D.C. needs to get a lot more car friendly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The premise of a lot of cycling people is that there is pent up demand of people who want to bicycle but who don’t because they feel unsafe.

What if people just don’t like riding bicycles? It’s seems like an impossible thing for these pro-bike people to fathom.

One of the most supposedly most successful bike paths in the country is the CCT. Even on its best days of the year it’s a fraction of one lane of average daily traffic volume on any basic arterial road. The other successful bike in the city, the 15th Street cycletrack, on peak days does not even replace 25% of the average daily traffic volume of the one lane that it replaced. Meanwhile, cyclist complain that they feel unsafe because the two way traffic is too narrow and they are lobbying to widen it.

The fact is, even successful bicycle infrastructure is extremely inefficient and wasteful use of public resources in doing the thing that transportation infrastructure is supposed to do, move people around quickly.

Sooner or later smart cities will come to this conclusion too.

The proof is in the pudding. Look at bike lanes in the city. They're empty. People simply aren't using them. We can't dedicate all of our resources to the tiny number of white people who are really into bikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of a lot of cycling people is that there is pent up demand of people who want to bicycle but who don’t because they feel unsafe.

What if people just don’t like riding bicycles? It’s seems like an impossible thing for these pro-bike people to fathom.

One of the most supposedly most successful bike paths in the country is the CCT. Even on its best days of the year it’s a fraction of one lane of average daily traffic volume on any basic arterial road. The other successful bike in the city, the 15th Street cycletrack, on peak days does not even replace 25% of the average daily traffic volume of the one lane that it replaced. Meanwhile, cyclist complain that they feel unsafe because the two way traffic is too narrow and they are lobbying to widen it.

The fact is, even successful bicycle infrastructure is extremely inefficient and wasteful use of public resources in doing the thing that transportation infrastructure is supposed to do, move people around quickly.

Sooner or later smart cities will come to this conclusion too.

The proof is in the pudding. Look at bike lanes in the city. They're empty. People simply aren't using them. We can't dedicate all of our resources to the tiny number of white people who are really into bikes.

If there aren’t any other choices, they’ll start using bikes. Also there will be more business around bikes, like hiring stations etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of a lot of cycling people is that there is pent up demand of people who want to bicycle but who don’t because they feel unsafe.

What if people just don’t like riding bicycles? It’s seems like an impossible thing for these pro-bike people to fathom.

One of the most supposedly most successful bike paths in the country is the CCT. Even on its best days of the year it’s a fraction of one lane of average daily traffic volume on any basic arterial road. The other successful bike in the city, the 15th Street cycletrack, on peak days does not even replace 25% of the average daily traffic volume of the one lane that it replaced. Meanwhile, cyclist complain that they feel unsafe because the two way traffic is too narrow and they are lobbying to widen it.

The fact is, even successful bicycle infrastructure is extremely inefficient and wasteful use of public resources in doing the thing that transportation infrastructure is supposed to do, move people around quickly.

Sooner or later smart cities will come to this conclusion too.

The proof is in the pudding. Look at bike lanes in the city. They're empty. People simply aren't using them. We can't dedicate all of our resources to the tiny number of white people who are really into bikes.

If there aren’t any other choices, they’ll start using bikes. Also there will be more business around bikes, like hiring stations etc.

And rickshaws.

There’s no reason that DC should be contributing to global warming so much like it is. It’s completely hypocritical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of a lot of cycling people is that there is pent up demand of people who want to bicycle but who don’t because they feel unsafe.

What if people just don’t like riding bicycles? It’s seems like an impossible thing for these pro-bike people to fathom.

One of the most supposedly most successful bike paths in the country is the CCT. Even on its best days of the year it’s a fraction of one lane of average daily traffic volume on any basic arterial road. The other successful bike in the city, the 15th Street cycletrack, on peak days does not even replace 25% of the average daily traffic volume of the one lane that it replaced. Meanwhile, cyclist complain that they feel unsafe because the two way traffic is too narrow and they are lobbying to widen it.

The fact is, even successful bicycle infrastructure is extremely inefficient and wasteful use of public resources in doing the thing that transportation infrastructure is supposed to do, move people around quickly.

Sooner or later smart cities will come to this conclusion too.

The proof is in the pudding. Look at bike lanes in the city. They're empty. People simply aren't using them. We can't dedicate all of our resources to the tiny number of white people who are really into bikes.

If there aren’t any other choices, they’ll start using bikes. Also there will be more business around bikes, like hiring stations etc.

And rickshaws.

There’s no reason that DC should be contributing to global warming so much like it is. It’s completely hypocritical.

