Breakfast links: Easy fix might not be easy
It’s hard to relieve traffic (without pricing)
Science hasn’t been able to solve traffic. Adding more roads definitely doesn’t help. Ramp metering helps a bit. Congestion pricing helps a whole lot, but is politically unpopular in most places. (Post)
Just try following speed limits
A columnist tries obeying all speed limit laws and finds himself the object of much driver scorn. But science says it’s false that “keeping up with traffic” is the safest behavior. Can this put to rest the myth that all cyclists are scofflaws and all drivers follow the law? (Vancouver Sun, The Urban Country)
Will HUD stop undermining mixed-use?
In 1944, a regulation limiting retail to 20% of a project getting HUD funding pushed investment out of downtowns. Now, advocates are pushing to change the rule to 45%. (Streetsblog)
Red light runner hits Tregoning
A driver running a red light struck Harriet Tregoning riding her bike yesterday morning. Fortunately, she is okay; her bike is not. The crash happened in Mount Vernon Square, and BicycleSpace hooked Tregoning up with a loaner so she could finish her ride to work. (Twitter, City Paper)
“Virtual tunnel”? Got a better name?
Metro is setting up the “virtual tunnel” for riders to transfer for free outside the system between Farragut North and West. But “virtual tunnel” is, they say, “a bit wonkish.” They’re asking for ideas for a better name.
Capitol Riverfront/Curly W station?
The Capitol Riverfront BID has officially requested changing the name of Navy Yard Metro to “Capitol Riverfront/W,” where that W would be the curly Nats logo. (JDLand) … If having a logo in a name isn’t prohibited by the policy, it should be, and will create enormous typographical headaches.
MetroAccess not growing, more confusing
Metro’s efforts to slow MetroAccess growth have succeeded, but the fares have become extremely complicated and confusing, often varying by several dollars across just 30 minutes. (Examiner, Gavin) (Tip: Gavin)
And…
Is Metro having a mid-life crisis? (TBD) … The US’s first female journalist was brought up on charges of being a “common scold” in 1829 in DC. (The Daily) … DC residents are happier than others in the region. (City Paper)