Photo by Bex on Flickr.

Blossoms blooming

The National Park Service says the Tidal Basin’s cherry blossoms are officially at peak bloom. This is the second latest peak in DC since 1992. (Post)  

Not the best velodrome time

People who use Ohio Drive and Hains Point for long-distance, high-speed bicycle exercise probably should go elsewhere while the roads there are thronged with people enjoying the blossoms. (WTOP)  

With spring, new bike lanes

The first curb-protected cycle track, on First Street NE, nears completion. Meahwile, the G and I Street NE contraflow bike lanes make progress. (WashCycle, WABA)  

Don’t blame bike lanes

As long as you put bike lanes on streets that aren’t congested in the first place, then they don’t cause congestion to the point of a traffic jam, even if you take away a travel lane. (FiveThirtyEight, Ed B.)  (Tip: Ed B.)  

Numbers up and down

The region’s February unemployment rate was 5.1%, up from 5% in January. (WBJ) … Home sales fell in March for the 3rd month in a row. (Post) … Vacancies in Class A and Class B apartments are rising in Northern Virginia and the District, which could lead to falling rents. (UrbanTurf)  

Who will plan Montgomery?

Applicants for Montgomery County planning board chair include smart growth supporter and current board member Casey Anderson, Republican board member and developer Norman Dreyfuss, former councilmember Mike Knapp, deputy planning director Rose Krasnow, and many more. (Post)  

Parking saps vitality (and tax revenue)

Surface lots downtown result in an up to 29% loss of the tax base, finds a study that tracked the development of six cities over 50 years. Cities can either be vibrant or easy to drive to, but not both. (Streetsblog)  

10,000 map maniacs

The “You Are Here” study, a new project from MIT Media Lab’s Social Computing Group aims to develop 100 new maps revealing details of 100 different cities. (NextCity)  

And…

Montgomery’s Ride On plans a fare hike. (Post) … McKinney and El Paso, TX, join DC in the ranks of cities with the fastest growing rents. (NerdWallet) … The DC area has the second-most Energy Star-certified green buildings in the country. (DCist)