Options for opposing Connecticut Avenue changes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a thread which more fully explores public funding of WABA: https://groups.io/g/adamsmorgan/topic/waba_s/86285267?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C1%2C0%2C0%3A%3A%2C%2C%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C86285267&jump=1

The original poster presents a photo downthread that he claims depicts one of his opponents in handcuffs. It actually depicts the person with their hands behind their back while an officer walked behind them. The poster knew this but made the claim anyway. That should tell you all you need to know about their credibility.

The dollar sums in those POs that WABA has received over the last decade are mind-boggling. At least $600k per year from DC government over 10 years.

Imagine that! A cycling organization providing cycling lessons to city residents! I really don't understand why this is so "mind-boggling". Should public school children not learn how to ride bikes? Would you rather that children not learn how to operate bikes safely? Should those who provide these lessons not be trained professionals? Please find another tree to bark up. There is nothing there, however you may wish that there was.

And what is the measured effect of that $6-10 million dollars that was spent when compared to other needs?

Paying affluent white people millions to teach mostly poor Black kids to ride bikes seems pretty tone deaf and a mis-prioritization of resources when there are are many kids every day in DCPS that don’t have enough food to eat.

How do you know that the WABA instructors were affluent white people? Or is that just another one of your many stereotypes? DCPS, as you apparently does not know, has a free school lunch program for those who qualify. I'll save my time in trying to explain to you that which is obvious to much of the rest of us about how learning to ride a bike can enrich children's lives and save them and their families money over the short- and long-term. That you may believe such benefits should only be available to those whose parents have the time and wherewithal to provide the associated instruction really does say a lot about you.

As others have already stated, WABA doesn't do the instruction. DCPS PE teachers do.

Then what are the millions of dollars for “instruction” going to exactly? Is it soft corruption? One of the contracts had the DC government paying WABA $30,000 for 30 bicycles. How is that not WABA ripping off DC taxpayers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$52

What is this about, how is this thread making money for WABA?

A poster vowed to donate $1 to WABA for each page over 100.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association is a scam. If you look at its tax filings, you'll see almost its entire $2 million budget comes from taxpayer money. Basically, the D.C. government pays WABA to lobby the DC government. Great use of tax dollars (and is this even legal?).

You might also ask why, if the public is so in favor of bike lanes, why WABA is incapable of supporting itself. Out of its $2 million in revenue, just $108,000 came from its members' dues. Sure looks like they're having trouble finding people to support them.

No, it wouldn't be legal, and at the same time, if you looked at the public filings that ALL legitimate non-profits make, you would know that they don't do this. WABA gets grants from the DC government to conduct educational programs in schools and for adults- how to ride safely, how to change tires, how to maintain the equipment etc.

The money they use for lobbying comes from donations and other sources, AS SHOWN ON THEIR FORMS.

So let's stop with the lying, it really undermines your arguments.

"Educational programs." Orwell would have loved your euphemisms. The entire purpose of WABA is to lobby for bike lanes. Pretty evident by their own Web site where they urge people to contact the government about specific infrastructure projects. No one in the history of Washington D.C. has turned to WABA to learn how to ride a bike.

At our DCPS school, the second-graders have a unit on bike-riding in PE every year that involves bringing dozens of bikes to the school and instructing the kids to ride them. So... every year, people in Washington, D.C., turn to WABA to help kids learn how to ride a bike.

That is an A+ fig leaf.

I have never heard of any parent relying on school to teach their kids to ride bikes but forcing kids to sit through a WABA presentation is an excellent way to pretend they are not a lobbying organization on the public dole.

Do these schools not have gym teachers? I don't understand why schools would have to outsource this.

The individual schools have not requested this. DC pays WABA to do it.

Nobody wants it. It's a waste of money.

Of course, you don't want it. If no one learns to bike, no one will use the bike lanes. Which means you get to win stupid internet arguments you start 10-20 years from now. But, for the rest of us, it's very valuable.

