Posts by David Cranor — Contributor
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The Chevy Chase Trolley station that moved to the country
When the Chevy Chase Land Company started developing land north of Rock Creek Park in 1890, they built a streetcar to connect it to Washington, DC. That streetcar line ended at Chevy Chase Lake on Connecticutt Avenue, just south of the Georgetown Branch, where a small building on the west side served as a waiting station and office. Keep reading…
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New stairs, ramps, bike lanes, and crosswalks make for better connections to the Wharf
It's now easier to walk or bike between L'Enfant Plaza, the Case Bridge, and the Wharf. The project added a staircase from Banneker Park to Maine Avenue, bike lanes around Banneker circle and to 9th Street, two ADA-compliant paths from L'Enfant to the Wharf, new and improved crosswalks, and a long-sought curb ramp to the Case Bridge pedestrian path. Keep reading…
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DC earns bicycle-friendly Gold, but there’s still work to do
Local bike advocates can take some pleasure from the speed at which DC has climbed up the ranks. That being said, DC is still far behind other cities. If you get an email from a DC elected official bragging about the designation, consider pointing out all the things they can do to get us to the next level. Keep reading…
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What’s the matter with Pennsylvania Avenue?
The monumental buildings, the road's geometry, the isolation of its parks, and the poor allocation of sidewalk space make Pennsylvania Avenue an unwelcoming place to linger. Keep reading…
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The Long Bridge project’s bike and pedestrian elements lack ambition
This is a once in a century opportunity to add a first class bike/ped facility to the Long Bridge, one that will connect Crystal City to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail just upstream from the new Wharf. We shouldn't pass on that chance lightly. Keep reading…
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Is there a better way to settle Virginia’s election tie than a coin toss?
We don't love coin tosses, and special elections — though they empower voters — are expensive and take time. Allowing other government officials to decide the outcome could hand the decision over to people from outside the district. Is there another way? Keep reading…
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DC has over 200 public schools named for people. Here’s how they got their names.
Since the first “modern” DC public school was built in 1864, and promptly named for the mayor who built it, the public school and charter school systems have named 255 schools for individual people. Among them are 32 known slave owners, 10 former slaves, 10 abolitionists, 2 people who joined the Confederacy, 17 civil rights leaders, 26 presidents and 32 mayors or other city officials. Keep reading…
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There’s history to behold on some of DC’s manhole covers
The District has thousands of manhole covers, and a lot of them offer a glimpse into the city’s history. This one, for example, is from a 19th Century streetcar company that hasn’t existed in over 100 years. Keep reading…
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Until someone cleans up this landfill, people are taking a shortcut. Can we make the shortcut better?
A new segment of the Anacostia River Trail takes a long route through the Kenilworth area. A second segment will go straight up the river, but work on it can’t start until the National Park Service cleans up the land, where illegal dumping was once allowed. People are using a shortcut in the meantime, and there are ways to make it shorter and easier to use. Keep reading…
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These two new short bike lanes, called “pocket lanes,” help traffic flow and keep cyclists safe
There are some unusual new bike lanes at two intersections in DC. They keep traffic moving more smoothly and protect cyclists from a dangerous situation: where they’re going straight but a driver to their left is turning right. Keep reading…