D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council

The District, through the Office of Planning , is currently holding meetings to discuss draft revisions to the District's the zoning code. Among several proposed changes, the zoning revision will update parking regulations for vehicle parking and bicycle parking.   The vehicle parking changes – eliminating minimums in transit-rich areas - will likely be the most contested.  This process could be on interest to bicyclists because it could reduce the space available for automobile parking and increase bicycle parking and infrastructure as well as increasing pedestrian and transit access. The Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) is working with WABA and other organizations to draw attention to the issue and to invite the public to attend meetings held in each Ward. CSG has created a petition that contains the main talking points for the zoning update.  For those not able to attend the meetings, two Twitter Town Halls are scheduled, on Monday, December 14 2...

The next meeting of the BAC Safety, Education, and Enforcement Committee meeting will be held the second Tuesday of even-numbered months as usual: Tuesday, December 11 6:30pm Teaism, 400 8th Street NW, Washington, D.C. We will be sitting downstairs somewhere - look for helmets, big stacks of paper, or MPD officers if you don't know me by face.  Appointed members and members of the public are invited to attend and help improve bicycle safety in DC. The current agenda is below, but suggestions for additional items are welcome: Agenda items: - Update on enforcement of U-turns across Penn Ave cycletrack - Education/enforcement by MPD and DDOT along new L street cycletrack - Safety conditions of the Metropolitan Branch Trail - Discussion of committee agenda for 2013 - Safety benchmarks for 2012 For more information or to suggest agenda items, you can write to Jameel at ward4@dcbac.org

The District Department of  Transportation (DDOT) reports that it will begin repaving Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between 3 rd and 14 th Streets Tuesday, November 13, weather permitting. This repaving project coincides with the Presidential Inauguration, which occurs Monday, January 21, 2013. The project will impact the bicycle lanes in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue. The bike lanes will be unavailable when the center of the roadway is repaved and bicyclists will need to share the travel lanes with motor vehicles . Drivers are urged to use caution and watch for additional bicyclists in traffic. The bicycle lanes will be re-striped once the roadway is repaved. However, please note that the plastic bollards at intersections along the bike lanes will not be reinstalled until after the Presidential Inauguration. The work will be conducted overnight, between 8 pm and 5 am, Monday through Saturday, and is anticipated to take approximately 10 days to complete...

As posted on the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Facebook page, the MBT will be closed from L to M Streets NE (south of New York Avenue to the ramp down to L) from this Tuesday to Thursday (November 13-15th) from 10 am to 3:30 pm while contractors install a cover to protect trail users from the adjacent development. To descent the trail, use the elevator at the New York Avenue - Galludet Metrorail station. View Met Branch Closure in a larger map

The bimonthly BAC meeting is this evening. We have a fairly long agenda (below) including a "blue sky" brainstorming session on what BAC priorities should be in the next year. For the purpose of leaving time to do the brainstorming, committee and hearing reports will be condensed so we can get through the agenda at a reasonable hour. The meeting starts at 6pm and will take place at 441 4th Street, NW at One Judiciary Square, in Room 1114, which is on the 11th floor. Please remember to bring government identification to enter the building. As always, the meeting is open to the public.   BAC Agenda 11-7-2012 Introductions Approval of Minutes Announcements Public statements Committee Reports:  Facilities Legislative Safety Hearing Reports: Motor-driven cycle hearing (Randall Myers) Automated enforcement (Jameel Alsalam) Discussion: DCBAC role in reviewing development projects (15 minutes) Blue Sky Brainstorming / Discussion...

This morning I will be testifying on behalf of the DC Bicycle Advisory Council on the topic of legislation introduced by Councilmembers Cheh, Wells, and Barry which would set fines for speed camera fines based on traffic safety research. I had the opportunity to participate in a series of task force meeting which led to the development of this legislation. First, I want to say that the Councilmembers should be commended for taking an inclusive, public approach to developing the legislation. Second, I will suggest changes to make sure the legislation enhances traffic safety in Washington, D.C. The automated enforcement task force focused on how to change behavior to make people act more safely on the road – is the answer high fines, or is the answer more certain enforcement? In the case of speeding, the task force did not find evidence that higher fines enhance safety. By contrast, there is ample evidence that the presence of automated enforcement cameras does reduce infractions and e...

