Photo by BirminghamRetailQ on Flickr.

Census data tells old, new stories

Yesterday’s census data shows that DC remains only barely a majority black city, as white, Hispanic and Asian populations have grown. (City Paper)

The displacement (and flight, which he doesn’t mention) of blacks, has Marion Barry comparing Ward 8 to South African apartheid. (Examiner) … The demographic shift in Bloomingdale has at least one gentrifier seeking edgier pastures. (Post)  

Tackling Metro crime with new money

WMATA got a $2.8 million federal grant to install 153 new video cameras at station entrances throughout the system. (Examiner) … This may help Metro tackle the growing bike theft problem at the same time they will start building bike lockers rentable by the hour. (WashCycle)  

Metro’s early opening not early enough

National Marathon organizers told runners to check in at RFK tomorrow morning by 6:20 AM. Yet they and WMATA chose not to open Metro until 6, leaving many runners to fight the race’s road closures in their cars. (DCist)  

Small, local businesses shy away from DC USA

Despite space setasides and 30% rent reduction, DCUSA has been unsuccessful attracting local- and minority-owned businesses. The two exceptions are both locally-owned chain franchises. (New Columbia Heights)  

Best of DC for urbanists

City Paper’s Best of DC Staff Picks had no shortage of urbanist shout-outs including Leading Pedestrian Intervals, bike lanes, bag searches, Beach Drive as a cycle highway, and even Lydia DePillis’ desire to turn Scott Circle into a rectangle.  

Anacostia goings-on

Historic Anacostia will see some urbanist activity in the next few days: tomorrow, there is a public meeting about the Anacostia Streetcar and Monday DC Sierra Club is holding a “Transit Happy Hour.” (And Now, Anacostia)  

Rethinking car ownership

A new study shows that when people are given numerous transportation choices and then really think about, they realize that car ownership isn’t nearly as essential as they may have thought. (TheCityFix)  

Growth in one-way, on-the-fly car sharing

After its first year Daimler’s Car2Go car sharing program in Austin, Texas is revolutionizing the industry with one-way Smart ForTwo rentals that you can pick up and drop off anywhere. (AutoBlog) … BMW Group and Sixt are introducing a similar program in Germany with “premium” vehicles. (BMW)  

And…

The GSA is looking for a private company to redevelop the Old Post Office Pavillion. (WTOP) … McDonnell vetoed a bill requiring mandatory PE for K-8 children, saying it was an unfunded mandate. Since when does playing tag cost any money? (WAMU) … Kurt Raschke says, with more than 80,000 possible combinations, Metro’s fare structure is just too darn complex. (Raschke on Transport)