Breakfast links: Hate-based policy arguments

Kornheiser for manslaughter

Radio shock jock Tony Kornheiser responds to Pennsylvania Avenue bike lane plans by recommending people hit them with cars — “pop them a little bit.” He also says, “last time I looked the roads were made for automobiles,” a remarkably ignorant but unsurprising belief. (WashCycle)

Big government sprawl

Yet another “libertarian” argues that sprawl is actually good and the result of a free market. Liberals and conservatives debunk, citing again the many government restrictions that force suburban land use patterns. Why don’t libertarian leaders argue for removing all restrictions on density in single-family neighborhoods? Heather Horn thinks these guys actually hate liberals more than they hate government. (Matthew Yglesias, The American Conservative, The Atlantic Wire)

Intermediate offense for deadly driving

Even AAA supports a Maryland bill to create an intermediate offense, “negligent homicide by motor vehicle,” that’s more serious than negligent driving (a traffic ticket) but less than vehicular manslaughter (very hard to prove). (Baltimore Sun)

No TOD for the House

Matt Yglesias is persistently irritated that the Architect of the Capitol continues to use the block immediately next to Capitol South Metro for massive surface parking. (Gavin)  (Tip: Gavin)

Walker is a rider

New Washington Capitals right wing Scott Walker rode the Metro to Monday’s game. (D.C. Sports Bog) … Since Walker rides, does Boston Bruin right wing Michael Ryder walk to games?

Annandale could get a “sense of place”

A Fairfax County plan would help Annandale become more of an “urban village”, using form-based codes to encourage street-facing buildings with rear or underground parking and incentives for affordable housing, community space, or transit facilities. (Around Annandale, mooniker)  (Tip: mooniker)

VDOT: Offramp or bust

Even Froggie, a self-described “road geek,” is exasperated with VDOT which is resisting studying alternative sites for an offramp except right through Alexandria’s Winkler Preserve. As with I-66, their strategy seems to be to focus on one idea and try to ram it through unless local officials force them to do otherwise.  (Tip: Froggie)

No to vampire bill

The Herndon Connection editorializes against the Virginia “vampire bill” that would let VDOT estimate all future revenues from a road project, then give all that money to private contractors and leave the state on the hook if VDOT is wrong.