The next, and last, public meeting on the Downtown West Transportation Planning Study is going to be held next week. This meeting will reveal the final options for protected bike lanes on Pennsylvania Ave. from the White House to Washington Circle. Last month they presented 3 alternatives, and each has a protected bike lane (PBL).
Alternatives 1 and 2 have PBLs on each side of the road separated by either a "buffer" or a landscaped buffer.
Alternative 3 has a bi-directional PBL - like what exists on 15th street - separated from traffic by a wide landscaped buffer.
Each design has its own tradeoffs. I like that 3 makes it easier to pass a slower cyclist, but I feel like 1 or 2 are safer (and 2, while more expensive, is better for the environment. Whether it is worth the cost is above my pay grade.)
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