I look forward to the Arlington GOP support for extending meter hours in Clarendon, since it's about the money, apparently.

by Michael Perkins on Apr 25, 2011 9:29 am • link • report

About the bus stop proximity - could it also be that higher income people are more likely to bitch and moan about a) getting a closer stop and b) making sure it's never taken away?

by Shipsa01 on Apr 25, 2011 9:45 am • link • report

Listen, I hate that it's true, but I don't see how any disinterested person can conclude that Orange isn't going to win this thing in a walk. He's got Ward 5, which has a very high turnout, and he has an inexplicable base in Ward 3, mostly from people who mistakenly think he's pro-business. I am not happy about this, but it is very clear to me that Orange is going to win with at least 35, up to 40 percent of the vote. Anyone who doesn't see that is fooling themselves. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I would bet money that I'm not.

by TM on Apr 25, 2011 9:54 am • link • report

"Won't traffic congestion be a strong and cheaper incentive?"

Probably not..

I mean, I hate to add so little to the discussion, but clearly people are willing to deal with traffic rather than deal with what they perceive - often unfairly - as greater inconveniences.

by J on Apr 25, 2011 9:59 am • link • report

TM, there are no guarantees in a special election. Orange's support comes primarily from low-information, casual voters, and those aren't the ones who turn out in numbers to vote in low-turnout elections like this one.

In fact, I can't think of anyone I've run into who's been really excited about voting for Orange. I have run across plenty of people who are excited about other candidates.

by Matt W on Apr 25, 2011 10:07 am • link • report

There are plenty of people who enjoy their morning commute. Often the only alone time you get for the day. 20-30 minutes -- which is pretty typical for an inside the beltway drive -- isn't much of a burden. I realise that is heresy around here, since there is also a population which finds driving very stressful.

I do think bribing "drivers" not to take NY avenue is a bit strange, though. Have to wonder about the selection process.

by charlie on Apr 25, 2011 10:07 am • link • report

If MoCo wants to give vehicles to its employees, why don't they instead have a vehicle allowance and allow employees to choose a car or a bike plus the unsed cash. Montgomery pays the same either way and not everyone will choose the car.

by MW on Apr 25, 2011 10:08 am • link • report

I should add though that it's a shame the progressive vote is split in three or four or five different directions. We need a jungle primary, with everyone from all the parties in the mix, and then a general election between the top two vote-getters.

by Matt W on Apr 25, 2011 10:11 am • link • report

ArlNOW has a poll on whether CaBi is worth the loss of parking revenue.
http://www.arlnow.com/2011/04/25/morning-poll-bikeshare-worth-the-parking-sacrifice/

It will be interesting to see how the further stations in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor shake out, as at least toward Virginia Square and Ballston, the sidewalks seem plenty wide enough to install stations without taking up street space. For anyone who uses the Pentagon/Crystal City spaces, are they primarily in the road or on the sidewalks?

by Jacques on Apr 25, 2011 10:13 am • link • report

Probably what bothers the Republicans most is the "the costly subsidized bicycle rental program" aspect of CaBi, less the parking.

by egk on Apr 25, 2011 10:40 am • link • report

Jacques,
I can't rattle off the exact locations of Crystal City stations I have used, but 3 out of 4 are on sidewalks. One at 23rd and Eads is on the street. I also know of one on the north end that sits on grass. Crystal City has tons of room due to the wide sidewalks and towers-in-the-park design intent.

by spookiness on Apr 25, 2011 10:41 am • link • report

Note that the bus study shows distances for riders, not all people. People living in low-income areas have lower opportunity cost of time so may be more willing to walk longer distances than, say, a lawyer, for whom 15 minutes could be $100 in billables.

by ah on Apr 25, 2011 10:41 am • link • report

@egk:

Probably what bothers the Republicans most is the "the costly subsidized bicycle rental program" aspect of CaBi, less the parking

I think there's a simpler explanation: Republicans care about a) lowering taxes on the wealthy; and b) upsetting Jane Fonda.

"People riding bicycles" seems like something that would give a Fonda a brief frisson of pleasure, therefore, Republicans are against it.

by oboe on Apr 25, 2011 10:50 am • link • report

Orange plays race card in final weekend...

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Orange is playing the race card? This is so completely out of character, I'm concerned. Perhaps he's suffered a minor stroke, or something!

by oboe on Apr 25, 2011 10:53 am • link • report

No mention of Dennis Jaffe - Biddle's Deputy Campaign Manager - describoing Bryan Weaver's campaign as "whitecentric" ???

by Dizzy on Apr 25, 2011 11:02 am • link • report

Half the traffic on NY Ave goes into the Center Leg Freeway to cross DC between MD & VA. The Comprehensive Plan, which is DC law, says the Center Leg tunnel is to be closed.

