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

Wed May 15 18:56:15 EDT 2024

Riding on the sidewalks is perfectly legal throughout the city EXCEPT in
the downtown business district roughly around K Street, 15th Street, Penn
and up to Mass over to 7th street or so. I don't really like it when an
adult whizzes past me on a bike or scooter on the sidewalk, but I get why
they do it. That's why we need more protected bike lanes so that bicyclists
will be able to get where they're going and feel safe from the cars that
are *much more of a threat* to pedestrians and bicyclists. You should see
how many times cars end up on sidewalks too, and how often they kill or
maim pedestrians in that space. I'd much rather take my chances with a bike
than a 2000-3000+ pound vehicle where the driver is protected by steel and
airbags, when I, as a bicyclist or pedestrian, is not.

But back to the real problem, which is that the 96 as well as many other
bus lines that serve our neighborhood are quite likely going away, and
probably forever. *Please comment on the WMATA site*, but be aware that
it's really hard to comment on a line that is being eliminated! I found
this out the other day when I was trying to comment, and all it would
prompt me to do is to comment on the NEW lines. It was super frustrating.
I'm going to keep going back to add more comments, and see if there's a way
to do it in a more general fashion instead of being forced into the prompts
that WMATA has set up.

Please also *call or email all the CMs including and especially the At
Large members, not just Charles Allen.* Frankly, I'd like to know what the
At Large members do, since it appears that when they are ostensibly
answerable to everyone in the city, it's really like they're not answerable
to any one. Robert White might be the only one up for reelection, but let's
put some pressure on him too!

I think it was someone in the email responses above who pointed out that
for those who can't ride a bike or walk long distances, which are all of
our mobility challenged or elderly neighbors, losing our local bus lines is
a massive setback. When I am too old to drive safely and need to give up my
car, but also can't ride my bike or walk, I was counting on the 96 being
around so I can age in place in my Hill home. It's deeply ironic to me that
I have lived here on the Hill for over 30 years, and nothing made me feel
like I needed to sell and move: Not the 90s drugs and prostitution in
Lincoln Park, not the Cap Hill public schools (which were great for all
three of my kids!), and not the new resurgence of crime on the Hill. But
now, losing a public transit connection that can get us all over the city
is making my husband and I wonder if we need to find a place in a more
centrally located, well-served public transit location.

Gina A.
100 bl Kentucky

On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 6:17 PM Mia Grosjean <mia at miagrosjean.com> wrote:

> I’m not saying we should get rid of bike lanes, I am saying our city
> should do a large public relations campaign to move them from sidewalks to
> bike paths, and maybe even have identifiable license plates. If u get hit
> by one there’s now no way to identify them… thinking out loud here. Mia
> From Mia's iPhone
>
> On May 15, 2024, at 5:50 PM, Marche' Maine <markrichardgrace at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> 
> 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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