DDOT begins 2nd round of dangerous intersection reviews

Last summer, as part of the Vision Zero program, DDOT analyzed 5 high crash intersections, and this year, they're looking at 5 more. This week they were at 14th Street and Columbia Road in Columbia Heights.

The intersection is also the worst in the District when it comes to bike crashes, according to Sam Zimbabwe, associate director for planning for DDOT.

He said sideswipe accidents, as drivers tried to turn, were the most common at the intersection. Riders in bike lanes have also been hit by people opening car doors.

“One of the things you can do is make the markings a lot clearer, so that cars are aware that this is a bike lane, and that they have to pay attention,” Cheh said.

Increased traffic enforcement would also help, she said.

Leon Anderson, acting safety manager at DDOT, agreed that renewing faded bike lane markings so they stand out better would improve safety. He said DDOT is also considering a “bike box” that would give bike riders a designated place to stop, just behind the crosswalk.

Anderson said the intersection is unusual because at times a quarter of the traffic there can be made up of bike riders. In other areas, cyclists might make up only 2 to 4 percent of traffic.

Also under review are the intersections of [Firth Stirling Avenue and Suitland Parkway in Southeast,] 18th Street and Adams Mill Road in Northwest, Georgia Avenue and Kennedy Street in Northwest, and 44th Street and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue in Northeast.

Comments

[Roo_Beav]

Is this any surprise? Heading south is where the bike lane ends. North of there is where the bike lane is almost always filled with double parked vehicles.

P.S. Don't read the comments on the WTOP article.

[Crickey7]

Great. Now I have to read the comments. The WTOP comment board is always eye opening.

[Crickey7]

Well, they were so unhinged that they kind of discredit themselves.

[DE]

Those are indeed some dangerous reviews.