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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

You're wrong about this, it's been demonstrated to you multiple times that you're wrong about this, and yet here you still are, repeating yourself wrongly about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

It’s not about race. Or even bikes, really. I would like to limit out of state plates regardless of the race of the driver to make living in this city more pleasant for everyone. If a non-white person has a car with DC plates they are welcome to drive around all day in my version of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

You're wrong about this, it's been demonstrated to you multiple times that you're wrong about this, and yet here you still are, repeating yourself wrongly about this.

Sounds like you are unfamiliar with both cyclists and our suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have miles and miles and miles of bike lanes that no one uses. Before commandeering our entire transportation infrastructure, maybe start by sometimes using the lanes we already have?

What? DC has death trap bike lanes designed with zero thought to safety. I moved here from a bike friendly city where I commuted to work daily. I have never used my bike for transportation here.

I have young kids—it’s too big a risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

You're wrong about this, it's been demonstrated to you multiple times that you're wrong about this, and yet here you still are, repeating yourself wrongly about this.

Sounds like you are unfamiliar with both cyclists and our suburbs.

Nope, that's you. You're just wrong about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is such a beautifully designed city, with amazing outdoor dining and cafe potential.

But trucks, busses, cars and motorcycles ruin it for us residents.

DC is geographically tiny, so why not make our streets pedestrian and bicycles- only?

Is it really necessary to point out that most of the bars, restaurants and stores in this city would go out of business if we banned cars?

+1 I have been a daily bike commuter in this town for 20 years, but even I think a total ban on cars is foolish. What I would like to see, though, is a network of bike trails and/or streets closed to cars that is comparable to the metro coverage. So, a couple N-S streets, a couple E-W streets, and a couple diagonal streets. All the bike lanes that have been put in place are great--and do get used, contrary to what some folks say on this board. But, if I could get around town on my bike without having to worry about getting doored/hooked/run over, that would be a game changer.

And that's what bikers are doing. They choose to ride on the sidewalk which they are not allowed to do making it exponentially less safe for everyone walking. I'd be ok with closing certain streets to cars if it means fewer bikes everywhere else. But it won't. Just look at where people leave their schooters.

I agree that biking on the sidewalk is often less safe than biking in the street, and the way that many cyclists ride on sidewalks is stupid and dangerous BUT outside of the downtown business district, bicyclists are legally allowed to use the sidewalks, provided they do so safely. Not sure about ebikes and motorized scooters. As of this year, bicycles are also allowed to treat stop signs as yield signs and begin crossing with the leading pedestrian signal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

You're wrong about this, it's been demonstrated to you multiple times that you're wrong about this, and yet here you still are, repeating yourself wrongly about this.

Sounds like you are unfamiliar with both cyclists and our suburbs.

Nope, that's you. You're just wrong about this.

Says the guy who thinks PG County is extremely white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is such a beautifully designed city, with amazing outdoor dining and cafe potential.

But trucks, busses, cars and motorcycles ruin it for us residents.

DC is geographically tiny, so why not make our streets pedestrian and bicycles- only?

Is it really necessary to point out that most of the bars, restaurants and stores in this city would go out of business if we banned cars?

+1 I have been a daily bike commuter in this town for 20 years, but even I think a total ban on cars is foolish. What I would like to see, though, is a network of bike trails and/or streets closed to cars that is comparable to the metro coverage. So, a couple N-S streets, a couple E-W streets, and a couple diagonal streets. All the bike lanes that have been put in place are great--and do get used, contrary to what some folks say on this board. But, if I could get around town on my bike without having to worry about getting doored/hooked/run over, that would be a game changer.

And that's what bikers are doing. They choose to ride on the sidewalk which they are not allowed to do making it exponentially less safe for everyone walking. I'd be ok with closing certain streets to cars if it means fewer bikes everywhere else. But it won't. Just look at where people leave their schooters.

Cyclists won't even use the bike lanes we have if it means going a block or two out of their way.

Some won't, but many more will. I certainly do. Early this morning, I needed to go from Georgia and Randolph NW to 14th and I NW. I went West to get to the 15th Street bike lane before heading South through downtown and back East (walking my bike on the sidewalk on I) to 14th. There actually is a bike lane on 14th, but it is so full of waiting Uber drivers, delivery vans, and people double-parked as to be comically useless. On my way home, I rode all the way West to 27th & K to get on the Rock Creek Park path to avoid downtown rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is such a beautifully designed city, with amazing outdoor dining and cafe potential.

But trucks, busses, cars and motorcycles ruin it for us residents.

DC is geographically tiny, so why not make our streets pedestrian and bicycles- only?

Is it really necessary to point out that most of the bars, restaurants and stores in this city would go out of business if we banned cars?

+1 I have been a daily bike commuter in this town for 20 years, but even I think a total ban on cars is foolish. What I would like to see, though, is a network of bike trails and/or streets closed to cars that is comparable to the metro coverage. So, a couple N-S streets, a couple E-W streets, and a couple diagonal streets. All the bike lanes that have been put in place are great--and do get used, contrary to what some folks say on this board. But, if I could get around town on my bike without having to worry about getting doored/hooked/run over, that would be a game changer.

And that's what bikers are doing. They choose to ride on the sidewalk which they are not allowed to do making it exponentially less safe for everyone walking. I'd be ok with closing certain streets to cars if it means fewer bikes everywhere else. But it won't. Just look at where people leave their schooters.

