Breakfast links: Rights on the road
Contributory negligence back on the table
The DC Council is again working on a bill that would let cyclists and pedestrians receive compensation for medical care or bike repairs in a crash if they are deemed less than 50% at fault. The existing law makes it nearly impossible for cyclists to recover losses. (WAMU)
Just phoning it in
Metrorail ridership is down, but per person vehicle travel has stayed steady in the region. Where has everyone gone? Many people have turned to telecommuting, with 27% of commuters teleworking at least occasionally. (Post)
Buses and buses only
Metro is studying how to keep other traffic out of bus lanes now that several bus lanes are popping up across the region. (PlanItMetro)
Motion on minimum wage
Mayor Bowser has proposed to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2020, and increase wages for tipped workers to $7.50 by 2022. Others are still pushing to put the issue to a citywide vote on November’s ballot. (WAMU)
NoMa mixes it up
A huge new mixed-use project will replace industrial space in NoMa. The development will include 50 affordable housing units among 650, a 200 room hotel, and a ton of retail. (WBJ)
Cool down on Crystal City
After a major DC office space owner compared Crystal City to Brooklyn, people took to social media to say “not quite.” Crystal City is remaking itself, but is still best known for underground shopping and aging office buildings. (Post)
New bills
The US Treasury will put Harriet Tubman on the front of the $20 bill, and will add images from historic events at the Lincoln Memorial and the women’s suffrage movement to the back of the $5 and $10 bills. (DCist)
San Francisco goes solar
San Francisco will require solar panels and “solar ready” space on all new buildings under 10 stories starting next year. (SFBT)
And…
DC has installed 8 bike repair stations across the city, with more to come. (DC DGS) … An altercation over a burrito led to delays on the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines yesterday. (City Paper) … DC, Baltimore, and Chicago made up more than half of the increase in murders in major US cities last year. (DCist)