NPS: Ban Cars Now in DC Urban Parks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

there can be a parking lot people can walk from.

Please look at the map and tell me where you would put this parking lot if you aren’t talking about the one by the playground and picnic areas.

DP. Maybe we could start with general agreement that it would be acceptable to have a parking lot that people would drive to, park, and get out and walk from. THEN figure out where that parking lot should go.

No thanks. We're doing speed bumps.

on only one side, half way. the other 3/4 car free

Nope. Speed bumps on the whole thing or a 50/50 road split - either a two way road to the point for access or split lanes. Those are the reasonable options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

there can be a parking lot people can walk from.

Please look at the map and tell me where you would put this parking lot if you aren’t talking about the one by the playground and picnic areas.

DP. Maybe we could start with general agreement that it would be acceptable to have a parking lot that people would drive to, park, and get out and walk from. THEN figure out where that parking lot should go.

No thanks. We're doing speed bumps.

on only one side, half way. the other 3/4 car free

Nope. Speed bumps on the whole thing or a 50/50 road split - either a two way road to the point for access or split lanes. Those are the reasonable options.

that makes no sense. there’s no reason for cars to go more than 10 mph there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

there can be a parking lot people can walk from.

Please look at the map and tell me where you would put this parking lot if you aren’t talking about the one by the playground and picnic areas.

DP. Maybe we could start with general agreement that it would be acceptable to have a parking lot that people would drive to, park, and get out and walk from. THEN figure out where that parking lot should go.

That parking lot exists. It’s by the playground and picnic grounds. The rest of the peninsula is taken up by the golf course, which is why I asked that people look at the map. There is no other reasonable place for parking for the playground and picnic area.

No, the idea was not a parking lot you have to drive the entire length of the peninsula to get to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

there can be a parking lot people can walk from.

Please look at the map and tell me where you would put this parking lot if you aren’t talking about the one by the playground and picnic areas.

DP. Maybe we could start with general agreement that it would be acceptable to have a parking lot that people would drive to, park, and get out and walk from. THEN figure out where that parking lot should go.

That parking lot exists. It’s by the playground and picnic grounds. The rest of the peninsula is taken up by the golf course, which is why I asked that people look at the map. There is no other reasonable place for parking for the playground and picnic area.

No, the idea was not a parking lot you have to drive the entire length of the peninsula to get to.

Actually, I love where the parking lot is now. That way I can actually access the point with my kids. Perfectly located. Add speed bumps and we're good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

there can be a parking lot people can walk from.

Please look at the map and tell me where you would put this parking lot if you aren’t talking about the one by the playground and picnic areas.

DP. Maybe we could start with general agreement that it would be acceptable to have a parking lot that people would drive to, park, and get out and walk from. THEN figure out where that parking lot should go.

That parking lot exists. It’s by the playground and picnic grounds. The rest of the peninsula is taken up by the golf course, which is why I asked that people look at the map. There is no other reasonable place for parking for the playground and picnic area.

No, the idea was not a parking lot you have to drive the entire length of the peninsula to get to.

Actually, I love where the parking lot is now. That way I can actually access the point with my kids. Perfectly located. Add speed bumps and we're good.

It’s funny how they refuse to acknowledge that the simplest and easiest solution is the one that is best fitted to solve the problem they say that they are concerned about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

there can be a parking lot people can walk from.

Please look at the map and tell me where you would put this parking lot if you aren’t talking about the one by the playground and picnic areas.

DP. Maybe we could start with general agreement that it would be acceptable to have a parking lot that people would drive to, park, and get out and walk from. THEN figure out where that parking lot should go.

That parking lot exists. It’s by the playground and picnic grounds. The rest of the peninsula is taken up by the golf course, which is why I asked that people look at the map. There is no other reasonable place for parking for the playground and picnic area.

No, the idea was not a parking lot you have to drive the entire length of the peninsula to get to.

Actually, I love where the parking lot is now. That way I can actually access the point with my kids. Perfectly located. Add speed bumps and we're good.

Well, yes, it's perfectly located, if the goal is maintaining car traffic on Ohio Drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

there can be a parking lot people can walk from.

Please look at the map and tell me where you would put this parking lot if you aren’t talking about the one by the playground and picnic areas.

DP. Maybe we could start with general agreement that it would be acceptable to have a parking lot that people would drive to, park, and get out and walk from. THEN figure out where that parking lot should go.

That parking lot exists. It’s by the playground and picnic grounds. The rest of the peninsula is taken up by the golf course, which is why I asked that people look at the map. There is no other reasonable place for parking for the playground and picnic area.

No, the idea was not a parking lot you have to drive the entire length of the peninsula to get to.

Actually, I love where the parking lot is now. That way I can actually access the point with my kids. Perfectly located. Add speed bumps and we're good.

Well, yes, it's perfectly located, if the goal is maintaining car traffic on Ohio Drive.

Or pedestrians and families to use the playground, picnic area or access the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hains Point was glorious when most of the park was closed to traffic during the cherry blossoms. Being able to walk in the middle of the road for the entire loop -- and have plenty of pedestrian company while doing so -- made up for so much of the walking path along the water being closed off because of flooding and crumbling pavement.

Hains Point was glorious about 30 yrs ago. Summertime, bumper to bumper, would take hours to make the park loop. Chillin in the car they spent all day waxin... two miles an hour so everybody sees you... fresh from the barbershop and fly from the beauty salon. Summer madness!