[Anonymous]

One of the WABA contracts include paying someone $150,000 per year, rising to $180,000 to be a “bicycle ambassador” which includes hanging out and riding around trails and bike lanes for 20 hours per week. How is this not corruption?

https://contracts.ocp.dc.gov/contracts/attachments/Q1c3NTQ3MsKmQmFzZSBQZXJpb2TCpnszRTM4NkU4Qy1BRDQ3LTQ1MUMtQTlBNC05Qzk0OEI3MEY3ODF9

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the WABA contracts include paying someone $150,000 per year, rising to $180,000 to be a “bicycle ambassador” which includes hanging out and riding around trails and bike lanes for 20 hours per week. How is this not corruption?

https://contracts.ocp.dc.gov/contracts/attachments/Q1c3NTQ3MsKmQmFzZSBQZXJpb2TCpnszRTM4NkU4Qy1BRDQ3LTQ1MUMtQTlBNC05Qzk0OEI3MEY3ODF9

Who wants to bet that this “ambassador” is an already comfortable white guy or a Black guy? It is sick and wrong. 25% of children in DC are food insecure and there are 600 literally homeless families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$52

What is this about, how is this thread making money for WABA?

A poster vowed to donate $1 to WABA for each page over 100.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association is a scam. If you look at its tax filings, you'll see almost its entire $2 million budget comes from taxpayer money. Basically, the D.C. government pays WABA to lobby the DC government. Great use of tax dollars (and is this even legal?).

You might also ask why, if the public is so in favor of bike lanes, why WABA is incapable of supporting itself. Out of its $2 million in revenue, just $108,000 came from its members' dues. Sure looks like they're having trouble finding people to support them.

No, it wouldn't be legal, and at the same time, if you looked at the public filings that ALL legitimate non-profits make, you would know that they don't do this. WABA gets grants from the DC government to conduct educational programs in schools and for adults- how to ride safely, how to change tires, how to maintain the equipment etc.

The money they use for lobbying comes from donations and other sources, AS SHOWN ON THEIR FORMS.

So let's stop with the lying, it really undermines your arguments.

"Educational programs." Orwell would have loved your euphemisms. The entire purpose of WABA is to lobby for bike lanes. Pretty evident by their own Web site where they urge people to contact the government about specific infrastructure projects. No one in the history of Washington D.C. has turned to WABA to learn how to ride a bike.

At our DCPS school, the second-graders have a unit on bike-riding in PE every year that involves bringing dozens of bikes to the school and instructing the kids to ride them. So... every year, people in Washington, D.C., turn to WABA to help kids learn how to ride a bike.

That is an A+ fig leaf.

I have never heard of any parent relying on school to teach their kids to ride bikes but forcing kids to sit through a WABA presentation is an excellent way to pretend they are not a lobbying organization on the public dole.

Do these schools not have gym teachers? I don't understand why schools would have to outsource this.

The individual schools have not requested this. DC pays WABA to do it.

Nobody wants it. It's a waste of money.

If you feel that way, let your Councilmember know.

I am willing to bet you are in the deep minority on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$52

What is this about, how is this thread making money for WABA?

A poster vowed to donate $1 to WABA for each page over 100.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association is a scam. If you look at its tax filings, you'll see almost its entire $2 million budget comes from taxpayer money. Basically, the D.C. government pays WABA to lobby the DC government. Great use of tax dollars (and is this even legal?).

You might also ask why, if the public is so in favor of bike lanes, why WABA is incapable of supporting itself. Out of its $2 million in revenue, just $108,000 came from its members' dues. Sure looks like they're having trouble finding people to support them.

No, it wouldn't be legal, and at the same time, if you looked at the public filings that ALL legitimate non-profits make, you would know that they don't do this. WABA gets grants from the DC government to conduct educational programs in schools and for adults- how to ride safely, how to change tires, how to maintain the equipment etc.

The money they use for lobbying comes from donations and other sources, AS SHOWN ON THEIR FORMS.

So let's stop with the lying, it really undermines your arguments.

"Educational programs." Orwell would have loved your euphemisms. The entire purpose of WABA is to lobby for bike lanes. Pretty evident by their own Web site where they urge people to contact the government about specific infrastructure projects. No one in the history of Washington D.C. has turned to WABA to learn how to ride a bike.

still don't understand why a group lobbying for bike lanes in a city where the public is supposedly clamoring for bike lanes raises so little money from its members. $108,000 in total? there are girl scout troops that do better than that.

