Hmm...Americans walk very little?

All I hear on GGW is we are dramatically underfunding pedestrians and bikes given how much we walk..,

by charlie on Apr 11, 2012 8:55 am • link • report

Thats because the number of cyclists/pedestrians still outnumber the amount of funding dedicated to it. And the benefits are exponential when funding is committed to certain walking programs.

by Canaan on Apr 11, 2012 9:00 am • link • report

The pedicab -- Park Police spat is turning into a real issue. I don't know why the PP have it in for these guys, but I have heard quite a few stories about this and it has gone too far.

It is time for the politicians to do their job.

by goldfish on Apr 11, 2012 9:10 am • link • report

@goldfish "I don't know why the PP have it in for these guys"

Probably because the Park Police guys tend to be law and order types of individuals, while the guys pedalling the cabs are more your non-conventional "long haired" types. So, what's probably intended simply as 'free expression' (such as filming 12 inches from the cop's face) can easily be (mis?)interpretted as 'disrespect'.

by Lance on Apr 11, 2012 9:24 am • link • report

From the link: "In 20, 30, 40 years, if we don't have a rail line, people will look at this and say, 'Why isn't there a rail line out here?' " said Supervisor Jeff McKay, D-Lee.

Almost correct. In For 20, 30, 40 years, if we don't have not had a rail line, people will have looked at this and sayid, 'Why isn't there a rail line out here?'

by Jasper on Apr 11, 2012 9:28 am • link • report

@charlie: I feel that you are being disingenous, but there is a two-part answer to your question.

First: Americans in general do walk very little; however, DC with a better walking infrastructure than say, Middle-Sized City, Ohio, has more walkers than average. So it can be true based on the needs of DC that we are dramatically underfunding pedestrians/cyclists even though due to there being more MidCity Ohios than DCs, it is still accurate to say Americans do not walk. In other words, there may indeed be untapped demand for the walking/cycling infrastructure of DC to resemble certain European cities (not necessarily NYC) that it has much in common with that again, MidCity Ohio does not.

Second: It also appears that MidCity, Ohio wouldn't mind having a walkable district or two. This does not necessarily mean MidCity wants to be DC, but it means that for the young folks/retiring baby boomers who are finding the value of living in apartments in a central district also think "everyday retail" should be integrated.

In short, while the current situation is dismal in comparison to the rest of the world, there is untapped demand for walking throughout the US, and if engaged, it will indubitably manifest in somewhat different ways due to regional differences in land use and climate.

by Jen on Apr 11, 2012 9:32 am • link • report

@ charlie:Americans walk very little?

All I hear on GGW is we are dramatically underfunding pedestrians and bikes given how much we walk..,

You can't walk if there's no infrastructure to walk in. The same was said about biking in DC. "Noooo, Americans don't bike". They painted a few lanes, and look what's happening.

@ Lance:Probably because the Park Police guys tend to be law and order types of individuals, while the guys pedalling the cabs are more your non-conventional "long haired" types. So, what's probably intended simply as 'free expression' (such as filming 12 inches from the cop's face) can easily be (mis?)interpretted as 'disrespect'.

Funny you say that. I wonder why the law and order types of individuals turn to violent arrests for legal acts. Please cite the law that demands respect for violent lawbreakers.

by Jasper on Apr 11, 2012 9:33 am • link • report

It seems lately every event requiring street closures has had way too many cops standing at every closed street, just blocking traffic, often with a cop car with the motor running. This no doubt adds to the cost. First off, most streets should be fine with just a blockade placed there. Secondly, it would be cheaper to use DDOT personnel rather than cops for most of these duties.

by M.V. Jantzen on Apr 11, 2012 9:34 am • link • report

@Lance, I am personally acquainted with a pedicab operator. He is anything but a "long-haired type."

The pedicab people are not ne'er-do-wells, nor are they free-thinking 60s-type anarchists, or anything like that. They are in a business. For the cops to be arresting normally law-abiding citizens trying to legally earn a living is a problem, and a waste.

by goldfish on Apr 11, 2012 9:38 am • link • report

I think the near riots they had at last years Caribbean Day might had a role too.

by RJ on Apr 11, 2012 9:40 am • link • report

"Greensboro" - glad to hear that my native North Carolina is finally getting a metro station.

by oulz on Apr 11, 2012 9:42 am • link • report

Whoa, Lance, careful.
I'm a former (and hopefully, future) pedicab driver. When I drive, I get hassled by my girlfriend for not speeding. When I bike, I Idaho stop (because it's a different game when you're driving vs biking) but when I pedicab I follow the traffic laws (if not parking laws). Filming 12 inches from the face of anyone on public space, while annoying, is NOT illegal. I keep my hair short and religiously read GGW, among other news sources. Cops need not be respected if they flaunt their authority.
(/feeding the trolls)

by David F-H on Apr 11, 2012 10:00 am • link • report

Of course americans walk very little. Most of america is not dense urban centers where walking would be more common.

