With all this negativity about bikes and pedestrians

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. The city went through a three year engagement process with dozens of public meetings. The ANCs up and down Connecticut Avenue support the project as well as the Mayor, the Councimember and DDOT.

It is only now, AFTER the public engagement and votes and AFTER the money has been designated, that people are trying to use their entitled clout to reverse the decision because they happen not to like it.

They could have attended the same public meetings everyone else did. They could have spoken up on the neighborhood email groups etc. But the ANC commissioners and DDOT have all noted the overhwhelming support from the community on this issue.

In other words, the complainers are the deep, but very vocal minority on the issue.

If you want to get involved and live in Ward 3, then reach out to the Ward 3 bikers group. If you are a DC or regional resident, then reach out to WABA.

People didnt even know this was happening. I didnt know until I saw the DCUM thread. People have busy lives.

Many people knew. If you read this forum, or any of the neighborhood emaill groups, or receive CM Cheh's newsletter or the ANC email notices, you would have known about it.

Really, you had to be living under a rock to miss it, and the fact that part of it happened during COVID meant the meetings were online, which meant even more people than normal participated.

Our neighborhood doesn't have an email group (what is that?), I didn't know Cheh had a newsletter and we never got one though we've lived here for over 20 years, and the ANC stopped emailing years ago.

Sorry you aren't engage with your community, but really, how is it that thousands of your neighbors are engaged with their government, but you aren't? That really isn't anyone else's fault.

I am engaged in my community. But not in any of the ways that you seem to say were the only ways to hear about this. Our ANC person doesn't send out anything; I used to get email from the ANC and my email hasn't changed. I never got a newsletter from Cheh, and I would expect she has everyone's home addresses. How is it my fault to not know about something I never got?

And wouldn't it be better to find a way to make sure the people who live here actually have access to information and know about these things you mention instead of blaming people who never got notice?

what else should they do? please tell us.

ancs hold their meetings on the same day every month usually and provide avance copies of the agenda. it is not hidden.

Some of the the things you claim they are doing, which they aren't.

read the website. follow on twitter.

[Anonymous]

Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

Hopefully they will add bike lanes to Wisconsin next because this is a great point!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

The reason is quite simple. They are upzoning Wisconsin and city knows developers don’t want it because it would hurt their investment. Just look at the massive garage that was built at City Ridge for example (and no, it was not due to parking minimums, it was the free market deciding that 700 parking spaces was needed). On the other hand, the buildings along CT avenue are old and they want to blight the area in order to facilitate full depreciation of inprovemnts, upzoning, demolition and reuse of landmarks like the Uptown, etc which is why the bike lanes there. They know they will hurt business which is exactly why they are doing it. The city has already been strategically placing voucher recipients there as well. It’s all a part of a plan. Once Wisconsin is built out then CT will be fully blighted and they will have full resident support for whatever developer giveaways and resident displacement scheme they have planned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is "the bike lobby" supposed to be, exactly? People who oppose this project simultaneously think no one rides a bike anywhere and that cyclists are an irresistible force in city politics, which doesn't seem to make sense. You think WABA, with a total annual revenue of $1.6 million in 2019, is running this town?

Uh, an entity that is legally mandated to register as lobby group constitutes a lobbying organization. Second, $1.6 million is a lot of money for a local organization focused on bicycles. You should see the budgets that social service groups operate on. Third, what’s their budget in 2022? How much revenue? Embarrassed to say?

No idea what it is because they haven’t posted their 990 yet. Which is where I found their 2019 revenue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is "the bike lobby" supposed to be, exactly? People who oppose this project simultaneously think no one rides a bike anywhere and that cyclists are an irresistible force in city politics, which doesn't seem to make sense. You think WABA, with a total annual revenue of $1.6 million in 2019, is running this town?

Uh, an entity that is legally mandated to register as lobby group constitutes a lobbying organization. Second, $1.6 million is a lot of money for a local organization focused on bicycles. You should see the budgets that social service groups operate on. Third, what’s their budget in 2022? How much revenue? Embarrassed to say?

No idea what it is because they haven’t posted their 990 yet. Which is where I found their 2019 revenue.

AAA Mid-Atlantic’s annual revenue appears to be more than $40 million, though, which is probably a better point of comparison than social service groups if you’re talking about lobbying on road use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

So true! All those schools, or at least the publics, could use the protected bike lanes, the improved bus speeds, and the increased pedestrian safety!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

The reason is quite simple. They are upzoning Wisconsin and city knows developers don’t want it because it would hurt their investment. Just look at the massive garage that was built at City Ridge for example (and no, it was not due to parking minimums, it was the free market deciding that 700 parking spaces was needed). On the other hand, the buildings along CT avenue are old and they want to blight the area in order to facilitate full depreciation of inprovemnts, upzoning, demolition and reuse of landmarks like the Uptown, etc which is why the bike lanes there. They know they will hurt business which is exactly why they are doing it. The city has already been strategically placing voucher recipients there as well. It’s all a part of a plan. Once Wisconsin is built out then CT will be fully blighted and they will have full resident support for whatever developer giveaways and resident displacement scheme they have planned.

Wow. That is one theory, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

The reason is quite simple. They are upzoning Wisconsin and city knows developers don’t want it because it would hurt their investment. Just look at the massive garage that was built at City Ridge for example (and no, it was not due to parking minimums, it was the free market deciding that 700 parking spaces was needed). On the other hand, the buildings along CT avenue are old and they want to blight the area in order to facilitate full depreciation of inprovemnts, upzoning, demolition and reuse of landmarks like the Uptown, etc which is why the bike lanes there. They know they will hurt business which is exactly why they are doing it. The city has already been strategically placing voucher recipients there as well. It’s all a part of a plan. Once Wisconsin is built out then CT will be fully blighted and they will have full resident support for whatever developer giveaways and resident displacement scheme they have planned.

