<div dir="ltr">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 <u>much more of a threat</u> 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. <div><br></div><div>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. <b>Please comment on the WMATA site</b>, 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. </div><div><br></div><div>Please also <b>call or email all the CMs including and especially the At Large members, not just Charles Allen.</b> 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! </div><div><br></div><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Gina A. </div><div>100 bl Kentucky</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 6:17 PM Mia Grosjean <<a href="mailto:mia@miagrosjean.com">mia@miagrosjean.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">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<br id="m_-4732724691740829895lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">From Mia's iPhone </div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On May 15, 2024, at 5:50 PM, Marche' Maine <<a href="mailto:markrichardgrace@gmail.com" target="_blank">markrichardgrace@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="auto">And for people who do not want or cannot ride a bike or drive? </div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, May 15, 2024, 5:47 PM Nathan Schuur <<a href="mailto:nathan.schuur@gmail.com" target="_blank">nathan.schuur@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">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?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">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. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">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. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Nathan Schuur </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 17:30 arabella kohlmeyer <<a href="mailto:bellak234@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">bellak234@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">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.</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"></div></div><div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 4:29 PM Mia Grosjean <<a href="mailto:mia@miagrosjean.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">mia@miagrosjean.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">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 <div><div dir="ltr">From Mia's iPhone </div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Charles Allen <<a href="mailto:Charles@charlesallenward6.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles@charlesallenward6.com</a>><br><b>Date:</b> May 15, 2024 at 1:47:18 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> Maria Mia Grosjean <<a href="mailto:mia@miagrosjean.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">mia@miagrosjean.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>WMATA Releases Latest Better Bus Changes - Share Your Feedback</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p style="text-align:center;font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif"><a href="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" style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Click
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<p style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif">Maria "Mia" --<br><br><img style="margin: 10px; height: auto; float: right; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;" src="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/charlesallendc/mailings/1880/attachments/original/W6_BB_Plans.jpg?1715794161" alt="" width="50%">This week, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/r?u=Tu5Jh27TUo3qPpE8hO3kIvAOF7RGz4DOY-nte3KiejKTHw3UDF3pZ0GB2cfdg6UuKfa5fLAr4J6mNepkTsLQMQ&e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=3" style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif" target="_blank">WMATA released its updated Better Bus plans</a>. 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: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="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" style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif" target="_blank">Click here to read last year's recommendations</a>.
Since you helped me shape those, I wanted to share a quick update now
that we're at the next step in this process.<br><br><strong style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif">Quick
reminder what this is all about:</strong> 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.<br><br><strong style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif">Why this is important:</strong> 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.<br><br><strong style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif">Quick takeaways on my first
review:</strong> Included is an image of the routes they propose in
Ward 6 (if you want to see the full map for DC, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/r?u=WhlTRwBIunf_HPm1n-8HcaaLuvnTzwXow6fJsZfDQiT6Mv6VFhGrCg1nRyhyNt24b-bS5m2w2v81h_TYjXMEBLD5EZI8h4fol1zWmIhLpMc&e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=5" style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif" target="_blank">click here</a>). 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.<br><br><strong style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif">Continuing to
hear your thoughts:</strong> 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 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/r?u=Tu5Jh27TUo3qPpE8hO3kIvAOF7RGz4DOY-nte3KiejKTHw3UDF3pZ0GB2cfdg6UuKfa5fLAr4J6mNepkTsLQMQ&e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=6" style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif" target="_blank">interactive website</a> 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.<br><br>Thanks again,
and stay tuned for more!<br><br>Charles Allen<br><br></p>
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Councilmember Charles Allen · <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1350+Pennsylvania+Ave+NW,%0D%0ASuite+110,+Washington,+DC+20004,+United+States?entry=gmail&source=g" style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW,
Suite 110, Washington, DC 20004, United States</a>
<br>This email was sent to <a style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(20,136,185)" href="http://mia@miagrosjean.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">mia@miagrosjean.com</a>. To stop receiving
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here</a>.
<br>You can also keep up with Charles Allen
on <a style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(20,136,185)" href="https://charlesallendc.nationbuilder.com/r?u=RdxTBQqnJndKt9COdfP1scMCtovcpC8dqrd6T-iBez8s4h7hERo6jsJ4eLV6rGlO&e=c64ba23311bd486dedfb02bb18098f22&utm_source=charlesallendc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=betterbus2025&n=8" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.
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