Below is a letter requesting that the District share information about the proposed bicycle and pedestrian bridge that will connect the Metropolitan Branch Trail to the Rhode Island Avenue - Brentwood Station in the District. MBT Bridge at RI Avenue

Monday, October 15, 2012, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will hold a workshop to discuss the Georgia Avenue corridor study.  The meeting is at the DC Housing Finance Agency , 815 Florida Avenue NW from 5p to 7p. Specifically, the meeting seeks input from the public regarding the lower Georgia Avenue corridor between Barry Place and Florida Avenue NW. The DDOT study proposes multi-modal improvements along the corridor, which include shared transit-bike lanes that are similar to the those used on 7th and 9th Streets NW roughly between E Street and Mt. Vernon Square.  In addition, DDOT has previously posted plans to operate streetcars along Georgia Avenue . This offers an opportunity to include future bicycle consideration for the this corridor. As always, we appreciate your comments in the comments section. Below is a copy of the meeting announcement: Georgia Streetscape Project Meeting

Image from DDOT's M Street SE-SW Transportation Study page Please join the Bicycle Advisory Council's Facilities Committee (BAC-FAC) on a ride or 'rolling meeting', October 27, 2012. We will explore the M and I (Eye) Streets SE / SW corridor on beginning at 1pm at Waterfront Metrorail station , near 4th and M Streets SW.  The purpose of this ride is to review the current conditions and develop options for bicycle and pedestrian consideration in this area as suggested by the District Department of Transportation September meeting regarding the M Street SE-SW Transportation Study . BAC-FAC would like your thoughts on what bicycling facilities should be considered for this area and your concerns about road safety, signage, pedestrian access, vehicle parking and other issues that affect this area. The ride will go east on M Street SW and pick up Eye Street, while making stops and notes as we head back west to Waterfront Metro. From there we will optionally...

The BAC Safety, Education and Enforcement Committee will meet tonight, October 9 at 6:30 - 8:00 PM at Teasim, 400 8th St. NW. Committee Chair and Ward 4 BAC member Jameel Alsalam will not be in attendance however, BAC member David Alexander will moderate. The agenda includes the results of the City Council Task Force  regarding the Automated Enforcement Program.  Click here for the attached items. To the extent time allows, Mr. Alexander may also discuss the safety and enforcement aspects of proposals to allow mopeds, or electric bicycles on bike trails and in bike lanes, and any agenda items attendees might suggest. See you at 6:30.

The next Legislative Committee meeting will be Wednesday, October  3 at 6:00pm. The location will be Teaism at 400 8th Street NW. On the agenda: Changing the definitions of various vehicles - BAC should define preferred rules with respect to who can use bike lanes, trails and parking for Council Member Mary Cheh's office. Funding for compliance with the Bicycle Safety Enhancement. An FIS was performed in 2008 that put the cost at $2.8 million (See below). A request was sent to CM Cheh's office as to whether another one is needed. Can the District pay for this with speed camera revenue? Should BAC request that happen? Any other issues. The committee chair, David Cranor, may be unable to attend. If this occurs the meeting may be rescheduled or chaired by another BAC member. We look forward to seeing you there. A copy of the Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 Fiscal Impact Statement appears below: Bicycle Safety Enhancement FIS

The Dupont Circle and Logan Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC) jointly announce a public meeting for residents, business owners and organizations to discuss bicycle safety issues in the community Thursday, September 27, 7:00p to 9:00p. The meeting will be head at the Chastleton Ballroom, 1701 16th Street NW. With biking for transit expanding rapidly in our community, many issues, concerns, and questions have arisen. Some topics for discussion are: The District’s plans to make DC more bike/pedestrian-friendly; any plans or ideas for the Dupont-Logan area and its residents. The laws/rules about street/sidewalk biking; consequences for those who break them. Whether any of these laws/rules should be revised or updated by the City Council. New bike lanes: Where/when are they coming and where else are they needed. Tips for dealing with the new 2-way bike lanes for bikers, drivers, and pedestrians. Lastly, a comprehensive discussion regarding the expansion of bike pa...

The District Department of Transportation will host a meeting Thursday, September 27 to discuss and solicit input on the Virginia Avenue Tunnel Environmental Impact Statement and Section 106 Evaluation. While this project focuses on the reconstruction of the CSX Transportation freight rail tunnel, the rebuilding of Virginia Avenue SE offers an opportunity for the inclusion of bike infrastructure. The meeting will be held at the Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 Eye Street SW, 6:00p until 8:00p.  This meeting will include a brief presentation and introductory remarks, “breakout” workshop sessions with the study team, and a concluding question and answer session. The introductory presentation will start very shortly after 6:00p. Both verbal and written comments will be taken at the meeting. Comment forms will be available at the public meeting and can be submitted on-site, via provided self-addressed/postage paid envelopes, or by email to contact@virginiaavenuetunnel.com . Questions abo...

