DDOT to discuss recommended 20th/21st protected bike lanes on Saturday

DDOT is hosting a meeting on April 13th from 10am to 1pm at School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens, 2425 N Street NW to discuss their recommendation for protected bike lanes on 20th and 21st streets (used to be 20th/21st/22nd or the Western Downtown Protected Bike Lanes).

In December they presented 3 alternatives. The ANCs held several meetings, some contentious, and finally settled on resolutions about where the bike lanes should go. After reviewing all of the public comments on those alternatives and the ANC 2A and 2B resolutions, as well as the safety and operational considerations of the three alternatives, DDOT selected a recommended alternative.

The recommended alternative will be primarily on 20th Street NW, with an east-west connection to 21st Street NW using F and G Streets NW. The recommended alternative includes:  

• Two-way protected bike lane on the west side of 20th Street NW between Connecticut Avenue and F Street NW

• Two-way protected bike lane on the east side of 21st Street NW between G Street and Constitution Avenue NW

• One-way protected bike lanes on F and G Streets NW to connect between 20th and 21st Street NW

During the public meeting, DDOT will discuss design coordination with the Dupont Circle Farmers Market, as well as options for connecting to the R Street NW bike lane. 

Putting the bike lane on 20th "could reduce the footprint of the Dupont Circle Farmers Market by as much as 60% and create serious safety hazards for shoppers, farmers and producers, as well as cyclists" according to the market.

Comments

[Jacob Mason]

It's far from perfect, but it's WAY better than the previous conditions. Any idea about the timeline for implementation? Hopefully this won't end up in the 30% design phase for the next three years like the Eastern Downtown bike lanes.

[washcycle]

Nothing official, but I've heard 2021 or 2022.

[Stirboo]

I attended the meeting and DDOT used 2021, though many speakers urged completion earlier.

The compromise creates several problems, notably the R Street connection to 20th and the aforementioned Dupont Farmers Market. The market suggested DDOT install removable protective posts so vendors can set up as usual and cyclists (like cars) would just have to go around the market on Sunday. (Who manages removal and reinstallation of the posts was not discussed.)

I think DDOT knows 21st Street is the best configuration, but in this case has bowed to entrenched residential parking interests. Sadly and ironically, ANC and DDOT deference increases the potential that this configuration will fail.

[observer]

Stirboo, I'm not so sure DDOT recognizes 21st St is the best configuration. They've now implemented 3 tire fire redesigns in the past year (14th St, NJ, and Maryland) that are going to do the absolute bare minimum to improve safety. I like to give DDOT credit given the system in which they work, but at this point, it's tough.