Breakfast links: Arlington to Canada to Japan

Metro down (this weekend)

Metro is closing National Airport, Crystal City, and Pentagon City stations over Labor Day. They needed three days for the track work, and it’s better than closing during the week, despite inconveniencing flyers. However, while the work was “long-planned,” Metro doesn’t seem to have announced it until today. (Post, Bianchi)

Recycling, bike racks up

The latest issue of Arlington County’s newsletter, the Arlington Citizen, mentions that recycling has increased about 13% over 2008 levels, which it attributes to a switch to single-stream recycling and new wheeled carts. Also, BikeArlington is installing 60 U racks in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, as well as new and replacement racks along Stuart Street near the Ballston Metro. That issue is not posted online yet. (Gavin Baker)  (Tip: Gavin Baker)

Counting coming

Arlington is getting ready for another round of bike and pedestrian counting, on Thursday, September 10 and Saturday, September 12. If you can help, email bikepedcounts@arlingtonva.us. There’s also a kickoff party on September 9th, 6 pm at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. (Michael P)

Why “pedestrians”?

Tom Vanderbilt asks an interesting question: Why do we call someone a “pedestrian” when they’re on the street, but not if they’re walking down a hallway in the office or hiking in the woods? Also, does Costco intentionally underbuild parking to encourage people to make fewer trips but buy more each time? (How We Drive)

Photos okay at USDOT, assuming guards get the memo

Security guards at the US Department of Transportation have been hassling photographers, including Stephen Miller who try to take pictures of their architecture or public art. After three months, they responded to the ACLU’s letter questioning this practice. They agree photography is legal, but don’t say anything about reminding guards of the law, and mention a Federal Protective Service memo that urges agency security to question photographers despite no evidence that any terrorists have ever taken photos for reconnaissance. (Erin, Flickr)

Transit smart cards, improved

Tokyo’s transit smart card, the Suica also lets users pay for goods in vending machines and stores. Users can also swipe near poster advertisements to get more details emailed to them, and can connect to Web services to download or visualize their movements. Some of these uses and the agency’s ability to use the data raise privacy concerns. (ReadWriteWeb, Rob P) … Transport Canada highlights the huge gains in transit ridership that resulted from joint student IDs and transit smart cards at three universities.  (Tip: Rob P.)

Not so bike friendly

Michael James Bryant, Ontario’s former attorney general, killed a cyclist in what appears to be a road rage incident. After some sort of “altercation,” according to witnesses, Bryant was driving down the street with the cyclist holding on to the side of the car, and Bryant brushing against trees and mailboxes to knock the cyclist off. Police are still investigating. (CBC, Kevin)  (Tip: Kevin)