What you’re showing is that the notion of a well-resourced and powerful “bike lobby” is nothing but a ridiculous fiction. I care a lot about bike lanes, but have never contributed any money to WABA and have no intentions of doing so. What do I need them for when I can show up at an ANC meeting or write to my Councilmember?

DP but WABA is very well financed, just not by members. They receive millions from DDOT, the real estate industry, and have also received funds from WMATA.

Why, if bikes and bike lanes are as unpopular with real people as people here claim, would the real estate industry be financing WABA? Real estate developers want to sell housing. If no one wants bike stuff as an amenity, there's not much point in subsidizing the bike lobby.

Developers are funding WABA in order to gain support for upzoning. It's standard greenwashing. Remenber that this Connecticut Ave plan is concurrent with efforts to upzone the same area. That's the quid pro quo. Upzoning for bike lanes. That's what's so appalling about what the ANCs did. They traded upzoning for bike lanes. Not increased mass transit
Not increased school capacity. Not increased emergency services. But bike lanes.

Developers don't care about bike lanes. They just want to be able to build at a higher density (which equals higher profit). It's a great deal for them. The bike lane proponents take all the blame and lead to density fight for them because the two are intertwined.

Surely the developers are powerful enough to just get what they want without needing a bunch of (as this thread has it) fat white guys in spandex advocating for an unrelated policy to make it happen, though. Again, if bike lanes and upzoning are both so unpopular, why would this trade have even worked?

ANCs have leverage over zoning and as a PP mentioned there are requiremwnts regarding parking that they want waived.

Developers want to build less parking and at higher density. They use bicyclists to push for that in exchange for bike lanes.

It is also better development and sustainability to have higher density and less parking. Gee....

Only if you like more congestion, less safety and circling for parking spaces near your house.

Underground parking garages are a very efficient use of space for everyone except developers.

There are more people and a corresponding number of more cars. Yet there are only so many lanes and available public space to drive and park. So irrespective of what happens with bike lanes, it will be harder to drive without congestion and it will be harder to park your car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$52

What is this about, how is this thread making money for WABA?

A poster vowed to donate $1 to WABA for each page over 100.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association is a scam. If you look at its tax filings, you'll see almost its entire $2 million budget comes from taxpayer money. Basically, the D.C. government pays WABA to lobby the DC government. Great use of tax dollars (and is this even legal?).

You might also ask why, if the public is so in favor of bike lanes, why WABA is incapable of supporting itself. Out of its $2 million in revenue, just $108,000 came from its members' dues. Sure looks like they're having trouble finding people to support them.

No, it wouldn't be legal, and at the same time, if you looked at the public filings that ALL legitimate non-profits make, you would know that they don't do this. WABA gets grants from the DC government to conduct educational programs in schools and for adults- how to ride safely, how to change tires, how to maintain the equipment etc.

The money they use for lobbying comes from donations and other sources, AS SHOWN ON THEIR FORMS.

So let's stop with the lying, it really undermines your arguments.

"Educational programs." Orwell would have loved your euphemisms. The entire purpose of WABA is to lobby for bike lanes. Pretty evident by their own Web site where they urge people to contact the government about specific infrastructure projects. No one in the history of Washington D.C. has turned to WABA to learn how to ride a bike.

still don't understand why a group lobbying for bike lanes in a city where the public is supposedly clamoring for bike lanes raises so little money from its members. $108,000 in total? there are girl scout troops that do better than that.

What you’re showing is that the notion of a well-resourced and powerful “bike lobby” is nothing but a ridiculous fiction. I care a lot about bike lanes, but have never contributed any money to WABA and have no intentions of doing so. What do I need them for when I can show up at an ANC meeting or write to my Councilmember?

DP but WABA is very well financed, just not by members. They receive millions from DDOT, the real estate industry, and have also received funds from WMATA.

Why, if bikes and bike lanes are as unpopular with real people as people here claim, would the real estate industry be financing WABA? Real estate developers want to sell housing. If no one wants bike stuff as an amenity, there's not much point in subsidizing the bike lobby.

