[Lincolnparkdc] DC Coalition rally on DDOT Bike Plans (DCDPB)

[Marche Maine]

Margaret (and others who have written to me ) thank you!  This abuse by
DDOT and its minions (e.g. WABA zealots) has real effects and is
unnecessarily aggravating people.
*Fully blame Charles Allen*. If you cannot attend the rally - understanding
very real concerns over COVID and groups of people - show your support by
letting Councilman Allen know how much you do not appreciate his chilling
disregard for the elderly, those who don't want to bike, depend on their
vehicles etc..etc...
Write to him and the others, they are cc'd on this email. BE VOCAL!   Note
that many of us ride bikes and use them actively, we are not anti-bike.  My
particular beef is with the speeders and scofflaws of traffic safety, those
drivers who rip through the neighborhood causing mayhem. MPD has not been
stopping them, DDOT and elected officials do not use measures we currently
have to slow them down or hit them in the pocket book. They build
obscenities like the "Dave Thomas Traffic Circle
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/09/21/dc-dave-thomas-circle-wendys/>"
, vanity projects such as the two-tracks of the H.Street trolley, or ignore
real biker death spots like Mass. Ave. at Columbus Circle/Union Station.
*I am sharing another neighbor's eloquent piece::*
*Cc: Neighbors Email List <neighbors-ch at googlegroups.com
<neighbors-ch at googlegroups.com>>*

*The District of Columbia spent over 350 million dollars creating bike
lanes for cyclists, in many cases by depriving residents of parking (e.g.,
recently proposed elimination of all parking on one side of North Carolina
Ave between 13th St NE & beyond).  Most of these residential bike lanes are
rarely used (e.g. Tennessee Ave NE between Constitution and E. Cap and 13th
Street SE to Pa. Ave which created a dangerous dog-leg for motorists at
Independence Ave).*

*The funding for these bike lanes is paid for, not by cyclists, but by
residents, including and unfairly by those who are deprived of a place to
park in order to create bike lanes.  Unlike motorists, cyclists do not pay
for lanes, road improvements nor are they subject to gas taxes, automobile
taxes, user fees nor any other fees that are necessary to pay for road
improvements.  Nor are they subject to insurance requirements (health and
liability) or fines for failing to adhere to common road regulations.  They
are, in fact, “free riders” and, in effect, the recipients of
transportation welfare.*

*Cyclists are not licensed, do not have to pass a test indicating they know
the rules of the road, and indeed, are more guilty than any other class of
driver of blowing through stop signs and signals, otherwise unlawful turns,
and traffic weaving at peril to themselves, drivers, and pedestrians,
including those who have installed trailers and seats to transport young
children.  Adult cyclists have been seen leading very young child cyclists
through stop signs without even slowing down. *

*The Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA) has become one of the most
influential lobbyists in the District and has influenced DC Council members
to approve parking restrictions, cyclist-welfare, and has consistently
resisted any user fees, the licensing of cyclists and their bicycles as
well as testing, notwithstanding the fact that they demand the same use of
roadways as motorists who pay for those roadways and who, unlike cyclists
adhere to rules of the road.*

*As the number of cyclists grows and creates greater dangers to others,
it’s time for our DC Council Member(s) to step up and require licensing,
testing for knowledge of the rules of the road, insurance, and paying for
the lanes that are now paid for by motorists.  There is not nor has there
been a single argument of any value presented against these simple
requirements other than a major lobbying effort by WABA.  *

*A great Senator once noted that, if you want to understand any issue of
consequence, "follow the dollar.”  Qui bono.*

On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 10:12 AM Margaret Rafferty <mhrafferty at hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Mark,
>
> I live at. 103 Kentucky Ave where advisory bike lanes have been installed.
> Our neighborhood experienced tremendous DDOT overreach. It was an
> unpleasant (understatement) experience.I sent numerous letters to varying
> officials. Most were not acknowledged.
>
> I am so grateful for this rally and your efforts. You are an awesome
> writer! I will attend the rally and, if COVID safe, will stay. If not, know
> I am 100% in. Many on the 100 block of Kentucky are seniors (including
> myself) so if we don’t show up, know it’s because of Covid and we will
> follow you on the list serve & do what we can.
>
> Thank you so much,
>
> Margaret Rafferty
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 21, 2021, at 3:51 PM, Marche Maine <markrichardgrace at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> 
> There are growing pockets of resistance to DDOT’S overreach and poor
> communication with residents on bike lanes. The Lincoln Park neighborhood
> has been in DDOT’s cross sights as many of us are aware. The social
> inequities inherent in the placement of these bike lanes has created an
> organized resistance.  This Friday there will be a rally near Galluduet.
> Show your support, attend!
>
> http://www.theluvlounge.com/DCDBP.html
>
> _______________________________________________
> LincolnParkDC mailing list
>
> To post to the list address your message to:
> LincolnParkDC at lincolnparkdc.info
> When replying, please consider whether to reply to the sender only, or to
> the list, which is the default.
> Not all replies are appropriate for the entire list.
>
> Please do not send administrative requests to the list. Please click on
> the following link to
> switch to digest mode, change your password, or otherwise manage your
> subscription:
> https://vps.woteki.com/mailman/listinfo/lincolnparkdc_lincolnparkdc.info
>
> If you need assistance managing your subscription, please address your
> request to: towncrier at lincolnparkdc.info
> Please do not address assistance requests to the list. Thank you for your
> cooperation.
>
> _______________________________________________
> LincolnParkDC mailing list
>
> To post to the list address your message to:
> LincolnParkDC at lincolnparkdc.info
> When replying, please consider whether to reply to the sender only, or to
> the list, which is the default.
> Not all replies are appropriate for the entire list.
>
> Please do not send administrative requests to the list. Please click on
> the following link to
> switch to digest mode, change your password, or otherwise manage your
> subscription:
> https://vps.woteki.com/mailman/listinfo/lincolnparkdc_lincolnparkdc.info
>
> If you need assistance managing your subscription, please address your
> request to: towncrier at lincolnparkdc.info
> Please do not address assistance requests to the list. Thank you for your
> cooperation.
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lincolnparkdc.info/pipermail/lincolnparkdc_lincolnparkdc.info/attachments/20210922/980b4513/attachment.htm>