The Washington Post reported that DC is considering adding 2 new bikes lanes down the center of Penn Ave in downtown DC, along with a new biking land down the M street corridor. This is a welcome addition for many people in the DC area. It may not surprise you to find out that DC has the 6th largest percentage of bike commuters in the country, a number that has doubled since 2000 (these are all 2008 statistics, so they're likely higher now).
As a former (and hopefully someday future) bike commuter in the District, this news is long overdue. I used to ride 5 miles each way from Ballston to M street every day when the weather allowed for it and I found it to be one of the best experiences of my life. I got to avoid (and help reduce) traffic jams and burden on the metro, help the environment by not burning any fuels, I also saved money and got a lot healthier to boot. Not to mention, there's something very centering about spending the first 30 minutes of your day enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.
While my ride into DC was great (Arlington has a good network of bike lanes and trails), once I got into the District, all bets were off. No dedicated lanes heavier traffic along with angry and sometimes crazy cab drivers who took traffic signs and signals only as a recommendation.
So if you're a biker or if you just want to see less cars on the road, maybe give city hall a call or email to voice your support.
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