When I read these posts with people getting all worked up about what pretty much boils down to people who use the park as a backyard to barbecue, play ball, have fun, go for a drive with extended families and friends and those who want to use them to race their $3,000 bikes around is kind of depressing. When did everyone get so old and so uptight.

Some people got hit by a car in a park. That sucks. But bad stuff happens all of the time.

You live in the city. It’s a city park. It has cars and people just like just about every NPS park in the country. It would be nice to walk along skyline drive, some people do walk along skyline drive and they get hit by cars, is anyone suggesting we close skyline drive to cars? Of course not. It’s a road and not everyone who wants to enjoy the space has the time, ability or inclination to want to walk the drive or the trails, and that is okay because it is an open space for all to enjoy in whatever way they see fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you close it the walk from Buckeye drive to Hains point is 1.5 miles. I would recommend sidewalks instead.

Why should pedestrians and bikers get a tiny sliver, and cars dominate? I am in favor of allowing parking in proximity to some picnic grounds, then closing the rest. Run a shuttle if necessary. If they have to have cars, then put in a speed bump every 20 feet to maintain a 10mph speed limit.

People need to internalize that cars don't get to dominate every single public space.

Speed bumps are good and there’s no reason half the road shouldn’t be allocated to bikes and peds. Hains point is predominantly used for fishing and picnicking, though. These are both things that you need to haul stuff to. I agree there’s no reason for the road to be two lanes for cars. One lane is plenty.

Do you have any evidence to show that people hauling fishing poles is the predominate use of Hains Point? They can park in the northern parking lots and walk to where they want to go, or take a shuttle.

Have you been there? It’s picnics, people fishing, and cyclists doing speed trials.

yes, I've been there. The number of people fishing is far outnumbered by people doing other things. And one usage does not justify letting the whole thing be dominated by cars. The NPS doesn't let cars drive all over other National Parks - they are preserved as natural spaces to see on foot. National Park space in a city is even more precious to preserve as natural and car-free.

There are more than 5,000 miles of roads in US National Parks. They are hardly car free. Cars Actually make them accessible for tens of millions of Americans. The same is true for our local NPs parks. There are good arguments for banning cars in Rock Creek Park or Haines Point but don’t not use dumb made up data. The truth is that if you ban cars, you will end up restricting access for some people - including older folks who just want to be outside and fish but can’t physically lug their equipment a quarter mile or more.

[Anonymous]

It's a 3 mile walk from the nearest place of living. Cyclists trying to ban cars are really trying to ban pedestrians.

[Anonymous]

Isn't the road two one way lanes throughout most of Haines Point. If cyclists and pedestrians stuck to one lane only this wouldn't be an issue.

But like most things, people get crazy with the I have a right to be here mentality.

Unless you have a bumper on your booty or back wheel, get the heck out of the road, or just walk/bike to the left is walking with traffic and opposite side if going against.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the road two one way lanes throughout most of Haines Point. If cyclists and pedestrians stuck to one lane only this wouldn't be an issue.

But like most things, people get crazy with the I have a right to be here mentality.

Unless you have a bumper on your booty or back wheel, get the heck out of the road, or just walk/bike to the left is walking with traffic and opposite side if going against.

You're proposing the status quo, which is what killed two people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the road two one way lanes throughout most of Haines Point. If cyclists and pedestrians stuck to one lane only this wouldn't be an issue.

But like most things, people get crazy with the I have a right to be here mentality.

Unless you have a bumper on your booty or back wheel, get the heck out of the road, or just walk/bike to the left is walking with traffic and opposite side if going against.

You're proposing the status quo, which is what killed two people.

And you're proposing to prevent pedestrians from using the park under the guise of protecting them. Isn't that convenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the road two one way lanes throughout most of Haines Point. If cyclists and pedestrians stuck to one lane only this wouldn't be an issue.

But like most things, people get crazy with the I have a right to be here mentality.

Unless you have a bumper on your booty or back wheel, get the heck out of the road, or just walk/bike to the left is walking with traffic and opposite side if going against.

You're proposing the status quo, which is what killed two people.

Cars and people are a dangerous combination. The roads around here are very crowded. I grew up here and as a kid rode my bike in the streets everywhere. On busy roads I stayed on the shoulder of the road (gravel if I had too) I moved out of the way when I heard a car approach from behind.

I was taught not to play in the street as a child my mom would have been horrified if she’d known where I took my bike. But always in the back of my mind was move out of the way whether walking or riding my bike if I heard a car approach. Not worth it even if I had a right to be there. I never so much As had a near miss.

I learned to rollerblade at Haines Point. I went at off times. I watched out for cars and bikes. I stayed vigilant. Was it relaxing? No but I learned to rollerbakde and afterwards found safer places to do it.

The roads are far more crowded now and in balance the cars are not going anywhere. I am training my DC to survive in a car centric culture and rule no.one is live to tell the tale. Yield to cars always. Most drivers are careful but everyone is capable of making a mistake, having a momentary lapse in judgment behind the wheel, even the good guys.

It doesn’t happen everyday that’s why it’s news when someone gets mowed down, but if you do get hit by a car you will lose %100 percent of the time.

[Anonymous]

Hains Point already has times when it is closed to car traffic. It would be difficult for families with small children if the gates were permanently up, 24 hours per day.

I am sorry this couple was hit, there is actually a sidewalk in the area where they were hit while walking in the street.