DC Government

New Capital Bikeshare Stations Announced

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From DDOT:

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today announced the locations for 32 new Capital Bikeshare stations to be installed in the fall of 2011. It will be the first major expansion of the system in the District since Capital Bikeshare launched last September. Following weeks of planning and extensive community input, DDOT will install the new stations and expand the size of selected existing stations to better meet demand, while also adding 265 additional bicycles to the system. Additionally, DDOT will install the already planned Capital Bikeshare stations at 6th and H Street, NE and Foggy Bottom Metro.

List of NEW Stations:

· 3rd Street and G Street, SE

· 4th Street and E Street, SW

· 5th Street SE between Alabama and Martin Luther King Avenue, SE

· 6th Street and Florida, NE

· 7th Street and Maryland Avenue, NE

· 7th Street and R Street, NW

· 11th Street and H Street, NE

· 16th Street and Euclid Street, NW

· 17th Street and Rhode Island Ave, NW

· 18th Street and Pennsylvania Ave, NW

· 19th Street and New Hampshire Avenue, NW (Dupont South)

· 38th Street, SE at Pennsylvania Ave – Fairfax Village (INSTALLED TODAY)

· 3000 Connecticut. NW – National Zoo

· 4500 Benning Road, NE (Benning Road Metro Station)

· Calvert Street and 39th Street, NW (Stoddert Recreation Center)

· Columbia Road and Belmont Road, NW
· Alabama Avenue at 13th Street, SE – Congress Heights Metro

· Florida Avenue and California Street, NW

· Gallaudet University – 1st Street and Michigan, NW

· Georgia Avenue and Columbia Road, NW

· Good Hope Road and Minnesota Avenue, SE

· M Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

· Maryland Avenue and Independence Avenue, SW (at 6th Street)

· Massachusetts Avenue and 15th Street, SE

· New Jersey Avenue and D Street, SE

· Rhode Island Avenue and 1st Street, NW

· Anacostia Avenue at Benning Road, NE – River Terrace

· Thomas Circle at 14th Street, NW

· Tingey Street and 3rd Street, SE (Yards Park )

· Upshur Street and 14th Street, NW

· Upshur Street and Georgia Avenue, NW

· W Street and Martin Luther King Avenue, SE

Stations to be expanded after the jump. (more…)

Caribbean Carnival Community Meeting Today, July 27th at 6pm

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all the readers who forwarded this email:

Caribbean Carnival, a cultural festival that has been happening annually for 19 years, was enjoyed by many thousands this year, but was also the subject of much debate. The shortened route, financial issues, and aggressive police tactics sent mixed messages to Carnival organizers and the community. Several fights that occurred raised safety concerns from the community. Councilmember Graham, Councilmember Bowser, the MPD and the Mayor’s office have publicly expressed their desire to see the Carnival continue and the full route restored but there are serious issues that must be overcome.

The Georgia Avenue Community Development Task Force has invited Councilmember Jim Graham (on travel but sending a representative), Councilmember Bowser (unconfirmed), MPD Chief Lanier (confirmed), and DC Caribbean Carnival Director Loughton Sargeant (confirmed) to our next meeting on Wednesday July 27th at 6:00pm at the G II Restaurant and Lounge at 2632 Georgia Avenue (corner of Georgia and Fairmont) to discuss the issues that occurred at this event and ways the community can be more involved in its planning and execution.

For background on some of the issues regarding this year’s Carnival, you can listen to a Town Hall meeting on the Carnival conducted Saturday July 16th broadcast live on WPFW. The archived show can be heard by going here and scrolling down to “Caribbeana” broadcast on Saturday, July 16, 2011 7:00 pm. The Town Hall was hosted by WPFW’s Gloria Minott, with panelists Paul Quander, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice, Councilmember Bowser, Councilmember Graham, MPD Assistant Chief Lamar Green, Claude Barrington of the DC Caribbean Carnival and others.


Photo by PoPville Flickr user yostinator

Dear PoP – Should Police Be Giving Jaywalking Tickets or Focus on more Serious Crimes?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Given recent discussions about crime, police, city life, etc. I was particularly impressed by the use of police resources I observed yesterday around 5:45 pm at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and K Street. There were two DC cops standing in the median ready to ticket jaywalkers. A picture is attached. Is jaywalking really that big of a problem?”

While I think two police officers might be excessive, I actually don’t have a problem with one officer giving jaywalking tickets. This intersection can actually be rather dangerous and pedestrians do occasionally get hit and injured by cars (sometimes car at fault, sometimes pedestrian at fault.) Even though I admit I jaywalk from time to time and would be pissed if I got a ticket – in this case I think the officers are doing the right thing. If there was serious violent crime taking place in this police district I might feel differently.

Dear PoPville: Ticketing Bicylists – Safety Measure or Fundraiser?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user [F]oxymoron

A reader shares an email sent to CM Jim Graham:

This year, I decided to take advantage of the Capital Bikeshare. I am so pleased that DC has (or had) begun to make this city more walk-able and bike-able. Since I am a new biker, I am a very conscientious rider (and probably much slower than the average bicyclist). Well needless to say the other day I got pulled over by two police who set a “bicyclist trap”. They literally were pulling over bikes for rolling stops at a stop sign.

Ok, so while I agree we need to obey the rules of the road too, I have to say this “trap” felt particularly like the cops were just trying to raise revenue rather than raise awareness. I also am a bit concerned that we can afford to have two police officers stand out and trap bikes while we have a huge gang and murder problem going on in our Ward. I especially thought it was offensive given that it was just a couple days after the craziness that happened at the Caribbean Fest.

