Kalorama and Adams Morgan are neighborhoods. We need Columbia road to be our street, not a highway to get from one part of DC to another part. We want people to stop in, be able to visit from Virginia and Maryland, have thriving restaurants and cafes (as opposed to least common denominator bars) and shops. We live here and need to have accessible parking. For many of us, biking is not an option.
I walk up and down Columbia road daily with a small dog. I have done this for nearly 30 years. I have never had close calls as a pedestrian and dog owner until recently, as buses go faster, don’t stop for crosswalks and seem on oblivious to pedestrians. The same with bikers, who zoom past you at crosswalks, swerving rather stopping, often failing to see by dog or her leash. Furthermore, the city has failed to even acknowledge the hardship posed by the elimination of parking spots let alone attempt to develop a solution that could make residential parking available or visitor parking possible for evening dinner guests or restaurant patrons. The city pretends long-term residents can afford $400/month for parking or ubering to doctors appointments and daycare. Uber and Lyft work for some in some instances but not for everybody. It’s time for the city to acknowledge that, empathize with those of us who have lived here for decades and take action to mitigate our problems, not those of the bicycle association.
The neighborhood residents and business owners have repeatedly said we don’t want this. We want parking spaces and support for building out our neighborhood businesses, and the city has repeatedly refused to listen, choosing to listen to the bicycle lobbying group rather than residents. Democracy in DC seems to be more about theater than community engagement. And apparently, because we have a closed primary, nobody seems concerned about electoral accountability.
You are acting in ways that are cumulatively making this city unlivable, especially in older, more h
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Tim Warnecke
2 years ago
I live here. Completely unnecessary and counterproductive to residents needs. The cycling population is minuscule and policy should never cater to them.
R
richard ehrenberg
2 years ago
Project is not needed.
A
Alex Gallimore
2 years ago
The proposed changes to Columbia Road will create a significantly more complicated traffic environment which will almost certainly result in more accidents for cars, pedestrians and cyclists. With the expected increase in teachers accessing the Oyster Adams school through an alley (which will be making use of the alley in a way it was never designed for - much, much higher traffic volume) and the reduced travel lanes on Columbia Road to one each way there will almost certainly be massive traffic backups on Columbia Road twice a day. In addition, it seems to be a massive misuse of resources that could be better spent elsewhere, particularly during a time of resource challenges for the city budget. The buses run on Columbia Road perfectly fine under the current situation and bikes use the current bike lanes easily - bike lanes with barriers are simply not needed and only serve a relatively small number of individuals and impairs the use of the public space for other residents who may be older, have health issues, or are otherwise physically unable to commute to work or use a bike to get around. This plan will also remove a significant number of parking spots from an already parking challenged area - this will only make quality of life poorer for residents of the area, make it more difficult for contractors, plumbers, electricians, and others to provide service to residents in the area, and for friends and family to visit residents of the neighborhood - this is already a significant issue, do not make it worse!
C
Cate Brewer
2 years ago
This proposal is shockingly ableist. It does not take into account any level of urban planning. Our block is already dangerous. We already have no ability to consistently park. We have had many accidents on our block at the split of Columbia and Connecticut including cars driving into our building. This proposal also ignores that all teachers at the Adams (Oyster-Adams) school must enter Columbia Road through our alley to leave and get to work. This will create a dangerous and extreme traffic challenge in order to create bike lanes for those who do not live here. We are all for a more sustainable city-but this plan lacks any thought about the actual effect on the area and caters to a wealthy and ableist cohort who do not live, own property, vote or pay taxes in our neighborhood. This social engineering with a complete lack of city planning.
S
Steven Lamm
2 years ago
It is narrow enough already. What we have for bikes now is rarely used. Let traffic flow so that businesses can thrive and we can get home.
