Category: Bicycles

NEWS: ANC 2B to consider commenting on new bike safety legislation

Post by Commissioner Noah Smith (2B09), one of our Public Safety Liaisons:

Earlier this month, Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Tommy Wells introduced the “Bicycle Safety Amendment Act of 2013”. The bill increases penalties for drivers who fail to yield to cyclists or are at fault in crashes involving cyclists and increases education requirements for new DC drivers on how to share the road. It also establishes a requirement that public space permit holders blocking a sidewalk or bicycle lane provide a safe accommodation for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Also this month, DDOT released a report analyzing bicycle and pedestrian crash records for the last two years, which concluded that the intersections of 14th & U Streets NW and 16th Street & New Hampshire Ave NW are among the most dangerous for bicyclists in the city.

Noah Smith and Kishan Putta, on behalf of the ANC, led several public safety listening sessions in 2012, including one on bicycle safety. The ANC heard from neighbors about issues concerning bicycle lanes, signage, bicycling on sidewalks, and pedestrian safety.

The following draft resolution will be introduced at the March 13, 2013 meeting and we welcome any and all feedback. Questions can be directed to Commissioner Noah Smith at Noah.Smith@dupontcircleanc.net.

Draft Resolution in Support of the Bicycle Safety Amendment Act of 2013

Bicycle Safety Amendment Act of 2013

Here is the highlight from the resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that ANC 2B supports the passage of the “Bicycle Safety Amendment Act of 2013” with the following recommendations:

1.  New laws governing the actions of drivers and bicyclists are only effective if properly enforced; the City Council must fund and direct the Metropolitan Police Department to increase traffic enforcement efforts as part of the normal duties of all of its officers and increase ongoing traffic enforcement training.

2.  The City Council must include language in the law that more clearly defines the term “safe accommodation” as it relates to the proposed requirement for construction projects blocking sidewalks and bicycle lanes. More clarity is important to avoid unintended regulatory flexibility that could result in unsafe accommodations. That definition must include requirements to protect and cover pedestrians and that the accommodations not be unduly burdensome.

Please let us know what you think of the bill and proposed resolution!

NEWS: DDOT to Host City-Wide “Transportation Ideas Exchange”

On February 9th, DDOT is hosting a public “Transportation Ideas Exchange” to “Get DC Moving.”  Here is the full DDOT notice:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Media Contact: Monica Hernandez (DDOT) 202-671-2261, monica.hernandez@dc.gov

*** PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE***

DDOT Invites Public to Transportation Idea Exchange to Get DC Moving

Citizens To Help Shape The Future Of Transportation In The District

Washington D.C. – The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today announced the moveDC Idea Exchange, a family-friendly public event, held to share ideas about how District residents, workers and visitors can have convenient and reliable multimodal options that connect them to economic and quality of life opportunities. Anyone who drives, walks, bikes, rides a bus, or takes a train in DC should attend to help shape the plan to develop a bold, new transportation vision for the District.

The public is invited to drop in anytime or stay throughout the day to hear information, participate in interactive activities and to join a panel discussion.

What:                   moveDC Transportation Idea Exchange

When:                  Saturday, February 9, 2013
9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Transportation Fair, drop in anytime)
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (City Leader Welcome)
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Future of Transportation Panel Discussion)

Where:                Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library
901 G Street, NW

Get there:           Bicyclists:            Bike racks are available outside the main entrance on G St.
Bikeshare:           Kiosks at G and 12th Streets, NW and H and 8th Streets, NW
Circulator:           Georgetown-Union Station Route at K and 9th Streets NW
Metrorail:            Metro Center Station (Blue, Orange and Red Lines)

Gallery Place/Chinatown Station (Green, Red and Yellow Lines)

Metrobus:           Visit www.wmata.com

Parking:               Handicap-accessible: G Street in front of the library in designated spaces.
Off-street: 997 G Place NW, 720 10th Street NW, and 701 8th Street NW

