Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article from the NYT on how e-bikes have made life more dangerous for pedestrians in New York. Shouldn’t Washington DC consider similar legislation/rules for e-bikes?

“[T]he explosion of e-bikes has also soured the way some New Yorkers view the streets.
“In the last three years there’s been an enormous shift,” said Susan Simon, who moved to New York in the late 1970s. “The quality of life has gone down.”

“The streets are very dangerous,” Simon continued. “What used to be a wonderful walking city for tourists, for pedestrians, has become something of a nightmare.”

Simon used to pedal a bike herself, for fun or to go to the grocery store. But e-bikes are different, she said — faster and heavier and therefore riskier. She noted that a woman was killed last year after someone riding an electric Citi Bike hit her.

There are some efforts to tame the chaos. Janet Schroeder and Pamela Manasse, who was hit by an electric vehicle in 2022 and suffered a severe brain injury, founded the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, which promotes various regulations for e-bikes.

The alliance supports a bill that would ban e-bikes and other e-vehicles from parks and greenways. It would also like the government to require that e-bikes be registered and riders licensed.”

I am a cycling advocate. I would support such limits for eBikes that can go over a certain speed. I would not be supportive of banning them from parks and greenways. Otherwise, one couldn't ride one in Rock Creek Park, either on the road or the path, which seems misguided.

I would also be for speed limiters for cars, so they could not exceed the posted speed limits.

Rock Creek Park was not created for use by motorized vehicles and their ban in the park would be far from misguided. It would bring the use of the park back to its true purpose.

The amount of carbrain idiocy in this thread is staggering.

You know what was bigger in the 1960's and 1970's? Kids riding bikes and walking to school.

You what wasn't bigger in the 1960's and 1970's? The kids themselves - childhood obesity rates were so low it was never considered a major concern - less than 5%. Today? ONE FIFTH to ONE FOURTH.

Jesus christ.

Why?

Because our roads are ridiculously dangerous.

SUVs and massive trucks. Distracted driving because of phones or texts. Too much speed. Too many cars.

A major dependence on automobile infrastructure has provided us with...

...massive increases in obesity rates across all age groups
...a huge amount of microplastic pollution from tires
...a ridiculous amount of money being dumped into road resurfacing constantly to fix all the potholes left by the increasingly heavier cars (electric vehicles are WORSE for this)
...noise pollution (hello mr. Dodge Challenger driver, or mr. I'm late for my dentist appt but stuck in this school drop off traffic-horn lay-er on-er)
...air pollution
...a money sink for a massive chunk of the average family's income into an asset that depreciates quickly and doesn't help build wealth (which btw is disproportionately felt by lower income families)
...a defunding of public services related to mobility like buses, trams, trains, etc because "no one is using these because they all drive" (while sticking buses and trolleys in traffic and then wondering why people don't use it).

We need all of our major streets in the city to be rethought. We need all of our streets in the city to consider multiple modes of transportation that *advantage* anything but a single-occupancy motor vehicle.

The amount of energy poured into blocking this bike lane by a bunch of people who have spent their whole lives happily driving automobiles and wanting to do so to the grave while their kids and kids' kids can deal with the consequences is absolutely absurd.

Like wtf. We have speed limiters on freaking stand on scooters in DC. But every freaking day the dozens or so of speed cameras are racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in tickets (which many go unpaid because of VA and MD drivers just ignoring them) and there's not really any serious discussion about speed limiters on motor vehicles. Instead you carbrains are like - ah ITS THE EBIKES FAULT that our roads are so dangerous!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not to mention that bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue would INCREASE the carrying capacity of Connecticut Avenue.“

This is mendacious spin at a truly Trumpy tier.

Single occupancy vehicles are the least efficient method of getting people from one place to another. Mass transit and bikes are many times more efficient. So if planners and engineers redesign roads to priorities mass transit and bikes over cars, then by definition, the carrying capacity will increase.

