Speak up for the Taylor Street Protected Bikeway

The District Department of Transportation is currently seeking input on a plan to build a low-stress bikeway from Rock Creek Church Road NW to South Dakota Ave NE along Fort Dr, Harewood Rd, and Taylor St NE. This is good!

DDOT has a preferred alternative for most of the corridor from Rock Creek Church Road NW to 14th St NE. There are a few tricky intersections that will require some careful engineering and new signals but by and large the two-way protected bike lane plan is great. There are three alternatives for the easternmost block, between 14th St NE and South Dakota Ave NE—a continuation of the south-aligned protected bike lane, a multi-use path on the north side of the street, and narrow, substandard protected bike lane on the south side of the street. WABA prefers concept A but finds Concept B acceptable as well.

We’re cautiously optimistic about this project moving forward, but we definitely need everyone to speak up in favor of it.

Here’s what to do (it’s quick!):

Go to DDOT’s project page.
Take a look at the map and make any comments you care (click the blue box with a white speech bubble in the top right-corner of the map window, then click on the map to place the comment). If you don’t have any specific notes, just pin a comment saying you support building the project.
Take the short survey below the map and indicate that you support either Concept A or Concept B for the easternmost block, and reiterate in the open comment section that you support the project.

More about The DC Low Stress Network

Bike lanes are most effective when they connects to other bike lanes, protected bike lanes, even more so.

WABA works with teams of grassroots volunteers across the District to demand a network of low-stress places to bike. A network where you, your kids, nephews, nieces, or grandkids, can all get where you need to go safely, easily, happily on bikes.

More about Complete Streets

Complete Streets are streets designed to accommodate all users, and that prioritize historically underinvested modes of transportation like transit, walking, and biking. An incomplete street might lack adequate sidewalks, low-stress bike infrastructure, or safe and comfortable access to transit.

Effective Complete Streets policies change the way a jurisdiction plans and builds transportation infrastructure—sidewalks, low stress bike infrastructure, and transit should be included in any new or rebuilt street by default, rather than as an add-on when there's space or demand.

While most regional jurisdictions have a Complete Streets policy of some sort, they lack teeth and permit transportation departments to continue to build streets that put cars first and squeeze other modes into the margins.

More about Advocacy

WABA fights for a region where biking, walking and transit are the best ways to get around.

We educate policymakers and organize grassroots advocates for to speak up for safer places to bike and walk; and for laws and policies that protect people who are walking and biking, reduce dangerous driving, and facilitate changes to the built environment.