D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council

Although the Pennsylvania Avenue is a major street in the District, most people do not know that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has limited control over how it is maintained, its designed or what amenities are situated along it.  While Congress may exercise its control, Pennsylvania Avenue has several entities that have some authority over the street. Many of them will be at the Pennsylvania Avenue Plan public meeting, Wednesday, May 29 to discuss the future of the street and who will be responsible for its long-term planning. The government participants will include the National Park Service (NPS), the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), General Services Administration (GSA), and the District of Columbia. The meeting will be from 5:00p to 7:00p at NCPC’s offices, 401 9th Street, NW.

As a public service, DCBAC periodically views bicycle-related comments / questions issued to Robert Thomson on his Monday midday Dr. Gridlock chat on the Washington Post website, unedited. This week, comments regarding Bike to Work Day and riding on the sidewalk. Feel free to comment.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) held its public meeting to discuss the proposed M Street NW cycle track, also called a protected bike lane, Wednesday, May 15 at the West End Public Library.  Most of the discussion involved how the proposed cycle track would impact those who attend the 175 year-old Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal church ( @MetropolitanAME ) in the1500 block of M Street. M Street Cycle track Meeting (Photo: @ranpuba) DDOT Presentation The second floor meeting room of the West End Library appeared to be near capacity with almost every seat taken and several standing when DDOT staff comprise of Associate Director Sam Zimbabwe, Bicycle Program Coordinator James Sebastian and  Bike Program Planner Mike Goodno began their presentation of the project. The presentation initially discussed certain functional highlights of the bike lane including the integration of automobile turning lanes and protected green sections for the safety of bicycl

This Wednesday, May 15, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will hold a public meeting to discuss the planned installation of protected bicycle lanes along M Street, from Thomas Circle to 28th. The public meeting will also discuss some of the observations of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association walking tour of M Street held Monday, May 6. The meeting will be held at the West End Library , 1101 24th St. NW, beginning at 6:30 pm. BAC encourages you to attend this meeting so that DDOT can include your concerns or suggestions in its design for this new infrastructure. The one-way westbound M Street lanes will provide needed crosstown access for bicyclists and complements the L Street lanes, which were constructed last year.  DDOT and WABA staff noted that it was important for the bicycling community to attend the meeting so that certain concerns addressed during the M Street walk and lessens learned from the installation of the L Street lanes are discussed. For examp