Posts by David Cranor — Contributor
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Fort Myer gate closure is a chance to review Arlington Cemetery’s one-way bicycle limits
Officials announced last week that the Wright gate entrance to Fort Myer will be closed from March 7 through mid-April for repair work necessitated by the heavy snows of 2010. Wright Gate is located on the northeast side of the base and is a key entrance for bicyclists who pass through, especially going east to west (identified by the red arrow on the map below). That’s… Keep reading…
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Rock Creek Park trails slated for fixes
The National Park Service and DDOT hope to make Rock Creek’s pedestrian and bicycle trails better by adding some connections, fixing some problem spots, and possibly widening the trail. At an a public meeting, NPS and DDOT presented alternatives from their Environmental Assessment for three areas. On the Rock Creek Park Trail (RCPT), there are two options besides a no-build… Keep reading…
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Cold weather, lack of plowing affects bike commuting
Automated trail counters have given Arlington an accurate count of the numbers of pedestrians and cyclists on various trails by time of day. Below is the aggregated data from a counter located at the Custis Trail’s 3.5 mile marker, at the top of the hill, just west of Rosslyn: Keep reading…
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Klingle Valley to get 10-foot trail, lights, trail connection
The Klingle Valley Trail Final Environmental Assessment is now available, and with one exception the most trail user-friendly and stream-friendly options were chosen as the best alternatives. The preferred alternatives include the fully restored stream bank and lights along the trail, which should aid bike commuters. The hours of illumination would even be limited and… Keep reading…
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St. Elizabeths plan threatens South Capitol Trail
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Department of Homeland Security at St. Elizabeths is available for comment. It includes several improvements that should appeal to cyclists, but at least one alternative threatens the important, planned South Capitol Street trail. To accommodate the increase in jobs, the EIS primarily adds vehicular capacity by widening South… Keep reading…
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Trail network emerging east of the river
DDOT recently released plans for over 16 miles of trails east of the Anacostia River that will create an extensive, highly-connected network that few areas can match. The plans cover the Oxon Run, St. Elizabeths and South Capitol Street Trails. DDOT is also working on a new 11th Street Bridge crossing, new sections of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and closing the gap in the recently… Keep reading…
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Should DC dump the sales tax?
DC should consider getting rid of the bottom tier of the sales tax and replacing it with a higher income tax. This could stimulate business, help the working poor by removing a regressive tax, and retain more money within the District by taking advantage of federal deduction rules. Replacing this part of the sales tax with an income tax on higher earners would transform the bottom… Keep reading…
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White House has a “secret” CaBi station
There is one Capital Bikeshare station that doesn’t show up on the online map: the White House station. Keep reading…
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DDOT defines Met Branch Trail options to the north
DDOT took a big step toward continuing the Metropolitan Branch Trail when it released a draft Environmental Assessment this month. This examines the places the trail will utilizes National Park Service: the section from Kansas Avenue to Catholic University, the Prince George’s County Connector and the section from Van Buren Street to the District line. In each area,… Keep reading…
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Capital Bikeshare, launching today, will change everything
DC and Arlington deserve a lot of credit for having the vision to bring modern bike-sharing to DC. As a result, things will never be the same again when Capital Bikeshare launches 36 stations in DC and 13 in Arlington today. It was almost five years ago to the day that DC first announced that they would be bringing bike-sharing to the District. It wasn’t considered very important… Keep reading…