With all this negativity about bikes and pedestrians

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All this supposed debate and still no one can give a coherent answer to this simple question:

“Traffic calming” is also a nice euphemism for promoting congestion as a matter of policy through reducing roadway capacity.

Where do the cars go when this happens? Everyone has been asking this question and the responses have been total nonsense.

There is already congestion.
There is already traffic using side streets.

What is your complaint, specifically?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I was aware about meetings on the “Conn. Ave. Reversible Lane and Safety Study.” I think there is 100% agreement that something had to be done. But, I had no clue that it morphed into getting rid of two travel lanes and parking and creating permanent bike lanes. That’s a much different animal. It was a clever slight of hand by the bike lobby and a dirty trick to pull on many parents who were struggling to educate their kids and keep their heads above water during COVID. This is obviously a divisive issue and deserves a reset informed by post Pandemic data.

No it isn't a different animal. If you had attended ANY of the 50+ meetings that took place, you would have heard the DDOT representatives talk about the different options and benefits of different considerations. It was clear from public input that pedestrian and bike safety were more important that throughput for Maryland commuters. The ANC Commissioners offered additional meetings both as an ANC as well as single member district, to dig into what the constituents wanted. Some of the neighborhood groups also met with DDOT and held additional discussions.

Bottom line, constiuents were engaged, none of it was done in secret - I dont know how one calls public zoom meetings secret, alas, and here we are.

Where were these meetings announced?

Email groups
mayor email
councilmember email
ANC email
blogs
Social media

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

You know, the ones with schools on them. Which is most of them.

[Anonymous]

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?

So you are expecting someone from DDOT to knock on your door at a proscribed moment that you happen to be available?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2021 https://wtop.com/dc/2021/12/dc-plans-to-eliminate-reversible-lanes-on-connecticut-avenue-add-bike-lanes/

2019 - see question number 53 https://dccouncil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-DDOT-Performance-Oversight-Questions-Responses-to-Council-02.17.19.pdf

There is even a 2002 DDOT study about ending the reversible lanes, that cited bike lanes as among the many improvements that could come.

Really, none of this should be a surprise to anyone.

And yet it is, so someone dropped the ball on effectively communicating.

You were probably at your beach house in Bethany during COVID and just ignored everything taking place in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

And the ones who kids commute on those side streets to school.

To my knowledge, every street in Cleveland Park has sidewalks now. So you are saying all of these new cars are going to be a threat to kids walking on sidewalks? Buy if you are nervous about that, let me tell you about those same cars on Connecticut Avenue.

[Anonymous]

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.

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

what more do you want? seriously. how do you feel you should be catered to? should you get notices delivered to your window by carrier pigeon?

You keep suggesting there is a email or list serve for the ANC, but there isn't. And everyone quit Twitter due to Trump, so that is ineffective.

Trump hasn't been on Twitter for almost two years. The rest of the community still uses it. Maybe you want an AOL chat group notification?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could talk all day about who should have known what and when they should have known it, but that's just a waste of time. Some people knew about it, some people didn't. Let's accept that as fact and just move on.

The plan has been approved and it's in all of our best interests to focus on the implementation of it. Could someone who is in the know share here what the process is for implementation feedback and planning? If I live in the 3000 block of Connecticut, for example, how and when can I have input into what the implementation will look like in the Woodley and Cleveland Park segments? Or if I'm on a side street and I want to be part of the conversation around diverted traffic — where and when can I participate in that? If I have a disability and want to be part of discussion on signal timing and raised crosswalks -- how/when/where do I do that?

If those who are in charge of Plan C could share that information here, it would give everyone something concrete to do and a chance to have a voice in the ultimate outcome. Thank you.

DDOT is doing walk throughs this week. Look at the Forest Hills Connection for yet another micro-local source of news and information, if you are not on any of the neighborhood email groups.

Was it on the Cleveland Park email list? I didn’t see it and just did a quick search and didn’t find anything. I did find the article on Forest Hills Connection’s website, but that was just published yesterday and the first walkthrough is Monday morning. Is there a single official site where meeting dates/times are announced? Here’s the Forest Hills link in case anyone wants to read it: https://www.foresthillsconnection.com/news/ddot-holding-connecticut-ave-walkthroughs-to-discuss-parking-and-loading-needs/

here you go: https://anc3f.com/

obviously trying to cover up!

And the email or list serves? I think that is a good idea, but don't see a sign up there. The news page is an error message even.

https://groups.io/g/ChevyChaseCommunity/topics
https://groups.io/g/clevelandpark/topics

[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.

Connecticut Avenue has a more direct connection to other DC neighborhoods and downtown. If you are saying Wisconsin Avenue should have bike lanes as well, I would agree. Let's advocate for both!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

You know, the ones with schools on them. Which is most of them.

Which is why there are "safe routes to schools" programs.

[Anonymous]

Yet again everyone talking about bikes and pedestrians and street improvements only talk as if downtown NW is the only part of the city that exists or matters. Some of you sound a bit out if touch (downtown def less populated due to nobody works in an office every day anymore in any city not bike lanes). I always hated driving downtown and prefer to find ways to metro there anyways, even before pandemic since I moved to DC. If they slow it down, or even shut down streets for restaurants I might go there more often on weekends as that sounds nice.

