Breakfast links: Questions answered

Q&A with Sarles

WMATA General Manager Richard Sarles answered questions from Metro riders on a Dr. Gridlock chat. Riders asked about train congestion and unreliability. Sarles cited a lack of funds and said many problems will be addressed in the future.

New deal for CaBi operator

Capital Bikeshare operator Alta and 8D Technologies, the original software maker for the now-bankrupt Bixi, have formed an alliance to sell bikeshare systems.  8D’s next generation system includes a new mobile app and improved docking. (Montreal Gazette, TheWashCycle)

Fraudulent parking

Drivers using fake disability parking placards from Maryland to park in DC are a problem, according to DC Councilmember Jim Graham. He wants to allow parking enforcement to run placards against a Maryland database. (WTOP)

New look for cities in movies

Los Angeles and New York are switching to LED streetlights, meaning these cities in movies will look much different (specifically, less yellow). Older films will have a distinctive look compared to newer ones. (Gizmodo)

Big plans for London housing

London’s Conservative mayor wants to build far more subsidized and market-rate housing than New York’s de Blasio. However, a lot of people oppose having those buildings and people added to London. (NextCity)

How our Venice succumbed to the car

The streets of Venice, California were originally wide canals. In 1924, the city decided to convert to roads, over resident objections, to accommodate the automobile. (SouthLand)

New tech to prevent vehicle deaths

USDOT will soon require vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology that will allow cars to communicate and send warnings to drivers to prevent collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles. (WAMU)

And…

Rome asks its citizens to Twitter shame illegally parking drivers. (Car Connection) … A hit-and-run driver injures 8 on Metrobus. (Post) …Take a look at bike routes to Tysons Metro stations. (FABB) … Silver Spring named #13 on the “most exciting suburb” list. (Motovo) … The DC Council will vote on an out-of-city scholarship program. (WTOP)