Met Branch Trail at S Street Pocket Park The Facilities Committee and its chair Jeanie Osburn would like to invite you join District Department of Transportation staff member Heather Deutsch on a bike tour of Ward 5. The " Gimme 5! " ride will travel to some of Ward 5's well-known and best-kept-secret sites.  This ride is in partnership with Cultural Tourism - a nonprofit organization helping DC residents and visitors discover, experience and celebrate the city’s art, culture, and heritage. The ride is Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 1PM - 4PM beginning and ending at the NoMa-Gallaudet U (New York Ave) Metrorail Station (Near the 2nd and Florida Avenue entrance). The ride will travel along the Metropolitan Branch Trail, stop in for a tour of Chocolate City Brewing Company , cruise through "Little Rome" ( Washington Trinity University , St. Paul's College , the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception , Catholic Unive...

Thursday, September 14, 2012 was the third and reportedly final meeting regarding the M Street Southeast / Southwest Transportation Study. Sponsored by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the purpose of the meeting was to show the public major alternatives and metrics used to to recreate the streetscape on M Street and selected adjacent streets in that area in the near term and over the next 20 to 30 years. According to the meeting documentation , the M Street corridor, a roughly 1.7-square-mile area along M Street SE/SW, and the Southwest waterfront from 12th Street, SE to 14th Street, SW and from the Southwest / Southeast Freeway south to the Anacostia River / Washington Channel, will experience a dramatic increase in the residential and commercial population. Upon initial review, it appears that each alternative appears problematic.  Of the three alternatives presented, only alternative two included provisions for a cycletrack located on M Street....

How should DC’s automated traffic enforcement program be designed to maximize roadway safety while minimizing public perception that the program is unfair, punitive, or designed to maximize revenue? CMs Tommy Wells and Mary Cheh are co-chairing a task force to recommend legislative changes to the automated (camera) traffic enforcement program to better meet this goal. At the recent meeting of the BAC Safety, Education, and Enforcement Committee, a number of possibilities were discussed.  Opinions on various proposals varied widely, however, the committee had broad agreement on two ideas which we decided to prioritize: 1) improving the justification of locations based on safety issues and 2) graduated fines for initial offenses (e.g., first one or first one at a particular location). Note that the table includes several ideas with comments which were not discussed at the meeting (because they have been raised since the meeting). Priority Proposals Comments Justification of...

The bimonthly legislative committee meeting at Union Pub on Capitol Hill has been canceled. The next meeting will be held in October. Please let us know if you have questions.

This post serves as notes from the June meeting of the BAC SEE Comittee. I apologize for not recording attendees. Over the last month, the BAC Safety, Education and Enforcment Committee has been extremely busy. On May 30, the DC Council Committee on the Judiciary had a hearing on pedestrian and bicycle safety. [link here: http://dcbac.blogspot.com/2012/05/bac-testifies-at-dc-council-hearing-on.html ] One of the big outcomes of that meeting was that CM Phil Mendelson (now council chair) asked MPD, BAC, PAC, and WABA to work together to put together proposals for traffic safety benchmarks. Since then, there has been a flurry of work on this issue by BAC and PAC. Second, we’ve been building relationships with the MPD District Captains responsible for coordinating traffic enforcement in their districts - please help build up these relationships. Third, we discussed the current state of bicycle theft data and some of the work being done to combat bike theft. Action needed : Please prov...

Wednesday, July 11 starting at 6pm, the D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council hold its regularly scheduled bimonthly meeting. The meeting will take place at 441 4th Street, NW at One Judiciary Square, in Room 1114, which is on the 11th floor. As always, we want to hear from public thinks about bicycling in the District so we encourage you to attend. Update: Below is a draft agenda. Welcome and Introductions – 5 Minutes Questions & Comments from members of the public – 20 Minutes Approval of the Minutes – 5 Minutes Bicycle Element of the DC Multi-Modal Transportation Planning Project – 30 minutes Committee Reports – 30 Minutes New Business – 30 Minutes Proposed parking zoning regulation changes impact on bicycle parking Other When entering the building, please turn right after passing the security checkpoint and use the south set of elevators.  Please bring government-issued identification.

