Comments on Morning links: Not going down - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by Teyo

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:30:47 EDT

I saw the self driving car by the Capitol last evening while biking. I wasn't quick enough with my phone to get a photo or I would've sent it in.

Comment by Payton

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:27:06 EDT

Even downtown businesses consistently overestimate the percentage of their customers who arrive by car. Countless surveys of customers in urban business districts show that large majorities of customers do not arrive in cars -- and the ability of such business districts to thrive without mall-style oceans of parking (thus enabling the walkable cluster of shops in the first place) should be a testament to that.

A smart BID would commission such a survey before splashing out any money on parking or other transportation improvements.

Comment by selxic

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:54:51 EDT

Customers come from traffic. Traffic doesn't exist only with a negative connotation.

Comment by Scoot

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:53:59 EDT

As a resident of Adams Morgan, I am glad for the calming effect that the construction has brought to the area. I am confident that the businesses which actually added something to the community will bounce back pretty quickly. I'm hoping that the improved steetscape will bring with it an improved customer base.

Comment by AWalkerInTheCity

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:33:51 EDT

Yay for City of Alex!! Thats huge news.

FFX county wants a planner who can bike? I take it that will be a bike or bike/ped focused planner?

Comment by JustMe

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:10:20 EDT

Some local businesses worry traffic won't bounce back to what it was before construction

Strange that they would confuse "traffic" with "customers."

How much of A-M's business activity is because of people who drive to and park right on the main drag? It can't be a huge portion... most people arrange alternative transportation there, either on foot, metro, or cab, and those who drive are probably going to park elsewhere.

Comment by Alex B.

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:06:16 EDT

@charlie

Charge disabled parkers the same rate as everyone else, and the financial incentive for placard fraud will disappear.

The system is only unenforceable because we've set it up that way. If you structure it so that it can actually be enforced, then there won't be a major problem.

Comment by X

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:01:05 EDT

Yay for Adams-Morgan. Now lets do the same for M street in Georgetown. It'd be nice to be able to walk next to my wife for a distance of more than a couple strides or so.

Comment by Ben Ross

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:57:20 EDT

Obviously, planners need to be able to carry 25 pound reports as well as write them.

Comment by charlie

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:47:39 EDT

It's time to end the disabled tag program and benefits for street parking.

You can't monitor the fraud. If private lot owners want -- or need -- to comply with ADA rules on giving spots to disabled people, fine.

But there is no need to do so with street parking. What's more it is unfair -- you have no idea what spot or block is going to be popular.