D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council

Highlights of BAC accomplishments in January: The BAC held its bimonthly meeting on Jan. 10. It also submitted official comment on the Long Bridge Project. Ward 4 member Rachel Maisler attended a marathon ANC 4B meeting about the Metropolitan Branch Trail. After almost five hours of debate, ANC members took a late-night vote to support routing along Blair Road NE in accordance with the DDOT consensus proposal. This month: February activities BAC committees are meeting this month as follows: Safety, Education and Enforcement Committee Meeting Thurs., Feb. 15 6 p.m. Busboys & Poets 2021 14th St NW Legislative Committee Meeting Tues., Feb. 20 6 p.m. The Potter's House 1658 Columbia Rd NW Facilities Committee Meeting Sat., Feb. 24 1 p.m. Made in D.C. Cafe 1330 19th St NW BAC committee meetings are open to the public. Save the date for the March 7 general meeting at 6 p.m. at 441 4th St NW.

Highlights of BAC accomplishments in October: Through its Facilities Committee, the BAC focused on Ward 4. The committee conducted a "rolling" meeting on Oct. 21 to survey parts of the ward and make recommendations to increase safe travel for bicyclists and pedestrians. The ride visited the convergence of Blair Road, Kansas Avenue, North Dakota Avenue and Peabody Street NW to suggest ways to redesign this complicated intersection. Blair Road, Kansas Avenue, North Dakota Avenue and Peabody Street NW. Photo by Susan Balding. The ride surveyed streets that would comprise part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail, topic of discussion at recent Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B meetings. To open communication with ANC 4B commissioners, Facilities Committee co-chair Jeanie Osburn invited the commissioners to attend the ride. The BAC sought to give commissioners a first-hand understanding of factors that affect bicyclist safety and the rationale behind the BAC's posi...

Highlights of BAC accomplishments in September: The BAC held its regular bimonthly meeting on Sept. 6. The agenda focused on strategic planning to develop priorities for the new fiscal year, a process continuing at the October committee meetings and November general meeting. Under the leadership of Facilities Committee co-chair Jeanie Osburn, the BAC submitted official comment on the northern extension of the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The BAC testified in support of the Transportation Benefits Equity Amendment Act of 2017. The BAC submitted its official position in writing. Speaking individually, Legislative Committee chair John Serrao testified in person at the Sept. 25 hearing. Talking with his hands, BAC Legislative Committee chair John Serrao testifies before the Transportation & the Environment Committee. The BAC cheered news that we're No. 2. According to new Census Bureau data, D.C. has the second highest percent of bike commuters among large cities. The 2...

The Metropolitan Police Department will hold a Community Bike Ride this Sunday, April 10, 2016. The ride will begin at 10 a.m at the Takoma Metro Station, 327 Cedar Street, NW. Supported by the Department’s First, Fourth, and Fifth Districts, the ride will cover Wards 2, 4, 5, and 6. There will be a bicycle rodeo for children at 1st and L Streets, NE, where there will be bike games, a skills course and an obstacle course.

The Bicycle Facilities Committee (BAC-FAC) met Monday, February 10, 2014 from 6pm to 8pm at  The Bier Baron , 1523 22nd Street, NW.  The agenda included: Ongoing maintenance of bicycling infrastructure, particularly regarding the removal of snow, sand/grit and salt removal;  Review of the 2013 scorecard (bike lanes, connections, new projects, progress on existing projects, problem areas from the MoveDC plan;  The District Department of Transportation's bicycle infrastructure plans for 2014; and Potential BAC-FAC investigative rides for 2014. Below are the meeting minutes. Please let us know if you have questions or comments. BAC FAC Minutes 021014 by D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council

Photo by @ranpuba The BAC Facilities (BAC-FAC) committee held its bimonthly meeting Monday, December 2, 2013, to discuss several current and proposed projects in an around the District. The discussion centered around nine projects that are currently stalled. Additionally, we discussed how BAC should approach the District Department of Transportation and the National Park Service regarding completion of certain bicycling facilities.  Below are notes from the BAC-FAC December meeting. Feel free to post comments below or contact @DCBAC on Twitter. BAC FAC Minutes 12-02-13 by D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council

Our December Bicycle Advisory Council Facilities Committee (BAC-FAC) meeting will be Monday , December 2 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Shaw's Tavern , 520 Florida Avenue NW. The agenda includes discussion of fostering effective engagement with the National Park Service (NPS) and prioritizing projects which involve NPS property or an in District control but must adhere to certain NPS requirements. The National Park Service operates several large and small parks in and around the District. Some categorized the relationship between NPS and the region's bicyclists and pedestrians as cool at best and acrimonious at worst, with cyclists wanting expanded and safer access to NPS facilities and NPS being focusing on larger or high profile parks, preservation, and fiscal constraints.

Please join the Bicycle Advisory Council's Facilities Committee (BAC FAC) for a ride August 10, 2013 to check on signage and trail connectivity between the District and the trails of Prince Georges County.  The ride will began at approximately 10:00am at the NOMA Gallaudet Metrorail station . Please arrive at the starting point a few minutes beforehand. The ride should last no more than three hours. Specifically, the ride will begin at the NOMA Gallaudet Metrorail station (near the N Street NE entrance) and will travel north on the Metropolitan Branch Trail . The route will pass the new trail extension, which runs besides the nearly completed Monroe Street Market . The ride will then turn east near Fort Totten and use the streets and trails that connect the District to the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia Tributary trail system in Maryland. We will return using a similar route. This connection differs from the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail route, which runs parallel to the ...

