Breakfast links: Back in the east

Live to teach

A new building in Baltimore provides affordable housing for teachers. The article quotes one couple who lived in DC but taught in Baltimore until the program enticed them to move. (WBAL, Ward 1 Guy)  (Tip: Ward 1 Guy)

Still the only way on WTOP

WTOP uncritically parrots the “more highways = less congestion” canard while covering VDOT’s new Battlefield Parkway extension in Leesburg. VDOT head Pierce Homer says the state has no money to do any more of these highway extensions, and reporter Hank Silverberg writes that “Many local leaders say that without an attitude change in Richmond, more highway projects won’t get built, and traffic will only get worse.” The word “transit” appears nowhere in the article. (Stephen Miller)  (Tip: Stephen Miller)

Is it working?

Maybe some reporters are noticing the linguistic bias issue. This ABC7 article leads with the text, “Police are investigating whether a medical emergency caused a man to crash into a Ride On bus Tuesday afternoon.” Sadly, the driver died in the crash near Damascus. (Dustin)

Social pressure another weapon against distracted driving

Armed with statistics and media coverage, many people are pressuring friends and family to stop distracted driving. Some drivers make amazing rationalizations for why they continue. “Even if I’m going 60 miles an hour, I feel the need to check it. It might be spam, a wrong number, whatever. But who cares? My cell vibrates. I respond.” (New York Times, Stephen Miller)  (Tip: Stephen Miller)

“Ghost bike” intersection gets a sign

DDOT has followed up on one of WABA’s four recommendations for the intersection of 20th and R, where Alice Swanson was killed last year. There’s now a “yield to bikes” sign. (why.i.hate.dc, Stephen Miller) … Still no word on whether they’re also considering a bike box or a no right turn on red restriction.  (Tip: Stephen Miller)

Not loving the heart sculptures

Ruth Samuelson is asking questions about a Colombian advertising campaign that involved placing 14 heart sculptures in public space around DC. Total cost: $750. And is it really a tourism campaign or actually lobbying for a trade agreement? (Housing Complex, Stephen Miller)  (Tip: Stephen Miller)

Meccarail

A new monorail will connect some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world: Mecca’s holy sites. Saudi Arabia is building the line, which will take 53,000 buses off the roads during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (Wired, JTS)  (Tip: JTS)

The really conservative position

Governing compares the late Paul Weyrich’s writings to the so-called free-market anti-transit arguments that Cato so actively pushes. (Stanton Park) … Cato, by the way, is having another Randal O’Toole forum next week, presumably, as usual, featuring only libertarians who favor big government road building.  (Tip: Stanton Park)