C
Christopher Kelly
2 years ago
As a resident on Columbia Road, I oppose this project. As someone who regularly walks, drives, parks, and uses public transportation in this area, I do not beleive this project is necessary or beneficial. In fact, I believe it will only serve to cause greater congestion and danger to those traveling in the area. Columbia Road businesses already suffer challenges, and further restricting travelability and parking will only make that worse. Not to mention that Zone 1 parking is already very, very limited.
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Louise and Don Krumm
2 years ago
Pause...pause
J
James Mattingly
2 years ago
We need competent leaders, who “Act” NOT “React” on/to problems!!!!!! You get What/Who you elect. Read & think better; next time!!
I
Iris Green
2 years ago
These new bus lanes are a hazard.
J
Joan Mooney
2 years ago
Featured
The proposal seems to put the needs of bicyclists above those of pedestrians, especially bus riders, who are often elderly or disabled. They will have to navigate a busy bike lane open to bicycles, scooters and mopeds to reach their bus stop. It could also hurt our struggling transit system.
C
Clare Feinson
2 years ago
I am an elderly person who is newly disabled, so these changes are a direct threat to me personally. But even without that, I object strenuously to these changes. Columbia Road is already one of the most congested streets in the city and these totally unnecessary changes promise to make the congestion worse. Riding bicycles on city streets is already inherently dangerous and should be prohibited, not encouraged. My late father was a traffic engineer and I grew up highly sensitive to traffic patterns and how they affect the neighborhoods where we live. Please stop these ill-conceived changes now!
L
Louvenia Adams
2 years ago
Columbia Road is a mecca of Multicultural presence in DC. Between all the construction going on; it creates congestion in traffic when it's already congested because of the price of living within the Columbia Heights to Adams Morgan conjunction. Please Stop all the Construction.
A
Anna Bowman
2 years ago
Retrofitting bike lanes into some streets present dangers to the elderly, disabled and children. Please do not move forward with these plans.
D
Denyse Sabagh
2 years ago
Bike lanes may work for some streets but not Columbia Road . These changes endanger reseidents especially the elderly and children. Many people cannot ride bikes. To make this change does not this take into consideration.
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
Resident- owner
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
Pedestrians are already in danger due to speeding and inattentive drivers. This project will increase risks to pedestrians.
D
Denise Jacobs
2 years ago
Not a good idea
P
Pat Huey
2 years ago
All the arguments against this misguided idea are good. Please do not let this nonsense go through. And stop taking away parking spaces. Not everyone has a private garage.
Resident
Kalorama and Adams Morgan are neighborhoods. We need Columbia road to be our street, not a highway to get from one part of DC to another part. We want people to stop in, be able to visit from Virginia and Maryland, have thriving restaurants and cafes (as opposed to least common denominator bars) and shops. We live here and need to have accessible parking. For many of us, biking is not an option. I walk up and down Columbia road daily with a small dog. I have done this for nearly 30 years. I have never had close calls as a pedestrian and dog owner until recently, as buses go faster, don’t stop for crosswalks and seem on oblivious to pedestrians. The same with bikers, who zoom past you at crosswalks, swerving rather stopping, often failing to see by dog or her leash. Furthermore, the city has failed to even acknowledge the hardship posed by the elimination of parking spots let alone attempt to develop a solution that could make residential parking available or visitor parking possible for evening dinner guests or restaurant patrons. The city pretends long-term residents can afford $400/month for parking or ubering to doctors appointments and daycare. Uber and Lyft work for some in some instances but not for everybody. It’s time for the city to acknowledge that, empathize with those of us who have lived here for decades and take action to mitigate our problems, not those of the bicycle association. The neighborhood residents and business owners have repeatedly said we don’t want this. We want parking spaces and support for building out our neighborhood businesses, and the city has repeatedly refused to listen, choosing to listen to the bicycle lobbying group rather than residents. Democracy in DC seems to be more about theater than community engagement. And apparently, because we have a closed primary, nobody seems concerned about electoral accountability. You are acting in ways that are cumulatively making this city unlivable, especially in older, more h
I live here. Completely unnecessary and counterproductive to residents needs. The cycling population is minuscule and policy should never cater to them.
