Weekend links: Rules matter

by Eric Fidler • September 24, 2011 1:05 pm

Photo by afsart on Flickr.

Maryland delegate charged with felony: Maryland Del. Tiffany T. Alston (D - Prince George's) is accused of misspending thousands of campaign dollars on a wedding and on payroll at her law firm. (Post)

Walk sign means walk with caution: A DC resident takes special care crossing streets, especially after her family witnessed several driver-pedestrian collisions. (Atlantic Cities)

Bus drivers predict fare arguments: The 2-decade-old Anacostia bus discount ends this week. Some bus drivers say WMATA hasn't publicized the change sufficiently and they worry they will have to argue with angry passengers. (Examiner)

Some embassies become Americans' homes again: Though Congo bought the historic Toutorsky Mansion for its embassy, several old embassies have been converted back to mansions or to condos. (Post)

Subway gets interactive displays: New York's subway is receiving several touchscreen information displays. The 47" displays will show travel alerts and feature a trip planner. Ads will finance the machines. (Popular Science)

Build bike infrastructure and business will come: Portland is discovering that businesses along popular bike routes are catering to cyclists. Even development projects are touting their bike-friendly amenities. (NYT)

YIMBY neighborhood association still has trouble: A Seattle neighborhood rallied for a light rail station in their neighborhood and to upzone around it. Now they say a developer is pushing the envelope too far. (Seattle Times)

And...: Construction of NYC's 2nd Ave subway has advanced 29 blocks in 16 months. (WSJ) ... New York has more economic, diplomatic, political, and cultural clout than a lot of sovereign countries. (Atlantic Cities) ... Take free walking tours and biking tours this weekend and next weekend all throughout DC.

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4 comments

Tags: Anacostia, bikes in buildings, DC, density, embassies, links, Maryland, Maryland legislature, Mike Bloomberg, Mount Pleasant, New York, Oregon, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, Portland, Prince George's, Seattle, Tiffany Alston, TOD, Washington State, WMATA

Eric Fidler has lived in DC and suburban Maryland his entire life. He likes long walks along the Potomac and considers the L'Enfant Plan an elegant work of art. He also blogs at Left for LeDroit, LeDroit Park's (only) blog of record.

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2d Ave Subway: Also 29 blocks in 39 years.

by ah on Sep 24, 2011 2:28 pm

Excellent article on pedestrian vulnerability in the Huffington Post. I know the feeling of satisfaction the writer must have had while in Canada, and the cops immediately pulled over the cyclist who nearly mowed her down. Something similar happened to me a few years ago, but the vehicle that nearly mowed me down was a car. Bam! Cop (secret service - that was back when they were responsive to things like that) stopped him and scolded him. Incredibly satisfying, mostly because justice is so rare.

But the writer makes great points, and it should be required reading for everyone on this blog!

I didn't know it was that dangerous in Mt Pleasant. Now I do.

by Jazzy on Sep 25, 2011 9:58 am

You may remember Tiffany Alston as one of the delegates that first co-sponsored the gay marriage legalization bill in the House earlier this year but then changed her mind and voted No, which helped kill the bill after it passed the Senate. I certainly do. May she resign in disgrace.

by Reza on Sep 26, 2011 2:12 am

Hear, hear, Reza.

by Geoffrey Hatchard on Sep 26, 2011 2:54 pm