Comments on Lincoln Park CaBi station decision imminent - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by B Pate

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:44:02 EDT

No ANC meeting regarding the location occurred. Rather, the current ANC6B05 commish organized an unofficial meeting among himself, DDOT and a few neighbors. Other neighbors, self included (I live four doors down from the SE location), were never notified about the meeting and therefore never received a chance to weigh in on the issue. The ANC6A commissioner who complained at Monday's meeting was not angry about the new location of the station, per say, rather he was upset that his constituents were not extended the same courtesy as the select few of his fellow commissioner. That seems like a reasonable complaint to me.

As for those who think GGW's coverage of the Lincoln Park CaBi station is overkill, I beg you to reconsider, as the matter is representative of several other significant issues in our city. Chiefly:

a) Who controls our green space? NPS, the city or the citizens? Until DC achieves full sovereignty, at Lincoln Park at least, we need a sustainable usage plan to mitigate similar issues in the future.

b) How healthy are our local democratic institutions? Our ANC system is unique. If it functions in an opaque environment of complacency, comprised of self-anointed elites, it is an albatross. If the system harnesses citizen participation and facilitates a vibrant civic discourse, it is a boon.

c) What hurdles will CaBi face as it expands to achieve the desired density of one station every five blocks? Lincoln Park is the tip-o'-the-iceberg. If we want CaBi to be a successful system a la Montreal and London, DDOT needs to learn a lesson from this experience and prepare a more robust outreach plan for future stations in even more sensitive residential areas.

d) It says something about the challenge of having an unemotional debate over something as benign as a bicycle. Fortunately, Monday night's meeting was mainly constructive, though it was disheartening to see neighbors whom I know well reduced to name calling and near fist-a-cuffs after the meeting. Surely we can transcend our labels and labeling (NIMBY, New Urbanist, Progressive, Old Guard, Gentrifier, Gentrified, etc, etc.) to find win-win solutions. After all, that is the best way to achieve a greater greater Washington.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Chris Holben for not only attending the meeting, but for doing a diplomatic job of handling the many questions he received. His demeanor and style kept the meeting constructive.

Comment by David C

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:31:07 EDT

Just because don't agree 100% with something you're completely NIMBY, and against it. m, I guess it's easier to make up a fake, unreasonable position for your opposition than to argue against what they've actually said. BTW, I totally oppose your position supporting child slavery.

Comment by Dave

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:24:51 EDT

Was there any discussion about whether the station at 13th and D St NE would remain?

Comment by petrograd

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:31:35 EDT

I was at the meeting last night and found it to generally be civil and favorable for CaBi, despite a few uncomfortable moments and some serious tension in the room. I left early, however, so I didn't get to see the end of it, but...

Apparently there was some sort of physical altercation last night after the meeting involving a supporter and non-supporter of CaBi. One of the residents near the SE triangle is alleging that he's received death threats over his opposition. I kid you not, read it on TBD:

http://tbd.ly/cMKpq8

Comment by Trulee Pist

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:04:46 EDT

@ JC, the SE site is in ANC6B, and as far as I know, ANC6B has never publicly had a discussion about the SE site. Did ANC6B Commissioner Kenan Jarboe privately go to DDOT and put the kibosh on the SE site? I don't know. He won't say.

I agree with David that the correct venue for this discussion is in public at an ANC meeting, but ANC6B is notorious for refusing to discuss issues of public policy in public.

If there was an ANC6A Commissioner who argued against the NE site, at least s/he did so in public where s/he can be held accountable. Nonetheless, too bad if ANC6A is not embracing the CaBi site.

All this is especially troubling since the CaBi's at Eastern Market Metro and Safeway at 14th and Kentucky are in place and working well. Why isn't the actual positive experience of those CaBi's given "great weight" when neighbors make up potential hazards that won't really develop?

I'm glad ANC6B candidate Brian Pate decided to show up with a concrete solution for public discussion. He'd be a great addition to ANC6B.

Comment by David Alpert

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:03:03 EDT

JC, that would be a great process if that's what DDOT did. But it's not. Instead, they just deleted the station and told residents the station was deleted. ANC supporters of the station then organized the meeting to resurrect the station and asked DDOT to attend.

If after the first objections DDOT had said publicly, we're getting some complaints, so we'll wait until the ANC has a chance to weigh in among some alternatives, that would have been a great process.

Comment by JC

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:46:34 EDT

I really object to GGW's coverage of this issue with regard to DDOT, and alleging that this episode is somehow illustrative of the Fenty administration. It seems to me, DDOT followed a clear and obvious process during this whole issue. They went to the first ANC meeting, were presented with a strong amount of neighbor opposition (whatever its merits), so they put their plan on ice and went back to the drawing board.