Below are meeting notes from the bi-monthly Legislative Committee meeting held at Busboys and Poets @ 5th and K streets NW June 20, 2012.   ---   Second-hand bike sale: We discussed current regulations relating to 2nd hand bike sales. Currently 2nd-hand bike sales occur online at sites like Craigslist. It's agreed that this is a deterrent to people buying bikes - since many people don't feel they have the knowledge to buy in a "buyer beware" situation like that; while not serving to deter bike theft. (In addition the second-hand market is not taxed).  Shane Farthing of WABA had a specific purpose in seeking to change the regulations, because doing so might help certain non-profits that would like to buy and sell bikes as part of their model. It was also agreed that the lack of a legitimate 2nd-hand market, as exists in other cities, might be indicative of onerous regulations. Erik Kugler of Bicycle Space was in attendence, and while he said...

On Saturday 6/23, the DC BAC Facilities Committee explored bike accessibility and connectivity to commercial areas along Georgia Avenue. Building walkable and bikeable communities is an important part of supporting local jobs - but to make it work, we need to make sure that people can get to commercial areas easily. Ride Attendees : Jeanie Osburn - Ward 5 BAC representative Randall Myers - At-large BAC representative Jameel Alsalam - Ward 4 BAC representative Nathan Picotte - Ward 4 resident Julianne Horn - Ward 4 resident On the ride, we visited : 1) 8th Street signed bike route 2) Walmart development site at Georgia and Missouri 3) Walter Reed development site 4) Crossing Rock Creek Park We want to send a special thanks to Coucilmember Muriel Bowser and staff members Judi Gold and Brandon Todd who joined us for the beginning of the ride. CM Bowser shared with us her priorities: expanding access to Capital Bikeshare in Ward 4, and ensuring that bicycling is an attractiv...

Please join the Bicycle Advisory Council's Facilities Committee (BAC-FAC) on a ride or 'rolling meeting' on Saturday, June 23, 2012. The ride will beginning at 1:30 PM near the Capital BikeShare station at the corner of 9th Street and Upshur NW. On this ride, the Committee will examine bike accessibility and connectivity to commercial  areas in Ward 4, particularly along Georgia Avenue NW and including the Walter Reed and Walmart development sites. BAC-FAC would like your thoughts on what bicycling facilities should be considered for this area and your concerns about road safety, signage or other issues. Please contact Jameel Alsalam ( ward4@dcbac.org ) or Jeanie Osburn ( ward5@dcbac.org ) if you have questions about the ride.  Thanks and we look forward to seeing you.

The next meeting of the Safety, Education, and Enforcement committee will be the second Tuesday as usual at: Teaism, 400 8th Street NW, Tuesday, June 12, 6:30pm. A couple of weeks ago was the latest in the series of hearings being held by CM Mendelson on pedestrian and bicycle safety and enforcement. The hearing has created ample agenda items: 1. Development of traffic safety benchmarks (collaboration of BAC, PAC, WABA, MPD) 2. Ongoing changes being made to crash report form system 3. Bike theft data and prevention 4. Breath alcohol program roll-out As always, the public is welcomed to attend.

Yesterday the DC Council Committee on the Judiciary held the third in its series of hearing on pedestrian and bicycle safety. Jameel Alsalam testified at that hearing on the work that the BAC has been doing with MPD over the past seven months, in particular addressing communication between MPD and the cycling community and the training measures that MPD has been taking to address problems being investigated by the committee. Important steps are being taken, but there is still more work to do, and we need to make sure that the measures that MPD are taking are effective in eliminating the underlying problems. Full BAC testimony is here:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/95423661/BAC-Testimony-to-DC-Council-5-30-2012 WABA testimony is here:  http://www.waba.org/blog/2012/05/waba-testimony-urges-officer-training-legislative-fixes/ Video of the hearing (click on Committee on the Judiciary, and look for the 5/30 entry):  http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/granicus/archive/

Wednesday, May 2, from  6pm to 8pm, will be the regularly scheduled bi-monthly DC Bike Advisory Council meeting taking place at 441 4th Street, NW, One Judiciary Square, in Room 1114. Room 1114 is on the 11th floor, use the south set of elevators.  Please bring a government-issued identification to enter the building Below is our agenda for tomorrow's meeting:  AGENDA  1. Introductions - 5 Minutes 2. Green Lanes Presentation by BikesBelong Coalition - 30 minutes  http://www.bikesbelong.org/bikes-belong-foundation/green-lane-project/   3. Approval of Minutes - 5 minutes  4. Committee Reports - 50 minutes  5. Bike to Work Day Action Plan - 15 minutes  6. Other Business - 15 Minutes  As always, the public is welcomed.