Alexandria Bike Lobby wins again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because the ADTs for Seminary are very high and there are nearby streets, within the network, with much lower ADTs that arent considered. And because The Seminary bike lanes dont connect to anything. The western portion (near lower income housing) was scrapped and Howard was scrapped (which connected to schools) was scrapped. The connectivity was scrapped.

Build there too. And build connections.

Too late. One was already repaved without bike lanes and the other is about to be repaved without bike lanes.

It's never too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because the ADTs for Seminary are very high and there are nearby streets, within the network, with much lower ADTs that arent considered. And because The Seminary bike lanes dont connect to anything. The western portion (near lower income housing) was scrapped and Howard was scrapped (which connected to schools) was scrapped. The connectivity was scrapped.

Build there too. And build connections.

Too late. One was already repaved without bike lanes and the other is about to be repaved without bike lanes.

It's never too late.

Really? What are you privy to in the Alexandria repaving budget that I am not? Do you even live in Alexandria? Do you know the areas and plans being discussed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because the ADTs for Seminary are very high and there are nearby streets, within the network, with much lower ADTs that arent considered. And because The Seminary bike lanes dont connect to anything. The western portion (near lower income housing) was scrapped and Howard was scrapped (which connected to schools) was scrapped. The connectivity was scrapped.

Build there too. And build connections.

Too late. One was already repaved without bike lanes and the other is about to be repaved without bike lanes.

It's never too late.

Really? What are you privy to in the Alexandria repaving budget that I am not? Do you even live in Alexandria? Do you know the areas and plans being discussed?

It depends on the department's priorities, doesn't it?

Plus it's not like you can only put in a bike lane when you repave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because the ADTs for Seminary are very high and there are nearby streets, within the network, with much lower ADTs that arent considered. And because The Seminary bike lanes dont connect to anything. The western portion (near lower income housing) was scrapped and Howard was scrapped (which connected to schools) was scrapped. The connectivity was scrapped.

Build there too. And build connections.

Too late. One was already repaved without bike lanes and the other is about to be repaved without bike lanes.

It's never too late.

Really? What are you privy to in the Alexandria repaving budget that I am not? Do you even live in Alexandria? Do you know the areas and plans being discussed?

It depends on the department's priorities, doesn't it?

Plus it's not like you can only put in a bike lane when you repave.

Ok, so you don’t live in Alexandria and don’t know about the plans and projects being discussed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, so you don’t live in Alexandria and don’t know about the plans and projects being discussed.

I don't live in Alexandria. I do know about the plans and projects being discussed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, so you don’t live in Alexandria and don’t know about the plans and projects being discussed.

I don't live in Alexandria. I do know about the plans and projects being discussed.

Ok well your responses don’t indicate that. The city has pretty clear policies and budgets tied to these projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, so you don’t live in Alexandria and don’t know about the plans and projects being discussed.

I don't live in Alexandria. I do know about the plans and projects being discussed.

Ok well your responses don’t indicate that. The city has pretty clear policies and budgets tied to these projects.

All I'm saying is that those policies and budgets can be changed. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but that doesn't mean there can never be bike infrastructure there.

[Anonymous]

Will someone please share Bennett- Parker's home address? I got Justin's yesterday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The City Council voted 4-3, even over the advice of their own Transportation Board and the objections of many residents, to administer the road diet on Seminary and take away two lanes of traffic for the bike lobby. Justin Wilson is oddly quiet on the matter online. I am so done with the city caving to the Bike Lobby giving them whatever they want.

ALX Now, a local news blog from the company that runs ArlNow is beginning publication in Alexandria in early October
It is very effective in needling the Council about similar bad decisions. Sign up now. Justin Wilson is going to plotz when he is easily held accountable for his ineptness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The City Council voted 4-3, even over the advice of their own Transportation Board and the objections of many residents, to administer the road diet on Seminary and take away two lanes of traffic for the bike lobby. Justin Wilson is oddly quiet on the matter online. I am so done with the city caving to the Bike Lobby giving them whatever they want.

ALX Now, a local news blog from the company that runs ArlNow is beginning publication in Alexandria in early October
It is very effective in needling the Council about similar bad decisions. Sign up now. Justin Wilson is going to plotz when he is easily held accountable for his ineptness.

Good.

It's crazy that he ignored the will of the vast majority of the city. Had this been put to a vote, Seminary would have remained as is by a loooooooong shot. The mayor is in place to represent the people, not to carry out his projects du jour that happen to coincide with his hobbies. He acted incredibly unprofessionally and I believe doomed his political career outside of the city. Now you know you can't trust him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The City Council voted 4-3, even over the advice of their own Transportation Board and the objections of many residents, to administer the road diet on Seminary and take away two lanes of traffic for the bike lobby. Justin Wilson is oddly quiet on the matter online. I am so done with the city caving to the Bike Lobby giving them whatever they want.

