We don't need vacuum and lamp stores anymore, that is for sure.

Someone explained to me that the bike lanes are part and parcel of the plan to remake Connecticut Avenue as a new urban "Main Street" neighborhood with signficant dense mixed use infill development, especially near Metro stations. The area will become more like NoMa or Navy Yard, but maybe not quite as tall. This will result in new restaurants and businesses coming in and more residents moving to the area who will be customers of those businesses. Clearly a more vibrant Connecticut Avenue will be oriented to a younger, more athletic demographic that values walkability, biking and other alternative modes of transportation. Bike lanes are therefore an important part of this vision. It will necessarily lead to the loss of businesses that cater to an older demographic who depend on convenient parking in proximity, but that is the overall vision..

Anonymous wrote:Remember that the Cleveland Park strip is adjacent to a Metro stop, So when the businesses complain by a huge margin that their number one problem is customer parking, d'ya think they might be saying something?! It certainly says it's not a good idea for the continued viability of our local businesses to remove much of the limited supply of street parking that exists on Connecticut Ave. today.

On the other hand, the PP is certain that these businesses are only expressing an untested opinion based on faulty assumptions.

Remember that the Cleveland Park strip is adjacent to a Metro stop, So when the businesses complain by a huge margin that their number one problem is customer parking, d'ya think they might be saying something?! It certainly says it's not a good idea for the continued viability of our local businesses to remove much of the limited supply of street parking that exists on Connecticut Ave. today.

Anonymous wrote:

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Well, we know what the city thinks about its small businesses, so I expect to see Connecticut narrowed down to one lane in each direction any day now with permanent bike lanes and with no street parking. In fact, DDOT will just drop the "Avenue" and rename it "Connecticut Way" or "Connecticut Lane."

Study after study has found that bike lanes are good for small businesses.

So you can stop worrying now.

The area business lobbying group stated in the post that their main objective was to end the reversible lanes and rush hour parking restrictions. The businesses support the bike lanes but not at the expense of parking.

And the residents told the businesses that they would stop supporting them if they didn't support the bike lanes. the residents also told DDOT and their elected officials they wanted the bike lanes, and a more pleasant main street rather than a commuter highway. DDOT and the elected officials agreed.

The overwhelming number of the businesses in the Cleveland Park commercial district weighed in to oppose the bike lanes on the avenue, because of the significant impact on critical street parking for their customers.

Except that unlike with the old configuration, there will be available parking on Connecticut Avenue at all times in the new plan. That is a more than fair trade off, IMO.

There’s a significant net loss of parking, and local businesses identified the existing shortage of parking as being their number one challenge, before Conn Ave is reconfigured. Stick to the facts.

Because they assume their customers are coming via car. They have never surveyed or tested this theory. It is an assumption.

You suggest that businesses don't have a clue about their customers or how they arrive at their businesses?! That's strange, because in a published study and survey conducted less than four years ago through the DC Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Cleveland Park businesses identified the lack of available parking for customers as their paramount business challenge. Something like 85% percent of businesses identified this as their number one challenge, by2:1 over the next identified factor (more customers, which is what most businesses always want). Do you think perhaps that the identified shortage of customer parking might have been based on customer feedback? But, you say, the overwhelming conclusion of local businesses is only a theory, merely an assumption.

Anonymous wrote:

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Well, we know what the city thinks about its small businesses, so I expect to see Connecticut narrowed down to one lane in each direction any day now with permanent bike lanes and with no street parking. In fact, DDOT will just drop the "Avenue" and rename it "Connecticut Way" or "Connecticut Lane."

Study after study has found that bike lanes are good for small businesses.

So you can stop worrying now.

The area business lobbying group stated in the post that their main objective was to end the reversible lanes and rush hour parking restrictions. The businesses support the bike lanes but not at the expense of parking.

And the residents told the businesses that they would stop supporting them if they didn't support the bike lanes. the residents also told DDOT and their elected officials they wanted the bike lanes, and a more pleasant main street rather than a commuter highway. DDOT and the elected officials agreed.

The overwhelming number of the businesses in the Cleveland Park commercial district weighed in to oppose the bike lanes on the avenue, because of the significant impact on critical street parking for their customers.

Except that unlike with the old configuration, there will be available parking on Connecticut Avenue at all times in the new plan. That is a more than fair trade off, IMO.

There’s a significant net loss of parking, and local businesses identified the existing shortage of parking as being their number one challenge, before Conn Ave is reconfigured. Stick to the facts.

Because they assume their customers are coming via car. They have never surveyed or tested this theory. It is an assumption.

