How can we make DC streets bicycle and pedestrian-only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

Hey, let's make it HARDER for employees to get downtown. Yes, that will bring folks back.

Bus-only lanes will make it EASIER for employees to get downtown.

Hard agree. The highway projects should include a bus-only lane (rush hour effect only) for transportation-easing. That would add way, way more throughput to the highway system than the stupid pay-your-way-toll-lanes-in-the-middle-of-a-highway.

There's fewer people riding the bus than there was 10 years ago. Maybe we should stop building special lanes for modes of transportation that not very many people use (and that goes doubly of course for bike lanes which seem to be empty 99.9 percent of the time).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

NYC is ten times the size of DC. Paris is three times the size of DC. There's simply not enough demand here for the "sophisticated mass transit systems" you're advocating for. Heck, there's hardly anyone utilizing the current infrastructure that support bikes and scooters.

You can make excuses, but the bottom line is, we get the cities we plan for. The European cities that Amercians flock to because they are so walkable and enjoyable could be re-imagined in the US, but that won't happen if some people continue to justify a built environment dedicated to cars and the politics follow. We can either imagine a future where people use mass transit, bikes, scooter and more and safer walking, or we can continue what we have been doing - that has proven not to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

WMATA is broke and you expect DC, MD and VA to spend BILLIONS of dollars on mass transit? Keep waiting for that?

Imagine how many more cars would be clogging the streets if there was no WMATA. Hundreds of thousands of rides on metro and buses that all of the sudden turned into car trips. No one would be able to get anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

The streets are already safe. I see three year olds on bikes. If the streets are not currently safe, then someone needs to arrest these parents for putting their kids in harm's way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

The streets are already safe. I see three year olds on bikes. If the streets are not currently safe, then someone needs to arrest these parents for putting their kids in harm's way.

Don't you ever get bored, posting the same thing, over and over and over again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

There are billions of car trips each year. How many traffic deaths are there each year? 30ish? Seems like we have more important things to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

There are billions of car trips each year. How many traffic deaths are there each year? 30ish? Seems like we have more important things to worry about.

43,000 people die per year in vehicle crashes

https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/traffic-crash-death-estimates-2022

in 2022 there were 951 railroad deaths; 2/3 or them attributable to "trespassers"
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/railroad-deaths-and-injuries/#:~:text=Railroad%20deaths%20totaled%20954%20in,and%20the%20highest%20since%202007

Over 90% of bicycle deaths involve a car/ truck etc:
https://www.theparrishlawfirm.com/bicycle-accident-lawyer/#:~:text=Bicycle%20accidents%20can%20happen%20in,bicycle%20accidents%20involve%20an%20automobile.

Seems like decreasing vehicle miles travelled and getting more people out of cars would be safer for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

At least you're honest about desiring gridlock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

There are billions of car trips each year. How many traffic deaths are there each year? 30ish? Seems like we have more important things to worry about.

43,000 people die per year in vehicle crashes

https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/traffic-crash-death-estimates-2022

in 2022 there were 951 railroad deaths; 2/3 or them attributable to "trespassers"
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/railroad-deaths-and-injuries/#:~:text=Railroad%20deaths%20totaled%20954%20in,and%20the%20highest%20since%202007

Over 90% of bicycle deaths involve a car/ truck etc:
https://www.theparrishlawfirm.com/bicycle-accident-lawyer/#:~:text=Bicycle%20accidents%20can%20happen%20in,bicycle%20accidents%20involve%20an%20automobile.

Seems like decreasing vehicle miles travelled and getting more people out of cars would be safer for everyone.

PP has been told this a gazillion times before. PP doesn't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

The streets are already safe. I see three year olds on bikes. If the streets are not currently safe, then someone needs to arrest these parents for putting their kids in harm's way.

Over 300 crashes on Connecticut Ave in two years is not safe. Sorry, but facts do matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

At least you're honest about desiring gridlock.

No, I am honest about wanting to make sure drivers are not speeding putting my life as a pedestrian at greater risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

At least you're honest about desiring gridlock.

No, I am honest about wanting to make sure drivers are not speeding putting my life as a pedestrian at greater risk.

Through gridlock. I didn't question your motivation. I questioned your strategy. Gussy it up with whatever fanciful rhetoric makes you happy. The bottom line is that you want to increase gridlock.

[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:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

At least you're honest about desiring gridlock.

No, I am honest about wanting to make sure drivers are not speeding putting my life as a pedestrian at greater risk.

Through gridlock. I didn't question your motivation. I questioned your strategy. Gussy it up with whatever fanciful rhetoric makes you happy. The bottom line is that you want to increase gridlock.

Slower driving speeds increase the efficiency of the roads, i.e., they reduce gridlock.

[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:It is now 2024; a new year!

How can we make DC bike-only a legislative priority, and maybe a reality, in 2024 ?

You just want to kill the remaining businesses in DC? Many restaurants are complaining that the lack of parking is taking away from their businesses. Uber is making traffic worse and I'm not biking to a restaurant at night.

Please go away with this nonsense.

Please take a trip to Paris and see a city that has been transformed by shrinking the space for vehicle traffic. Its economy seems to be doing just fine, by the way.

This cracks me up. Paris is far more dense than DC with a completely different mindset about cars and transportation. You can’t simply “cut and paste” what they do in Paris and expect it to work here.

Like it or not, DC is a car-dependent city in a car-dependent region in a car-dependent country.

If DC actually banned cars, trucks, and buses en masse, it would wither even further on the vine.

What cracks me up is that you apparently think that population density is exogenous. In the real world, residential developments are a function of transportation infrastructure. Build massive highways and you get suburbanization a la Houston. Make cities walkable and bikeable and you end up with something akin to Paris. Downtown DC - like most US cities - used to be much denser before the highway building spree started.

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems. DC does not, nor are MD and VA willing to invest to a make it world class. You need all of these things to make a city less dependent on cars.

Our public space dedicated to transportation is limited within DC. The streets cannot be widened, so how do we move the most people possible within that limited space?

Option 1: Do nothing and just suffocate under unrelenting single occupancy cars from never ending exurban development
Option 2: Rethink our public space, maximizing mass transit, walking and biking, while limiting single occupancy vehicles

Paris and NY have sophisticated mass transit systems because city leaders, decades ago, decided to invest in them. Our city and regional leaders can either do more of the same failed transportation policy, or they can decide to make the DC region transportation and development patterns more functional than they are right now.

Would it have been better not to rip out the old streetcar system and further invest in mass transit from the 1950's? Sure. But that didn't happen, so we can either decide today to do something better, or....we can just not do anything and let our gridlock destroy our local economy and a healthier lifestyle.

Huh? Gridlock is the explicit goal of some of these measures.

According to many, the streets are already gridlocked.

But yes, slowing cars down to make our streets safer for everyone is a goal. Are you opposed to that?

At least you're honest about desiring gridlock.

No, I am honest about wanting to make sure drivers are not speeding putting my life as a pedestrian at greater risk.

Through gridlock. I didn't question your motivation. I questioned your strategy. Gussy it up with whatever fanciful rhetoric makes you happy. The bottom line is that you want to increase gridlock.

Slower driving speeds increase the efficiency of the roads, i.e., they reduce gridlock.

Now you're just lying