D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council

Photo: @ranpuba James Sebastian, District Department of Transportation (DDOT) bicycle program manager, issued an email this morning regarding the impact of this weekend's blizzard and the clearing of snow from the District's bicycle infrastructure. Key points: Much of the Metropolitan Branch Trail and Pennsylvania Avenue Protected bike lanes are clear. It could be several days before other trails and protected lanes are clear of snow Bike lanes on many streets will remain snow covered for several days as parked cars inhibit clearing DPW and DDOT crews are working to clear bridge sidewalks Capital Bikeshare is closed until further notice as crew work to clear snow from stations Use the 311 app to report uncleared facilities or email jim.sebastian@dc.gov Please see the full email below:

Photo: @ranpuba The Council of the District of Columbia has released its Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Performance Oversight Hearings schedule . The Bicycle Advisory Council, as well as the Pedestrian Advisory Council and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will provide testimony before the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, chaired by Council member Mary M. Cheh (Ward 3). The hearing is tentatively scheduled for Monday, February 29, 2016, in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW at 11:00 am. The purpose of the Performance Oversight Hearings is to allow the Council to ask questions regarding the current operations of District agencies, committees, and other government organizations. The Council looks at current fiscal year operations, which began October 1, 2015, as well as operations during the previous year. As always, we invite you to testify at the hearing or tell BAC some of the issues and progress #BikeDC has ex...

In August of 2015, the District of Transportation (DDOT) in partnership with Council Member Mary Cheh, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, initiated visits to 5 District intersections that have experienced high crash rates, injuries or fatalities.  That report, " High Crash Intersection Site Visits Summary and Next Steps " was recently released by DDOT. BAC, along with the Pedestrian Advisory Council, local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and other concerned groups met DDOT staff at these locations and discussed the potential reasons behind crashes and to help determine the best possible solutions for their elimination. Many sites listed in the report have been visited by the BAC Facilities Committee.

Photo:  @Ranpuba The DC Bicycle Advisory Council Safety Committee will meet with Sgt. Terry Thorn of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) on Wednesday, February 3rd, 6pm at the Traffic Safety and Special Enforcement Branch, 501 New York Ave., NW, located at the intersection of New York Avenue and 5th Street NW. We'll discuss MPD's training efforts on bicycle rules of the road and MPD's public education and safety programs conducted in 2015 and its plans for 2016. Please join us. We will make time to discuss additional safety issues that you want to share. Please feel free to leave questions/suggestions in the comments.

Photo: Elvert Barnes Join us for a General Council meeting at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street NW,  Rm. 1117 . Agenda: 6:00pm Call to Order; Introductions; Approve minutes - David Cranor 6:10pm Election of new officers and search for admin staffer - David Cranor, Jeff Johnson 6:25pm Discussion of Vision Zero Regulations and testimony for Friday - Mike Forster 7:00pm Committee Reports - Jeannie, Mike Forster, Ellen/Andrea 7:30pm DDOT Report - New York Avenue Trail report. ( New York Avenue Corridor Study - 2006 ) 7:50pm Walk-on topics - David Cranor 8:00pm Adjournment - David Cranor Members of the public are welcome. The meeting is held in a government building so be prepared to show ID to enter. Once you pass the security checkpoint, please use the 'south' elevators on your right and go to the 11th floor. A  Capital BikeShare  station is located at the from of the building and the J...

Mark your calendars for the December BAC Facilities (BAC-FAC) Committee meeting Monday, December 14 starting at 6PM.   The meeting will be held at  Union Social , 100 Florida Avenue, NE., located across from the NOMA - Gallaudet Metrorail station on the red line. The closest bikeshare stations are along M Street NE at Delaware Avenue or 1st Street. The BAC-FAC agenda for this meeting includes: 1) Discussion of initial installation of temporary vs permanent bicycle facilities per the November BAC minutes. 2) DDOT plans for 2016 lane striping and other bike facilities 3) Suggestions for rides for 2016 4) Other topics As always, meetings are open to the public so feel free to bring your questions, suggestions, and an appetite. If you are unable to make the meeting, feel free to leave comments below or send a message to  @DCBAC . 

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 , the Committee on Transportation and the Environment will hold a Public Hearing on several bills related to bicycling. The hearing will begin at 11:00 a.m., Room 500 (fifth floor) of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Based on feedback from our general and committee meetings, BAC members will offer testimony. They will discuss two of four bills under consideration at this hearing, listed below: B21-0335  -  Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2015 - This bill makes changes to District law regarding motor vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. It requires the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to publish certain statistical and geographical data on its website, establishes a safety program called the Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Area Program, orders DDOT to adopt an inclusive policy for accommodating all users of the District's roadways, and amends existing public safety laws by creating new motor veh...