Photo by WashCycle.

Cyclists, drivers, police, the usual

In honor of Bike to Work Week, Ashley Halsey looks at drivers behaving dangerously toward cyclists and cyclists breaking laws. (Post, Joey) … WashCycle notes that cycle fatalities are generally down, not up as the article says, and notes the disturbing quote from Fairfax County Detective Scott Neville, who seems to blame bicycle commuters for the poor bicycle commuting conditions there.  (Tip: Joey)  

Bike bits

An officer from some unspecified federal police force forced a cyclist to ride in the uncomplete, not-yet-open, still-unsafe Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes. A bicyclist “collided with a minivan” in Columbia Heights, and another was hit near the Lincoln Memorial. DC now has a bike box. (WashCycle)  

Kornheiser Jr.

Elliot in the Morning jokingly praised the tack attack at the Leonardtown Criterium, then said nobody would take his comments as encouragement, only to get several calls from people touting their own “pranks” to hurt cyclists. (WashCycle)  

Ward 7 project gets worse

The disappointing Donatelli project which sacrifices a potentially key road connection and put townhouses and retail in the wrong places has now gotten even more disappointing, with less retail and no business incubator or community space as originally planned. The city took space from thriving nonprofits to assemble the land, and will now deprive them of a place to return. (Ward 7 Connections)  

Development dispatches

Howard University wants to move its hospital to Walter Reed, but neighbors of the existing hospital is worried about what will happen to the current site (Housing Complex) … Developers are interested in building on WMATA bus bays and a parking lot in Wheaton (Gazette) … Loudoun could get a huge mixed-use project, but County Supervisors want more office, less residential (Post) … And another huge office park is proposed for NoVA, this time near Fort Belvoir. (WBJ)  

Fixing Kensington

The new Sector Plan for Kensington hopes to make Connecticut Avenue less of a barrier for pedestrians, bring more buildings to the street, and add multifamily housing in the commercial center. (The Straight Line)  

Montgomery musings

Why is Rockville’s fine for pedestrians crossing against a signal over 12 times as high as the fine for drivers not yielding to pedestrians? (Rockville Central) … Is a $2.4 million pedestrian bridge in Silver Spring a “boondoggle” or necessary? (Gazette) … Montgomery will charge $400 if you use an ambulance but don’t live in the County, much higher energy taxes, and a carbon tax that only applies to the biggest polluter, a power plant in Dickerson. (Gazette, Examiner, WBJ)  

CDC misled on lead

The CDC “knowingly” misled DC residents about the safety of drinking water in 2004. Residents where WASA replaced lead pipes to the house but still have lead inside still face likely higher lead concentrations in water.