Options for opposing Connecticut Avenue changes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Sure, I suppose over 50 years.

[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

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

Lying is an interesting choice but too often a common one for cyclists, even when the facts are readily available. Here is from the contract at the link.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Sure, I suppose over 50 years.

No, millions just over the past 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The “program” as stipulated in the contract incurs no additional charges aside from salary for the ambassador to provide specified services, e.g. recruit volunteers, provide classes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The “program” as stipulated in the contract incurs no additional charges aside from salary for the ambassador to provide specified services, e.g. recruit volunteers, provide classes, etc.

That's not my reading of it, but you are welcome to e-mail WABA and enquire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Lying is an interesting choice but too often a common one for cyclists, even when the facts are readily available. Here is from the contract at the link.

https://waba.org/details/bike-ambassadors/

Note the plural? Volunteers incur costs. The program covers their collective costs. Is this really that hard to grasp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Lying is an interesting choice but too often a common one for cyclists, even when the facts are readily available. Here is from the contract at the link.

Did you read your own post?

"recruit ambsasadors"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Lying is an interesting choice but too often a common one for cyclists, even when the facts are readily available. Here is from the contract at the link.

Did you read your own post?

"recruit ambsasadors"

Can you understand english? Do you know what the word “volunteer” means?

There is only one paid ambassador and that person is paid $150,000 rising to $180,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Lying is an interesting choice but too often a common one for cyclists, even when the facts are readily available. Here is from the contract at the link.

https://waba.org/details/bike-ambassadors/

Note the plural? Volunteers incur costs. The program covers their collective costs. Is this really that hard to grasp?

Volunteers incur what costs exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The “program” as stipulated in the contract incurs no additional charges aside from salary for the ambassador to provide specified services, e.g. recruit volunteers, provide classes, etc.

That's not my reading of it, but you are welcome to e-mail WABA and enquire.

I can also read the legal contract with has the specifications and you are free to keep lying and dissembling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Lying is an interesting choice but too often a common one for cyclists, even when the facts are readily available. Here is from the contract at the link.

Did you read your own post?

"recruit ambsasadors"

Can you understand english? Do you know what the word “volunteer” means?

There is only one paid ambassador and that person is paid $150,000 rising to $180,000.

They're spending nearly 10 percent of their annual revenue on one person's salary?

[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.

They're a very expensive use of space -- developers don't just eat the cost of parking, either, the end result of requiring underground parking spots is that housing costs more. That's not good for anyone EXCEPT developers.

[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:$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.

They're a very expensive use of space -- developers don't just eat the cost of parking, either, the end result of requiring underground parking spots is that housing costs more. That's not good for anyone EXCEPT developers.

Which is why developers don’t build unground parking and instead build above ground parking platforms unless required?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Lying is an interesting choice but too often a common one for cyclists, even when the facts are readily available. Here is from the contract at the link.

Did you read your own post?

"recruit ambsasadors"

Can you understand english? Do you know what the word “volunteer” means?

There is only one paid ambassador and that person is paid $150,000 rising to $180,000.

They're spending nearly 10 percent of their annual revenue on one person's salary?

No, they're spending nothing. DC is picking up the tab

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Lying is an interesting choice but too often a common one for cyclists, even when the facts are readily available. Here is from the contract at the link.

https://waba.org/details/bike-ambassadors/

Note the plural? Volunteers incur costs. The program covers their collective costs. Is this really that hard to grasp?

Volunteers incur what costs exactly?

Equipment/supplies, materials, background checks, insurance... Are you a contractor? Or just a manufacturer of outrage?