Denying that is actually Trumpian.

Bicycles are literally single occupancy vehicles

And slow ones at that.

The idea that biking 6-10 miles each way from NOW DC to downtown is a realistic option for many commuters is simply false. Between the need to carry stuff to and from work, the need to be dressed appropriately and clean at the office, the physical abilities required to bike those miles, the lack of flexibility in terms of pre and post work errands, appointments, and pick-ups, and the time commitment involved, biking is not a realistic commuter option for most people. Facts are facts.

Bike commuting has been "a thing" for decades and, oh my, most of the newer buildings have showers and lockers so biking commuters can clean up before work. This has been a norm for years.

And, it doesn't need to be realistic for "most people" but if it realistic and safe FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE, then the overall impact on road space will be positively felt by the people who don't have the option. Motorists should be supporting safe bike infrastructure to make more room for themselves.

You refute yourself in your own post. It’s been a thing for decades. There has been a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure. Yet hardly anyone does it. One more bike lane isn’t going to get people to commute on their bikes. Sorry.

Lots of people can't/don't drive ---> Nonetheless, we should continue to prioritize cars!

Lots of people can't/don't bike ---> NO BIKE LANES, BIKES ARE THE WORST, EVERYONE HATES THEM, CARS 4 EVAH.

Those two numbers are not even in the same galaxy.

You're right, they're not. [/b]One third of people in the US don't have a driver's license.[b] I don't have a good source of data on this, but I seriously doubt that one third of people in the US can't ride a bike and/or can't afford a bike.

Let’s stipulate that few people under 16 have a drivers license.

Let's stipulate that people under 16 are people, and not only that: people under 16 are (1) people, who (2) go places.

Let’s stipulate that people under 16 are students with free transit passes to get them anywhere they need to go. Honestly bizarre that people who know nothing about DC or Connecticut Avenue keep wasting their time posting about this hyper local issue.

Sorry, gatekeeper.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not to mention that bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue would INCREASE the carrying capacity of Connecticut Avenue.“

This is mendacious spin at a truly Trumpy tier.

Single occupancy vehicles are the least efficient method of getting people from one place to another. Mass transit and bikes are many times more efficient. So if planners and engineers redesign roads to priorities mass transit and bikes over cars, then by definition, the carrying capacity will increase.

Denying that is actually Trumpian.

Bicycles are literally single occupancy vehicles

And slow ones at that.

The idea that biking 6-10 miles each way from NOW DC to downtown is a realistic option for many commuters is simply false. Between the need to carry stuff to and from work, the need to be dressed appropriately and clean at the office, the physical abilities required to bike those miles, the lack of flexibility in terms of pre and post work errands, appointments, and pick-ups, and the time commitment involved, biking is not a realistic commuter option for most people. Facts are facts.

Bike commuting has been "a thing" for decades and, oh my, most of the newer buildings have showers and lockers so biking commuters can clean up before work. This has been a norm for years.

And, it doesn't need to be realistic for "most people" but if it realistic and safe FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE, then the overall impact on road space will be positively felt by the people who don't have the option. Motorists should be supporting safe bike infrastructure to make more room for themselves.

You refute yourself in your own post. It’s been a thing for decades. There has been a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure. Yet hardly anyone does it. One more bike lane isn’t going to get people to commute on their bikes. Sorry.

Lots of people can't/don't drive ---> Nonetheless, we should continue to prioritize cars!

Lots of people can't/don't bike ---> NO BIKE LANES, BIKES ARE THE WORST, EVERYONE HATES THEM, CARS 4 EVAH.

Those two numbers are not even in the same galaxy.

You're right, they're not. [/b]One third of people in the US don't have a driver's license.[b] I don't have a good source of data on this, but I seriously doubt that one third of people in the US can't ride a bike and/or can't afford a bike.

Let’s stipulate that few people under 16 have a drivers license.