Agenda:              City Leaders’ Welcome (10:30 am – 11:00 am)

Future of Transportation Panel Discussion (11:00 am – 12:30 pm)
Interactive discussion focused on transportation and…
§  The Competitive City
§  Neighborhood Vitality
§  Shared Prosperity
§  The Sustainable City

Transportation Fair (9:30 am – 3:00 pm)
§  Transportation information booths
§  Fun, interactive activities:
o   My Transportation Wish
o   Transportation Activity Book
o   The Great Transportation Debate
o   Transportation Innovation Station
o   Choose Your Move
o   How’s it Moving?
o   Street Dreams
o   Last Call
§  Giveaways

With a rapidly-growing population and the increasing demands on the whole system, it is essential to take steps to keep DC moving.  The Idea Exchange will introduce moveDC, a collaborative transportation planning effort to incorporate all methods of transportation in the District of Columbia into a single Multimodal Long Range Transportation Plan.

“This planning effort will help shape the future of transportation in the District,” said DDOT Director Terry Bellamy.  “This plan will focus on bringing together transit, vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian and freight recommendations to create a seamless, convenient transportation system for the District.”

moveDC is led by DDOT’s Policy, Planning and Sustainability Administration (PPSA) and is expected to be completed by early 2014. After the Idea Exchange, there will be workshops, public meetings, surveys, and other ways to stay engaged in the process. Follow the project online at www.wemoveDC.org, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WeMoveDC) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/wemovedc).

For those who need special accommodations or language assistance services (translation or interpretation), please contact Jordyne Blaise, Office of Civil Rights, 202-671-5117 or Jordyne.Blaise@dc.gov by February 6, 2013.  These services will be provided free of charge.

NEWS: ANC Publishes Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2012

At its January 2013 meeting, the ANC approved the FY 2012 Annual Report submitted by Chairman Will Stephens.  The annual report provides a snapshot of the activities of the ANC from October 2011 through September 2012 — including votes taken, issues discussed, achievements, personnel, staff, and finances.

Particularly interesting are the statistics showing how the ANC voted on regulatory applications (alcohol, public space, zoning, historic preservation) over the course of the year.

DC law requires ANCs to submit annual reports to the Council each year.  At minimum, these required reports must include a breakdown of the ANCs finances and key activities and votes.  The Dupont Circle ANC has in recent years generated annual reports that are meant to serve a broader audience — including new and old residents, businesses, other ANCs, and other community stakeholders.  It is intended to be attractive and easy to read, in addition to being informative.

You can find the FY 2012 Annual Report on our Annual Reports page, along with reports going back to 1976, the first year of the ANCs.

In addition, a PDF of the new FY 2012 Annual Report is available here: FY2012-AnnualReport-FINAL(1-9-2013).

NEWS: Bicycle Safety Meeting 9/27/12

Day/Time: September 27 from 7:00pm-9:00pm

Location:  The Chastleton Ballroom, 1701 16th St., NW (corner of 16th & R)

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.  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.   Also, bike parking.

After hearing strong concerns about road safety at a public listening session on in June, the Dupont and Logan Circle communities are working together to discuss these and any other issues that residents wish to bring up.  At this meeting, District transportation and police officials will be in attendance, in addition to community leaders and bicycling experts.  The Dupont Circle Citizens Association, the Logan Circle Citizens Association, and the Urban Neighborhood Alliance are partnering with the ANC’s on this important community listening and education session.

This is an opportunity to have your voices heard on bicycle safety concerns whether you’re a daily or occasional biker, a pedestrian, or a driver.  The meeting will be a guided discussion  to help inform and guide the city’s public safety agenda so that your bicycle safety concerns can be addressed productively and collaboratively — if not at the meeting, at least in the near future.

We hope to see you and hear from you and your neighbors at the meeting.

Kishan Putta (Dupont)

Noah Smith (Dupont)

Chris Linn (Logan)

Public Safety Liaisons