[Lincolnparkdc] Fwd: WMATA Releases Latest Better Bus Changes - Share Your Feedback

Wed May 15 17:45:45 EDT 2024

Unsafe bicyclists can cause problems and I agree that they should not be on
the sidewalk, but would getting rid of bike lanes solve this problem? Would
it instead result in fewer people biking and driving a car instead? And how
does the problem of unsafe biking compare to the problem of unsafe driving?
And isn’t it meaningful that cars move much faster than bikes and weigh
thousands of pounds more than a bike, making injuries far more severe?

I, for one, use the bike lanes daily. Their existence means I’m safer
because I have my own space, where cars know they’re not supposed to go—not
so similar from the benefits of a sidewalk for pedestrians. Even though
every day I experience cars who pass to close or are driven by someone who
is obviously texting, I’m safer because the vast majority of drivers
respect my space in the bike lane, just like the vast majority of cyclists
respect pedestrians’ space on the sidewalk.

If not for the bike lanes, I’d be driving a car. But I ride a bike because
my goal is for the environment to be cleaner and I want the streets to be
safer and less crowded. I would expect advocates for public transit like
increased bus service to share these important goals, and to understand
that as we look forward to a future where cars are less necessary, we need
to promote a range of options to get there.

Nathan Schuur

On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 17:30 arabella kohlmeyer <bellak234 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I’m with you Mia. Most people still use the side walks. My neighbor was
> hit walking her dog and was pretty banged up. They assumed her husband was
> beating her.
>
> On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 4:29 PM Mia Grosjean <mia at miagrosjean.com> wrote:
>
>> Doesn’t look good for bus #96 or for all of Capitol Hill, IMO! Wow, our
>> neighborhood is void of transportation options except for bike lanes which
>> no one uses. Why build bike lanes if people still only use the
>> sidewalks???! Was almost run over by 4 grown men riding their bikes on east
>> capitol street sidewalk yesterday. Dear god. Mia
>> From Mia's iPhone
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> *From:* Charles Allen <Charles at charlesallenward6.com>
>> *Date:* May 15, 2024 at 1:47:18 PM EDT
>> *To:* Maria Mia Grosjean <mia at miagrosjean.com>
>> *Subject:* *WMATA Releases Latest Better Bus Changes - Share Your
>> Feedback*
>>
>> 
>>
>> Click here
>> <https://www.charlesallenward6.com/holding_dangerous_drivers_accountable_and_leading_on_climate?e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=1>
>> if this email is hard to read.
>> To unsubscribe from all future emails, click here
>> <https://www.charlesallenward6.com/unsubscribe?e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=2>
>> .
>>
>> Maria "Mia" --
>>
>> This week, WMATA released its updated Better Bus plans
>> <https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/r?u=Tu5Jh27TUo3qPpE8hO3kIvAOF7RGz4DOY-nte3KiejKTHw3UDF3pZ0GB2cfdg6UuKfa5fLAr4J6mNepkTsLQMQ&e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=3>.
>> Last year, you worked with me to review and provide feedback on their
>> initial draft plans. That led to a series of recommendations I shared with
>> WMATA after hearing from hundreds of Ward 6 neighbors: Click here to
>> read last year's recommendations
>> <https://www.charlesallenward6.com/read_cm_allen_s_letter_to_wmata_on_ward_6_better_bus_routes?e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=4>.
>> Since you helped me shape those, I wanted to share a quick update now that
>> we're at the next step in this process.
>>
>> *Quick reminder what this is all about:* The Better Bus Network Redesign
>> is a major project led by WMATA to realign the region's bus network to
>> improve frequency, service, and reliability. Their goal is to better
>> connect communities by bus and have a more sustainable and equitable system
>> to meet our growing regional needs.
>>
>> *Why this is important:* We've seen bus ridership recover from pandemic
>> lows much more quickly than rail ridership. In fact, bus ridership is now
>> higher than pre-pandemic levels and continues to grow, while rail ridership
>> lags behind (but is still recovering). The Better Bus Network Redesign is
>> the first time in decades that WMATA is reworking the entire bus system,
>> and the final redesign will determine transit use and growth for years, if
>> not decades, to come.
>>
>> *Quick takeaways on my first review:* Included is an image of the routes
>> they propose in Ward 6 (if you want to see the full map for DC, click
>> here
>> <https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/r?u=WhlTRwBIunf_HPm1n-8HcaaLuvnTzwXow6fJsZfDQiT6Mv6VFhGrCg1nRyhyNt24b-bS5m2w2v81h_TYjXMEBLD5EZI8h4fol1zWmIhLpMc&e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=5>).
>> WMATA listened to our recommendations and made several adjustments to their
>> initial plans, like ensuring the current D6 line will still connect
>> neighborhoods between Ward 6 and downtown. But there are also some new
>> decisions that I think will have very detrimental impacts to bus service
>> and connections, such as the elimination of routes that serve neighbors
>> around Barracks Row, Lincoln Park, and Hill East. I'm seeing big holes in
>> service for several neighborhoods. In addition, because the Mayor and DDOT
>> did not begin talking with WMATA about their plan to eliminate the
>> Circulator until very recently, there is nothing in this proposal that will
>> expand WMATA bus service to cover those cuts. Fixing this will be a
>> priority for me to continue service and connections, but it isn't reflected
>> in WMATA's proposal thus far.
>>
>> *Continuing to hear your thoughts:* Last year, I hosted public meetings
>> and solicited feedback to help me fight for what Ward 6 wanted in the
>> process. Now that WMATA has shared their revised plans, they've opened a
>> public comment period through July 15th. I plan on holding another town
>> hall-style meeting to get your feedback this spring but welcome your
>> thoughts now! Check out their new interactive website
>> <https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/r?u=Tu5Jh27TUo3qPpE8hO3kIvAOF7RGz4DOY-nte3KiejKTHw3UDF3pZ0GB2cfdg6UuKfa5fLAr4J6mNepkTsLQMQ&e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=6>
>> to learn more about the proposed changes. After WMATA gets another round of
>> public feedback, they plan to make final revisions in late summer and fall,
>> with the WMATA Board approving final changes before the end of the year and
>> the actual bus changes taking effect later in 2025.
>>
>> Thanks again, and stay tuned for more!
>>
>> Charles Allen
>>
>> -=-=-
>>
>> Councilmember Charles Allen · 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 110,
>> Washington, DC 20004, United States
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1350+Pennsylvania+Ave+NW,%0D%0ASuite+110,+Washington,+DC+20004,+United+States?entry=gmail&source=g>
>> This email was sent to mia at miagrosjean.com. To stop receiving emails, click
>> here
>> <https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/unsubscribe?e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=7>.
>>
>> You can also keep up with Charles Allen on Facebook
>> <https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/r?u=RdxTBQqnJndKt9COdfP1scMCtovcpC8dqrd6T-iBez8s4h7hERo6jsJ4eLV6rGlO&e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=8>.
>>
>> -=-=-
>>
>> Created with NationBuilder
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