Posts by David Alpert — Founder
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Three DC Council candidates, endorsed by the Sierra Club, cite bus lanes as a top priority
DC’s Sierra Club chapter rolled out its endorsements Thursday for the June 2 Democratic primary. The group selected achromatic incumbents Robert White (at-large), Vincent Gray (Ward 7), and Trayon White (Ward 8), as well as challenger Janeese Lewis George in Ward 4 and Patrick Kennedy for the open seat formerly held by Jack Evans in Ward 2. Keep reading…
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8W? 30N? U7? The origin of Metrobus numbers, explained
Metrobus’s route numbers are unusually complicated compared to those of other major cities. Metrobus uses a mix of two-digit numbers, letters followed by one or two digits, and letters preceded by one or two digits. How did we end up with such a mess? Keep reading…
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DC’s pedestrian council and neighborhood groups suggest ways to improve streets during the coronavirus crisis
Lower speed limits? Longer times to cross? Wider sidewalks? Close spaces like Cleveland Park’s service lane? These are some ideas that have been put forth in recent days to improve street space while people “social distance” amid the rising coronavirus infection totals. Keep reading…
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WMATA is on track for a budget compromise that achieves some key rider asks (but not all)
Most but not all of Metro’s proposed cuts to bus service are off the table, under a draft budget proposal the WMATA Board will vote on Thursday. So is an extra charge for riders using cash on buses, which advocates had opposed. Unfortunately, a plan to make transfers between buses and trains free was a casualty of the budget process. Keep reading…
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A network of streetcar tunnels around the White House would have been built with this 1912 plan
Ghosts of DC keeps finding fascinating old plans for downtown. This one, from 1912, proposed a network of tunnels for the streetcars, and an underground terminal at 15th Street and New York Avenue. Keep reading…
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DC, Montgomery, and Alexandria add pick-up/drop-off zones to help restaurants during the coronavirus
Most retail businesses are closed for social distancing during the Covid-19 epidemic, but restaurants are continuing to their business now comes entirely from take-out and delivery. To help with that, some area governments are adding more “pick-up/drop-off zones” near restaurants and other take-out businesses. Keep reading…
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After getting “ratioed,” Brandon Todd clarifies he’s not against all car sharing
It originally sounded like DC Councilmember Brandon Todd was looking to ban services like Zipcar or Free2Move. However, after facing considerable backlash on Twitter, his office clarified that’s not what he was trying to do. Keep reading…
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Organizations and officials ask Congress to help public transit during the coronavirus
Ridership on public transit systems nationwide has plummeted and many, including Metro, are actively discouraging people from riding unless absolutely necessary. This is going to obliterate transit systems’ budgets, and so over 220 elected officials and organizations signed a letter to Congress on March 18 asking for emergency funding for transit in a coronavirus relief bill. Keep reading…
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Traffic cameras that are swift, certain, and fair could enhance safety, not be “predatory”
Criminology research says that “swift, certain, and fair” punishments work better than infrequent, highly punitive ones. No word on whether this may also make people less likely to smash traffic cameras. Keep reading…
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Experimental “advisory” bike lanes will give cyclists greater weight on Capitol Hill
DC will pilot new “advisory” bike lanes” on E Street SE in Capitol Hill. At first it sounds like this might be an April Fool’s joke. But these are a real kind of bike infrastructure that’s new to DC and will be tried here as an experiment. Keep reading…