Eastern Downtown Protected Bike Lane not to happen until 2018, meeting in February

Martin DiCaro has a report on the Eastern Downtown Protected Bike Lane project through Shaw, the one that has been the source of national and international news, and unfortunately, the news is of further delay.

After another round of public feedback and additional traffic analysis, DDOT intends to make its final recommendation to Mayor Muriel Bowser in late summer. Pending approval, construction could begin in spring 2018 – three years after studies began for what was officially named the eastern downtown protected bike lane.

Back in February, they were planning to choose the final design in April, but that won't even be finished this winter, as DDOT has so far only narrowed the alternatives to two. They plan to have a meeting on them in February, a full year after the last meeting.

The remaining two options will be unveiled – with refinements – to the public in early February 2017. One calls for a two-way cycle track on the east side of 6^th Street, shielded by a parking lane. The second calls for a similar design on the east side of 9^th Street. A third alternative to build nothing remains on the table, Dormsjo said.

These were alternatives 3 and 4 from October 2015 (which were not my favorites) and are way behind schedule. Which means bike advocates are not happy.

[Greg Billing, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association], said city crash data shows that 19 pedestrians and bicyclists were struck by cars on 6^th Street Northwest in Shaw in the first six months of 2016 – further evidence that a traffic calming project like a bike lane is necessary. It also squares with the District’s adoption of Vision Zero, a global safety initiative designed to eliminate all roadway fatalities.

But it may be that we have a better design as a result.

The changes, which were not available for review by WAMU 88.5, will better protect bicyclists from collisions with turning cars and reduce the loss of on-street parking – a key issue for the historic congregations whose members drive into D.C. for Sunday morning services.

I'll point out that the previous designs were expected to cause the loss of no more than 10 parking spaces, but who knows if a reduction in lost spaces will appease UHOP.

It is unclear if the modifications will appease certain church leaders, namely the United House of Prayer of 6^th Street and New Bethel Baptist Church on 9^th Street, who opposed the project from the beginning. Potential traffic impacts aside, they viewed the bike lane as a sign of gentrification that, in their view, will exclude long-time black residents from the neighborhood’s revitalization. Other Shaw churches have signaled willingness to compromise.

It may be that bike lanes are a sign of gentrification, but trying to stop gentrification by cancelling a bike lane (and I don't think gentrification is what the opposition is about) is like trying to stop aging by coloring your hair.

Comments

[DaveS]

If they manage to string together two good blocks of curb protected bikeway after five years of planning I'll be amazed.

But it'll win awards I reckon.

[Zack Rules]

Jesus himself would not appease those two churches and their parking privileges.

The second worst thing which could happen is allowing bike lane parking on Sundays. The very worse is that we get nothing.