Penn Quarter market. Photo by ElvertBarnes.

Park(ing) on 14th and around the world

In San Francisco, New York, and many other cities, residents will temporarily turn parking spaces into parks for Park(ing) Day. Here in DC, head over to Garden District at 14th and S for our own event from 11 am to 9 pm, which should be fun even though DDOT wouldn’t let it happen on the actual streets. (SF Chronicle, Streetsblog, Michael P)  (Tip: Michael P.)  

Fresh food good, traffic bad

The new farmer’s market on Vermont Avenue near the White House opened yesterday, with a speech by Michelle Obama. The market closed one block of Vermont, creating some confusion at federal agencies not prepared to let visitors enter via other entrances. The market also snarled traffic, though neither article mentions that the Secret Service also closed H Street for the First Lady. (Post, Examiner, @DCist_Updates)  

This time around, respect for ghost bikes

DDOT has actually put the ghost bikes back where they were, at least temporarily. They now have tags saying they are considered abandoned property and will be removed in 10 days. Good for DDOT for trying to follow a reasonable procedure, unlike DPW’s conduct last time. (why.i.hate.dc)  

Tysons sprawl plan also neglects bikes

Not only does it reduce density around Tysons’ Metro stations, but there’s another way the revised Tysons Corner zoning proposal resembles traditional auto-dependent suburban land-use patterns: bicycling. The new plan removed mention of bike lanes from the major boulevards, suggests that sidewalks will help move cyclists as well (not safely), and also doesn’t say anything about shower and changing facilities. (FABB)  

Rail in southern Prince George’s?

Prince George’s County plans to add a transit line across the Wilson Bridge to their long-term Master Plan of Transportation. Dave Murphy reviewed the MPOT a while back. Possibilities include extending the Purple Line around from New Carrollton to National Harbor, or bringing the Yellow Line across the bridge to National Harbor and then to Branch Avenue.  

Living in a theme park

A few people live at National Harbor, in housing added to the complex in response to criticism that it was too much of an isolated single-use theme park. It’s got its advantages, like having many big events right outside your door, and drawbacks, like no grocery store. One resident interviewed by the Post bikes over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge for groceries. (Post)  

Pushing for openness in NY

The Open Planning Project, parent organization to Streetsblog, has created a new Web site promoting openness in transit data for the New York MTA. They do a good job of explaining the reasons open data is the best policy.