Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Mid-month update

Highlights of the BAC's mid-month activity.

Contributory negligence reform passes
At today's Legislative meeting, the Council passed the contributory negligence bill, officially termed the Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act of 2016. It awaits mayoral signature and the standard 30-day congressional review before it becomes law.

Bicycle Awareness Motor Vehicle License Plate Amendment Act of 2016
Speaking individually, BAC member Bob Summersgill delivered the following testimony at yesterday's Transportation and the Environment Committee hearing:

Testimony on Bill 21-0759
Bicycle Awareness Motor Vehicle License Plate Amendment Act of 2016
By Bob Summersgill for the Bicycle Advisory Council


Chairman Cheh:

Thank you for holding this hearing. I am Bob Summersgill, a member of the Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC), appointed by Councilmember David Grosso.

All the members of the BAC support this legislation.

The bill will allow car owners to buy specialty license plates promoting the 3-foot minimum passing law and by assigning the application and annual fees to the Vision Zero Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Fund. It will also assign $500,000 per year from fines generated from the automatic traffic system to the fund.

There is disagreement on whether or not the bill should be more specific and include language on what words we want the license plate to include. Ideas include:

• please respect cyclists: give 3 feet
• I give 3 feet
• give [insert bicycle line drawing] 3 feet, it's the law!
• Give [bicycle stick symbol] 3 ft?
• Give 3 Feet

The other view is it becomes harder to change if it somehow doesn't work and it makes it less flexible. Thank you. I am available to answer any questions.

Here is the press release by the bill's author, Councilmember Charles Allen, and here is the bill text.

Crosstown multimodal study
Last week, DDOT held the final public meeting for the crosstown Columbia Heights/Brookland study. The final recommendation and other meeting materials can be viewed here. Jump here for a diagram of the proposed bicycle and bus facilities.

Award from federal DOT
On Friday, US DOT presented its Mayors’ Challenge Awards to cities improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety. DC won a Secretary’s Award for Overall Success and an award for improving safety laws and regulations. The BAC is proud of its behind-the-scenes contributions to this success. We're working on a blog post, but here is the DOT write-up and here is a picture of DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo with Sec. Foxx accepting DC's award.

Happy Car-Free Day
Team Bike is in the lead for this Thursday's Car-Free Day. That's the spirit!

New DC Councilmember
In case you missed it, Councilmember Robert White has taken office to fill the at-large seat former Councilmember Vincent Orange vacated.

Looking ahead
We're attending the Sept. 28 Downtown West Transportation Planning Study meeting and saving the date for an Oct. 22 Facilities Committee "rolling" meeting.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Rolling forward: D.C. bicycling report for August 2016

Highlights of BAC accomplishments in August:

The BAC enjoyed meeting a few dozen D.C. bicyclists at our Aug. 11 meet and greet. We held this social event to talk informally with D.C. residents interested in serving on the BAC. It was heartening to meet other bicyclists with a strong sense of civic participation. Please keep in touch with the BAC through the appointment process as we collectively work to fill the three vacant seats.

Timed to coincide with the meet and greet, the BAC published a Washington Post op-ed entitled "Cities belong to people, not cars."

BAC representatives attended the Maryland Avenue NE redesign meeting on Aug. 10. Formally known as the Maryland Avenue NE Pedestrian Safety Project, the road diet will improve infrastructure and safe travel for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The BAC Facilities Committee held a "rolling meeting" ... in record heat. The Aug. 13 "real feel" of 120 degrees didn't stop the committee from doing its job and assessing K Street from northeast through downtown to Georgetown.

In the comfort of air conditioned cafes, the Safety, Education and Enforcement Committee met on Aug. 15 and the Legislative Committee met on Aug. 17.

Council chairman Phil Mendelson swore in a new BAC member on Aug. 24. Bob Summersgill joins the BAC representing Councilmember David Grosso. Former BAC member Erik Kugler resigned from this seat after years of honorable service.

This month: September activities

The BAC holds its bimonthly meeting on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. at 441 4th St NW, 11th floor. The meeting is open to the public.

The BAC is attending and/or monitoring several public meetings:

Crosstown Multimodal Transportation Study meeting on Sept. 13. This is a project to improve travel between Brookland and Columbia Heights via bicycle and other modes.

Long Bridge project meeting on Sept. 14, studying the replacement of the trans-Potomac bridge with possible bicycle facilities and connections.

Cleveland Park Streetscape and Drainage Improvement Project meeting on Sept. 15. According to DDOT, the project seeks to "address the recurring flooding problem near the Cleveland Park Metro Station, improve pedestrian safety, access and visibility at all intersections, and upgrade public amenities (curb ramps, adding bike racks, benches and tree boxes)."

The uptown Metropolitan Police Department community bike ride on Sept. 10 at 9 a.m., departing from the Takoma Metro station. The MPD Fourth District is hosting the 10-mile ride, ending with a barbecue at Emery Recreation Center (5701 Georgia Ave NW). The Fourth District includes the communities of Carter Baron, 16th Street Heights, Fort Totten, Lamond/Riggs, Shepherd Park, Takoma and Petworth.

The downtown Metropolitan Police Department community bike ride on Sept. 17 at 11 a.m., departing from Logan Circle at 13th and P Streets NW. The hourlong ride will traverse Logan and Dupont Circles.

Car-free Day on Sept. 22 quantifies the number of people commuting by bicycle and other modes. Sign up for Team Bike and be counted.

Downtown West Transportation Planning Study meeting on Sept. 28. This study is assessing bicycle, pedestrian and bus improvements on H and I Streets near Lafayette Park and Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to Columbus Circle.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

BAC September meeting

The BAC meets on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. at 441 4th St NW, 11th floor. Meetings are open to the public. ID is required to enter the building. The agenda is below.

Bicycle Advisory Council
9/7/16 Meeting Agenda 

1. Call to order; introductions; approval of minutes

2. Administration and communications
  • Meet & greet report
  • Washington Post op-ed follow-up
  • Appointments and nominations for FY17 officers (or next meeting acting chair)

3. Facilities Committee report
  • Report on August rolling meeting
  • Far SE livability study meeting
  • Maryland Ave NE road diet meeting/status
  • Crosstown multimodal study -- meeting upcoming in Sept.
  • Downtown west improvements -- meeting upcoming in Sept.
  • Bike lane request from Trinidad resident
  • Vision Zero: Councilmember Cheh's Ward 3 August high-crash intersection visits
  • Kenilworth landfill site -- request NPS to clean up

4. Safety, Education and Enforcement Committee meeting report

5. Legislative Committee meeting report

6. Walk-on topics

7. Adjournment