Conn Ave will be blighted? Riiiiiiiight. A few miles of some of the most expensive real estate in the city is going to go up in flames because of bike lanes instead of a small highway??? Nutjob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quote got messed up but I have two kids and a crazy job, still knew this was happening and still think you’re a whiny entitled nut job. Keep on whining into the wind I guess, the changes are happening with or without your personal approval

People with two kids and a crazy job don't spend their entire day on this Web site.

I’d love to see Jeff cross reference the “schools are closed and the anti bike/don’t have time to be locally engaged ppl” I’d guess a very strong correlation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

So true! All those schools, or at least the publics, could use the protected bike lanes, the improved bus speeds, and the increased pedestrian safety!

I'd say lower Wisconsin could use a bus lane much more than it could use a bike lane. The recent survey finally realized that just maybe we should have a bus land through Georgetown and up Wisconsin (Option 4)
https://www.federalcitycouncil.org/initiatives/georgetown-transit-enhancement-to-metrorail-project/

I'm not against a shared bus/bike lane, but much more pro-bus for that segment. Add a north/south bike lane on 31st, and an E-W lane on say N, and I'd be very happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

So true! All those schools, or at least the publics, could use the protected bike lanes, the improved bus speeds, and the increased pedestrian safety!

I'd say lower Wisconsin could use a bus lane much more than it could use a bike lane. The recent survey finally realized that just maybe we should have a bus land through Georgetown and up Wisconsin (Option 4)
https://www.federalcitycouncil.org/initiatives/georgetown-transit-enhancement-to-metrorail-project/

I'm not against a shared bus/bike lane, but much more pro-bus for that segment. Add a north/south bike lane on 31st, and an E-W lane on say N, and I'd be very happy.

All of Wisconsin would be a great bus lane. If bikes fit also, that would be a bonus. But it would be a great way for people to move up and down Wisconsin quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious why the bike lanes are going on Connecticut and not Wisconsin? If the rationale for them is a safe way to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, get to school by bike and visit merchants, Wisconsin would be much better just from a school perspective alone. It would be a fairly direct route to Hardy, the Cathedral schools, John Eaton, Janet, St Columba’s, Sidwell, GDS and Murch. There is more retail in Friendship Heights, Tenley, Cathedral Commons, Glivwr Park and you could go thru Georgetown and connect with Rock Creek or the Capital Crescent. Seems like using Wisconsin makes more sense.

The reason is quite simple. They are upzoning Wisconsin and city knows developers don’t want it because it would hurt their investment. Just look at the massive garage that was built at City Ridge for example (and no, it was not due to parking minimums, it was the free market deciding that 700 parking spaces was needed). On the other hand, the buildings along CT avenue are old and they want to blight the area in order to facilitate full depreciation of inprovemnts, upzoning, demolition and reuse of landmarks like the Uptown, etc which is why the bike lanes there. They know they will hurt business which is exactly why they are doing it. The city has already been strategically placing voucher recipients there as well. It’s all a part of a plan. Once Wisconsin is built out then CT will be fully blighted and they will have full resident support for whatever developer giveaways and resident displacement scheme they have planned.

Conn Ave will be blighted? Riiiiiiiight. A few miles of some of the most expensive real estate in the city is going to go up in flames because of bike lanes instead of a small highway??? Nutjob.

Have you spent some time on the CP commercial strip? Some nights there are more homeless/pan handlers than diners. The broken up pavement and weeds. That sketchy CBD store. Yeah, it’s pretty blighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Which parents don't want a safe Connecticut Ave? The ones I know are excited about this.

The ones that live on side streets just off Connecticut that will become much less safe.

No, they won't. There is already "cut through" "traffic" (ie cars) using those streets. Many of them already have speed humps. Which streets, specifically, are you fearful will become more dangerous because people driving cars are using them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. The city went through a three year engagement process with dozens of public meetings. The ANCs up and down Connecticut Avenue support the project as well as the Mayor, the Councimember and DDOT.

It is only now, AFTER the public engagement and votes and AFTER the money has been designated, that people are trying to use their entitled clout to reverse the decision because they happen not to like it.

They could have attended the same public meetings everyone else did. They could have spoken up on the neighborhood email groups etc. But the ANC commissioners and DDOT have all noted the overhwhelming support from the community on this issue.

In other words, the complainers are the deep, but very vocal minority on the issue.

If you want to get involved and live in Ward 3, then reach out to the Ward 3 bikers group. If you are a DC or regional resident, then reach out to WABA.

I have two small kids and a big job and still knew all about these changes. Which I very much support btw. I don’t own a bike but anything that slows the damn MD drivers down is fine by me. What’s your next excuse for why you couldn’t possibly have known about this and the city should cancel everything until you personally are on board?
People didnt even know this was happening. I didnt know until I saw the DCUM thread. People have busy lives.

Many people knew. If you read this forum, or any of the neighborhood emaill groups, or receive CM Cheh's newsletter or the ANC email notices, you would have known about it.

Really, you had to be living under a rock to miss it, and the fact that part of it happened during COVID meant the meetings were online, which meant even more people than normal participated.

You obviously don't have kids. If you one day have kids, you will laugh at how insane you sound.

Zoom meetings are great for parents! I have been able to attend so many more community meetings! Although now that every meeting is a webinar, and you can't read anything that any attendee says, and if you ask a question, it gets sorta interpreted rather than even read, it's not really participatory anymore, I'll concede.

You mean Zoom meetings are great for YOU.

Please cite an example where attending a meeting in person in the evening is easier than flipping on a screen at the same time from home.