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:

More would commute if it were safer to do so.

Also, the denominator there is the entire region of 2.5 million people. We could focus just on the people who would use CT Ave and the number would be a lot higher, of course, but for the author to try to make his point, he had to use the most extreme statistics possible. Well, of course the person who live in Prince William County and drives to Springfield for work is not going to bike, much less bike on CT Ave, so why are these included in the author's stats?

The parallels between the bike lanes debate and the police “reform” debate from a few years ago are striking. During the BLM/defund/reform movement there were many who were urging leaders to pump the breaks and warned what would happen in cities. They were shouted down. It’s the same thing with the bike lanes Over 100 businesses along Connecticut and leaders in downtown CRE are warning that these lanes are a very bad idea. But, a handful of activists could care less and want to move full steam ahead. It’s amazing to watch.

Yeah, they always do. And then the bike lanes go in, and then they figure out that it was actually a very good idea. Bike lanes are good for local businesses, not bad.

I don’t know which side to believe. But, in this case I kinda, sorta believe the business owners on issues involving how to stay in business. I’m much less likely to believe a government or non profit worker who has zero experience in the private sector.

ironically, the businesses do not generally know how their customers access their establishments. When told to ask their existing customers who drove and parked on Conn Ave, many are shocked to learn it is almost none.

And yet despite all odds they’ve managed to stay in business for decades. Thank god this new crop of 30 year old public policy professionals have come along to save them from their own stupidity.

When a vacuum cleaner repair shop is the standard bearer for why one needs to be able to park, when it is just as easy, if not easier, for the store to suggest people drop off their vacuum in the rear alley, or better yet, provide a service to pick up the vacuum and deliver bags, it is a model destined to fail in 2023.

Their bigger threat is that people buy vacuum cleaners via amazon, get new bags via amazon, and they are cheap enough not to be worth it to repair.

This is a tangent, but: If you're concerned enough about the environment not to want to drive to work, as I am, you should be getting your broken vacuums repaired rather than just throwing them out and ordering a new one shipped to you from Amazon. I'd happily park off Connecticut and walk mine to the shop when it needs fixing, or even try to get it onto my bike's rear rack, but I do want that business to be operating when I need it, even if I think they're wrong about road use policy.

I've had the same Dyson since 2008. It's never once broke. I just rinse it with water every year or so and stick a new filter in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Viewpoint: Want workers back in the office? Stop Connecticut Avenue bike lanes.

What does Washington, D.C., have in common with Portland, Seattle, New York, Boston, Oakland and Rochester? Surprisingly, all these cities and many others have removed protected bike lane infrastructure — known as PBLs — that they found to be highly detrimental to commuting, unsafe and a failed experiment.
Across America and abroad, cities are protesting, canceling, and removing PBLs on main thoroughfares due to their negative impact. You may have noticed the uproar this summer over dedicated PBLs and bus lanes on the proposed K Street Transitway, prompting a review and redesign of this project.
At a time when downtown D.C. is struggling to attract workers back to their offices, shoppers to retail stores, and patrons to downtown restaurants and bars, why is the District Department of Transportation moving ahead with plans to make it harder to travel into the city by adding two bike lanes to an already choked off Connecticut Avenue? This irrational policy is counter to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s D.C. Comeback Plan.

https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2023/09/18/connecticut-avenue-bike-lanes-return-office.html

I love it when people who complain about the city being in developer's pocket when it comes to, oh I don't know, building affordable housing on U st or at the Chevey Chase civic core look to... a large commercial developer who is upside down on his properties as a solid, unbiased opinion about bike lanes.

I wonder what the mark-to-market position for him on his investments?

Hypocrites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

they already announced that. I am guessing they will get done a lot sooner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

Are bicyclists not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have bike drive through lanes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

Are bicyclists not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have bike drive through lanes?

Are drivers not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have car drive through lanes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

Are bicyclists not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have bike drive through lanes?

That is a clown question, bro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

Are bicyclists not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have bike drive through lanes?

Are drivers not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have car drive through lanes?

Drivers do walk a block. They park and then walk. Bikers are the ones saying they cannot and that the only way they could get to a shop is if there's a bike lane right in front of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

Are bicyclists not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have bike drive through lanes?

Are drivers not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have car drive through lanes?

Drivers do walk a block. They park and then walk. Bikers are the ones saying they cannot and that the only way they could get to a shop is if there's a bike lane right in front of it.

Where do drivers park, and did they drive on Connecticut Avenue to get there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

Are bicyclists not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have bike drive through lanes?

That is a clown question, bro.

Is it?

But what was even funnier was the quip that putting a bike lane on Reno wouldn't be worth the money but the more expensive idea would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

Are bicyclists not able to walk a block? Are all these shops going to have bike drive through lanes?

That is a clown question, bro.

Is it?

But what was even funnier was the quip that putting a bike lane on Reno wouldn't be worth the money but the more expensive idea would be.

That's silly, because you know what would be even more useful than bike lanes on Connecticut? Bike lanes on Connecticut and on Reno.

[Anonymous]

If I read this correctly, it appears that $1047222
of the approximately $1.6 million in contributions received during the filing period came from only 6 people (with one donor providing $700000). Six people!!! This is a tiny special interest group posing as some populist movement.


https://waba.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WABA-FY21-PD.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I read this correctly, it appears that $1047222
of the approximately $1.6 million in contributions received during the filing period came from only 6 people (with one donor providing $700000). Six people!!! This is a tiny special interest group posing as some populist movement.


https://waba.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WABA-FY21-PD.pdf

Who cares? Most of us are perfectly capable of voicing our own views without paying WABA to do it for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

You missed the part about East-West routes. You could do Fessenden, Albermarle and Van Ness and with just those plus Reno, you have access to Murch, Deal, Jackson-Reed, UDC, Two metros, and connect to businesses on Wisconsin and Connecticut. That's a lot of local traffic that can be replaced with bike trips.

Reno can afford to lose its left turn lanes. Bike lanes and no left turn lanes would slow Reno down and make it less attractive as a cut-through road while making it more useful to locals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the CT Avenue bike lanes have proven to be complicated and the city does not have the resources to get it done in the next couple years. The city's finances are a mess and they are now bleeding taxpayers. It will get done, but probably not until 2028.

The smart thing to do here is to build out bike infrastructure on more local roads. You can get a lot more done with the same money and political capital. Build out the Reno lanes, make some good East-West routes. When 2028 comes around, then CT Ave. seems like a no brainer because it completes the local network.

Classic NIMBY tripe....build it somewhere, just not here.

Fact: Reno Road doesn't have shops and services on it, so other than as a through road, there is no utility to having bike lanes on it.
Also Fact: You would need to remove more than a full lane of three on Reno, to implement a fully protected bike infrastructure on that public space. Not worth the money.

You missed the part about East-West routes. You could do Fessenden, Albermarle and Van Ness and with just those plus Reno, you have access to Murch, Deal, Jackson-Reed, UDC, Two metros, and connect to businesses on Wisconsin and Connecticut. That's a lot of local traffic that can be replaced with bike trips.

Reno can afford to lose its left turn lanes. Bike lanes and no left turn lanes would slow Reno down and make it less attractive as a cut-through road while making it more useful to locals.

AND Connecticut.