Posts by David Alpert — Founder
-
E-bikes reduce driving, Uber finds, and that’s good for everyone
Uber, the ride-hailing service, is normally not going to blog excitedly about how something is reducing the use of Uber. But they did say that recently, because the thing reducing Uber use is JUMP, the dockless electric bike service Uber purchased. Keep reading…
-
In Takoma Park, Penn Branch, and Adams Morgan, YIMBY wins out
Our growing region needs new homes and retail space. Three proposed projects, in DC's Adams Morgan and Penn Branch areas, as well as Takoma Park, Maryland, won key approvals this week that will help bring new homes and retail. Keep reading…
-
The National Zoo cancels its parking garage. What are better ideas?
It's a bit too hard to get to the Zoo, and sadly, Metro has not provided reliable service on weekends. Perhaps because of this, more visitors drove to the zoo in 2016 than in any of the previous five years. What else could the zoo do? Keep reading…
-
Arlington’s Christian Dorsey says “protecting” neighborhoods often means protecting segregation and unaffordability
Christian Dorsey, the vice-chair of the Arlington County Board, gave an amazing speech at the Alliance for Housing Solutions’ annual Leckey Forum in June. He talked about historical racism in our housing policy, about environmental justice in locating infrastructure and polluting industry. And he tied it to today’s debates over housing and density in a powerful way. Keep reading…
-
Georgetown gets a new K/Water Street bikeway, but also complaints
Along the industrial road underneath the Whitehurst Freeway in Georgetown known as K Street or Water Street, DC's newest protected bikeway has been under construction. But some are saying it's causing too many traffic backups. Is there a problem requiring changes, or is this something that will work itself out over time? Keep reading…
-
Here’s where bus lanes may one day speed up your ride on 16th Street
Planners from the District Department of Transportation unveiled their design for bus lanes on 16th Street, the next step from a 2016 planning study which recommended a dedicated bus lane in the peak direction during the peak period, as well as a number of other changes to make the 16th Street buses faster and more reliable. Keep reading…
-
The Zoo can’t build its fences, yet
New fences (for people, not animals) at the National Zoo will have to wait at least two more months. On Thursday, the National Capital Planning Commission deferred approving proposed fences that would limit pedestrian entrances to the zoo and make it possible to add security screening in the future. Keep reading…
-
The National Zoo says visitors aren’t riding Metro so it needs more parking
This week, the National Zoo will be presenting plans to add more than 1,000 parking spaces and security checkpoints while closing some pedestrian entrances. Last week we published an article about the security measures, and this post from last year has more detail about the parking garage issue. Keep reading…
-
Downtown DC could have had trenches and tunnels running through it
Poking through the archives of the Washington Post, Tom Cochran at Ghosts of DC found a plan to sink several roads in downtown DC into trenches, build tunnels, and create a large underground parking structure beneath a big plaza where Freedom Plaza now stands. Keep reading…
-
Throwback Thursday: Drivers must merge into bike lanes before turning right
The garbage truck and driver who killed Alice Swanson two years ago was making an improper turn, but most drivers would make the same mistake. The correct procedure is for drivers to merge into the bicycle lane before the intersection, then turn from that lane. Keep reading…