Photo by dolanh.

We’d be sad if we hit you, so get out of the road

Some Iowans started a petition to ban bicycles on “farm-to-market roadways,” because a few drivers hit cyclists and then they feel bad afterward. In response, a new petition calls for banning cars, which “spook horses and raise clouds of dust.” (MinusCar, It’s Just A Ride, JLH)  (Tip: JLH)  

Think parking debates are rough here?

In Jerusalem, parking garage plans triggered “mass protests, turning violent at times.” Public transport and parking garages in Jerusalem’s Old City shut down on Saturdays to conform to the beliefs of Orthodox Jews, so Jerusalem’s mayor opened a free municipal garage outside the Old City. Religious extremists rioted nonetheless. (How We Drive)  

Foot traffic on Ninth Street, or just under?

Many Shaw residents hope the $550 million Convention Center hotel will spark revitalization in the ailing Ninth Street retail corridor. Boosters promise that the hotel will create foot traffic on Ninth thanks to street-level retail and restaurants. But at the same time, the hotel includes an underground walkway and garage so convention-goers can arrive, sleep, and convene without ever leaving the convention center complex and braving the scary streets of DC. (Post, JTS)  (Tip: JTS)  

A Homerian tragedy

As Maryland nears a decision on the Purple Line, Virginia is close to another decision, for an agreement with HOT lane builder Fluor-Transurban to build even more HOT lanes. The Beltway lanes have cost much more than originally proposed, and the contract penalizes Virginia if more people carpool. (WTOP)  

When no free spaces are free

Ellicott City is considering starting to charge for parking on the main street. Contrary to the typical reaction, local storeowners generally support the idea. Not so exceptionally, some are pushing for the city to pay for a new garage instead, even though the study found surplus capacity at nearby garages. (Howard County Times)  

Car clips

A letter writer has the solution to traffic frustration: leave enough time to get there (Post) … DC cab rides can now go above $19 (WTOP) … Congress’s extended “cash for clunkers” program is really, really bad. (Discovering Urbanism)  

Transit tidbits

Investing in public transit could save consumers $112 billion in gas and car-related payments and also reduce greenhouse gases by 24 percent, says APTA (Apollo Alliance, dano) … Virginia is applying for stimulus funds to speed up trains between DC and Petersburg (Post) … The House has approved changes in the Metro compact, one necessary but not sufficient step for the $150 million appropriation. (Moran)  (Tip: dano)