Breakfast links: Going up

Fare hike and more

DCist summarizes the fare hike, the Examiner digs at the Board’s three-hour “lunch” and the Post gets rider reactions plus a sidebar on what else you can buy with $5.45, the maximum fare including peak-of-the-peak charges. Also, the Board approved purchasing new railcars.

The magic of sharing data

Boston has embraced open data, now sharing bus locations in real time as well as schedules. At a recent meeting with software developers, one person built an app just during the lunch break, which soon became a phone app. And a real-time display in a Jamaica Plain ice cream shop is drawing more customers. (Marketplace, Sand Box John)  (Tip: Sand Box John)

Metro PD bravery

5 Metro police officers ran into a burning condo building near the Naylor Road station on April 9th and rescued several residents, including an elderly woman and a woman in a wheelchair. (via PoP)

Nobody uses them because they’re not open

An ABC7 report on the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes says they’re not getting a lot of cyclists. But they’re not open yet! Tom Sherwood is more informed, and better informs. (WashCycle) … Maybe the WUSA9 reporter was friends with this guy, who joked about fancy Georgetown stores closing because of financial reform, yet chose some that aren’t open yet. (via GM)

DC drivers really are ignorant

GMAC surveyed drivers on their knowledge of rules of the road. It turns out many of us wouldn’t be able to pass the drivers test today. DC is the second third-worst (behind NJ and just above NY); MD is 42nd 20th and VA is 40th 28th. (For the Portlandophiles: Oregon is 8th

2nd.) (via Streetsblog, Stephen Miller). Update: I originally had the 2008 rankings. Thanks to Steven Yates for the correction.  (Tip: Stephen Miller)

Rubber sidewalks?

DDOT is using rubber slabs instead of brick or concrete on some sidewalks, including on Rhode Island Avenue around North Capital. Rubber appears to be more durable and growing tree roots don’t create tripping hazards as they do on concrete or brick. (WUSA9, Matthias)  (Tip: Matthias)

Lord Jesus Christ hit in crosswalk

One Northampton, MA driver doesn’t even stop for the Lord… or at least a pedestrian whose legal name is “Lord Jesus Christ.” (WBZ)

Going without

Montgomery approves a budget with $203 million in cuts … the Fairfax Planning Commission approved the Alcorn plan for Tysons … 8 Post reporters tried to go without Internet access, but did anyone wonder if they’d miss stories? Tim Craig and Nikita Stewart weren’t part of the experiment, though. (Post)