First, if you take away choice and provide no other options, like clean and efficient transit, people (and businesses) do have a choice which is to leave and they are doing that already anyway. Second, let’s stop for a minute and ponder how ridiculous the proposition is that your plan to address climate change is rickshaws instead of clean and efficient mass transit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we should do the opposite. Discourage car use. I am serious.

100% agree
-- bike commuter

As if everyone can ride a bike, lol.

Most people can

Sure, most people can ride a bike, but that doesn't mean a bike is the preferred means of transportation for most people, especially those with families who often have to make multi-stop errands.

Most of the bicycle people don’t have young kids, know people with disabilities, etc. They don’t envisage that there are people that have very different transportation needs than they do.

I'm the original bike commuter PP and I have a 2.5yo.

So do many of the parents at my kid's daycare. Several drop their kids off with bike trailers.

I don't think everyone should cycle, but making it easier, safer and more accessible for everyone would be a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of a lot of cycling people is that there is pent up demand of people who want to bicycle but who don’t because they feel unsafe.

What if people just don’t like riding bicycles? It’s seems like an impossible thing for these pro-bike people to fathom.

One of the most supposedly most successful bike paths in the country is the CCT. Even on its best days of the year it’s a fraction of one lane of average daily traffic volume on any basic arterial road. The other successful bike in the city, the 15th Street cycletrack, on peak days does not even replace 25% of the average daily traffic volume of the one lane that it replaced. Meanwhile, cyclist complain that they feel unsafe because the two way traffic is too narrow and they are lobbying to widen it.

The fact is, even successful bicycle infrastructure is extremely inefficient and wasteful use of public resources in doing the thing that transportation infrastructure is supposed to do, move people around quickly.

Sooner or later smart cities will come to this conclusion too.

The proof is in the pudding. Look at bike lanes in the city. They're empty. People simply aren't using them. We can't dedicate all of our resources to the tiny number of white people who are really into bikes.

Maybe people aren't using them because of random cars, Ubers, trucks etc. putting their "park anywhere" lights on and blocking them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of a lot of cycling people is that there is pent up demand of people who want to bicycle but who don’t because they feel unsafe.

What if people just don’t like riding bicycles? It’s seems like an impossible thing for these pro-bike people to fathom.

One of the most supposedly most successful bike paths in the country is the CCT. Even on its best days of the year it’s a fraction of one lane of average daily traffic volume on any basic arterial road. The other successful bike in the city, the 15th Street cycletrack, on peak days does not even replace 25% of the average daily traffic volume of the one lane that it replaced. Meanwhile, cyclist complain that they feel unsafe because the two way traffic is too narrow and they are lobbying to widen it.

The fact is, even successful bicycle infrastructure is extremely inefficient and wasteful use of public resources in doing the thing that transportation infrastructure is supposed to do, move people around quickly.

Sooner or later smart cities will come to this conclusion too.

The proof is in the pudding. Look at bike lanes in the city. They're empty. People simply aren't using them. We can't dedicate all of our resources to the tiny number of white people who are really into bikes.

Well, it is February, and a lot of offices still aren't open. When I used to go to an actual office, I recall the 15th Street protected bike lanes being quite crowded. Also, I wouldn't be so sure that it's only white people commuting by bike. It's only white people posting on DCUM about commuting by bike, maybe, but that doesn't mean there are no immigrants riding their bikes to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the subway is going to be unusable, and everyone is fine with that, then we need to accommodate people where they are -- in cars.

There are going to be far more people on the roads and that means we need a lot more parking, more emphasis on easing traffic, etc. Ridership on the subway is down 75 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

I didnt used to drive all that much, but now with the subway basically in moth balls, I drive everywhere.

You know what frees up parking and reduces car traffic? More transit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of a lot of cycling people is that there is pent up demand of people who want to bicycle but who don’t because they feel unsafe.

What if people just don’t like riding bicycles? It’s seems like an impossible thing for these pro-bike people to fathom.

One of the most supposedly most successful bike paths in the country is the CCT. Even on its best days of the year it’s a fraction of one lane of average daily traffic volume on any basic arterial road. The other successful bike in the city, the 15th Street cycletrack, on peak days does not even replace 25% of the average daily traffic volume of the one lane that it replaced. Meanwhile, cyclist complain that they feel unsafe because the two way traffic is too narrow and they are lobbying to widen it.

The fact is, even successful bicycle infrastructure is extremely inefficient and wasteful use of public resources in doing the thing that transportation infrastructure is supposed to do, move people around quickly.

Sooner or later smart cities will come to this conclusion too.

The proof is in the pudding. Look at bike lanes in the city. They're empty. People simply aren't using them. We can't dedicate all of our resources to the tiny number of white people who are really into bikes.

Well, it is February, and a lot of offices still aren't open. When I used to go to an actual office, I recall the 15th Street protected bike lanes being quite crowded. Also, I wouldn't be so sure that it's only white people commuting by bike. It's only white people posting on DCUM about commuting by bike, maybe, but that doesn't mean there are no immigrants riding their bikes to work.

