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

Wed May 15 17:49:30 EDT 2024

And for people who do not want or  cannot ride a bike or drive?

On Wed, May 15, 2024, 5:47 PM Nathan Schuur <nathan.schuur at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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