Developers are funding WABA in order to gain support for upzoning. It's standard greenwashing. Remenber that this Connecticut Ave plan is concurrent with efforts to upzone the same area. That's the quid pro quo. Upzoning for bike lanes. That's what's so appalling about what the ANCs did. They traded upzoning for bike lanes. Not increased mass transit
Not increased school capacity. Not increased emergency services. But bike lanes.

Developers don't care about bike lanes. They just want to be able to build at a higher density (which equals higher profit). It's a great deal for them. The bike lane proponents take all the blame and lead to density fight for them because the two are intertwined.

Surely the developers are powerful enough to just get what they want without needing a bunch of (as this thread has it) fat white guys in spandex advocating for an unrelated policy to make it happen, though. Again, if bike lanes and upzoning are both so unpopular, why would this trade have even worked?

ANCs have leverage over zoning and as a PP mentioned there are requiremwnts regarding parking that they want waived.

Developers want to build less parking and at higher density. They use bicyclists to push for that in exchange for bike lanes.

It is also better development and sustainability to have higher density and less parking. Gee....

Only if you like more congestion, less safety and circling for parking spaces near your house.

Underground parking garages are a very efficient use of space for everyone except developers.

Do you know how much a single underground parking spot costs to construct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$52

What is this about, how is this thread making money for WABA?

A poster vowed to donate $1 to WABA for each page over 100.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association is a scam. If you look at its tax filings, you'll see almost its entire $2 million budget comes from taxpayer money. Basically, the D.C. government pays WABA to lobby the DC government. Great use of tax dollars (and is this even legal?).

You might also ask why, if the public is so in favor of bike lanes, why WABA is incapable of supporting itself. Out of its $2 million in revenue, just $108,000 came from its members' dues. Sure looks like they're having trouble finding people to support them.

No, it wouldn't be legal, and at the same time, if you looked at the public filings that ALL legitimate non-profits make, you would know that they don't do this. WABA gets grants from the DC government to conduct educational programs in schools and for adults- how to ride safely, how to change tires, how to maintain the equipment etc.

The money they use for lobbying comes from donations and other sources, AS SHOWN ON THEIR FORMS.

So let's stop with the lying, it really undermines your arguments.

"Educational programs." Orwell would have loved your euphemisms. The entire purpose of WABA is to lobby for bike lanes. Pretty evident by their own Web site where they urge people to contact the government about specific infrastructure projects. No one in the history of Washington D.C. has turned to WABA to learn how to ride a bike.

still don't understand why a group lobbying for bike lanes in a city where the public is supposedly clamoring for bike lanes raises so little money from its members. $108,000 in total? there are girl scout troops that do better than that.

What you’re showing is that the notion of a well-resourced and powerful “bike lobby” is nothing but a ridiculous fiction. I care a lot about bike lanes, but have never contributed any money to WABA and have no intentions of doing so. What do I need them for when I can show up at an ANC meeting or write to my Councilmember?

DP but WABA is very well financed, just not by members. They receive millions from DDOT, the real estate industry, and have also received funds from WMATA.

Why, if bikes and bike lanes are as unpopular with real people as people here claim, would the real estate industry be financing WABA? Real estate developers want to sell housing. If no one wants bike stuff as an amenity, there's not much point in subsidizing the bike lobby.

Developers are funding WABA in order to gain support for upzoning. It's standard greenwashing. Remenber that this Connecticut Ave plan is concurrent with efforts to upzone the same area. That's the quid pro quo. Upzoning for bike lanes. That's what's so appalling about what the ANCs did. They traded upzoning for bike lanes. Not increased mass transit
Not increased school capacity. Not increased emergency services. But bike lanes.

Developers don't care about bike lanes. They just want to be able to build at a higher density (which equals higher profit). It's a great deal for them. The bike lane proponents take all the blame and lead to density fight for them because the two are intertwined.

Surely the developers are powerful enough to just get what they want without needing a bunch of (as this thread has it) fat white guys in spandex advocating for an unrelated policy to make it happen, though. Again, if bike lanes and upzoning are both so unpopular, why would this trade have even worked?

ANCs have leverage over zoning and as a PP mentioned there are requiremwnts regarding parking that they want waived.

Developers want to build less parking and at higher density. They use bicyclists to push for that in exchange for bike lanes.

