Posts by David Cranor — Contributor
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DC’s bicycle commuter movement was activated 50 years ago
People in Washington, DC have been biking to work, and for work, for more than a century, but the bicycle commuter movement in DC celebrates something of an anniversary this year. It was in 1969 that the District Council held the first hearing on bicycle commuting and the the District subsequently installed the first bicycle route for commuters. Keep reading…
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MARC allows bicycles onboard, unless they’re electric
Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail (MARC) recently changed its policy to allow bicycles on most Penn Line trains, joining all the other major commuter rail systems in permitting bikes on rail. Unfortunately, like many of those other rail lines, its policy is also limited to non-motorized bikes, meaning they exclude e-bikes Keep reading…
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Complete streets are too expensive and too hard on drivers, a top Montgomery County Council staffer says
Planners in Montgomery County want to make Veirs Mill into a complete street, with amenities for all kinds of users including Bus Rapid Transit, sidewalks, a grade-separated crossing of the Matthew Henson Trail, and a bikeway. However, Montgomery County Deputy Director Glenn Orlin says that will all be too expensive and will make driving worse. Keep reading…
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What would a Green New Deal for DC look like?
The Green New Deal, the economic and environmental plan most prominantly championed by New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has sweeping ideas for a change in national policy. But what would a more localized Green New Deal for DC look like? Keep reading…
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Montgomery County’s 1,100-mile bicycle master plan raises the bar. Now it needs funding.
At the end of last month, the Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to approve a new Bicycle Master Plan. It calls for more than 1,000 miles of trails, paths, and separated bike lanes; expanded bicycle parking near transit and in commercial areas; and bicycle-supportive programs and policies. Keep reading…
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The history of mandatory bicycle bell laws in DC
Back in 2013, DC took the unusual step of allowing bikes to be ridden in the District without a bell, something the city had required for more than 125 years—and something a lot of other cities had required as well. Some advocates successfully argued that bicycle bells were an add-on that did nothing to improve safety, so they shouldn't be mandatory. Keep reading…
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Metro’s record-breaking days provide a snapshot of local history
What do Jackson Browne, the Washington Football Team, and Barack Obama all have in common? They all played a part in setting a Metrorail single-day ridership record. Since opening in 1976, Metrorail has set a single-day record on at least 44 days (likely more), with more than half of those in the 1970s. Since 2000, it has set only four. Keep reading…
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Will Montgomery County’s bicycle ideas cost $3 billion? (No.)
On Monday, September 17 the Montgomery County Council will meet to discuss the proposed Bicycle Master Plan — specifically, its price tag. The plan proposes creating a “1,100-mile network of bikeways.” More than a quarter of this network already exists, and the county is looking to build it out further. Keep reading…
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What DC needs to do if it really wants zero road deaths
It would be inaccurate to say that DC hasn't done anything to get to Vision Zero. It put together an action plan. It hired a manager for the Vision Zero initiative. There have been grants and some street improvements. But what has been accomplished isn't up to the task of reducing deaths and injuries by 35% per year. Keep reading…
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We’re not going to make it to zero road deaths and serious accidents by 2024
The recent Vision Zero summit and the two cyclist deaths over the last two weeks provide a chance to check in on how Vision Zero is doing. In short, we aren't going to make it. This should be no surprise since it was never a realistic goal, but DC isn't making a good faith effort to achieve it either. Keep reading…