Project is not needed.
The proposed changes to Columbia Road will create a significantly more complicated traffic environment which will almost certainly result in more accidents for cars, pedestrians and cyclists. With the expected increase in teachers accessing the Oyster Adams school through an alley (which will be making use of the alley in a way it was never designed for - much, much higher traffic volume) and the reduced travel lanes on Columbia Road to one each way there will almost certainly be massive traffic backups on Columbia Road twice a day. In addition, it seems to be a massive misuse of resources that could be better spent elsewhere, particularly during a time of resource challenges for the city budget. The buses run on Columbia Road perfectly fine under the current situation and bikes use the current bike lanes easily - bike lanes with barriers are simply not needed and only serve a relatively small number of individuals and impairs the use of the public space for other residents who may be older, have health issues, or are otherwise physically unable to commute to work or use a bike to get around. This plan will also remove a significant number of parking spots from an already parking challenged area - this will only make quality of life poorer for residents of the area, make it more difficult for contractors, plumbers, electricians, and others to provide service to residents in the area, and for friends and family to visit residents of the neighborhood - this is already a significant issue, do not make it worse!
This proposal is shockingly ableist. It does not take into account any level of urban planning. Our block is already dangerous. We already have no ability to consistently park. We have had many accidents on our block at the split of Columbia and Connecticut including cars driving into our building. This proposal also ignores that all teachers at the Adams (Oyster-Adams) school must enter Columbia Road through our alley to leave and get to work. This will create a dangerous and extreme traffic challenge in order to create bike lanes for those who do not live here. We are all for a more sustainable city-but this plan lacks any thought about the actual effect on the area and caters to a wealthy and ableist cohort who do not live, own property, vote or pay taxes in our neighborhood. This social engineering with a complete lack of city planning.
It is narrow enough already. What we have for bikes now is rarely used. Let traffic flow so that businesses can thrive and we can get home.
As a resident on Columbia Road, I oppose this project. As someone who regularly walks, drives, parks, and uses public transportation in this area, I do not beleive this project is necessary or beneficial. In fact, I believe it will only serve to cause greater congestion and danger to those traveling in the area. Columbia Road businesses already suffer challenges, and further restricting travelability and parking will only make that worse. Not to mention that Zone 1 parking is already very, very limited.
Pause...pause
We need competent leaders, who “Act” NOT “React” on/to problems!!!!!! You get What/Who you elect. Read & think better; next time!!
These new bus lanes are a hazard.
The proposal seems to put the needs of bicyclists above those of pedestrians, especially bus riders, who are often elderly or disabled. They will have to navigate a busy bike lane open to bicycles, scooters and mopeds to reach their bus stop. It could also hurt our struggling transit system.
I am an elderly person who is newly disabled, so these changes are a direct threat to me personally. But even without that, I object strenuously to these changes. Columbia Road is already one of the most congested streets in the city and these totally unnecessary changes promise to make the congestion worse. Riding bicycles on city streets is already inherently dangerous and should be prohibited, not encouraged. My late father was a traffic engineer and I grew up highly sensitive to traffic patterns and how they affect the neighborhoods where we live. Please stop these ill-conceived changes now!
Columbia Road is a mecca of Multicultural presence in DC. Between all the construction going on; it creates congestion in traffic when it's already congested because of the price of living within the Columbia Heights to Adams Morgan conjunction. Please Stop all the Construction.
Retrofitting bike lanes into some streets present dangers to the elderly, disabled and children. Please do not move forward with these plans.
Bike lanes may work for some streets but not Columbia Road . These changes endanger reseidents especially the elderly and children. Many people cannot ride bikes. To make this change does not this take into consideration.
Resident- owner
Pedestrians are already in danger due to speeding and inattentive drivers. This project will increase risks to pedestrians.
Not a good idea
All the arguments against this misguided idea are good. Please do not let this nonsense go through. And stop taking away parking spaces. Not everyone has a private garage.