Breakfast links: Thumbs up

Bike bits

Ray LaHood gives DC/Arlington bike sharing the thumbs up (CommuterPageBlog) … Bikes will cost $155/month to operate, but revenues could cover costs after about 5 years (Examiner) … Ashley Halsey interviews new WABA Executive Director Shane Farthing. (Here’s our interview.)

Metro morsels

Metro will soon release the first “vital signs report” tracking progress against various goals (Examiner) … They are casting a wide net to find a great GM candidate, including great managers without a transit background (Post) … The Kojo Politics Hour hosts WMATA Board Chair Peter Benjamin and Congressman Gerry Connolly today.

More pipes breaking in the future?

A broken water main snarled traffic on New York Ave Wednesday. And unless WASA gets more money from the feds and customers, these are likely to keep happening a lot more often. (Post, DeBonis)

Gated alleys?

Baltimore has begun fencing in alleys to provide a safe haven and a neighborhood meeting place. But is this making neighborhoods safer or just making public space private? (Post via Baltimore Brew)

SeePostFix

The Post has partnered with SeeClickFix, whose site lets people report problems and get them to government officials. The Post calls their site “The Daily Gripe” and will feature one issue each day. (We also list SeeClickFix issues on the sidebar.)

And…

Should U Street get a liquor license moratorium? Left for LeDroit says no … Shaw leaders reject a project for 7th and R because it’s too small (Housing Complex) … DC is one of 9 cities awarded a grant to install a network of electric vehicle charging stations. (ars technica, andrew)

Thanks, Mike!

Mike DeBonis analyzes the Gray streetcar escapade, and calls us an “influential blog … the de facto ringleader of a group of smart, dedicated transit and planning activists.” It wouldn’t be possible without all of our terrific contributors and amazing community of commenters and readers. (Post)

Bike and charge

Nokia has created a bike-powered phone charger. It’ll initially release it in Kenya, then go worldwide later in the year. Will this help bike commuting or lead to distracted biking? (Wired)