It is also better development and sustainability to have higher density and less parking. Gee....

Only if you like more congestion, less safety and circling for parking spaces near your house.

Underground parking garages are a very efficient use of space for everyone except developers.

Of course, because absolutely everybody most own a car in DC, right? There is no other alternative options for getting around, right?

Reality is what it is. Most people own a car, especially outside the dowtown urban core. Even those that bike a lot.

It would be cleaner and more effective if we could develop ways for people to get around without having to operate a car. That means better transportation infrastructure, like...bike lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a thread which more fully explores public funding of WABA: https://groups.io/g/adamsmorgan/topic/waba_s/86285267?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C1%2C0%2C0%3A%3A%2C%2C%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C86285267&jump=1

The original poster presents a photo downthread that he claims depicts one of his opponents in handcuffs. It actually depicts the person with their hands behind their back while an officer walked behind them. The poster knew this but made the claim anyway. That should tell you all you need to know about their credibility.

The dollar sums in those POs that WABA has received over the last decade are mind-boggling. At least $600k per year from DC government over 10 years.

Imagine that! A cycling organization providing cycling lessons to city residents! I really don't understand why this is so "mind-boggling". Should public school children not learn how to ride bikes? Would you rather that children not learn how to operate bikes safely? Should those who provide these lessons not be trained professionals? Please find another tree to bark up. There is nothing there, however you may wish that there was.

And what is the measured effect of that $6-10 million dollars that was spent when compared to other needs?

Paying affluent white people millions to teach mostly poor Black kids to ride bikes seems pretty tone deaf and a mis-prioritization of resources when there are are many kids every day in DCPS that don’t have enough food to eat.

How do you know that the WABA instructors were affluent white people? Or is that just another one of your many stereotypes? DCPS, as you apparently does not know, has a free school lunch program for those who qualify. I'll save my time in trying to explain to you that which is obvious to much of the rest of us about how learning to ride a bike can enrich children's lives and save them and their families money over the short- and long-term. That you may believe such benefits should only be available to those whose parents have the time and wherewithal to provide the associated instruction really does say a lot about you.

As others have already stated, WABA doesn't do the instruction. DCPS PE teachers do.

Then what are the millions of dollars for “instruction” going to exactly? Is it soft corruption? One of the contracts had the DC government paying WABA $30,000 for 30 bicycles. How is that not WABA ripping off DC taxpayers?

There aren't "millions" of dollars. So start there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the WABA contracts include paying someone $150,000 per year, rising to $180,000 to be a “bicycle ambassador” which includes hanging out and riding around trails and bike lanes for 20 hours per week. How is this not corruption?

https://contracts.ocp.dc.gov/contracts/attachments/Q1c3NTQ3MsKmQmFzZSBQZXJpb2TCpnszRTM4NkU4Qy1BRDQ3LTQ1MUMtQTlBNC05Qzk0OEI3MEY3ODF9

That money is not an individual, it is for many. There are several bike ambassadors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a thread which more fully explores public funding of WABA: https://groups.io/g/adamsmorgan/topic/waba_s/86285267?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C1%2C0%2C0%3A%3A%2C%2C%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C86285267&jump=1

The original poster presents a photo downthread that he claims depicts one of his opponents in handcuffs. It actually depicts the person with their hands behind their back while an officer walked behind them. The poster knew this but made the claim anyway. That should tell you all you need to know about their credibility.

The dollar sums in those POs that WABA has received over the last decade are mind-boggling. At least $600k per year from DC government over 10 years.

Imagine that! A cycling organization providing cycling lessons to city residents! I really don't understand why this is so "mind-boggling". Should public school children not learn how to ride bikes? Would you rather that children not learn how to operate bikes safely? Should those who provide these lessons not be trained professionals? Please find another tree to bark up. There is nothing there, however you may wish that there was.

And what is the measured effect of that $6-10 million dollars that was spent when compared to other needs?

Paying affluent white people millions to teach mostly poor Black kids to ride bikes seems pretty tone deaf and a mis-prioritization of resources when there are are many kids every day in DCPS that don’t have enough food to eat.

