Though wasn’t expecting it at this time.

Thanks to DC Cyclist and many, many, many other for sending from Brookland (and all over the District) yesterday:

“Putting the pandemic aside, as long as these folks aren’t harming others or damaging property, I wouldn’t mind this sort of thing if all these vehicles were electric. But the noise and the pollution (I assume many are 2-cycle) are definitely a nuisance in their current form.” Read More

Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown

Thanks to ANC Rep Kishan Putta for sending the update:

“Neighbors,

Thank You!  The bus cuts affecting our neighbors will be reversed!!!

Our many months of hard-fought advocacy have paid off. We heard from hundreds of you. I testified 5 times about it. Thank you for all the helpful input and emotional stories you sent to me and to Metro. We worked hard to ensure that Metro, the Council, and the Mayor all heard your voices – loudly!

• D1, G2, 54, 59, 30-N/S, 16-C bus service will NOT be cut. Metro will vote Thursday on the new proposal after over 5,000 comments on just these routes.

Read More

John reports around 3pm: “Head on collision with a scooter. Note broken beer bottles in the mix. P and 23rd, NW.”

Thanks to Ben, Brian and Jeff for sending from Penske Dash:

“As you all know, we are living through an unprecedented time in history. The ripple effects of the current situation extend far and wide and have affected many businesses’ ability to serve and support their customers. Unfortunately, Penske Dash is no exception. It is with great regret that we must cease our operations in Washington DC and Arlington, including the cancellation of your membership. Our last day of service will be Friday, April 10, 2020. Read More

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

From WMATA:

“Due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, Metro will operate significantly reduced rail and bus service this weekend, maintaining a core network of 26 “lifeline” bus routes and providing twice-hourly rail service for our region’s essential travel needs. Essential travel includes medical providers and hospital staff, first responders, critical government functions, individuals involved in helping the community respond to COVID-19, grocery and pharmacy trips, among others.“

From WMATA:

“Metro’s Pandemic Task Force today announced the strategic closing of 17 additional stations, effective Thursday, March 26, 2020, in an effort to conserve critical resources and protect the health and safety of Metro employees and the public. This follows drastic measures already taken to reduce travel on Metro to essential trips only, leading to a Metrorail ridership decline of 90 percent.

These steps will help reduce the risk of exposure to employees and save critical cleaning supplies for the remaining stations. While Metro increased its on-hand warehouse inventory of essential supplies, such as hospital-grade disinfectant, wipes, hand sanitizer, and other items used by Metro’s frontline employees, suppliers are experiencing delivery delays. Metro is taking action to make its current 2-3 week warehouse supply stretch until massive orders placed in late January are received.

Each Metrorail station has multiple escalators, faregates and other high touch surfaces that are being cleaned daily, including some stations with multiple entrances. By reducing the number of entrances, Metro will be able to better protect its workforce and customers and prolong the inventory of these critical supplies needed to keep the system open.

Beginning on Thursday, March 26, Metro will close 17 additional stations following the closures of Smithsonian and Arlington Cemetery stations last week. The 19 stations will remain closed until further notice and trains will pass through without stopping.

The following stations within walking distance or close proximity (less than one mile) to an adjacent station will be closed: Read More

From WMATA:

“While emphasizing that bus service is limited to essential trips only, Metro is taking additional action to enhance the safety of its frontline workforce by implementing rear-door boarding across the Metrobus system, effective Tuesday, March 24. Several other U.S. transit systems have already implemented rear-door boarding in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Starting tomorrow, all Metrobus riders are asked to enter and exit the bus using the rear door at all times, except anyone needing the ADA boarding ramp (e.g. people using wheelchairs), or anyone requesting the bus to “kneel” to facilitate their boarding. Read More

Thanks to Stephanie for sending Saturday from 21st and Pennsylvania Ave, NW. And electric skate boards too! I’m trying to imagine what music should be playing in the background when this scene from this chapter of my memoirs is made into a movie. Let’s go with: Read More

From the Mayor’s Office:

“As the District continues working to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Muriel Bowser is extending road closures and taking additional measures to restrict access to the Tidal Basin. The Mayor has directed the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to work with the DC National Guard to enforce a restricted access zone around the Tidal Basin until further notice to ensure social distancing and prevent further community transmission of COVID-19. Further, pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be restricted in the area of the National Mall. Members of the public will not be able to enter the Jefferson Memorial or the National Mall in the area bounded by 14th Street to 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue, SW.

In coordination with the National Park Service, MPD will continue street closures from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. at the following locations: Read More

Map via Deputy Mayor Donahue

To be clear STOP GOING TO THE TIDAL BASIN TO SEE THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS. https://t.co/2Ao1wNCyRp

— PoPville (@PoPville) March 21, 2020

From MPD:

“On Sunday, March 21, 2020, in coordination with the National Park Service, the Metropolitan Police Department will make several street closures beginning at 7:00 a.m. through approximately 8:00 p.m at the following locations:

The Memorial Bridge
Lincoln Memorial Circle
Potomac River Freeway (all exits to Ohio Drive and Independence Avenue)
Rock Creek Parkway/Potomac Parkway Drive between Virginia Avenue and Independence Avenue, SW (to include Ohio Drive, SW)
Independence Avenue between Ohio Drive and 14th Street, SW
23rd Street between Constitution Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Circle
Henry Bacon Drive between Constitution Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Circle Read More