Breakfast links: Not easy being green

NPS rejects BikeDC

The National Park Service has denied permission for BikeDC to use the GW Parkway, which was part of the ride last year. They already don’t use roads like Rock Creek Parkway because of NPS’s reluctance to use its land for recreation.

Leggett proposing bag fee

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett wants to institute a 5¢ bag fee. Councilmembers Berliner and Rice are supportive, Leventhal undecided. (Gazette)

H Street NE gets new trees

Starting tomorrow, new trees will be planted on the north side of H Street NE. (Frozen Tropics) … A new report underscores the importance of urban trees to a city’s safety, energy efficiency and quality of life. (Wilson Quarterly)

Biddle challenges signatures, some oddly

Sekou Biddle challenged petition signatures for three of his April 26 competitors, Patrick Mara, Jacque Patterson, and Bryan Weaver, including signatures from Weaver’s own wife, staff, and other elected officials. (DCist)

Steps to govern DC

DC’s budget shortfall has shrunk by $100 million to $320 million (WAMU) … Mayor Gray and Chairman Brown have different ideas for getting contractors to hire DC residents (City Paper) … Gray will create new entities to oversee St. Elizabeth’s and Walter Reed, but not like the ones Fenty disbanded in 2007. (Post, Gavin)

Legislative shenanigans

The House GOP knocked Mayor Gray off the witness list for a hearing on DC’s voucher program … Two Maryland delegates unexpectedly skipped a committee vote on gay marriage, stalling the measure … The Virginia legislature slipped in an anti-abortion bill and some officials are trying to rush through regulations. (Post)

Buses up for cuts

Buses connecting Richmond to VRE in Fredericksburg will be cut entirely due to lack of funding. (Dr. Gridlock) … Frederick County is also proposing cutting bus service and scheduling hearings nowhere near the bus routes. (Frederick News-Post, Ben Ross)

NYC wrestles with tour buses

New York will struggle with a familiar problem to DC when its 9/11 memorial opens and oodles of tour buses pack the area. One plan would encourage dropping riders off outside Manhattan where they can switch to transit. (NYT)

And…

VDOT has a survey to get community input about its Safe Routes to School program … Last month, TSA agents put a family through a mandatory security screening after leaving an Amtrak train in Savannah, Georgia. (WBTV, Matt’)