Photo by MSVG on Flickr.

Cycling hit on Bike to School Day

A cyclist on Massachusetts Avenue was injured by a hit-an-run driver on Bike to School Day. Many cyclists report riding on the sidewalk near Mass. Ave. because of safety issues. (WTOP)  

Hit-and-run gets 6 months

The woman who drove drunk down the W&OD trail at 40 MPH was sentenced to less than 6 months in prison. She hit and severely injured a bicyclist and left the scene of the crash, but had her charge reduced to a misdemeanor in a plea deal. (Post)  

Intersection of doom

Another cyclist was hit in Rosslyn at the intersection of Lynn Street and Lee Highway, the site of many car-on-bike crashes. The cyclist says she was legally in the crosswalk but was issued a ticket at the hospital. (ArlNow)  

Did confusion kill?

A woman was killed on I-495 after braking at the entrance to the Beltway HOT lanes. After changes confused some drivers, better road markers were added. Was she puzzled about where to drive? (NBC4)  

Transit first in MoCo

A majority of Montgomery councilmembers support better transit to Clarksburg instead of a proposed Mid-County Highway extension. (Gazette)  

Right to play

Kids at DC General lack a place to play because city officials are blocking construction of a playground. Legislation would force the city to allow the playground and identify an alternate shelter site in 30 days. (City Paper)  

Heights stay

Darrell Issa still believes in relaxing the height limit, not around downtown or the Mall, but maybe in Northeast DC, near a new stadium, or as part of an Olympic bid. But he says it’s up to DC’s council and new mayor; both candidates in November supported the resolution against changes. (Roll Call)  

Returning home

After the Deauville building in Mount Pleasant burned down in 2008, its low-income tenants struggled to find a place to live. 6 years later, affordable housing is returning. Former residents will occupy 45 of 63 new units. (Post)  

Diversifying the housing stock

Zoning laws in Portland have cleared the way for residents to construct accessory dwelling units. Allowing these granny flats increases the value of the property and provides more affordable housing options. (NYT)  

Can’t build there

A Gaithersburg woman built a “tiny house” in her backyard to create a place for her daughter to live. But she forgot to check the zoning, which doesn’t permit accessory dwellings. So the city condemned it, but now she is suing. (Gazette)