Breakfast links: DC’s contentious processes

Solar panels not historic

In a historic district, you can’t install solar panels if they’re visible from the street. Is this right? Should we really allow a district to be historically energy-inefficient? (City Paper)

Rezoning the bear

Big Bear Cafe is applying for a zoning amendment so their property, which has been commercial for a long time but is technically zoned residential, can conform to the laws. (OP)

The VA debate continues

14th and You weighs the arguments for and against Voluntary Agreements in liquor license applications. Unlike Dupont’s ANC 2B, Logan’s ANC 2F has a blanket policy of not protesting liquor license applications downtown. … The owner of Madam’s Organ blasts VAs and his own fights with neighbors. (Current)

Bike sharing stations not dense enough?

Yonah Freemark wonders if DC’s bike sharing stations are too spread out. Their density is much lower than Montreal’s or Paris’ systems, though commenters note that those systems started out smaller. But Arlington is packing its initial stations more tightly. What’s right? (The Transport Politic, Joey)  (Tip: Joey)

LaRecap of LaHood

One attendee at yesterday’s Netroots Nation panel with Ray LaHood recaps the discussion and his own question about how high-speed high-speed rail really is. (NPI Advocate)

Working around broken escalators

Metro is learning from the recent escalator problems, at least how to handle crowd control. Some riders removed a barrier to a closed escalator, which was a problem once they got to some missing stairs. Metro might close stations in the future if escalator crowding gets too bad. (Dr. Gridlock)

New York safety

New York is extending walk signals to give elderly people time to cross the street, as part of a larger effort to be more hospitable to seniors. (NY Times, Matthias) … A NYPD officer hit a cyclist speeding the wrong way down a street, but only stopped to hand him a tissue before speeding off without calling an ambulance. (PINAC)  (Tip: Matthias)

Red card for driving

To educate residents on pedestrian safety, Bogota hired mimes and actors dressed as monks, and also gave people red cards (as used in soccer) they could hold up to show disapproval to bad drivers. Do pedestrians and cyclists need a way to signal problems to drivers without banging on cars? (Global Urban Development)