Posts by Matthew Koehler — Contributor
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More people are dying because of impaired driving in the region, but there’s less enforcement
Most of the country has seen decreases in fatalities due to impaired driving, but not the Washington region, according to a report from the Council of Governments. Is a lack of enforcement part of the problem? Keep reading…
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Tell the Park Service: We shouldn’t have to pay to use free speech rights in our parks
As the seat of the federal government, Washington, DC is unique. It’s where America comes to voice its opinion on a national stage, and it's where we can stand at the president's doorstep to let him (or someday, her) know how we feel. However, some proposed changes to the parks' permitting system could abridge that right. Keep reading…
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Areas around northern Red Line stops are dangerous for people walking and bicycling
Towards the center of the District, Metro stations are pretty good (not perfect) at accommodating dense and walkable development. Further out though, the infrastructure hasn't caught up with changing attitudes about what people want around transit systems. Keep reading…
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Video: Protected bikeways make cities safer and boost the economy
Bicycling in cities before the days of protected bikeways was either terrifying or exhilarating, depending on your level of risk aversion. As protected bikeways have proliferated, they've made cities safer for cyclists and pedestrians — and for motorists, too. They can even help neighborhoods thrive economically, as highlighted in this Vox piece about New York's first parking-protected bikeway. Keep reading…
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DC Bike Ride is making a big three-peat this weekend
This weekend on May 19, National Bike to Work Week in the District will close with an epic 20-mile recreational bike ride. Thousands (upwards of 8,000 according to event organizers) of professional and amateur bicycle enthusiasts will gather at West Potomac Park to participate in the District's largest bike ride event, DC Bike Ride. Keep reading…
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The future of mobility in the Washington region is cross-jurisdictional
For those who travel in and out of DC on a daily basis, jurisdictional boundaries are a commuter headache. Crossing jurisdictional boundaries over the course of a week, or in a day, you'll have to navigate various modes of transit run by different authorities in those different jurisdictions — all with their own fare system. Keep reading…
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Alexandria is getting serious about eliminating pedestrian injuries and fatalities
Alexandria has a serious problem with drivers hitting pedestrians, and poor data collection means that it's hard to get a handle on the extent of the problem. Now some crash survivors are working to eliminate pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Keep reading…
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Cannabis may be legal in the District, but not in federally-subsidized homes
Most renters and all homeowners can grow and use cannabis as they like in DC. However, for people living in federally-subsidized homes, eviction is the likely outcome of being caught with marijuana. Keep reading…
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DC’s charter schools are sharply segregated. Here’s what we should we do about the racial and economic divide.
In order to build a more diverse student body, successful local schools have focused on the deeper issues driving segregation. They've also created a space for parents to have honest and uncomfortable discussions about identity and race. Keep reading…
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No longer a rookie to extended class time, H.D. Cooke takes on another extended school year
This year, summer break at eleven DC public schools started a month later than the rest of the public schools in the city. Teachers say the extended school year experiment is working, helping students remember what they've learned in the past year and permitting educators to better reflect and plan. Keep reading…