I don't know when this happened, or even if I already reported it, but the other night, I noticed that DDOT added a contraflow bike lane to the block just west of 9th Street NW.
Just last May, cyclists were getting ticketed for riding the wrong way here. At the time a DDOT spokesman said that "DDOT is exploring options on how we might proceed. A contraflow lane, similar to what we installed on G and I Streets NE last year, might be possible without modifying vehicular conditions or parking. The results of our analysis will be shared with the public, and their input will be taken into consideration when DDOT finalizes any action plans."
I guess that all happened and I am just now noticing it.
I saw this in early January. My guess is DDOT finished it before the winter construction embargo. It's a really smart project, and it could be replicated in a number of locations to create through streets for cycling, without dirupting other streets. A few suggestions for other locations:
-6th St NW, btw Florida & U St.
-N St NW btw 17th & 18th
-Gallatin St NE btw New Hampshire Ave & Fort Totten Dr.
Posted by: Uptowner | February 22, 2016 at 09:48 AM
Cool, San Francisco just did the same thing. Police used to ticket cyclists for riding the wrong way but then they installed a contraflow lane.
@uptowner Gallatin also has a regular one-way bike lane and a parallel one on Hamilton appears to make it unnecessary.
Posted by: Zack Rules | February 22, 2016 at 11:12 AM
I know Sharrows have taken a beating this past month on their effects, or absence of effects, but this type of application is perfect for them in the direction of vehicular traffic paired with the contra-flow bike lane.
Let's be sure that at least in DC, we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Posted by: Will | February 22, 2016 at 02:30 PM
@Will,
When you have a car diversions, but allow through movement for bicycles, you end up with a local-access only street for cars (low speed & low volume), and a through street for bicycles (aka bicycle boulevard, aka neighborhood greenway). Sharrows are a great way to indicate this type of facility, but they do very little by themselves.
Posted by: Uptowner | February 23, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Another good street for a contaflow lane is 7th St. NE between Maryland Ave and Florida Ave. 6th is one way north and 8th is clogged with traffic and Metrobuses.
Posted by: mikeindc | March 02, 2016 at 02:08 PM
Yep.
http://www.thewashcycle.com/2015/06/7th-street-east-bike-boulevard.html
Posted by: washcycle | March 02, 2016 at 02:30 PM