Posts by Erik Weber — Guest Contributor
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Taxi Commission proposed own Uber-style “surge pricing”
Late yesterday afternoon, the DC Taxicab Commission (DCTC) announced that taxis could charge an extra $1 per passenger when Nats playoff games are in town. Confusion and outrage ensued, and within 2 hours, Mayor Gray rejected the plan, and the commission has rescinded it. Ironically, this move has a lot in common with Uber’s “surge pricing,” which proposed… Keep reading…
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Portland provides some urban inspiration for DC
Portland has achieved near-cult status in urbanist circles for its progressive development and transportation policies. All is not perfect in Portland, but there are lot of great things we can take away from the City of Roses. The city has a thriving downtown, and walkable inner-ring neighborhoods. It sports an extensive transit network and unbeatable bike infrastructure. … Keep reading…
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What information needs mapping in Washington?
OpenPlans, the people behind OpenTripPlanner and BikePlanner.org, are releasing a new crowdsourced mapping tool called Shareabouts. For the launch, they are asking people to suggest mapping projects in their communities. What would you recommend? We already have tools like SeeClickFix, which many DC agencies use to gather information about needed repairs around the city. Keep reading…
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Can we make Bike to Work Day more diverse?
Bike to Work Day coaxes people of all stripes to make the commute on two wheels instead of four. As Bike to Work Day continues to grow, we must think about how to expand it not just in numbers, but to people in a wider range of economic circumstances and demographic groups. Bike to Work Day is a great chance to get people involved in cycling and bike advocacy who aren’t otherwise. Keep reading…
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14th and U construction site tests temporary sidewalk policy
14th and U has some of DC’s heaviest pedestrian traffic, but recently, a fence suddenly stopped people from walking along this heavily traveled corridor. Developer JBG says they want a walkway, but DDOT’s policy won’t allow it. What’s going on? Keep reading…
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Too many construction sites close sidewalks without walkway
A DDOT policy requires construction sites to maintain a walkway for pedestrians. But at numerous sites around the city, this doesn’t happen. Many construction sites inconvenience and endanger pedestrians, while site developers use former sidewalks as staging areas. DDOT’s Pedestrian Safety and Work Zone Standards Order from 2007 states: “Traffic… Keep reading…
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Solar Decathlon move a loss for DC, Decathlon, and the US
Last week, the Department of Energy announced the Solar Decathlon would not be held in DC in 2013. The move is a big loss for city of Washington, the National Mall, the Decathlon itself, and even US climate policy. The Solar Decathlon has been held in DC every time since its inception in 2002. In its first 4 iterations, it occupied a prominent place on the National Mall. … Keep reading…
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Illegal or not, on-demand car service Uber is good for DC
New car service Uber launched in DC in December, but has already run afoul of the Taxi Commission. Whether they’re doing anything illegal is unclear, but the service is definitely good for transportation in DC. Uber allows people to book a trip in a for-hire car, without an advance reservation, using a mobile app. It offers an alternative to current taxis, but doesn’t… Keep reading…
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What’s better: More CaBi stations or bigger ones?
Capital Bikeshare has been extremely successful, and the result is that many riders can’t find a bike or an empty dock during peak times. In many areas, DDOT has prioritized making existing stations larger. Is this better than adding more, smaller stations? New stations cost significantly more than just adding docks to a station, and adding a station also requires finding… Keep reading…
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Give thanks for urban blessings
At Greater Greater Washington, we spill a lot of ink about things that aren’t working in the Washington region and how they could be better. But there are also a lot of things in our region to be thankful for. The primary reason we spend so much time making suggestions is because we want to hold our region to the highest standards. We’re fortunate to have… Keep reading…