, Capital Bikeshare, which has since expanded to over 2500 bicycles at 300 stations in DC, Arlington, Alexandria, and Montgomery County.

The document is sort of a clearing house for all the current data on biking and walking including counts, planning, safety metrics, Bike to school day participation etc.. Things like this chart. 

It's a good read for anyone who wants to know all the facts about regional cycling past, present and future; but there isn't really anything new in it. 

Comments

[John A.]

The case for more bicycle lanes recently received an unintended boost from an unlikely source: the anti-bike, anti-transit magazine The Weekly Standard. In its "Scrapbook" column, TWS complains that "even though less than 5 percent of [D.C.] area residents bicycle to work, there are now 69 miles of city bike lanes, with more on the way." ("The Road Not Taken," Feb 9, 2015). Since there are about 1100 total miles of roadway in D.C., the 69 miles of bikes lanes cited by TWS is a fairly proportional share devoted to bike lanes (about 6 percent). Moreover, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, about seven percent of bike trips are used for commuting, with the rest used for recreation, shopping, meals, school, etc. (which motorists also do). Therefore, the commuting statistics cited by TWS greatly understate the percentage of cyclists using D.C. streets compared to motorists, since bike commuting represents a relatively small portion of total bicycle use. If anything, TWS had made a good case for more bike lanes in D.C. Thank you!

[SJE]

This graph makes me happy

[washcycle]

John A, making it worse is that only 50% of DC residents (or something like it) drive to work. So, by their logic, the other 45% of road space should be turned over to transit use and sidewalks. [It gets even more flawed because a lot of people take Metro which doesn't require road space, nor do telecommuters. The whole idea that lane miles should be in proportion to commute share is ridiculous, but I'm happy to hoist them upon their own petard.]