Go tell the local businesses that you know their customers better than they do.

Businesses are constantly trying to better understand their customers and their needs. I cannot fathom a successful business not being interested in learning about this.

So go explain it to them and get them to agree with you to support bike lanes at the expense of parking. They’re the ones you need to convince.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well, we know what the city thinks about its small businesses, so I expect to see Connecticut narrowed down to one lane in each direction any day now with permanent bike lanes and with no street parking. In fact, DDOT will just drop the "Avenue" and rename it "Connecticut Way" or "Connecticut Lane."

Study after study has found that bike lanes are good for small businesses.

So you can stop worrying now.

The area business lobbying group stated in the post that their main objective was to end the reversible lanes and rush hour parking restrictions. The businesses support the bike lanes but not at the expense of parking.

And the residents told the businesses that they would stop supporting them if they didn't support the bike lanes. the residents also told DDOT and their elected officials they wanted the bike lanes, and a more pleasant main street rather than a commuter highway. DDOT and the elected officials agreed.

The overwhelming number of the businesses in the Cleveland Park commercial district weighed in to oppose the bike lanes on the avenue, because of the significant impact on critical street parking for their customers.

Except that unlike with the old configuration, there will be available parking on Connecticut Avenue at all times in the new plan. That is a more than fair trade off, IMO.

There’s a significant net loss of parking, and local businesses identified the existing shortage of parking as being their number one challenge, before Conn Ave is reconfigured. Stick to the facts.

Because they assume their customers are coming via car. They have never surveyed or tested this theory. It is an assumption.

Go tell the local businesses that you know their customers better than they do.

Businesses are constantly trying to better understand their customers and their needs. I cannot fathom a successful business not being interested in learning about this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well, we know what the city thinks about its small businesses, so I expect to see Connecticut narrowed down to one lane in each direction any day now with permanent bike lanes and with no street parking. In fact, DDOT will just drop the "Avenue" and rename it "Connecticut Way" or "Connecticut Lane."

Study after study has found that bike lanes are good for small businesses.

So you can stop worrying now.

The area business lobbying group stated in the post that their main objective was to end the reversible lanes and rush hour parking restrictions. The businesses support the bike lanes but not at the expense of parking.

Which “business area lobbying group” are you referring to?

Please identify the name. Which business association supports the DDOT plan. Thanks.

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Well, there's more than one way traffic can get worse, isn't there? One is obviously is you increase the number of cars. The other is if you decreases the capacity of streets to accommodate traffic. The latter is what happens when you add bike lanes -- you reduce the amount of car traffic the road can handle. You can end up with worse traffic even if the total number of cars has declined.

But the purpose of the transportation system isn't to move cars. It's to move people.

Most people in DC drive (and remember: most commuters in DC actually live in Maryland or Virginia).

Most people in MD and VA drive.

Most people in DC don't. A lot do, but not most.

Actually, the majority of DC residents also drive to work. The numbers that take transit and walk are substantially higher than MD or VA though.

Wrong. Only a very slight plurality of Washingtonians used a car to get to work. The share of Washingtonians who take public transit, bike, or walk is rather higher than the share who drive: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=ACSST1Y2019.S0801&g=0400000US11&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S0801&hidePreview=true

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Well, we know what the city thinks about its small businesses, so I expect to see Connecticut narrowed down to one lane in each direction any day now with permanent bike lanes and with no street parking. In fact, DDOT will just drop the "Avenue" and rename it "Connecticut Way" or "Connecticut Lane."

Study after study has found that bike lanes are good for small businesses.

So you can stop worrying now.

The area business lobbying group stated in the post that their main objective was to end the reversible lanes and rush hour parking restrictions. The businesses support the bike lanes but not at the expense of parking.

And the residents told the businesses that they would stop supporting them if they didn't support the bike lanes. the residents also told DDOT and their elected officials they wanted the bike lanes, and a more pleasant main street rather than a commuter highway. DDOT and the elected officials agreed.

The overwhelming number of the businesses in the Cleveland Park commercial district weighed in to oppose the bike lanes on the avenue, because of the significant impact on critical street parking for their customers.

Except that unlike with the old configuration, there will be available parking on Connecticut Avenue at all times in the new plan. That is a more than fair trade off, IMO.

There’s a significant net loss of parking, and local businesses identified the existing shortage of parking as being their number one challenge, before Conn Ave is reconfigured. Stick to the facts.

Because they assume their customers are coming via car. They have never surveyed or tested this theory. It is an assumption.

