Photo by Carbon Arc on Flickr.

Moving more quickly in the city

DDOT is raising speed limits by 5 mph on four streets: New York Avenue, Bladensburg Road, North Capitol Street, and Canal Road. (Post)  

Local commuters shift to transit

A higher proportion of the residents of all 5 jurisdictions served by Metro commute on public transit than in 1999. The rate of public transit commuting reached 37.5% in DC over 2007-11. (Examiner)  

Pay attention to DC’s gun victims

Courtland Milloy has an excellent column pointing out that when we all mourn the tragedy in Newtown, let’s also not forget the many DC victims of gun violence, including children, who get little attention. (Post)  

Courts may end DC’s concealed weapons ban

A federal appeals court’s ruling last week which overturned an Illinois ban on concealed weapons might mean the end of DC’s similar ban. No other state currently has a ban in effect. (DCist)  

Longer library hours?

DC’s Council may pass Jack Evans’ proposal to extend library hours, keeping all of the District’s libraries open 7 days a week, and until 9pm most weekdays. Libraries have been a frequent target of budget cuts. (Post)  

Tide turning on national VMT study?

Congressman Earl Blumenauer introduced a bill to mandate that Treasury study a VMT tax. The sponsor of a previous bill banning the USDOT from studying VMT tax lost reelection. (Streetsblog)  

Rising wealth reshapes region

The emergence of a greater number of very wealthy households in the DC area has led to new luxury-goods markets. One index estimates that the number of high net worth individuals has risen 30% since 2008. (Post)  

And…

Check out this collection of old DC transit photos (BeyondDC) … Britain also rarely prosecutes drivers who injure or kill cyclists. (ibikelondon, movement) … DCist runs through the wide range of Metro-themed gifts available.  

Conributors nominated as best “tweeps”

Greater Greater Washington editor Dan Malouff (@BeyondDC) and occasional contributors or cross-posters @StreetsblogDC, @DaveStroup, and @SharrowsDC all got nominations in the Post’s “DC Tweeps” contest. Greater Greater Washington got a nomination for favorite local blogger as well. You can vote until December 29.