Let's stipulate that people under 16 are people, and not only that: people under 16 are (1) people, who (2) go places.

Let’s stipulate that people under 16 are students with free transit passes to get them anywhere they need to go. Honestly bizarre that people who know nothing about DC or Connecticut Avenue keep wasting their time posting about this hyper local issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article from the NYT on how e-bikes have made life more dangerous for pedestrians in New York. Shouldn’t Washington DC consider similar legislation/rules for e-bikes?

“[T]he explosion of e-bikes has also soured the way some New Yorkers view the streets.
“In the last three years there’s been an enormous shift,” said Susan Simon, who moved to New York in the late 1970s. “The quality of life has gone down.”

“The streets are very dangerous,” Simon continued. “What used to be a wonderful walking city for tourists, for pedestrians, has become something of a nightmare.”

Simon used to pedal a bike herself, for fun or to go to the grocery store. But e-bikes are different, she said — faster and heavier and therefore riskier. She noted that a woman was killed last year after someone riding an electric Citi Bike hit her.

There are some efforts to tame the chaos. Janet Schroeder and Pamela Manasse, who was hit by an electric vehicle in 2022 and suffered a severe brain injury, founded the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, which promotes various regulations for e-bikes.

The alliance supports a bill that would ban e-bikes and other e-vehicles from parks and greenways. It would also like the government to require that e-bikes be registered and riders licensed.”

I am a cycling advocate. I would support such limits for eBikes that can go over a certain speed. I would not be supportive of banning them from parks and greenways. Otherwise, one couldn't ride one in Rock Creek Park, either on the road or the path, which seems misguided.

I would also be for speed limiters for cars, so they could not exceed the posted speed limits.

Rock Creek Park was not created for use by motorized vehicles and their ban in the park would be far from misguided. It would bring the use of the park back to its true purpose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not to mention that bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue would INCREASE the carrying capacity of Connecticut Avenue.“

This is mendacious spin at a truly Trumpy tier.

Single occupancy vehicles are the least efficient method of getting people from one place to another. Mass transit and bikes are many times more efficient. So if planners and engineers redesign roads to priorities mass transit and bikes over cars, then by definition, the carrying capacity will increase.

Denying that is actually Trumpian.

Bicycles are literally single occupancy vehicles

And slow ones at that.

The idea that biking 6-10 miles each way from NOW DC to downtown is a realistic option for many commuters is simply false. Between the need to carry stuff to and from work, the need to be dressed appropriately and clean at the office, the physical abilities required to bike those miles, the lack of flexibility in terms of pre and post work errands, appointments, and pick-ups, and the time commitment involved, biking is not a realistic commuter option for most people. Facts are facts.

Bike commuting has been "a thing" for decades and, oh my, most of the newer buildings have showers and lockers so biking commuters can clean up before work. This has been a norm for years.

And, it doesn't need to be realistic for "most people" but if it realistic and safe FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE, then the overall impact on road space will be positively felt by the people who don't have the option. Motorists should be supporting safe bike infrastructure to make more room for themselves.

You refute yourself in your own post. It’s been a thing for decades. There has been a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure. Yet hardly anyone does it. One more bike lane isn’t going to get people to commute on their bikes. Sorry.

Lots of people can't/don't drive ---> Nonetheless, we should continue to prioritize cars!

Lots of people can't/don't bike ---> NO BIKE LANES, BIKES ARE THE WORST, EVERYONE HATES THEM, CARS 4 EVAH.

Those two numbers are not even in the same galaxy.

You're right, they're not. One third of people in the US don't have a driver's license. I don't have a good source of data on this, but I seriously doubt that one third of people in the US can't ride a bike and/or can't afford a bike.

If that’s your understanding of the difference in the numbers between people who don’t drive and people who don’t bike in this area, you don’t belong anywhere near this conversation.

If you're interested in the ability of people to go where they want or need to go, then you need to take into account the fact that one third of people in the US can't drive.