I don't get this weird "white people" narrative. I live in a majority-AA neighborhood in DC, and oddly enough, a majority of people I see riding on bikes are AA. /s

A lot of AA's would disagree with the notion that only white people ride bikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of a lot of cycling people is that there is pent up demand of people who want to bicycle but who don’t because they feel unsafe.

What if people just don’t like riding bicycles? It’s seems like an impossible thing for these pro-bike people to fathom.

One of the most supposedly most successful bike paths in the country is the CCT. Even on its best days of the year it’s a fraction of one lane of average daily traffic volume on any basic arterial road. The other successful bike in the city, the 15th Street cycletrack, on peak days does not even replace 25% of the average daily traffic volume of the one lane that it replaced. Meanwhile, cyclist complain that they feel unsafe because the two way traffic is too narrow and they are lobbying to widen it.

The fact is, even successful bicycle infrastructure is extremely inefficient and wasteful use of public resources in doing the thing that transportation infrastructure is supposed to do, move people around quickly.

Sooner or later smart cities will come to this conclusion too.

The proof is in the pudding. Look at bike lanes in the city. They're empty. People simply aren't using them. We can't dedicate all of our resources to the tiny number of white people who are really into bikes.

Clearly you don't actually live in DC and only know your commute and the immediate area around it. There are some bike corridors that do get a lot of use. Also, it's not just "white people" who bike in DC.

But whatever. Let's apply your own logic of "they aren't used, so the resources should go elsewhere" - the formerly-4-lane L St NW corridor that was lamented earlier in this thread is only that busy for a short period of time during rush hour. So why should we then put all the resources into it when that's not warranted 90% of the time? That's YOUR logic here after all...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we should do the opposite. Discourage car use. I am serious.

100% agree
-- bike commuter

As if everyone can ride a bike, lol.

Most people can

Sure, most people can ride a bike, but that doesn't mean a bike is the preferred means of transportation for most people, especially those with families who often have to make multi-stop errands.

Most of the bicycle people don’t have young kids, know people with disabilities, etc. They don’t envisage that there are people that have very different transportation needs than they do.

I'm the original bike commuter PP and I have a 2.5yo.

So do many of the parents at my kid's daycare. Several drop their kids off with bike trailers.

I don't think everyone should cycle, but making it easier, safer and more accessible for everyone would be a good thing.

Congratulations. Now try that when your kid is in 6th grade and you need to drop them off at school with their science fair poster, lunch and gym clothes.

Is it possible for you to understand that people have very different needs than you do right at this very moment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the subway is going to be unusable, and everyone is fine with that, then we need to accommodate people where they are -- in cars.

There are going to be far more people on the roads and that means we need a lot more parking, more emphasis on easing traffic, etc. Ridership on the subway is down 75 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

I didnt used to drive all that much, but now with the subway basically in moth balls, I drive everywhere.

You know what frees up parking and reduces car traffic? More transit.

Exactly. And because public right of way is limited and digging holes in the ground is expensive, that transit should go where these underutilized bike lines are.

[Anonymous]

Lol all six rush hour bike riders in DC showed up to this thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the subway is going to be unusable, and everyone is fine with that, then we need to accommodate people where they are -- in cars.

There are going to be far more people on the roads and that means we need a lot more parking, more emphasis on easing traffic, etc. Ridership on the subway is down 75 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

I didnt used to drive all that much, but now with the subway basically in moth balls, I drive everywhere.

You know what frees up parking and reduces car traffic? More transit.

Exactly. And because public right of way is limited and digging holes in the ground is expensive, that transit should go where these underutilized bike lines are.

No. Since you're a commuter who doesn't live in DC, don't tell us how we should live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we should do the opposite. Discourage car use. I am serious.

100% agree
-- bike commuter

As if everyone can ride a bike, lol.

Most people can

Sure, most people can ride a bike, but that doesn't mean a bike is the preferred means of transportation for most people, especially those with families who often have to make multi-stop errands.

Most of the bicycle people don’t have young kids, know people with disabilities, etc. They don’t envisage that there are people that have very different transportation needs than they do.

I'm the original bike commuter PP and I have a 2.5yo.

So do many of the parents at my kid's daycare. Several drop their kids off with bike trailers.

I don't think everyone should cycle, but making it easier, safer and more accessible for everyone would be a good thing.

Congratulations. Now try that when your kid is in 6th grade and you need to drop them off at school with their science fair poster, lunch and gym clothes.

Is it possible for you to understand that people have very different needs than you do right at this very moment?

At DS's middle school there were dozens and dozens of kids riding there by bike every morning, along with dozens of parents riding with them.