GGW seems to think that DDOT should have gone around and done some sort of survey or neighborhood vote. Well, the neighbors have an opportunity and a venue every month to communicate with DDOT about these issues... THE ANC MEETING!!! So at the first meeting the neighbors are against it, DDOT acknowledges and respects their position on the issue, this becomes public, there is media coverage (GGW is in fact part of this process), then there's an outcry. DDOT comes back at the next meeting after the outcry, and presents another option that is favorably received.

This is the process. GGW acts like DDOT should go to some other lengths to evaluate neighbor opinion. They should not. Neighbors that care should go to the established venue to communicate between neighborhoods and the city... ANC meetings. In fact most neighbors that REALLY care do go, and for their trouble, the GGW crowd calls them NIMBY's.

Sure, I get it, reasonable people that don't care one way or the other if such and such coffee shop stays open an hour later or not, and they don't want to spend their weekday nights amongst a bunch of opinionated yelling. However, that is one cost in our democratic process. If you want things to go your way, you have to show up and speak up.

If I'm wrong, then what should DDOT have done to get the neighborhood's opinion? Perhaps send everyone a SurveyMonkey link? Go door to door and ask? Set up a table in Lincoln Park and wait for people to stop by? I'd like to hear what GGW thinks the process should be.

The fact is, as per Home Rule, ANCs get to weigh-in, and the city is obliged to listen, it doesn't mean ANCs make the right decisions, or that they even represent the majority opinion of the neighborhood, just that of the ANC commissioners and the loudest yellers from the crowd.

Comment by jcm

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:39:10 EDT

Is there any chance we get the Tiger grant for expansion? I haven't been following the news. Another 1000 stations would completely transform the system.

Comment by TR

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:25:25 EDT

Re: NPS land. DDOT said they have to work through a lot of red tape to get access to these lands. It hinges on Cabi being a "transit system" rather than a "rental system" - which most users would agree that it is. I don't know many advocates who want to rent a Cabi bike to leisurely tour the mall. The pricing isn't really suited for that type of use.

Also, to further clarify DDOT's stance on the SE vs. NE corner of the park. Holben said that the SE site had been selected, but when neighbors complained, the site was revisited. Their concerns, which Holben listed (children safety, noise, crime, etc..) were deemed not a concern to DDOT. However, Holban said when they revisited the sites,a as a result of the complaints, the NE triangle was seen as a better option because it is wider and can more easily accommodate a larger station.

The ANC commissioner for 6A was very hostile to the fact that the bike station would be moved from 6B to 6A, when in my view, he should have seen this as the benefit it is to the nearby residents.

DDOT should have a decision within a matter of days on the Lincoln Park Station. Something could be installed within a week to 10 days and I came away from the meeting with the impression that this was exceedingly likely.

Comment by m

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:08:16 EDT

@Lee You know, it's a black and white world. Just because don't agree 100% with something you're completely NIMBY, and against it.

Comment by ErikD

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:07:20 EDT

I was at the meeting too, one thing that was mentioned is that Capitol Bikeshare has 3000 members so far, and has made 15,000 trips.

Comment by Ward 1 Guy

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:37:52 EDT

We MUST figure out a way to get NPS to allow bikeshare stations on their land. This is just ridiculous. So many spots in DC are only accessible by tourmobile it's ridiculous. Forget about pocket parks. How about the Western end of the Mall, East and West Potomac Park, the National Arboretum.

Comment by Tour guide

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:30:59 EDT

My understanding is that the concession belongs to the Tourmobile folks. The current Ticketmaster price for an adult ticket for one day of Tourmobile is $30 (plus fees). The current price for a one day bike rental from Capitol Bike share is $5. BTW If the NPS ever cancels Tourmobile's contract, the contract requires that NPS buy the vehicles. Not alot of free enterprise here.

Comment by yupsis

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:29:38 EDT

@Lee
Hehe, you are right. Ggw gets a little obsessed about these little details don't they. Conspiracy theory almost. If you want max community involvement, that is what you get. DDOT can't catch a break with these guys it seems.

Comment by Paul

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:18:12 EDT

Who holds the concession in park lands? Can the contract simply be terminated (for cause) or bought out? I don't see this mysterious "concessionaire" doing much with their bike share/bike rental program.

Comment by lee in DC

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:02:45 EDT

That's alot of info for where to place 1 of 100 bike stations. Good info, but alot.