If you're only interested in the ability of drivers to go where they want or need to go, then you can ignore the reality that one third of people in the US can't drive.

What we really cannot ignore is the reality of how people use the road. Taking absolutely everyone into account, 99.9999% of people using Connecticut don't bike on it.

Assuming for the sake of argument that your estimate is correct, there are at least two possible takes.

First take (yours): Connecticut Avenue should stay the way it is right now, forever and ever, amen.
Second take (D.C. law): streets are designed, operated, and maintained to accommodate safe and convenient access and mobility for all users of the District's transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, users of mass transit, motorists, emergency responders, and persons of all ages and abilities.

Wouldn’t the most sensible approach — and and to balance various interests — be to route new bike lanes on streets that are parallel to Connecticut Avenue or on side street? Those would be a lot safer for bikers than Connecticut Avenue and that would ensure that Connecticut Avenue will continue to be a principal route for through traffic between Upper Northwest and Maryland and downtown Washington. Some bike bros may be disappointed with no bike lane passing Nanny O’Briens, but that’s the nature of compromise and maximizing the various aspects interests of the greatest number of people.

Love this, brilliant!!!!! Everyone wins right?

No. Drivers on Connecticut Avenue win. Everyone else loses.

Why? What’s wrong with cyclists using the side streets?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not to mention that bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue would INCREASE the carrying capacity of Connecticut Avenue.“

This is mendacious spin at a truly Trumpy tier.

Single occupancy vehicles are the least efficient method of getting people from one place to another. Mass transit and bikes are many times more efficient. So if planners and engineers redesign roads to priorities mass transit and bikes over cars, then by definition, the carrying capacity will increase.

Denying that is actually Trumpian.

Bicycles are literally single occupancy vehicles

And slow ones at that.

The idea that biking 6-10 miles each way from NOW DC to downtown is a realistic option for many commuters is simply false. Between the need to carry stuff to and from work, the need to be dressed appropriately and clean at the office, the physical abilities required to bike those miles, the lack of flexibility in terms of pre and post work errands, appointments, and pick-ups, and the time commitment involved, biking is not a realistic commuter option for most people. Facts are facts.

Bike commuting has been "a thing" for decades and, oh my, most of the newer buildings have showers and lockers so biking commuters can clean up before work. This has been a norm for years.

And, it doesn't need to be realistic for "most people" but if it realistic and safe FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE, then the overall impact on road space will be positively felt by the people who don't have the option. Motorists should be supporting safe bike infrastructure to make more room for themselves.

You refute yourself in your own post. It’s been a thing for decades. There has been a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure. Yet hardly anyone does it. One more bike lane isn’t going to get people to commute on their bikes. Sorry.

Lots of people can't/don't drive ---> Nonetheless, we should continue to prioritize cars!

Lots of people can't/don't bike ---> NO BIKE LANES, BIKES ARE THE WORST, EVERYONE HATES THEM, CARS 4 EVAH.

Those two numbers are not even in the same galaxy.

You're right, they're not. One third of people in the US don't have a driver's license. I don't have a good source of data on this, but I seriously doubt that one third of people in the US can't ride a bike and/or can't afford a bike.

If that’s your understanding of the difference in the numbers between people who don’t drive and people who don’t bike in this area, you don’t belong anywhere near this conversation.

If you're interested in the ability of people to go where they want or need to go, then you need to take into account the fact that one third of people in the US can't drive.

If you're only interested in the ability of drivers to go where they want or need to go, then you can ignore the reality that one third of people in the US can't drive.

What we really cannot ignore is the reality of how people use the road. Taking absolutely everyone into account, 99.9999% of people using Connecticut don't bike on it.

Assuming for the sake of argument that your estimate is correct, there are at least two possible takes.

