So we should stop pretending that we allow architects and developers to build on sites and just put that power directly into the hands of ANC's. That way when we have a problem with a design no one in the ANC can claim that we "must work for the developer".

by X on May 24, 2012 9:01 am • link • report

Re: CaBi getaway vehicle

Maybe we need to post license plate-style panels with numbers on the backs of bikeshare bikes so cyclists breaking the law can be held accountable?

by MDE on May 24, 2012 9:49 am • link • report

DC residents tried to leave constituent complaints such as the need for Metro funding and pothole repair for Trent Franks

Sounds like a poorly planned action, as Rep Franks was far away in AZ.

by Jasper on May 24, 2012 9:53 am • link • report

Re: 500 parking spaces at Barclays Center in Bkln---well, duh. Seem that that many (or fewer) spaces at Verizon Center seems to work okfine.

by DC Dave on May 24, 2012 9:58 am • link • report

It's SHRANK and not SHRUNK ("Hine SHRANK a small amount..."). [Deleted for violating the comment policy.]

by SJW on May 24, 2012 10:42 am • link • report

@MDE
I think IDs on CaBis is a good idea. However, people don't seem to pay attention to license plates when they have an incident with a car, that I'm not sure they'd capture the ID on the bike. (People really should try to pay more attention to the license plate and make/model of a car when they get into a situation where a car is involved, instead of the person driving.) What I'm wondering is if the bikes have GPS beacon (or whatever they're called) if there is a way to pinpoint the member who had taken the bike out who was at that point at that time of the day. If the thief is a member then it seems likely you can catch him that way.

by dc denizen on May 24, 2012 10:51 am • link • report

@DC Dave

My guess is there is more like 3k spots within a few blocks of Verizon. Only a few are actually in the building, but there are definitely more than 500 cars driving to Capitals/Wizards/Circus/Concerts etc

by Kyle W on May 24, 2012 10:56 am • link • report

Whose park is it?

We had a similar issue in our neighborhood: an abandoned, overgrown lot at the end of the street, strewn with trash. At some point, the neighbors (mostly newcomers) got together and cleared it out, planted some stuff, put in a few chairs.

While most were supportive once the "park" was cleaned up, some old-timers were pretty vocal about how the lot was nicer "back in the day" and how the interlopers didn't respect its history.

Sometimes you just have to shrug and say, "whatever".

by oboe on May 24, 2012 11:10 am • link • report

@Kyle W -- you're probably right, but I think it shows that Barclays can likely get away with a similar number of slots (as long as there's some office space in the area). Arenas/stadiums use the off-hours (with the exception of weekday matinee performances) so it's typically a way to more efficiently use the parking that already exists.

by Jacques on May 24, 2012 11:34 am • link • report

the only way a cabi can be used as a getaway vehicle is if the crime is committed at the top of 16th street and the getaway route goes downhill.

by lefabe on May 24, 2012 11:34 am • link • report

Re: Transportation Enhancements funding. Misleading to say that the "Tea Party" is "trying to kill" this.

Even to the extent there is any single group or set of groups that can be identified as the "tea party" -- and there probably isn't -- the linked article doesn't tie anyone other than several House members who are popular with the Tea Party to opposition to TE.

by Arl Fan on May 24, 2012 11:36 am • link • report

Yes it is more accurate to say "Tea Party Republicans" rather than "the Tea Party" in these cases.

For the Bikeshare punch-and-snatch hopefully they can catch the person.

by MLD on May 24, 2012 11:51 am • link • report

Except for the tea party caucus thats led by Michelle Bachmann in the house.

by x on May 24, 2012 11:51 am • link • report

@Jacques

I totally agree, I think they are absolutely doing the right thing. I love how Verizon works, and how most people arrive on foot (even if they only walked from their car 3 blocks away)

I am pretty impressed by the way they are handling this new stadium, specifically parking obviously. Hopefully it works out as well there as it did in Chinatown here.

by Kyle W on May 24, 2012 11:53 am • link • report

Don't you have to register to use CaBi? Thus, doesn't CaBi have the name of the attacker somewhere in its system (or perhaps the name of the person he borrowed the bike from)?

It seems like the CaBi robbery would be pretty easy to solve. You get a list of every CaBi that was out at that time. That can't be more than few hundred. Then you eliminate all the females from your list since we know the attacker was a man. If the victim knows the race, that narrows your list down even further. Now you have a list, run that list against previous arrests and chances are, you have found either your attacker or the friend of the attacker who loaned him the bike. A little bit of extra detective work, like checking alibis, and maybe a surveillance camera or two and you can prosecute.

Of course, complicating this is the fact that police are not permitted to access juvenile arrest records in DC, which means that if this attacker had committed the exact same crime, even multiple times, before he was 18, the MPD will never get to know about it. If there was ever a law that cried out for change, this is it. I am all for giving young kids who screw up a second chance, but this law amounts to a sort of amnesty for crimes, even violent crimes, committed by 16 and 17 year-olds well into lives of crime.

by dcdriver on May 24, 2012 1:36 pm • link • report

Maybe we need to post license plate-style panels with numbers on the backs of bikeshare bikes so cyclists breaking the law can be held accountable?

Yes, that might have helped in solving this one crime that will probably be solved anyway. Or it might not have. But it would definitely cost more money. And there is no way a criminal would learn to put duct tape over the plate before pulling the old smash and grab.

by David C on May 24, 2012 2:31 pm • link • report

No evidence whatsoever the 'Tea Party' is trying to kill transportation funding...but a nice catch phrase for a web site that seems to have lost its way promoting a 'GREATER' Washington. And still, no coverage her of the Federal report;level serious evidence of over-spending, fraud, no-bid contracts, etc. against the Silver Line managers -- MWAA. Why no coverage here? The WASHINGTON EXAMINER and AP has covered the scandal. Why not here? Just lame diatribes against the 'Tea Party' which is actually not an organized group...and governor of Virginia who has now been proven right about Silver Line spending.

by Pelham1861 on May 24, 2012 2:48 pm • link • report

@Pelham1861

You have got to be kidding me if you honestly believe the Tea Party is not trying to kill TE.

Keep burying your head in the sand I suppose...

by Kyle W on May 24, 2012 3:21 pm • link • report

The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the new home for the Nets, only has 500 parking spots near the areana.

Unless you were attempting to say there are only 500 spots in the area (not including the 500 that will have shuttles), arena is misspelled.

by selxic on May 24, 2012 3:54 pm • link • report

As horribly as The Nets have been playing lately (i.e. this past season), 500 parking spaces may be all they need for the whole crowd. Ha!

Maybe they will have a great season next year and NYC fans will flood the subways to come see them...

by wylie coyote on May 24, 2012 4:30 pm • link • report

What's sad about the Tea Party trying to kill bike/ped funding is that both fiscal AND conservative arguments can be made *FOR* bike/ped funding, rather than against it.

by Froggie on May 25, 2012 11:59 am • link • report

"It seems like the CaBi robbery would be pretty easy to solve. You get a list of every CaBi that was out at that time. That can't be more than few hundred. Then you eliminate all the females from your list since we know the attacker was a man. If the victim knows the race, that narrows your list down even further."

CaBi doesn't ask for race when you sign up, at least they didn't ask me. Did they ask anyone else?

by wylie coyote on May 25, 2012 12:29 pm • link • report