Bicycling

Listen: Perspectives on DDOT's downtown bicycle plans

by Stephen Miller   •   March 22, 2010 11:04 am

At Thursday's downtown cycle track meeting, the room was full of people with a lot to say about DDOT's ambitious plans.

DDOT envisions physically separated bicycle lanes on major downtown streets - including Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th, 9th, L and I Streets - as early as May. At last week's meeting, cyclists, residents, advocates, DDOT staffers and area workers offered comment on the designs. Here is some of what they had to say:

Jim Sebastian, DDOT Bicycle Program Manager
"We were at CFA today; we got some feedback. We should get their final report next week. NCPC has sent us a letter supporting the concept... It seems quick, but we've been working on this for a while. It was surprising how many of the stakeholders were supportive."

Henry Mesias, Washington Area Bicyclist Association
"We really like the cycle tracks. At the same time, we have some suggestions... We wonder why there's not a cycle track on M as opposed to I and L... We'd really like to see better bicycle facility integration around Mt. Vernon Square."

Cheryl Cort, Coalition for Smarter Growth
"This is fantastic for the city... The key concerns I have is on I Street. Metro and DDOT just worked together on a study... It proposed ... a dedicated transit lane [on H and I Streets] during rush hour. I'm disappointed that the same DDOT has created plans for a protected bike lane that will not include provisions for buses."

Nate Evans, Baltimore City Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner
"Compared to Baltimore, DC is eons ahead... If it was going to be innovative to them then it had to be out of sight. We had a test pattern for a green bike lane and it's held up pretty well... adjacent to where we had it done, the bike lane is not green and people park in it all the time."

Becca Homa, District resident and cyclist
"There aren't a lot of bike facilities right in downtown...You come down either from the east or the north and then you're just out of luck... Having been a bike commuter in New York City and utilized the 9th Avenue cycle track, I think it's a great, safe idea."