First take (yours): Connecticut Avenue should stay the way it is right now, forever and ever, amen.
Second take (D.C. law): streets are designed, operated, and maintained to accommodate safe and convenient access and mobility for all users of the District's transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, users of mass transit, motorists, emergency responders, and persons of all ages and abilities.

Wouldn’t the most sensible approach — and and to balance various interests — be to route new bike lanes on streets that are parallel to Connecticut Avenue or on side street? Those would be a lot safer for bikers than Connecticut Avenue and that would ensure that Connecticut Avenue will continue to be a principal route for through traffic between Upper Northwest and Maryland and downtown Washington. Some bike bros may be disappointed with no bike lane passing Nanny O’Briens, but that’s the nature of compromise and maximizing the various aspects interests of the greatest number of people.

Love this, brilliant!!!!! Everyone wins right?

No. Drivers on Connecticut Avenue win. Everyone else loses.

Bikers lose because bikers get bike lanes? Logic checks out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is basically people who have a sense of scale (the opposed) and people who don’t (the supporters).

Or, actually, the opposite. People who have a sense of scale (the supporters) and people who don't (the opposed).

You’re probably the “we would have 3 bikers in one house” person. Or the “it’s not a few people, the census data says it’s 3 percent of commuters” person. Or one of the “we swear there are a lot of bikers they just don’t use it to commute” people. Take your pick. Still no sense of scale.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not to mention that bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue would INCREASE the carrying capacity of Connecticut Avenue.“

This is mendacious spin at a truly Trumpy tier.

Single occupancy vehicles are the least efficient method of getting people from one place to another. Mass transit and bikes are many times more efficient. So if planners and engineers redesign roads to priorities mass transit and bikes over cars, then by definition, the carrying capacity will increase.

Denying that is actually Trumpian.

Bicycles are literally single occupancy vehicles

And slow ones at that.

The idea that biking 6-10 miles each way from NOW DC to downtown is a realistic option for many commuters is simply false. Between the need to carry stuff to and from work, the need to be dressed appropriately and clean at the office, the physical abilities required to bike those miles, the lack of flexibility in terms of pre and post work errands, appointments, and pick-ups, and the time commitment involved, biking is not a realistic commuter option for most people. Facts are facts.

Bike commuting has been "a thing" for decades and, oh my, most of the newer buildings have showers and lockers so biking commuters can clean up before work. This has been a norm for years.

And, it doesn't need to be realistic for "most people" but if it realistic and safe FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE, then the overall impact on road space will be positively felt by the people who don't have the option. Motorists should be supporting safe bike infrastructure to make more room for themselves.

You refute yourself in your own post. It’s been a thing for decades. There has been a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure. Yet hardly anyone does it. One more bike lane isn’t going to get people to commute on their bikes. Sorry.

Lots of people can't/don't drive ---> Nonetheless, we should continue to prioritize cars!

Lots of people can't/don't bike ---> NO BIKE LANES, BIKES ARE THE WORST, EVERYONE HATES THEM, CARS 4 EVAH.

Those two numbers are not even in the same galaxy.

You're right, they're not. One third of people in the US don't have a driver's license. I don't have a good source of data on this, but I seriously doubt that one third of people in the US can't ride a bike and/or can't afford a bike.

If that’s your understanding of the difference in the numbers between people who don’t drive and people who don’t bike in this area, you don’t belong anywhere near this conversation.

If you're interested in the ability of people to go where they want or need to go, then you need to take into account the fact that one third of people in the US can't drive.

If you're only interested in the ability of drivers to go where they want or need to go, then you can ignore the reality that one third of people in the US can't drive.

What we really cannot ignore is the reality of how people use the road. Taking absolutely everyone into account, 99.9999% of people using Connecticut don't bike on it.

Assuming for the sake of argument that your estimate is correct, there are at least two possible takes.