How do you know that the WABA instructors were affluent white people? Or is that just another one of your many stereotypes? DCPS, as you apparently does not know, has a free school lunch program for those who qualify. I'll save my time in trying to explain to you that which is obvious to much of the rest of us about how learning to ride a bike can enrich children's lives and save them and their families money over the short- and long-term. That you may believe such benefits should only be available to those whose parents have the time and wherewithal to provide the associated instruction really does say a lot about you.

As others have already stated, WABA doesn't do the instruction. DCPS PE teachers do.

Then what are the millions of dollars for “instruction” going to exactly? Is it soft corruption? One of the contracts had the DC government paying WABA $30,000 for 30 bicycles. How is that not WABA ripping off DC taxpayers?

There aren't "millions" of dollars. So start there.

The city has been giving WABA money for a long time. This didnt start this year. So, yes, millions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the WABA contracts include paying someone $150,000 per year, rising to $180,000 to be a “bicycle ambassador” which includes hanging out and riding around trails and bike lanes for 20 hours per week. How is this not corruption?

https://contracts.ocp.dc.gov/contracts/attachments/Q1c3NTQ3MsKmQmFzZSBQZXJpb2TCpnszRTM4NkU4Qy1BRDQ3LTQ1MUMtQTlBNC05Qzk0OEI3MEY3ODF9

Wow. Textbook corruption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a thread which more fully explores public funding of WABA: https://groups.io/g/adamsmorgan/topic/waba_s/86285267?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C1%2C0%2C0%3A%3A%2C%2C%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C86285267&jump=1

The original poster presents a photo downthread that he claims depicts one of his opponents in handcuffs. It actually depicts the person with their hands behind their back while an officer walked behind them. The poster knew this but made the claim anyway. That should tell you all you need to know about their credibility.

The dollar sums in those POs that WABA has received over the last decade are mind-boggling. At least $600k per year from DC government over 10 years.

Imagine that! A cycling organization providing cycling lessons to city residents! I really don't understand why this is so "mind-boggling". Should public school children not learn how to ride bikes? Would you rather that children not learn how to operate bikes safely? Should those who provide these lessons not be trained professionals? Please find another tree to bark up. There is nothing there, however you may wish that there was.

And what is the measured effect of that $6-10 million dollars that was spent when compared to other needs?

Paying affluent white people millions to teach mostly poor Black kids to ride bikes seems pretty tone deaf and a mis-prioritization of resources when there are are many kids every day in DCPS that don’t have enough food to eat.

How do you know that the WABA instructors were affluent white people? Or is that just another one of your many stereotypes? DCPS, as you apparently does not know, has a free school lunch program for those who qualify. I'll save my time in trying to explain to you that which is obvious to much of the rest of us about how learning to ride a bike can enrich children's lives and save them and their families money over the short- and long-term. That you may believe such benefits should only be available to those whose parents have the time and wherewithal to provide the associated instruction really does say a lot about you.

As others have already stated, WABA doesn't do the instruction. DCPS PE teachers do.

Then what are the millions of dollars for “instruction” going to exactly? Is it soft corruption? One of the contracts had the DC government paying WABA $30,000 for 30 bicycles. How is that not WABA ripping off DC taxpayers?

Sleazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the WABA contracts include paying someone $150,000 per year, rising to $180,000 to be a “bicycle ambassador” which includes hanging out and riding around trails and bike lanes for 20 hours per week. How is this not corruption?

https://contracts.ocp.dc.gov/contracts/attachments/Q1c3NTQ3MsKmQmFzZSBQZXJpb2TCpnszRTM4NkU4Qy1BRDQ3LTQ1MUMtQTlBNC05Qzk0OEI3MEY3ODF9

Who wants to bet that this “ambassador” is an already comfortable white guy or a Black guy? It is sick and wrong. 25% of children in DC are food insecure and there are 600 literally homeless families.

A two second Google search will bring to a page that provides a bio of the “ambassador”: https://waba.org/details/dc-bike-ambassador/

It looks like they are recruiting for the position, so any of you who see it as plush position should certainly apply.

My reading of the contract that was posted is that the salary is likely to be considerably less than $150k. That is the cost of the entire program, not the salary of the coordinator.

[Anonymous]

$58 for WABA