Obey the law, close the tunnel, and traffic problem solved.

by Tom Coumaris on Apr 25, 2011 11:15 am • link • report

From what I understood at the meetings about NY Ave construction is that the commuter incentive money is from the Feds as part of the work not DC.

by Sally on Apr 25, 2011 11:22 am • link • report

Cabi in Rosslyn doesn't make much sense. I can't see too many people wanting to huff it up the hill to places like Clarendon to Ballston.

Does Georgetown have a station?

by TGEoA on Apr 25, 2011 11:31 am • link • report

Cabi in Rosslyn doesn't make much sense.

It does for me. I ride from Rosslyn to Crystal City every day.

by Vinh An Nguyen on Apr 25, 2011 11:38 am • link • report

Cabi in Rosslyn doesn't make much sense.

I work in VA, and sometimes I like to spend my evening in Georgetown, and bikeshare would get me across the Key bridge much more quickly.

I didn't know the Rosslyn stations had already been set up, and when I was walking across the bridge, I saw five people on bikeshare, and I thought to myself, "Where did they get those?!" I was so jealous as they zipped past me. The stations in Rosslyn weren't very visible.

According to the bikeshare web site, the station in Georgetown is south of the canal at Wisconsin. So you can ride the bike from Rosslyn, then take it through the Key park, and down across that canal bridge there. And according to the map, the station looks to be a straight shot down the canal. I'm exited to use it next time I want to go to Georgetown.

by MC on Apr 25, 2011 11:45 am • link • report

Cabi in Rosslyn doesn't make much sense.

It does to this Georgetowner, providing a quicker trip to the Orange or Blue line from my house near the Safeway on Wisconsin, with a straight shot down 34th and over the bridge. Also, I have a number of friends in Rosslyn/Courthouse apartments that are now much easier to visit without a car.

by Jacques on Apr 25, 2011 11:49 am • link • report

I would guess that Arlington Republicans can't be reasonable Republicans because they have to get along with party members from the rest of the Commonwealth. Similarly Virginia doesn't allow the formation of local political parties.

by S.B. on Apr 25, 2011 11:49 am • link • report

One at 23rd and Eads is on the street.

Ugh. I *hate* that one. Very difficult to get in/out of quickly or safely.

by andrew on Apr 25, 2011 11:59 am • link • report

IMO, height has never been a problem for the proposed buildings in the Hine project. I can think of plenty of reasons to oppose the buildings before even thinking about how tall the buildings are.

by andrew on Apr 25, 2011 12:00 pm • link • report

Let's see, if Gabe Klein ran for office with the message, "He bikes like you. He speaks to your concerns. He has a history of working for you."

Would that be racist? Of course not.

Was Orange being political. Of course he was.

by HogWash on Apr 25, 2011 12:04 pm • link • report

@David Alpert Some Maryland officials support TOD only in theory...Comptroller Peter Franchot says he supports TOD, but he's more concerned with keeping Anne Arundel County drivers happy.

Is that really an accurate characterization of Peter Franchot? According to the article, he voted for the move to the TOD. Not everyone can just pick up and move to Prince Georges County because their employer makes such a relocation. People who now bike, walk, or take short drives to Crownsville would thus face much longer commutes. Best I can tell, Franchot is arguing that the move should be to New Carrollton, not Naylor Road. That way, state employees--who lately have seen real pay cuts--will see their commuting time increase 20 minutes rather than more than an hour.

by Jim T on Apr 25, 2011 12:09 pm • link • report

@MC; actualy, it won't be that easy.

You'll have to take M all the way to Wisconin, cross, then go down half way to find the station. Damn strange.

As I've said before, would be better to have a station near Key Park or Cady's ally to drop a bike from Rosslyn off at.

by charlie on Apr 25, 2011 12:14 pm • link • report

Coded messages leveraging race are all over the place. Stop whining now that the shoe may be on the other foot. In fact, the furor over the Orange flier is as much a part of the game as the flier itself, if not more.

by W Jordan on Apr 25, 2011 12:30 pm • link • report

@HogWash:

I think changing it to "bike" gives it more credibility. If it had said "Gabe Klein walks likes us" I might be a little more suspicious. Though given his history with DDOT, I could see what they were going for. Perhaps "Klein drinks at your Starbucks" or "Klein goes to see the same 80's cover bands as you do" would be more appropriate? But I agree with you that Orange isn't being racist, just playing dog whistle identity politics (which I despise, unless the dog whistle is aimed toward me).

by Steven Yates on Apr 25, 2011 12:36 pm • link • report

Let's see, if Gabe Klein ran for office with the message, "He bikes like you. He speaks to your concerns. He has a history of working for you."

I agree that alternate-universe Klein's campaign literature was unnecessarily divisive--or at least would have been had he not changed it to focus on "bikes". And changed "talks like us" to "speaks to your concerns". Very clever alternate universe Klein. Very clever.

by oboe on Apr 25, 2011 12:39 pm • link • report

@Matt W: TM, there are no guarantees in a special election.

