Posts by Canaan Merchant — Elections Committee
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People driving onto trails is a more common problem than it should be
Trails are usually a great way to avoid car traffic. But sometimes, both by accident and not, drivers end up on them. It's a bizarre problem, but it happens often enough that it is important to remember what to do in case you find yourself facing down a car on the W&OD or the Metropolitan Branch trails. Keep reading…
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A new bike trail will basically run along the shoulder of I-66
Plans to widen I-66 include building a new bike trail that runs from where the Custis Trail ends in Arlington all the way out to Centreville. It's great that a new trail is on the way, but if plans don't change, it's going to be dangerous and uninviting. Keep reading…
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The new Liberty Bell Trail makes biking in Fairfax far easier
In Burke, in Fairfax County, there used to be a big gap in the bike trail network. That's no longer the case because a new trail, called the Liberty Bell Trail, opened this past weekend. Keep reading…
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Biking in Fairfax? This map shows the safest routes.
“Low stress maps” that show which streets in an area are easiest to bike on are all the rage these days. Fairfax County is the latest to publish one. Keep reading…
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Storefronts and art could make DC’s convention center more appealing
The space around DC's convention center, which takes up several blocks between 7th and 9th Streets NW, is pretty barren. But Events DC, which owns the site, recently unveiled plans to liven up the gargantuan facility. Keep reading…
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A Virginia man’s signs tell drivers not to stop for people trying to cross the road
Crossing the street can be a challenge for cyclists and pedestrians, even if there is a crosswalk. One man in Sterling recently decided that the solution is to encourage drivers to not slow down at all, even at major intersections. Keep reading…
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For a week in late May, Petworth’s Grant Circle will go from having two lanes to one
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) wants to make Grant Circle safer for cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians. They're going to start with an experiment to see how traffic handles just one lane around the circle. Keep reading…
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Annandale is Fairfax’s next great neighborhood for bicycling
Annandale is poised to be Fairfax County's most bike friendly area. Yes, Annandale. Bike lanes are popping all over the place there. Keep reading…
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If you get into a bike crash, here’s what you should do
If you get into a bike crash, call 911. Try to get a police report, and note details about the officer making the report. Take photos. Also, avoid getting angry as best you can, and don’t downplay the potential severity of your injury. Keep reading…
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Sandra Bullock once played a loveable NIMBY on the silver screen
You usually don't expect to have your urbanist beliefs challenged while watching a romantic comedy from 2002. But the film Two Weeks Notice, starring Sandra Bullock as a lawyer fighting a new development in New York City, has a lot to say about how much compromise and coalition building matter to a place's progress. Keep reading…