I agree that biking on the sidewalk is often less safe than biking in the street, and the way that many cyclists ride on sidewalks is stupid and dangerous BUT outside of the downtown business district, bicyclists are legally allowed to use the sidewalks, provided they do so safely. Not sure about ebikes and motorized scooters. As of this year, bicycles are also allowed to treat stop signs as yield signs and begin crossing with the leading pedestrian signal.

per the law, cyclists are only allowed to blow stop signs after they yield the right of way to everyone else at the intersection. of course that rarely happens, it seems. i dont know how many times ive had to slam on the breaks to avoid hitting a cyclist ignoring the rules around idaho stops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is such a beautifully designed city, with amazing outdoor dining and cafe potential.

But trucks, busses, cars and motorcycles ruin it for us residents.

DC is geographically tiny, so why not make our streets pedestrian and bicycles- only?

Is it really necessary to point out that most of the bars, restaurants and stores in this city would go out of business if we banned cars?

+1 I have been a daily bike commuter in this town for 20 years, but even I think a total ban on cars is foolish. What I would like to see, though, is a network of bike trails and/or streets closed to cars that is comparable to the metro coverage. So, a couple N-S streets, a couple E-W streets, and a couple diagonal streets. All the bike lanes that have been put in place are great--and do get used, contrary to what some folks say on this board. But, if I could get around town on my bike without having to worry about getting doored/hooked/run over, that would be a game changer.

And that's what bikers are doing. They choose to ride on the sidewalk which they are not allowed to do making it exponentially less safe for everyone walking. I'd be ok with closing certain streets to cars if it means fewer bikes everywhere else. But it won't. Just look at where people leave their schooters.

I agree that biking on the sidewalk is often less safe than biking in the street, and the way that many cyclists ride on sidewalks is stupid and dangerous BUT outside of the downtown business district, bicyclists are legally allowed to use the sidewalks, provided they do so safely. Not sure about ebikes and motorized scooters. As of this year, bicycles are also allowed to treat stop signs as yield signs and begin crossing with the leading pedestrian signal.

per the law, cyclists are only allowed to blow stop signs after they yield the right of way to everyone else at the intersection. of course that rarely happens, it seems. i dont know how many times ive had to slam on the breaks to avoid hitting a cyclist ignoring the rules around idaho stops.

Have you considered driving under the speed limit and coming to a complete stop at stop signs? I think that would help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the New York Times:

As Bikers Throng the Streets, ‘It’s Like Paris Is in Anarchy’

PARIS — On a recent afternoon, the Rue de Rivoli looked like this: Cyclists blowing through red lights in two directions. Delivery bike riders fixating on their cellphones. Electric scooters careening across lanes. Jaywalkers and nervous pedestrians scrambling as if in a video game.

Sarah Famery, a 20-year resident of the Marais neighborhood, braced for the tumult. She looked left, then right, then left and right again before venturing into a crosswalk, only to break into a rant-laden sprint as two cyclists came within inches of grazing her.

“It’s chaos!” exclaimed Ms. Famery, shaking a fist at the swarm of bikes that have displaced cars on the Rue de Rivoli ever since it was remade into a multilane highway for cyclists last year. “Politicians want to make Paris a cycling city, but no one is following any rules,” she said. “It’s becoming risky just to cross the street!”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/02/world/europe/paris-bicyles-france.html

“It’s like Paris is in anarchy,” said Jean-Conrad LeMaitre, a former banker who was out for a stroll recently along the Rue de Rivoli. “We need to reduce pollution and improve the environment,” he said. “But everyone is just doing as they please. There are no police, no fines, no training and no respect.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

You are wrong.

Wrong and kinda crazy, grandpa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

You are wrong.

Wrong and kinda crazy, grandpa.

DP but I would really like to see the source of your information that most cyclists are not white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

It’s not about race. Or even bikes, really. I would like to limit out of state plates regardless of the race of the driver to make living in this city more pleasant for everyone. If a non-white person has a car with DC plates they are welcome to drive around all day in my version of DC.

So, all those people who got pushed to PG county by gentrification can't drive into town to do their jobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For one, our metro system is inadequate, there aren't enough stations.

I live and work in DC, but with an elementary kid in school, it would take me (checks google maps)... 25 min to get my kid to school that's a 10-15 min drive away, then another (checks google maps) 45-55 min to get myself to work that's a 25-30 min drive normally.

This is living in NE, with kids in school in NE, with my work also in NE.

No thanks.

You do realize you're literally driving at bike speed? Probably slower depending on where in NE.

The reason it takes you so long is because of traffic and lights (aka too many cars).

Now imagine your trips if DC had half as many cars.

DP. This is the real answer. It’s not banning all cars, it’s banning any non-DC plates. Or making them pay huge tolls to drive in the city. Anything that reduces MD and VA plates would be fine by me!

Cyclists are almost entirely white. Drivers are disproportionately black and brown (because they're less likely to be able to afford to live close to where they work)

All these cockamamie schemes to help cyclists and punish drivers boil down to privileging white people and hurting black and brown people.

It’s not about race. Or even bikes, really. I would like to limit out of state plates regardless of the race of the driver to make living in this city more pleasant for everyone. If a non-white person has a car with DC plates they are welcome to drive around all day in my version of DC.

Just curious... how much does DC bring in through tourism?
You really want to limit those out of state plates?