Maybe their customer base will totally change and will arrive by those little scooters, which they will leave in the middle of the sidewalk. God forbid that they park them in the bike lanes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well, we know what the city thinks about its small businesses, so I expect to see Connecticut narrowed down to one lane in each direction any day now with permanent bike lanes and with no street parking. In fact, DDOT will just drop the "Avenue" and rename it "Connecticut Way" or "Connecticut Lane."

Study after study has found that bike lanes are good for small businesses.

So you can stop worrying now.

The area business lobbying group stated in the post that their main objective was to end the reversible lanes and rush hour parking restrictions. The businesses support the bike lanes but not at the expense of parking.

And the residents told the businesses that they would stop supporting them if they didn't support the bike lanes. the residents also told DDOT and their elected officials they wanted the bike lanes, and a more pleasant main street rather than a commuter highway. DDOT and the elected officials agreed.

The overwhelming number of the businesses in the Cleveland Park commercial district weighed in to oppose the bike lanes on the avenue, because of the significant impact on critical street parking for their customers.

Except that unlike with the old configuration, there will be available parking on Connecticut Avenue at all times in the new plan. That is a more than fair trade off, IMO.

There’s a significant net loss of parking, and local businesses identified the existing shortage of parking as being their number one challenge, before Conn Ave is reconfigured. Stick to the facts.

Because they assume their customers are coming via car. They have never surveyed or tested this theory. It is an assumption.

Go tell the local businesses that you know their customers better than they do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well, we know what the city thinks about its small businesses, so I expect to see Connecticut narrowed down to one lane in each direction any day now with permanent bike lanes and with no street parking. In fact, DDOT will just drop the "Avenue" and rename it "Connecticut Way" or "Connecticut Lane."

Study after study has found that bike lanes are good for small businesses.

So you can stop worrying now.

The area business lobbying group stated in the post that their main objective was to end the reversible lanes and rush hour parking restrictions. The businesses support the bike lanes but not at the expense of parking.

And the residents told the businesses that they would stop supporting them if they didn't support the bike lanes. the residents also told DDOT and their elected officials they wanted the bike lanes, and a more pleasant main street rather than a commuter highway. DDOT and the elected officials agreed.

The overwhelming number of the businesses in the Cleveland Park commercial district weighed in to oppose the bike lanes on the avenue, because of the significant impact on critical street parking for their customers.

Except that unlike with the old configuration, there will be available parking on Connecticut Avenue at all times in the new plan. That is a more than fair trade off, IMO.

There’s a significant net loss of parking, and local businesses identified the existing shortage of parking as being their number one challenge, before Conn Ave is reconfigured. Stick to the facts.

Because they assume their customers are coming via car. They have never surveyed or tested this theory. It is an assumption.

Raw numbers, sure, but per capita, nope.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well, there's more than one way traffic can get worse, isn't there? One is obviously is you increase the number of cars. The other is if you decreases the capacity of streets to accommodate traffic. The latter is what happens when you add bike lanes -- you reduce the amount of car traffic the road can handle. You can end up with worse traffic even if the total number of cars has declined.

But the purpose of the transportation system isn't to move cars. It's to move people.

Most people in DC drive (and remember: most commuters in DC actually live in Maryland or Virginia).

Most people in MD and VA drive.

Most people in DC don't. A lot do, but not most.

Actually, the majority of DC residents also drive to work. The numbers that take transit and walk are substantially higher than MD or VA though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well, we know what the city thinks about its small businesses, so I expect to see Connecticut narrowed down to one lane in each direction any day now with permanent bike lanes and with no street parking. In fact, DDOT will just drop the "Avenue" and rename it "Connecticut Way" or "Connecticut Lane."

Study after study has found that bike lanes are good for small businesses.

So you can stop worrying now.

The area business lobbying group stated in the post that their main objective was to end the reversible lanes and rush hour parking restrictions. The businesses support the bike lanes but not at the expense of parking.

And the residents told the businesses that they would stop supporting them if they didn't support the bike lanes. the residents also told DDOT and their elected officials they wanted the bike lanes, and a more pleasant main street rather than a commuter highway. DDOT and the elected officials agreed.

The overwhelming number of the businesses in the Cleveland Park commercial district weighed in to oppose the bike lanes on the avenue, because of the significant impact on critical street parking for their customers.

Except that unlike with the old configuration, there will be available parking on Connecticut Avenue at all times in the new plan. That is a more than fair trade off, IMO.

There’s a significant net loss of parking, and local businesses identified the existing shortage of parking as being their number one challenge, before Conn Ave is reconfigured. Stick to the facts.