First take (yours): Connecticut Avenue should stay the way it is right now, forever and ever, amen.
Second take (D.C. law): streets are designed, operated, and maintained to accommodate safe and convenient access and mobility for all users of the District's transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, users of mass transit, motorists, emergency responders, and persons of all ages and abilities.

Wouldn’t the most sensible approach — and and to balance various interests — be to route new bike lanes on streets that are parallel to Connecticut Avenue or on side street? Those would be a lot safer for bikers than Connecticut Avenue and that would ensure that Connecticut Avenue will continue to be a principal route for through traffic between Upper Northwest and Maryland and downtown Washington. Some bike bros may be disappointed with no bike lane passing Nanny O’Briens, but that’s the nature of compromise and maximizing the various aspects interests of the greatest number of people.

Love this, brilliant!!!!! Everyone wins right?

No. Drivers on Connecticut Avenue win. Everyone else loses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not to mention that bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue would INCREASE the carrying capacity of Connecticut Avenue.“

This is mendacious spin at a truly Trumpy tier.

Single occupancy vehicles are the least efficient method of getting people from one place to another. Mass transit and bikes are many times more efficient. So if planners and engineers redesign roads to priorities mass transit and bikes over cars, then by definition, the carrying capacity will increase.

Denying that is actually Trumpian.

Bicycles are literally single occupancy vehicles

And slow ones at that.

The idea that biking 6-10 miles each way from NOW DC to downtown is a realistic option for many commuters is simply false. Between the need to carry stuff to and from work, the need to be dressed appropriately and clean at the office, the physical abilities required to bike those miles, the lack of flexibility in terms of pre and post work errands, appointments, and pick-ups, and the time commitment involved, biking is not a realistic commuter option for most people. Facts are facts.

Bike commuting has been "a thing" for decades and, oh my, most of the newer buildings have showers and lockers so biking commuters can clean up before work. This has been a norm for years.

And, it doesn't need to be realistic for "most people" but if it realistic and safe FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE, then the overall impact on road space will be positively felt by the people who don't have the option. Motorists should be supporting safe bike infrastructure to make more room for themselves.

You refute yourself in your own post. It’s been a thing for decades. There has been a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure. Yet hardly anyone does it. One more bike lane isn’t going to get people to commute on their bikes. Sorry.

Lots of people can't/don't drive ---> Nonetheless, we should continue to prioritize cars!

Lots of people can't/don't bike ---> NO BIKE LANES, BIKES ARE THE WORST, EVERYONE HATES THEM, CARS 4 EVAH.

Those two numbers are not even in the same galaxy.

You're right, they're not. [/b]One third of people in the US don't have a driver's license.[b] I don't have a good source of data on this, but I seriously doubt that one third of people in the US can't ride a bike and/or can't afford a bike.

Let’s stipulate that few people under 16 have a drivers license.

Let's stipulate that people under 16 are people, and not only that: people under 16 are (1) people, who (2) go places.

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is basically people who have a sense of scale (the opposed) and people who don’t (the supporters).

Or, actually, the opposite. People who have a sense of scale (the supporters) and people who don't (the opposed).

Anonymous wrote:This article from the NYT on how e-bikes have made life more dangerous for pedestrians in New York. Shouldn’t Washington DC consider similar legislation/rules for e-bikes?

“[T]he explosion of e-bikes has also soured the way some New Yorkers view the streets.
“In the last three years there’s been an enormous shift,” said Susan Simon, who moved to New York in the late 1970s. “The quality of life has gone down.”

“The streets are very dangerous,” Simon continued. “What used to be a wonderful walking city for tourists, for pedestrians, has become something of a nightmare.”

Simon used to pedal a bike herself, for fun or to go to the grocery store. But e-bikes are different, she said — faster and heavier and therefore riskier. She noted that a woman was killed last year after someone riding an electric Citi Bike hit her.

There are some efforts to tame the chaos. Janet Schroeder and Pamela Manasse, who was hit by an electric vehicle in 2022 and suffered a severe brain injury, founded the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, which promotes various regulations for e-bikes.

