Recent Posts
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DC does have some great public spaces, as do the suburbs
There are lots of great public spaces in the DC area, but they can come in unexpected places. Post architecture critic Philip Kennicott, laments DC’s lack of public squares, like Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia: We have none, of course. Washington is a city of avenues and streets, coming together in circles that do not function well as public spaces. Our grand ceremonial… Keep reading…
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Should trucks double park in bike lane or next to it?
Extending the 15th Street cycle track through downtown has given people a great way to ride north-south without having to fight with car traffic. However, trucks which habitually double park downtown have started parking in the bike lane. On a ride downtown yesterday, I encountered multiple trucks parked in the lane, including a Comcast truck and a USPS minivan. Multiple readers… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: What’s effective?
Tommy talks Metro & bags; MD smart growth policies ineffective; Councilmember Biddle; Another fight in Metro station; Metro to use 3-day weekend closures more; Developments in the works for 2011; NY Ave redevelopment not held up by historic preservation; Ohio puts interstate extension in multimodal plan; And…. Keep reading…
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Paper bus passes extended through January
Though they had initially announced January 2, 2011 as the end date, WMATA has extended the life of paper bus passes through January 29. After that date, area buses will no longer accept weekly paper bus passes. The paper pass reprieve comes as a result of “unforeseen technical issues,” according to WMATA’s Ron Holzer. ART announced the extension in a press… Keep reading…
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Bag search policy another example of siloed thinking
To most riders, WMATA’s bag search policy is intuitively foolish. But, as statements at recent Riders’ Advisory Council meetings make clear, within the mindset of the Metro Transit Police (MTPD), they’re entirely logical. This is another example of how silos inside WMATA lead to bad decisions. Last night, Chief Taborn echoed the statements of his underlings… Keep reading…
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Terrible parking ideas come from Boston’s “T”
The Washington area might have a ways to go to make suburban communities more walkable, and it might be the sport of the year to criticize WMATA, but at least we’re not Boston. While WMATA is making it a priority to and wants to avoid building huge numbers of new parking spaces, the MBTA is proposing a variety of terrible parking-related ideas. The “T” is… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Bad choices, good choices
Dulles Metro station won’t be in front of terminal; DC bag fee works, VA & MD ponder own fees; RAC opposes bag searches; Kass promoted on transportation committee; Welcome, GOP majority; How CaBi may expand; Historic preservation not always a hindrance; Help create transit manual; And…. Keep reading…
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Biddle is best of candidates for at-large appointment
Sekou Biddle is emerging as one of two frontrunners for the DC Democratic State Committee’s nod to fill Kwame Brown’s at-large Council seat. Advocates for livable streets and neighborhoods should hope that the committee chooses Biddle tomorrow night, as he would be the best interim Councilmember among those being considered. I met with Biddle in December, and… Keep reading…
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What’s our bicycle “social contract”?
With the frequent calls for cyclists to “start behaving,” it’s clear that a number of people driving and walking are unsettled by the conduct of at least some people on bikes. But people in cars speed all the time, and people walking cross against the light, and neither generates as many newspaper letters to the editor. What is the difference? One explanation… 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…