Regarding these topics, I have appreciated safety improvements on MD Ave NE and (in progress) C St NE near Elliot Hine which was an absolutely awful section of road by a school. Do not bike (other than trails) but drive kids to school and myself to work and the grocery store etc. and sometimes navigate getting kids across these roads on foot.

There are enough bikers on these roads that adding lanes makes sense.

I used to be against other things like traffic cameras until I had kids and now couldn't care less if DC puts them on every block and at every stop.
DC/MD/VA drivers are actually worse then NY drivers IMO and I grew up near NY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet again everyone talking about bikes and pedestrians and street improvements only talk as if downtown NW is the only part of the city that exists or matters. Some of you sound a bit out if touch (downtown def less populated due to nobody works in an office every day anymore in any city not bike lanes). I always hated driving downtown and prefer to find ways to metro there anyways, even before pandemic since I moved to DC. If they slow it down, or even shut down streets for restaurants I might go there more often on weekends as that sounds nice.

Regarding these topics, I have appreciated safety improvements on MD Ave NE and (in progress) C St NE near Elliot Hine which was an absolutely awful section of road by a school. Do not bike (other than trails) but drive kids to school and myself to work and the grocery store etc. and sometimes navigate getting kids across these roads on foot.

There are enough bikers on these roads that adding lanes makes sense.

I used to be against other things like traffic cameras until I had kids and now couldn't care less if DC puts them on every block and at every stop.
DC/MD/VA drivers are actually worse then NY drivers IMO and I grew up near NY.

the bike lanes on 19th are a vast improvement! used to be a racetrack and now it’s super chill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet again everyone talking about bikes and pedestrians and street improvements only talk as if downtown NW is the only part of the city that exists or matters. Some of you sound a bit out if touch (downtown def less populated due to nobody works in an office every day anymore in any city not bike lanes). I always hated driving downtown and prefer to find ways to metro there anyways, even before pandemic since I moved to DC. If they slow it down, or even shut down streets for restaurants I might go there more often on weekends as that sounds nice.

Regarding these topics, I have appreciated safety improvements on MD Ave NE and (in progress) C St NE near Elliot Hine which was an absolutely awful section of road by a school. Do not bike (other than trails) but drive kids to school and myself to work and the grocery store etc. and sometimes navigate getting kids across these roads on foot.

There are enough bikers on these roads that adding lanes makes sense.

I used to be against other things like traffic cameras until I had kids and now couldn't care less if DC puts them on every block and at every stop.
DC/MD/VA drivers are actually worse then NY drivers IMO and I grew up near NY.

That is because DC's traffic rules are entirely optional for MD drivers. MD government is responsible for all injuries, deaths, and structural damages caused on DC streets by MD drivers because they have stonewalled ticket reciprocity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yet again everyone talking about bikes and pedestrians and street improvements only talk as if downtown NW is the only part of the city that exists or matters. Some of you sound a bit out if touch (downtown def less populated due to nobody works in an office every day anymore in any city not bike lanes). I always hated driving downtown and prefer to find ways to metro there anyways, even before pandemic since I moved to DC. If they slow it down, or even shut down streets for restaurants I might go there more often on weekends as that sounds nice.

Regarding these topics, I have appreciated safety improvements on MD Ave NE and (in progress) C St NE near Elliot Hine which was an absolutely awful section of road by a school. Do not bike (other than trails) but drive kids to school and myself to work and the grocery store etc. and sometimes navigate getting kids across these roads on foot.

There are enough bikers on these roads that adding lanes makes sense.

I used to be against other things like traffic cameras until I had kids and now couldn't care less if DC puts them on every block and at every stop.
DC/MD/VA drivers are actually worse then NY drivers IMO and I grew up near NY.

the bike lanes on 19th are a vast improvement! used to be a racetrack and now it’s super chill.

Agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet again everyone talking about bikes and pedestrians and street improvements only talk as if downtown NW is the only part of the city that exists or matters. Some of you sound a bit out if touch (downtown def less populated due to nobody works in an office every day anymore in any city not bike lanes). I always hated driving downtown and prefer to find ways to metro there anyways, even before pandemic since I moved to DC. If they slow it down, or even shut down streets for restaurants I might go there more often on weekends as that sounds nice.

Regarding these topics, I have appreciated safety improvements on MD Ave NE and (in progress) C St NE near Elliot Hine which was an absolutely awful section of road by a school. Do not bike (other than trails) but drive kids to school and myself to work and the grocery store etc. and sometimes navigate getting kids across these roads on foot.

There are enough bikers on these roads that adding lanes makes sense.

I used to be against other things like traffic cameras until I had kids and now couldn't care less if DC puts them on every block and at every stop.
DC/MD/VA drivers are actually worse then NY drivers IMO and I grew up near NY.

Right on. For local trips to run down and grab some pickup food or a small amount of groceries a bike with a front or rear basket is great and super convenient. For going from one place to another and staying for a while, a bike share or step on scooter is super convenient. Getting folks who want to or already do that some space that isn't either in the road with the speeders or on the sidewalks with high chance of conflict for pedestrians, at the cost of some of the free car storage is a great trade off.