D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council

On Thursday, September 22, NBC4 posted a report by Jackie Benson regarding an increase in thefts involving culprits on bicycles.  According to the report, an email issued by the 3rd District Commander, Jacob Kishter , stated police would increase enforcement in robbery areas, including in introduction of stopping bicyclist to see if they are stolen or were used in the commission of a crime. However, the story focused on the following: "If the rider cannot prove ownership, take the bike for safekeeping until they can prove ownership." View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com . That statement, of course, set the blogesphere and Twitterverse ablaze. Shani Hilton of the Washington City Paper who was concerned that this policy would not only be impractical but probably racist.  Even DCBAC picket up on the story while it was still influx and tweeted: "Okay, so #MPD are stopping bicyclists and confiscating bikes but aren't profiling! Not Good. washingtonci...

(photo courtesy of thedceye) This summer, the Washington Area Metropolitan Transportation Authority (WMATA) will begin assessing bicycle and pedestrian access at stations across the Metrorail system.  BAC would like to hear your thoughts on the problems with bike accessibility to Metro stations located in the District.  We hope to provide a list of stations that need improvement and suggestions on how to expand bike mode share to metro stations. The WMATA Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will provide approximately $9 million over a six-year period to expand mode share at Metro stations and make reaching stations easier.  The WMATA Bicycle and  Pedestrian Facilities Capacity Improvements project hopes to increase bicycle parking capacity at Metrorail stations to meet current and future demands and improve connections to stations from local communities where existing pathways are poor. According to the WMATA Access Planning and Policy Analysis program manag...

Pat Collins of NBC 4 reports in the video below about the brazen theft of bikes plaguing a condo near 13th and N Street in Northwest near Logan Circle. A total of 1,142 bikes where reported stolen last year in the District, with the actual number probably much higher. View more videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com . By way of WABA, the bike lock manufacture Kryptonite offers some tips on how to thwart would be thieves.  Unfortunately, poor Kent McCarthy did most of those things and still lost his bike.  While there appear to be other problems that contribute to why his bike was stolen (like the ease at which people are allowed to enter the building), the main problem appears to be that the bikes are not properly changed to a proper bike rack. The District's Bicycle Parking Expansion Amendment Act of 2010 requires that large commercial and residential buildings to provide adequate and safe bike parking.  Kent's condo should have had a relatively expensive r...