Breakfast links: Rethink transit
Photo by Beechwood Photography on Flickr.
Rock around the bus
People throwing rocks at buses has caused WMATA to reroute two of its buses. The new routes start at 8:00 each night and would avoid two neighborhoods that also happen to have low ridership. (DCist)
Streetcar gets panel
Mayor Gray formed a task force to determine funding, construction priorities, and governance for DC’s streetcars. Members come from District government, development and downtown business, and Brookings. (DCist, Examiner)
Crowded on VRE? Take Amtrak
To alleviate overcrowding, VRE will increase its subsidy for commuters opting to take Amtrak. The subsidy takes advantage of extra room on many Amtrak trains. (Examiner)
Long shot for 70
Chances are not looking good for Initiative 70 to appear on the ballot. While organizers may have gotten enough signatures overall, they likely did not get enough in some of the city’s wards. (Post)
Bike bits
Bethesda and Rockville are now bronze level Bike-Friendly Communities. (League of American Bicyclists) … The Maryland MVA will feature a message about giving bikers enough space on its mailings. (WashCycle) … The Lance Armstrong doping scandal is having little impact on local bikers and bike shops. (DCist)
A Mark of success
A year after Mark Center opened, traffic has not been that bad. More than half of workers opt to commute by means other than single-occupant car, thanks to a parking cap and many transit options. (Patch)
Indian court upholds transit
An Indian court upheld a BRT system against a challenge claiming it was unfair to drivers. The judge used a quotation that originates with Enrique Penalosa: “A developed country is not one where the poor own cars. It is one where the rich use public transport.” (NY Daily News, Ben Ross) (Tip: Ben Ross)
And…
Food truck operators are not happy with DC’s new regulations. (Examiner) … After much work, Rhode Island Avenue is finally getting some retail. (UrbanTurf) … As the DC area becomes more of a 24 hour city, there are a few restaurants that stay open all hours. (UrbanTurf)