As a bike commuter in DC for almost two years, I love the act of biking, but it is an often dangerous activity.
Right now, the regional Transportation Planning Board is considering adding bike lanes to Pennsylvania Ave and other streets in Downtown DC. AAA is opposing these changes.
For almost the past two years, I have been a bike commuter in DC. It is sometimes a very dangerous activity, as cars often won't share the road or they will run red lights. Just a couple days ago, my housemate was hit by a car turning right, because the driver didn't look.
Also last month a biker was killed in DC when a military truck ran her over. I could go on with more stories of friends injured by drivers and an accident in 2008 that claimed the life of another biker, but I think I have made my point: Biking in DC is dangerous.
I too have been hit by a truck when the driver failed to yield and hit me when he was making a left turn. I had the green light.
Bike safety and biker's rights are big concerns for me because most of my friends and I are bike commuters. Recently DC has been adding new bikes lanes and they are nice.
Right now as we are tackling obseity in the US, area government should be promoting bike commuting and several cities are, even Secretary of Transporation Ray Lahood said recently, "This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized."
Today I received this email from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA):
Support for Downtown Bike Lanes Needed
Continuing to fan the flames of the DC's supposed "War on Drivers", AAA Mid-Atlantic recently issued a press release urging their members to oppose plans for new bike lanes downtown. The press release is, at times, oddly contradictory. In one section the release states, " It is unlikely the addition of new bike lanes in Washington's Central Business District will entice most motorists out of their cars or attract more residents to bicycling to work." But later in the release, AAA says that according to a survey of their own members, 20% said that such improvements to bike infrastructure and amenities would compel them to become regular bike commuters! For the full text of the release, click here and look for the Washington Metro Area section.
The proposed protected bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue, L Street and M Street, 15th and 9th Streets are important additions to the DC bike network, and with the eventual dramatic expansion of bike sharing in downtown, will be important for the future safety and mobility of cyclists. These great new facilities will also have little or no impact on surrounding traffic! Contrary to claims by AAA, the new protected bike lanes on Pennsylvania Ave will have no impact on vehicle level of service according to a study by the District Department of Transportation. The projects are slated to be included in the Transportation Planning Board's regional Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan, a necessary step to allow them to move forward. We urge you to show your support for these projects by visiting the TPB's comment page to share your thoughts. You can also call (202) 962-3262 to leave verbal comments.
At WABA we always say that we are not anti-car, but pro-bike. According to a recent WABA survey, 56% of our members are also members of AAA. So if you are a cyclist and a member of AAA and would like to contact that group with your thoughts, please visit www.aaa.com. Lend Your Voice to the Growing Bicycle Community!
Please join the DC Biking Community and stand up for more bike lanes!