I'm not surprised we walk less than other industrialized nations. Many in this area piss fits when an escalator is out.

by HogWash on Apr 11, 2012 10:08 am • link • report

I definitely prefer Innovation Center over just Innovation, but I would prefer Greensboro Park over just Greensboro. I really wish they would change Wiehle-Reston East though.

by EN on Apr 11, 2012 10:11 am • link • report

WRT to race, I truly hoping that those who were upset and confused by how Biddle could lose, now understand why.

He doesn't even have the cajones to admit that there's a racial divide in the city. It's pretty clear that he'd rather not talk about acknowledge that fact lest it might make nonblacks uncomfortable.

What an unfortunate waste of space.

by HogWash on Apr 11, 2012 10:14 am • link • report

@EN

It's my understanding that "Reston" needed to be added to the Wiehle stop to get the name approved, but it could get changed to a secondary name or dropped in the future.

by MDE on Apr 11, 2012 10:22 am • link • report

@David F-H "Filming 12 inches from the face of anyone on public space, while annoying, is NOT illegal"

Wouldn't you agree it's 'disrespectful' at a minimum, and, 'asking for a confrontation' at its worst ... given that no one likes to be disrespected ... ?

by Lance on Apr 11, 2012 10:22 am • link • report

I find Innovation or Innovation Center to be a rather commercial sounding name, but it is better than a name with Rt. 28 or Dulles in it.

Greensboro with no Park? Ok, it is shorter. Have to give the pols credit for choosing the shorter name over adding references to nearby places to satisfy an interest group.

As for Wiehle-Reston East, the station will be the end of the Silver Line and the only station in Reston for 3-4 years until Phase 2 is complete. There may be another opportunity to revisit or tweak the names in 2017 if Phase 2 opens on schedule. Or, for that matter, when the Potomac Yards infill station is added, whenever it is actually built.

by AlanF on Apr 11, 2012 10:39 am • link • report

@EN & @MDE: It's also worth noting, Wiehle-Reston East wasn't a name that was just made up for the survey. It's currently a park & ride location.

by selxic on Apr 11, 2012 10:42 am • link • report

Re: walking - The difference between an urban and suburban lifestyle is stunning when it comes to walking. Recently I've been walking around with a pedometer just to see how much I walk on a regular basis. I live in suburbia, drive to a park-and-ride, take a bus, then metro, then walk to my office. Just the standard daily walking, without going more than a block away for lunch, is 6500-7000 steps. If I wander a few blocks away for lunch, I'll get to 8000, and if I take a longer walk at lunch I can easily exceed 10000. In contrast, on the weekend, even if I run a bunch of errands (grocery shopping, big box stores, etc) I'm unlikely to exceed 4000 steps. If all I did was drive to and from work in the suburbs, I probably wouldn't exceed 1000 in a day. Walking infrastructure is important, but I think the real driving factor is distance between points of interest. Up to a half mile, walking is a no-brainer. Up to a mile, it still probably makes sense. Beyond a mile, it rarely does. Bad walking infrastructure can discourage walking, but good walking infrastructure can't overcome the realities of suburban lifestyle.

by alison on Apr 11, 2012 10:51 am • link • report

What's really sad about that walking article is the picture of the girl who has been driven to the end of her driveway to catch the school bus. When we've reached that level of car-dependence there's no place to go but up.

by MLD on Apr 11, 2012 11:05 am • link • report

@Alison; I think you bring some good points, but I'd just say another advantage of "urban" life is there is more to do within that mile. I know it is far easier to walk a mile in downtown DC than it is in Arlington because there is more to catch your eye.

@MLD; ah, the glory days. I remember being driven to the end of the driveway as a special treat. It was during winter and you could sit in the car waiting for the bus.

by charlie on Apr 11, 2012 11:18 am • link • report

@Lance - it doesn't matter if it's rude or disrespectful, filming or photographing a police officer isn't against the law. Photography in general is not a crime! Police and other authority figures simply have to learn to deal with the fact that on a public street or in a public area, they, like any other person, can be photographed or videotaped. Wasn't there a similar case recently in Boston or New York, where the police department was forced by the courts to apologize and pay a hefty amount to the photographer?

by MrTinDC on Apr 11, 2012 11:30 am • link • report

@alison, charlie

Ah, the wonders of density. Even a modest level of it. To have stuff within walking distance, you need stuff at a certain density. That's one condition that needs to be met of many.

The older device to think about it is the "three D's" - density, diversity, design.

You need a certain level of density. That density has to have a sufficient diversity of use. And it needs to be designed in such a way that's conducive to walking.

Some make the case for a 4th D - destinations, but I think that could be encapsulated as a combination of both density and diversity.

by Alex B. on Apr 11, 2012 11:30 am • link • report

Might be useful for pedicab operators: http://gizmodo.com/5900680/7-rules-for-recording-police

by jyindc on Apr 11, 2012 11:56 am • link • report

@Lance: "There is no constitutional privilege to assault or harass an individual or to invade another's personal space". NY State Nat. Organization for Women v. Terry, 886 F. 2d 1339, Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 1989.

by Jim T on Apr 11, 2012 12:02 pm • link • report

so, if Loudoun County stupidly pulls out of the project, what will that mean for Phase 2 of the Silver Line? Will the project stop at Wiehle, or will Fairfax still build the other 3 stations in its jurisdiction? Anyone know?

by jkc on Apr 11, 2012 12:04 pm • link • report

so, if Loudoun County stupidly pulls out of the project, what will that mean for Phase 2 of the Silver Line

I don't think anyone really knows. Here's what Transpo Sec'y Connaughton said:

Connaughton said Monday that if Fairfax or Loudoun pulls out then negotiations for Phase 2 must start over because every agreement includes both counties.

