Go Home Already: Shouts and Murmurs
Man Stops Traffic at 17th and K to Demand $200 Million
Compromise Uncertain on Same-Sex Marriage Law
Morning Roundup: Second Helpings Edition
Fire at 17th and L NW Forces Evacuations
If you've been waiting for an official endorsement of your plan to rollerskate to work, this is about as close as you're going to get.
Today the D.C. Council unanimously endorsed legislation that designated September 18, 2007 as "D.C. Car-Free Day." The measure, which follows World Car-Free Day, currently celebrated in 1,500 cities in 40 countries, was sponsored by Councilmembers Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) and council Chair Vincent Gray. Wells bikes to work most days, and recently sponsored legislation that would do away with the District's antiquated system of mandatory registration and provide additional bicycle parking spaces outside buildings in the city.
We're all well aware of the traffic that plagues our region, so small steps, even if they are merely symbolic, are welcome. And for those of you that drive in from outside the District and aren't planning on giving up your car, this is but a test-run for what's coming on September 19 -- "Commuter Tax, Bitches! Day."
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
"test-run for what's coming on September 19 -- "Commuter Tax, Bitches! Day."
Which narrowly beat out the more hostile, "Metro or Die, Motherfuckers" Day, strongly supported by WMATA.
Washington teenagers can't wait for September 22nd. They free dozens of DC drivers of their cars every weekend.
So the City Council moons the mayor by not approving Victor R's appointment, but takes the time to pass silly stuff like this. Vote the jokers out!
Wells is off on a good foot, but I'm still holding out to see everyone else catch up in making DC a more bike, pedestrian and transit place to live and work. Symbolism is great, but only if its followed by practical policies and the funding needed to implement them.
Anyone know if Dan T. really did shun the city car offered to him in order to keep biking to work? I'd love to see Fenty's administration require staffers to use 'alternative' transportation at least 3 days a week to lead by example.
Can anybody point me to a resource on bike routes in the DC area? Or tell me how I'd bike from the Bethesda area to the Tysons area? I mean I'd love to bike to work and it's not a lot of miles, but I don't know how I'd get over that pesky river...
VJ, City Bikes has a couple of links on their web site
http://citybikes.com/page.cfm?pageID=81
If the Feds can give a tax break for hybrids, can't DC give one for going totally car free? Or at least supply free bike seats for children, like they do children's car seats?
VJ, couldn't you go down the Capital Crescent Trail to the Chain Bridge, then take Route 123 the whole way in? That'd only be about a five mile bike ride. Maybe not something you'd want to do regularly, but if you brought a change of clothes (and had access to a shower at or near work) it might not be a bad way to go occasionally.
Or you could get one of these and not break a sweat:
http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_detail.php?id=888
I must commend the DC city council on taking this progressive step toward making DC a more livable city and promoting transportation alternatives with their associated benefits.
I'm involved in a project that is planning an event to celebrate Car Free Day and promote alternative transportation, aptly named, CarFree DC. We're at www.carfreedc.info although there won't be much information until permitting details are finalized. Interested parties can contact me directly at william.fish at gmail.
Also, earlier someone asked for bike resources. I'd go to WABA at waba.org
I take it "A Day Without Pointless Feelgood Self-congratulatory Legislation Day" didn't make it out of committee.
Nice idea but about as effective as the "Don't Buy Gas as a Impotent Gesture to Big Oil Day" or "Give up Your Goddamned Gadgets and Teevee for 24-Hours You Fat Lazy F**k Day." I guess it helps raise awareness of dependence on cars/gadgets/the-cathode-ray-sugar-tit, but the next morning you're back at square one. Kinda like asking a junkie to give up smack in favor of low-impact aerobics, but hey, anything to get more people out of MY way.
Wow, I would LOVE a free car! Sign me up! Oh, wait, never mind.
seeing that my car broke this weekend, i've been living car-free for the past 5 days . . . and it's not so bad.
however, thinking about the volume of commuters already on the orange line at the end of the day, and how many more would be riding if they gave up their cars . . . i don't think DC's ready to become a perpetual sardine can.
or are we already . . .
Way to lead on such an important issue, DC Council!
I'll join the rest of you as soon as the Glover Park to Shirlington metro line is comlete.
"Can anybody point me to a resource on bike routes in the DC area? "
Besides the slew of bike and trail maps they have on their site, WABA also has a page of popular commuter routes: http://waba.org/areabiking/mentors.php
So, will Councilmembers not be driving to work that day as well? Can't wait to see Kwame Brown on a pennyfarthing, or a spandex-clad Mary Cheh gliding down 9th Street on her Bianchi. ROWWWWWRRRRR!
"Can anybody point me to a resource on bike routes in the DC area? "
Try this, it's not the most uptodate, but still pretty good.
http://www.bikewashington.org/
World Car-Free Day is Sept. 22, but the Council has made DC Car-Free Day the 18th? What's up with that?
Sept. 22 is a Saturday, so maybe they wanted to make it a weekday, but why not the 21st then?
"Can anybody point me to a resource on bike routes in the DC area?"
http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1245,q,629849,ddotNav,%7C32399%7C.asp
For DC bike routes go to:
http://www.waba.org
http://washcycle.typepad.com/
http://www.ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1245,q,629849,ddotNav,%7C32399%7C.asp
http://www.adcmap.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2042
http://bikewashington.org/