The alliance supports a bill that would ban e-bikes and other e-vehicles from parks and greenways. It would also like the government to require that e-bikes be registered and riders licensed.”

I am a cycling advocate. I would support such limits for eBikes that can go over a certain speed. I would not be supportive of banning them from parks and greenways. Otherwise, one couldn't ride one in Rock Creek Park, either on the road or the path, which seems misguided.

I would also be for speed limiters for cars, so they could not exceed the posted speed limits.

This article from the NYT on how e-bikes have made life more dangerous for pedestrians in New York. Shouldn’t Washington DC consider similar legislation/rules for e-bikes?

“[T]he explosion of e-bikes has also soured the way some New Yorkers view the streets.
“In the last three years there’s been an enormous shift,” said Susan Simon, who moved to New York in the late 1970s. “The quality of life has gone down.”

“The streets are very dangerous,” Simon continued. “What used to be a wonderful walking city for tourists, for pedestrians, has become something of a nightmare.”

Simon used to pedal a bike herself, for fun or to go to the grocery store. But e-bikes are different, she said — faster and heavier and therefore riskier. She noted that a woman was killed last year after someone riding an electric Citi Bike hit her.

There are some efforts to tame the chaos. Janet Schroeder and Pamela Manasse, who was hit by an electric vehicle in 2022 and suffered a severe brain injury, founded the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, which promotes various regulations for e-bikes.

The alliance supports a bill that would ban e-bikes and other e-vehicles from parks and greenways. It would also like the government to require that e-bikes be registered and riders licensed.”

This entire thread is basically people who have a sense of scale (the opposed) and people who don’t (the supporters).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not to mention that bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue would INCREASE the carrying capacity of Connecticut Avenue.“

This is mendacious spin at a truly Trumpy tier.

Single occupancy vehicles are the least efficient method of getting people from one place to another. Mass transit and bikes are many times more efficient. So if planners and engineers redesign roads to priorities mass transit and bikes over cars, then by definition, the carrying capacity will increase.

Denying that is actually Trumpian.

Bicycles are literally single occupancy vehicles

And slow ones at that.

The idea that biking 6-10 miles each way from NOW DC to downtown is a realistic option for many commuters is simply false. Between the need to carry stuff to and from work, the need to be dressed appropriately and clean at the office, the physical abilities required to bike those miles, the lack of flexibility in terms of pre and post work errands, appointments, and pick-ups, and the time commitment involved, biking is not a realistic commuter option for most people. Facts are facts.

Bike commuting has been "a thing" for decades and, oh my, most of the newer buildings have showers and lockers so biking commuters can clean up before work. This has been a norm for years.

And, it doesn't need to be realistic for "most people" but if it realistic and safe FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE, then the overall impact on road space will be positively felt by the people who don't have the option. Motorists should be supporting safe bike infrastructure to make more room for themselves.

You refute yourself in your own post. It’s been a thing for decades. There has been a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure. Yet hardly anyone does it. One more bike lane isn’t going to get people to commute on their bikes. Sorry.

The bike lanes would not be solely for commuters. It would be for your neighbors who would like to bike from your neighborhood to another for errands and vice verse for people from other neighborhoods to come to yours (and not take up any of your precious parking) - it would also be for tourists to go to the zoo and for kids to go to school.

Hardly anyone commutes by bike. Hardly anyone makes personal trips during the day by any mode of transportation. These are just facts.

Want to make the case for weekend recreation? Sure, that could make sense but then Connecticut Ave would not be the focus. Leafy and shaded Reno with less traffic would be much better and also provide access to Rock Creek Park trails via existing bike lanes on Tilden and Calvert.

You keep repeating the same nonsense, but the facts don’t support anything you say. Furthermore, if you’re the same PP who thinks people can just leave their cars for weeks in Connecticut with no issue, you obviously don’t live in the area either.