“We’re going to be back to square one,” he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/funding-for-second-phase-of-metros-silver-line-uncertain/2012/04/09/gIQAcMvy6S_story.html

by Falls Church on Apr 11, 2012 12:12 pm • link • report

@Jim T, yes that's what I was trying to get across. Of course people have a right to photograph ... they just don't have a right to do it "12 inches from someone's face" ... I'm really surprised that's not something we all don't understand as being evident. At least to me, the action of filming "12 inches from someone's face" isn't at all about filming anything but instead about challenging someone. And when you challenge someone, you shouldn't be surprised when they accept your challenge. And to think the law will protect you when you've been the aggressor really demonstrates a lack of understanding that the law doesn't just protect your rights, but the rights of others too. It balances those rights.

by Lance on Apr 11, 2012 1:12 pm • link • report

Someone should make an anti-transit/anti-smart-growth soundboard app for the web or smart phones:

*boondoggle*, *socialism*, *unions*, *war on cars*, *war on drivers*, *freedom*, *Agenda 21*, *taxes*, *the taxpayer*, *nobody walks*, *nobody bikes*, *nobody uses transit*, *everybody lives in the suburbs*, *inner-city ghettos*, *crime*, *you're safe in a car*, *walking is dangerous*, *biking is dangerous*, *transit is dangerous*, *transit is dirty*, *transit is slow*, *inner-city thugs*, *waste*, *expensive*, *un-American*, *19th Century technology*, *everybody drives*, *illegals*, *noise*, *property values*, *elitists*, *Europe*, *European socialism*, *independence*, *no money*, *we're broke*, *communism*, *liberty*, *small government*, *environmentalist agenda*, *Drill, Baby, Drill*, *boondoggle*—oh wait, we did that one.

This app would be very helpful for writing anti-transit articles and would save Kotkin, Cox, O'Toole et al. much time!

by Roger on Apr 11, 2012 1:13 pm • link • report

@HogWash,

I hate to rise to the (race) bait, but wasn't Orange the one who "walks and talks like everyone everywhere in the city?" Politicians downplay such things when it serves them, and pander to the racially conscious when it suits their purposes.

Funny thing is, one could just as well make the argument that the "divide" is a class divide rather than a racial divide. As the middle-class continues to grow as a percentage of DC's population, we'll continue to see the polarization wane.

Which will result in fewer "signifying" candidates like Barry.

by oboe on Apr 11, 2012 1:29 pm • link • report

I hate to rise to the (race) bait, but wasn't Orange the one who "walks and talks like everyone everywhere in the city?

Sure he did. But what does that have to do with Biddle not believing there's a racial divide in the city? I'm less likely to support or even "understand" any candidate who is willing to downplay race to the extent that Biddle is. I tend to have little respect for them.

I agree that there is a class divide wrt support for/against certain policies but also believe that overall, DC is a racially divided city (that might be exacerbated by class) I'm much less optimistic than you that the city will become less polarized once we have an even larger middle class.

BTW, I don't think I've seen "signifying" used in the 21st century to describe someone, especially someone black. I know it was popular during the "signifying monkey" era of the 80's.

Interesting choice of words.

by HogWash on Apr 11, 2012 4:32 pm • link • report

BTW, I don't think I've seen "signifying" used in the 21st century to describe someone, especially someone black. I know it was popular during the "signifying monkey" era of the 80's.

Interesting choice of words.

Glad I could be of interest.

http://changingminds.org/explanations/critical_theory/concepts/signifier_signified.htm

by oboe on Apr 11, 2012 6:02 pm • link • report

@Lance Sure, you don't have the explicit right to stick a camera close to an officer's face, but regardless, it's not an arrestable crime! Photography of a law enforcement officer, from a distance, from close up, in an annoying fashion, whatever, is not a crime. The videographer was not impeding the PP officer in any way.

by Mr T in DC on Apr 11, 2012 10:02 pm • link • report

@Hogwash

What an unfortunate waste of space.

So, speculating on the changes that result from someone's death is offensive, but calling someone a "waste of space" is kosher? Is that correct?

by David C on Apr 12, 2012 10:35 pm • link • report

@Jen

I've been to Middle-Sized City, Ohio for their annual Average Festival. It wasn't as big as I expected, but it wasn't small either. The Miss Goldilocks pageant was the highlight for me.

by David C on Apr 12, 2012 10:37 pm • link • report

I witnessed the event. The camera was 3-4 feet from the officer, not 12 inches, just another one of Officer Blake's falsehoods. And forcibly resist? Common guys. You think we're that stupid?

by pedicabber on Apr 14, 2012 10:46 pm • link • report