But the people who make correct predictions should get more respect in the future. That's the scientific method.

by David desJardins on Apr 25, 2011 12:40 pm • link • report

@W Jordan - Coded messages leveraging race are all over the place. Stop whining... Yeah. We should never expect anyone to ever take the high road.

by Tina on Apr 25, 2011 12:41 pm • link • report

Thanks all. Didn't realize Georgetown has a station.

by TGEoA on Apr 25, 2011 12:45 pm • link • report

@Steven Yates: "just playing dog whistle identity politics..."

Except that everyone can hear the whistle he blew, so I wonder if this stunt backfired.

by goldfish on Apr 25, 2011 12:46 pm • link • report

There's a CaBi station at the front gates of Georgetown University (37th and O Streets) also.

by Dizzy on Apr 25, 2011 12:49 pm • link • report

Never underestimate the power of the DC GOP in extremely low turnout special elections. They have an uncanny voting %.

My guess is Weaver may be the spoiler for what should be a GOP cakewalk.

by Tom Coumaris on Apr 25, 2011 12:53 pm • link • report

Re: Election

True, the WaPo article didn't point out a clear favorite, though they think three have the best chance: Orange, Biddle, and Mara. They seem to think that Lopez or Weaver could surprise, and without saying it in so many words, no one else even matters. So for those who are at least OK with 4 out of 5 of those candidates and really dislike one of them (Orange), they still have some thinking to do, particularly if their favorite is Weaver or Lopez.

by Steven Yates on Apr 25, 2011 12:53 pm • link • report

Steven, I agree and at the end of the day, that's all it is, identity politics.

It is the same sort of politics used to attract women, homosexuals, elderly, middle and upper class voters. We shouldn't make more out of it simply because Orange is black man campaigning in a black ward.

The media attaches the narrative which explains GGW's position that the flier was "racially charged."

by HogWash on Apr 25, 2011 12:55 pm • link • report

As a Republican (gasp!) and an Arlington resident, and I can tell you that using the CaBi is something I would use extensively. I ride every day to work on my own bike working in Georgetown, but some days it's a good day to ride in, but not always to ride home, not to mention the hill. Some days I'd like to be able to ride in, and not have a bike to deal with in the evening, for happy hours etc. So having the option of taking the metro to Rosslyn from Ballston, then a bike to work, it's a great idea.

I can't tell you how frustrating the GOP here can be, with their 100% dashboard mentality. Freedom of choice also means freedom from HAVING to own a car, so having options is great. I have a car myself and like having it, but also like having the option to use transit, to have a bike and to walk. If the GOP here doesn't wake up to the reality of Arlington/Washington Urban life they will remain at 20%. They need to be more responsive to the real desires of their constituency and realize that if I wanted to live in a sea of asphalt and parking lots, and wanted to avoid walking at all costs, I'd live in Manassas, not in Arlington thank you. Just because I'm in favor of living in a city, doesn't mean I'm a central planning statist bent on taking away freedom.

by Boots on Apr 25, 2011 1:58 pm • link • report

+1 Boots.

by Michael Perkins on Apr 25, 2011 2:12 pm • link • report

Very glad DCist did a rundown on candidates, as I did not know Weaver came to DC with Paul Wellstone... he's got my vote for that reason alone. I cannot go for Mara or Orange... and Biddle doesn't appeal to me... glad I learned this today. Yeah.

by greent on Apr 25, 2011 2:17 pm • link • report

David desJardins: that would depend on the reasoning behind the correct prediction. A stopped clock, and all that. Might be fun (and potentially mortifying) to have a prediction thread.

by Matt W on Apr 25, 2011 3:54 pm • link • report

Republicans are conservatives. Conservatives, by definition, hate change. Making a parking space into a bikeshare space is change, so they hate it.

Go ahead and plant a cancer-curing tree in a parking spot. They'll hate that too. Change is always bad.

by JJJJJ on Apr 25, 2011 4:01 pm • link • report

Cutting taxes on the rich to increase the deficit is a Republican idea, but it's not a conservative idea. The two are not the same.

by David desJardins on Apr 25, 2011 4:40 pm • link • report

Republicans are conservatives. Conservatives, by definition, hate change. Making a parking space into a bikeshare space is change, so they hate it.

Yes, can you imagine if someone tried to roll back the social compacts we've had since the New Deal? Man, those "conservatives" would be so darned angry!

by oboe on Apr 25, 2011 10:26 pm • link • report

Damn you, @DdJ, for pre-plagiarizing my comment!

by oboe on Apr 25, 2011 10:32 pm • link • report

Bus stop proximity by income: Bus riders have shorter walks to the bus stop in DC's high-income neighborhoods than in its low-income neighborhoods. And also shorter waits and more reliable schedules. The city gives transit-dependent neighborhoods worse service because it can. It always has.

by jonah on Apr 26, 2011 10:56 pm • link • report