Not sure what your deal is but it’s getting 100% boring at this stage.

What planet are you on? I live right off Connecticut and plenty of people in my community bike to work, school, and elsewhere. We don’t bike to school because there aren’t bike lanes and we’re not as brave as some other families. I do scooter around town, often on Connecticut Ave — on the sidewalk because it’s suicidal to ride down Conn with no designated lanes. I would buy a bike immediately if there were bike lanes.

Nothing that you’ve posted is true. There’s no significant unmet demand for biking that would be met by the Connecticut Ave bike lanes. Barely anyone bikes there now and barely anyone would bike there if there were bike lanes. You probably don’t even live where you claim.

Three in our household just off Connecticut Avenue would use bikes daily, one to commute downtown instead of driving, one to run errands during the day and one would commute to school.

That is three cars off the road daily right there. I doubt ours is the only one.

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Anonymous wrote:“Not to mention that bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue would INCREASE the carrying capacity of Connecticut Avenue.“

This is mendacious spin at a truly Trumpy tier.

Single occupancy vehicles are the least efficient method of getting people from one place to another. Mass transit and bikes are many times more efficient. So if planners and engineers redesign roads to priorities mass transit and bikes over cars, then by definition, the carrying capacity will increase.

Denying that is actually Trumpian.

Bicycles are literally single occupancy vehicles

And slow ones at that.

The idea that biking 6-10 miles each way from NOW DC to downtown is a realistic option for many commuters is simply false. Between the need to carry stuff to and from work, the need to be dressed appropriately and clean at the office, the physical abilities required to bike those miles, the lack of flexibility in terms of pre and post work errands, appointments, and pick-ups, and the time commitment involved, biking is not a realistic commuter option for most people. Facts are facts.

Bike commuting has been "a thing" for decades and, oh my, most of the newer buildings have showers and lockers so biking commuters can clean up before work. This has been a norm for years.

And, it doesn't need to be realistic for "most people" but if it realistic and safe FOR ENOUGH PEOPLE, then the overall impact on road space will be positively felt by the people who don't have the option. Motorists should be supporting safe bike infrastructure to make more room for themselves.

You refute yourself in your own post. It’s been a thing for decades. There has been a lot of investment in facilities and infrastructure. Yet hardly anyone does it. One more bike lane isn’t going to get people to commute on their bikes. Sorry.

The bike lanes would not be solely for commuters. It would be for your neighbors who would like to bike from your neighborhood to another for errands and vice verse for people from other neighborhoods to come to yours (and not take up any of your precious parking) - it would also be for tourists to go to the zoo and for kids to go to school.

Hardly anyone commutes by bike. Hardly anyone makes personal trips during the day by any mode of transportation. These are just facts.

Want to make the case for weekend recreation? Sure, that could make sense but then Connecticut Ave would not be the focus. Leafy and shaded Reno with less traffic would be much better and also provide access to Rock Creek Park trails via existing bike lanes on Tilden and Calvert.

You keep repeating the same nonsense, but the facts don’t support anything you say. Furthermore, if you’re the same PP who thinks people can just leave their cars for weeks in Connecticut with no issue, you obviously don’t live in the area either.

Not sure what your deal is but it’s getting 100% boring at this stage.

What planet are you on? I live right off Connecticut and plenty of people in my community bike to work, school, and elsewhere. We don’t bike to school because there aren’t bike lanes and we’re not as brave as some other families. I do scooter around town, often on Connecticut Ave — on the sidewalk because it’s suicidal to ride down Conn with no designated lanes. I would buy a bike immediately if there were bike lanes.

Nothing that you’ve posted is true. There’s no significant unmet demand for biking that would be met by the Connecticut Ave bike lanes. Barely anyone bikes there now and barely anyone would bike there if there were bike lanes. You probably don’t even live where you claim.

You are just wrong. And apparently selectively blind.