ALX Now, a local news blog from the company that runs ArlNow is beginning publication in Alexandria in early October
It is very effective in needling the Council about similar bad decisions. Sign up now. Justin Wilson is going to plotz when he is easily held accountable for his ineptness.

Good.

It's crazy that he ignored the will of the vast majority of the city. Had this been put to a vote, Seminary would have remained as is by a loooooooong shot. The mayor is in place to represent the people, not to carry out his projects du jour that happen to coincide with his hobbies. He acted incredibly unprofessionally and I believe doomed his political career outside of the city. Now you know you can't trust him.

I'm impressed that you know the will of the vast majority of the city. Have you conducted polls?

The mayor is in place to lead. If the voters don't like where the mayor is leading, the voters can vote the mayor out at the next election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The City Council voted 4-3, even over the advice of their own Transportation Board and the objections of many residents, to administer the road diet on Seminary and take away two lanes of traffic for the bike lobby. Justin Wilson is oddly quiet on the matter online. I am so done with the city caving to the Bike Lobby giving them whatever they want.

ALX Now, a local news blog from the company that runs ArlNow is beginning publication in Alexandria in early October
It is very effective in needling the Council about similar bad decisions. Sign up now. Justin Wilson is going to plotz when he is easily held accountable for his ineptness.

Good.

It's crazy that he ignored the will of the vast majority of the city. Had this been put to a vote, Seminary would have remained as is by a loooooooong shot. The mayor is in place to represent the people, not to carry out his projects du jour that happen to coincide with his hobbies. He acted incredibly unprofessionally and I believe doomed his political career outside of the city. Now you know you can't trust him.

I'm impressed that you know the will of the vast majority of the city. Have you conducted polls?

The mayor is in place to lead. If the voters don't like where the mayor is leading, the voters can vote the mayor out at the next election.

Not the PP but I have personally talked to hundreds of people about this project. A vast majority, especially those in Central Alexandria, didn’t want it. I guess we will find out next election cycle.

But regardless of what a vast majority of the citizens want, I have personally heard the mayor state that he was going to vote the way he was going to vote regardless of the will of the majority. His exact words were “I won’t do something stupid even if the majority of citizens want me to.” The Mayor of Alexandria believes that he can substitute his will for the will of the people in our city. That’s not leadership. And neither is saying “we can’t do this again” when talking about a process that involves civic engagement simply because city staff mismanaged the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not the PP but I have personally talked to hundreds of people about this project. A vast majority, especially those in Central Alexandria, didn’t want it. I guess we will find out next election cycle.

But regardless of what a vast majority of the citizens want, I have personally heard the mayor state that he was going to vote the way he was going to vote regardless of the will of the majority. His exact words were “I won’t do something stupid even if the majority of citizens want me to.” The Mayor of Alexandria believes that he can substitute his will for the will of the people in our city. That’s not leadership. And neither is saying “we can’t do this again” when talking about a process that involves civic engagement simply because city staff mismanaged the process.

Well, yes. Do you want your elected representatives to do stupid things if a majority of voters want them to? I don't.

The will of the people is expressed when they vote for the mayor. It's not government by referendum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m also supposed to give pedestrians the right of way by law, but I told my kids that even though they legally HAVE the right of way, don’t assume it’s safe to do so all the time. If you walk behind a ton of steel that’s backing up, you might have the right of way, but you might also be killed. Which is more important to you?

PP#1: It's not legal for people on bikes to do this.
PP#2: That's wrong, it actually is legal.
You: Just cuz it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.

Yes, it's true that it may be legal but it may also be dangerous because the drivers aren't obeying the law.

But then don't talk to me about scofflaw cyclists. The danger is from scofflaw drivers (or drivers who don't even know the law).

You need to answer my question as to why you called the incident in which a biker hit the individual in DC and scraped his leg a 'near miss'. This is the third time I've asked.

You're responding to multiple PPs.

Your answer to my question is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m also supposed to give pedestrians the right of way by law, but I told my kids that even though they legally HAVE the right of way, don’t assume it’s safe to do so all the time. If you walk behind a ton of steel that’s backing up, you might have the right of way, but you might also be killed. Which is more important to you?

PP#1: It's not legal for people on bikes to do this.
PP#2: That's wrong, it actually is legal.
You: Just cuz it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.

Yes, it's true that it may be legal but it may also be dangerous because the drivers aren't obeying the law.

But then don't talk to me about scofflaw cyclists. The danger is from scofflaw drivers (or drivers who don't even know the law).

It's not really smart law, now is it? Tons of steel against a bike? Seems to me that any smart biker might understand this and stop behaving in a manner that can get them killed?

If the driver is disobeying the law, then it's not "a bicyclist behaving in a manner that can get them killed," it's "a driver killing a bicyclist." Seems to me that any smart driver might understand this and stop behaving in a manner that can kill people.

So the biker has no personal responsibility? Does that helmet cut off common sense?