Can we cancel Open Streets?

[Anonymous]

Everyone I know *hates* it. It’s not worth making life difficult for tens or hundreds of thousands of people because five Bernie bros want to ride their bike down the middle of the street.

[Anonymous]

My kids missed a swim lesson because Open Streets made it impossible to get to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know *hates* it. It’s not worth making life difficult for tens or hundreds of thousands of people because five Bernie bros want to ride their bike down the middle of the street.

Have you tried going to an Open Streets and talking to people there?

[Anonymous]

I agree. We should permanently close streets to cars instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids missed a swim lesson because Open Streets made it impossible to get to.

Was it not an option to park the car and walk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know *hates* it. It’s not worth making life difficult for tens or hundreds of thousands of people because five Bernie bros want to ride their bike down the middle of the street.

I like it and support it and advocate/vote accordingly.

[Anonymous]

It’s hilarious how few people attend open streets in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids missed a swim lesson because Open Streets made it impossible to get to.

No - the kids missed the meet because you failed to account for this and plan accordingly. The good news is, this is easily corrected and a mistake you only need to make once!

[Anonymous]

What? People really don’t like these? Because you have to drive a few blocks out of the way? Are you grouchy about parades and foot races too?

[Anonymous]

I like it and I'm not a Bernie Bro or a biker. It's a fun little thing to take my kid to, rather than worrying about him getting plowed down by all the psycho drivers who race through our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I live a block off GA avenue and every family I know, including mine, love it! Its great to have a safe road for kids to bike on. I see all my neighbors out. I would love to see them do this monthly!

[Anonymous]

Weird to get mad at Open Streets and not any of the dozens of other events that close streets and make it hard to drive around DC all the time. Open Streets is so minor compared to all the marathons, rallies, street festivals, parades, etc. that regularly made it hard to get around town. Why pick on Open Streets? It feels random.

I don't even enjoy Open Streets events because I don't like crowds (I also don't enjoy street festivals or parades, actually) so I'm not trying to protect my pet favorite or something. But it seems as good a reason as any to close some streets down.

It's also funny to complain that an event with the stated intent of getting people to use the streets for more than just driving is making it hard for you to drive. Like... yes? That is the point? Maybe take the metro that day.

[Anonymous]

This thread is bizarre. We love going to open streets in Brookland and it was seriously packed last year. We wish it happened way more frequently.

[Anonymous]

We really share this city with some absolutely miserable people. It's a community event, try being part of one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We really share this city with some absolutely miserable people. It's a community event, try being part of one!

Uh, what? This is DC. Community events are thick on the ground. There are people everywhere. You don’t need to close even a single street in order to socialize.