This very short section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) is expected to be completed some time in July or August according to the Monroe Street Market twitter page and TheWashCycle , respectively. “ @MBTinDC : @MonroeStMarket Is this section of the #metbranchtrail set to open in July or later?” - Expectation is in July. — Monroe Street Market (@MonroeStMarket) June 26, 2013 The approximately 0.1 mile section runs roughly parallel to the Brookland CUA metrorail station and the new Monroe Street Market development beginning at 8th and Monroe to a slip lane that runs beneath the Michigan Avenue NE. Section of MBT @ Monroe Street Market - June 27. A photo by Ranpuba on the @DCBAC Flickr Page This Section of the MBT in April 2013. A photo by Ranpuba on the @DCBAC Flickr Page This section of the trail connects the 8th Street NE sharrow with the trail/sharrow portion of the MBT that runs along John McCormick Avenue NE, next to Catholic University of America.  ...

As posted on the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Facebook page, the MBT will be closed from L to M Streets NE (south of New York Avenue to the ramp down to L) from this Tuesday to Thursday (November 13-15th) from 10 am to 3:30 pm while contractors install a cover to protect trail users from the adjacent development. To descent the trail, use the elevator at the New York Avenue - Galludet Metrorail station. View Met Branch Closure in a larger map

Below is a letter requesting that the District share information about the proposed bicycle and pedestrian bridge that will connect the Metropolitan Branch Trail to the Rhode Island Avenue - Brentwood Station in the District. MBT Bridge at RI Avenue

Met Branch Trail at S Street Pocket Park The Facilities Committee and its chair Jeanie Osburn would like to invite you join District Department of Transportation staff member Heather Deutsch on a bike tour of Ward 5. The " Gimme 5! " ride will travel to some of Ward 5's well-known and best-kept-secret sites.  This ride is in partnership with Cultural Tourism - a nonprofit organization helping DC residents and visitors discover, experience and celebrate the city’s art, culture, and heritage. The ride is Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 1PM - 4PM beginning and ending at the NoMa-Gallaudet U (New York Ave) Metrorail Station (Near the 2nd and Florida Avenue entrance). The ride will travel along the Metropolitan Branch Trail, stop in for a tour of Chocolate City Brewing Company , cruise through "Little Rome" ( Washington Trinity University , St. Paul's College , the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception , Catholic Unive...

According to Captain  Jeff Brown of the Metropolitan Police Department's 5th District, a man was accosted and robbed the night of January 25, 2012 around 6pm while walking on the Metropolitan Branch Trail.  Today, the following was posted on the MPD-5D group page and transmitted to the Metropolitan Branch Trail listserv page: On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at approximately 6:15 pm, an area resident was walking on the Metropolitan Branch Bike Trail in the area of 3rd & R Street, Northeast , when he was accosted by three individuals. One subject produced a weapon and demanded the victim’s possessions. After complying and without provocation, the victim was punched in the face. The victim then attempted to flee from the scene and sustained a graze gunshot wound to the hip area after the suspect fired his weapon. All three suspects then fled on foot. The victim received treatment for his injuries and an area hospital. The Metropolitan Police Department continues its ...

Below are the before and after pictures from the trail clean up event that happened the morning of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, January 16, 2012. The before pictures were taken on January 10, 2012. Co-sponsored by the Student Conservation Association , DDOT , and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy , students and volunteers worked together to clear invasive species, mulch newly planted trees, clear and brush the foot path that runs parallel to the main paved trail, and conduct trash pick-up and removal.  dcbac , a set on Flickr.

Below are items that were not large enough to be a their own separate entry but important to report: Metropolitan Branch Trail Walk Monday, October 3, 2011, the students, faculty, and parents at Archbishop Carroll High School will begin their Homecoming week by walking nearly 2 miles on the Metropolitan Branch Trail in an effort to keep Carroll the most affordable Catholic high school in the Washington, D.C. area. Each student has begun to sell raffle tickets and last year, students helped to raise nearly $60,000.  The Archbishop Carroll High School Walk for Education began 20 years ago as a healthy fund-raising activity. If you have any questions or need any additional information about the Walk, please contact Crystal Rucker , Director of Advancement, at (202) 529-0900 x160 or crucker@archbishopcarroll.org . "Assault of Bicyclists Prevention Act" Moves from the Committee on the Environment, Public Works, and Transportation Jonathon Kass , Director for Special Initi...

Below are pictures from the Saturday, September 10, 2011 Day of Service on the Metropolitan Branch Trail.  Volunteers from the community and trail users cleared and cleaned the trail from Franklin Street NE to R Street NE spending a part of this weekend giving back, helping to maintain a public asset. The event was sponsored by the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy and its Director of Trail Development, Kelly Pack , the NOMA BID , the DDOT Bicycle program's Heather Deutsch . If you are interested in being a part of future activities on the trail join the Metropolitan Branch Trail Facebook group or the Yahoo group Listserv .

Stephen Miller , bicycle advocate and coordinator for Urban Pathways for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy , will be hosting a Trail Safety Open House to discuss ways to protect users of the Metropolitan Branch Trail from crime, Wednesday, June 22, from 4:00p to 7:00p in the pocket park near S and 4th Streets NE. The Metropolitan Branch Trail is a shared use trail that runs roughly parallel to the former B&O (currently CSX ) right-of-way, mostly in the Northeast quadrant of the District.  The trail will eventually cover approximately 8 miles from Union Station in the District to Silver Spring Metro Station in Maryland. Last May, an important segment opened that linked New York Avenue to Franklin Street NE and allowing a contiguous 1.5 mile car free route.