Again, I don’t make excuses for not following the rules of the road….I just question the use of our (what seems like scarce) police to actually set a trap for bikes. I think if we are trying to raise awareness for bicycle safety there are much better ways to do that.

The reader writes that the incident took place a couple of weeks ago at 8:05am around 14th and U St, NW.

Anyone else get a ticket on their bike for rolling through a stop sign?

Do you think this is a safety measure or a way to raise revenue?

Dear PoP – who fixes unmarked manhole covers?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Attached picture is at 18th and Monroe St, NW in Mount Pleasant. Who replaces unmarked manhole covers? This is in the middle of the street and could go at any second … and then swallow up a car, motorcycle, bike … jogger.”

My guess is that this is a Pepco issue. I have alerted CM Graham’s office but should anyone encounter a situation like this in the future – def. call 311.

CM Tommy Wells Removed from his Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Works & Transportation

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by flickr user thisisbossi

Dear PoP,

I’m surprised you haven’t reported on this already.

I am infuriated by our current leaders’ corruption. Council Chair Kwame Brown is removing Councilman Tommy Wells from his Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Works & Transportation and the metro board. This sort of demotion is unprecedented in DC.

Tommy Wells has been outspoken in fighting for improved bike lanes in the Committee. He criticized DC’s DOT for potentially cancelling the L/M St bike lane plans recently–and asked why they’re prioritizing suburbanites over a transportation route for many DC residents. A leadership replacement would further delay any bike infrastructure plans.

Also, Tommy Wells’ committee reported on Brown’s leasing of two fully-loaded luxury SUVs this year ($24,000/yr for each one–we pay for them). It was Wells’ committee’s responsibility to investigate this. Did he really expect Wells to lie for him and try to hide it?

Either Kwame is worried my bike lane is too intrusive–he needs extra room to get down the road with his black-on-black SUV and the gray-on-gray at the same time. Or he’s sending a message to his Council–speak out against Kwame and his corruption and you’ll be stripped of your power.

The shameful acts just don’t end. Tommy needs to stay. Kwame needs to go.

Please let readers know they can contact DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown ([email protected]) and urge him to change his mind–or the rest of the City Council so they can tell him he’s gone too far.

Also, on L/M St bike lanes–Tommy Wells said that they may be cancelled.”

Dear PoPville – Anyone Have Experience with Pay by Phone Parking Meters?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I was wondering if anyone in PoPville has used the new pay by phone parking meters and can share whether the system works reliably or not? I have seen the DDoT press releases and some meters near my work with a green sign touting the ParkMobile smartphone app. But when I went to download the Android app, the reviews were mixed to bad, saying it was unreliable and people still got tickets.

At least the credit card multi-space meters give you a paper receipt. With ParkMobile, the fact that you’ve paid is supposed to be communicated to parking enforcement’s device, but it’s unclear to me how I would fight a ticket if there was a glitch or if the parking enforcement people claim I hadn’t paid. It would be really convenient to pay by phone, but I’m reluctant to create another online account linked to my credit card unless I know it’s going to work and be useful to me.”

Last we spoke about pay by phone parking options in Dupont there were mixed responses. Anyone use the system recently?

DC DMV Announces Increased Fees

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From an email:

As of today a Road Test and Knowledge Test are no longer free and will now cost $10 each and a duplicate license will now cost $20. Do you think it’s fair to require people to pay for a road test and knowledge test?

On a side note, I thought it was a bit random that when you click on the DMV link for more info about the fee increases, in addition to English you find documents in (Zhong wen) Chinese (but no other foreign language).

DC Police Officer Takes Leave Because of Breastfeeding Policy

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user fromcaliw/love

A reader forwards the following email:

[BirthOptionsAlliance] DC Police Officer forced to take leave w/o pay because she wants to BREASTFEED!

A mother in DC needs our help! She is DC Police Officer and has been forced to take leave w/o pay which obviously is putting a financial strain on her family, because she wanted to continue to breastfeed her baby after returning to work. The job initially providing support, quickly changed their tone, when the mother complained about the sanitary conditions of the nursing rooms which were reported to not be up to code. At this point she was told that she would essentially have to choose between her job or continuing to breastfeed her baby.

Fox5 explains:

The new moms say they’re being required to wear bullet proof vests when on duty, which can be quite painful. One of them says it’s so bad she’s being forced to take leave without pay.

Chief Cathy Lanier defended her policy Monday saying there is not much more that she can do.
The Chief said when you are talking about mothers nursing their babies for a year or more its tough to be more accommodating than she’s already been.

Do you think DC is being unfair in its policy? What have police officers who breastfeed done in the past? What do you think is a reasonable time before breastfeeding officers are required to return to their normal duties?

H Street, NE Street Car Deployment Delayed Until “Fall 2013”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

Thanks to everyone for sending links to yesterday’s WTOP story:

The earliest any streetcar will roll through the streets of the District is now expected to be 2013 — and late 2013 at that, WTOP has learned.

“2013 is what we are telling people now,” John Lisle, spokesperson for the D.C. Department of Transportation, tells WTOP. “We’re probably looking at the fall of 2013.”

A source also tells WTOP that the Anacostia segment of the streetcar system — which was supposed to be the first segment running — has now moved in back of H Street. An environmental review process is currently underway on the Anacostia line segment, and service on that line now isn’t likely until somewhere nearer 2014, or possibly even later.

So I guess that makes 2033 for Georgia Ave…

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