Four one-minute actions to protect & advance DC bike lanes

These are challenging times for DC bike lanes. Our message to the federal government – it’s highly disappointing that we have to fight US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy – is hands off our bike lanes, and to the District Dept. of Transportation, it’s get back in gear. District officials must reestablish that their support for biking goes beyond social-media statements. 

Here are four one-minute actions you can take to advance & protect DC bike lanes. They’re quick: Click the links, enter your name and contact information, personalize our suggested messages if you wish, and hit submit.

1. 11th St. NW is a key north-south biking route, but the current painted bike lanes don’t make for safe, low-stress cycling. After years of discussion and planning, DDOT is moving forward with protected bike lanes for most of the 11th St. NW corridor. Click here to comment on DDOT’s notice of intent and add your voice supporting the project.
2. If you don’t know about the federal government’s plan to remove the 15th St SW protected bike lanes between Constitution Ave. SW and the 14th St. Bridge, well, it’s a shameful move that will affect the thousands of residents and tourists who use the lanes every day, and the drivers who benefited from faster travel, with 17% higher speeds and 46% fewer roadway crashes. Register your opposition via WABA’s Petition: Save the 15th Street Protected Bike Lane.
3. Meanwhile, just a bit north… DDOT has abandoned plans for a two-way, protected  cycletrack on 15th St NW between NY Ave & H St NW and now plans to convert the west-side driving lane to parking including valet spots. Their (now-abandoned) project page says: “This key connection will provide a safe connection for bicyclists outside of the White House security perimeter.” DDOT is prioritizing  parking over safety. Click here to comment on DDOT’s notice of intent, to tell them DON’T!
4. Have you responded to WABA’s Safety First! campaign? We set it up to ask Mayor Muriel Bowser and DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum to return to prioritizing safety over politics, to build planned (and previously planned) bike lanes and associated traffic calming measures without further delay. DDOT removed protected bike lanes from Arizona Ave. NW and stripped PBLs out of East Capitol St. project plans. They put the Jenifer St. NW project – design is 100% complete! – on hold. Join us to tell them Safety First!

Thanks for taking these four actions. It’s important that we all speak out.