DCist: Transit on Thursday: Walking Tall Edition

sameasiteverwas

Fri, 23 May 2008 13:44:43 -0500

@ reid: only in this country would traffic circles have lights to begin with. that said, the markings and lights in those circles are typically poorly planned and misleading (i'm thinking particularly of the new thomas circle, though it's not the only offender). the lanes change awkwardly, the lights are placed illogically, and bike lanes end abruptly. not sure what the pedestrian solution is, but enforcement of poor traffic signage is not the answer in my book.

bawler

Fri, 23 May 2008 09:46:06 -0500

I'm in total agreement with dcguy. If the District would hire a bunch of traffic cops to enforce existing laws against running red lights, sitting in the middle of the intersection at a red light, not yielding to peds, speeding, double parking and otherwise bad behavior -- the pedestrian experience would be much more pleasant and safe.

washcycle

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:37:00 -0500

The 2% number for bike share is probably inaccurate. The statistic is based on the response to the question "How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?" and allows for only one answer instructing the census taker to only check for the method that covered the most distance. This ignores people who only bike once a week, people who only bike during certain months of the year, people who bike to or from Metro, etc... Also the 2% is from a 2000 Census of the whole region. A more recent study of just the city put it closer to 7%. But still, more people walk and that's great too.

dcguy20001

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:17:32 -0500

There are thousands of parking enforcement people..why not have them start writing tickets for the jackasses that fail to stop at stop signs, clog intersections, fail to yield the right of way etc. Reid is right about traffic circles..getting across Dupont circle is like playing frogger.

Disco Stu

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:06:06 -0500

Walking to work? Why not be a pedestrian, AND motorized?! http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/17/business/worldbusiness/17gazshoes.html?_r=1&oref=slogin That's the only way. Hooray Rooskies. Ah, well. As for jaywalking, I'll say it a thousand times, keep yer damn hed up. I see too many jaywalkers blithely waltzing by without even a glance towards the direction of their possible doom. If you're going to break the rules, look 'em in the eye. Then spit in said eye. Or what have you.

guest number 10

Thu, 22 May 2008 15:34:43 -0500

"why isn't NYC in the top 10 most expensive daily commutes?" because you have never been to nyc to know that it's the same fare for any leg of transit and most people live within a decent distance of the city that they do take public transit, and the subway system is decent enough that you can actually get places on it, so you dont need to drive to them?

alewis

Thu, 22 May 2008 15:21:40 -0500

I have to say that most of the time the enforcement of jaywalking laws is rather ridiculous. They should allow for common sense. Some drunk stumbling across U Street during rush hour? Sure, enforcing jaywalking laws makes sense there. But I'll be damned if I'm going to stand on a street corner when there are no cars coming because an illuminated hand says not to.

cactus jack

Thu, 22 May 2008 14:52:35 -0500

"why isn't NYC in the top 10 most expensive daily commutes?" Could be b/c of flat subway fares and relatively high use of public transit/walking/biking relative to cars.

Reid

Thu, 22 May 2008 14:41:04 -0500

My biggest gripe is with cars that don't comply with the red arrow in traffic circles. They just figure that since they're in the circle, they can exit it whenever they want, frequently without even stopping. I go through one on a routine basis and I have to act like I'm jaywalking to stay safe. There should be a red light camera at all these intersections.

14thandYou

Thu, 22 May 2008 14:40:18 -0500

The Tysons Tunnel crowd needs to find another tree to bark up...or another tunnel to crawl into, as it were.

MSto

Thu, 22 May 2008 14:27:52 -0500

why isn't NYC in the top 10 most expensive daily commutes?

monkeyrotica

Thu, 22 May 2008 13:31:42 -0500

Blocking the intersection? That's a paddlin. Crossing against the light? That's a paddlin. Bleeding on my paint job? You better believe that's a paddlin. $171 billion over 50 years ain't squat. We spend that much in a couple of YEARS on highways and roads. 11 meg PDFs pretty much explains everything that's wrong with DDOT.

Rukasu

Thu, 22 May 2008 13:23:44 -0500

that poor camera. I hope it got a bath after that shot.