Network

The Big Picture, Block by Block.

Picture DC in 2050. What do you see? We see a just and sustainable city. Equitable access to housing and food for everyone. It’s easy to get where you’re going on foot, on the bus, on the Metro, on your bike. We see an extensive bike network connecting our dense region. You, your kids, nephews, nieces, or grandkids, can all get where you need to go safely, easily, happily on bikes.

Join the next meeting!

join the campaign

In 2021, we kicked off a campaign to build that network. The whole thing. A decade of planning has been derailed by agencies and leaders who don’t see the big picture. In the meantime, thousands and thousands of people keep driving, not because they want to, but because they don’t have safe alternatives. And many of us have friends and family members who’ve been hurt, or worse, because our streets don’t have safe spaces to ride.

Here’s what we know: our streets get safer when we organize and demand safe mobility. So let’s get organized.

Citywide Advocate Meetings

Join us at our next citywide meeting to get involved in building the low stress network near you. We will share key updates and opportunities, workshop strategy, and break out into local groups to get to work on individual projects.

Join the meeting!

We’ll have these meetings regularly to support and inspire each other.

The Network

Here’s a map of what we’re talking about—a network of protected bike lanes and other low stress bikeways. This map is a living document, and we hope you’ll help shape it. See a missing connection or an opportunity? Join our next meeting to talk about it!

Join the meeting!

What’s Next

We’ve seen over and over that when neighbors get organized, bike lanes get built. We’re working to make sure that you have the tools you need to talk to your neighbors, neighborhood businesses, and elected officials.

If you can’t make a meeting, come to the next one! Interested in volunteering on a campaign? Fill out the form above or email garrett.hennigan@waba.org.

Upcoming Events

Mon

Jun

DC Low Stress Network Advocate Workshop

Monday, June 19, 2023

Meetup

Online

Join our campaign to build DC’s low stress bike network.

Meetup

Actions You Can Take

Don’t let DDOT derail the Connecticut Ave Protected Bike Lane

Remind the Mayor and her team that keeping people safe is always more important than parking, that bike lanes are GREAT for business, and that every delay means more crashes, more preventable injuries. Build it now and built it right!

Community Petition: Bicycle Lanes for Good Hope Road

DDOT is planning safety improvements on Good Hope Road SE from MN Ave to AL Ave, but bike-specific improvements are explicitly off the table.

Support Low Stress Biking on 11th St NW

DDOT wants feedback on options for adding protected bike lanes to 11th St. NW between S St and Florida Ave NW.

Share Your Vision for Good Hope & MLK Jr Intersection

Tell DDOT what is not working at Good Hope & MLK Jr intersection and how your would fix it in this short survey.

Safety First on Q And R Streets NW / NE

DC has many north-south protected bike lanes in Ward 2, but the lack of high-quality, east-west routes put people who bike in constant danger. It’s time to put Safety First on Q & R St.

Updates

WABA’s Take on the K St Transitway

With so many hot takes flying around, we wanted to take a moment to untangle the project and share why WABA supports delaying the reconstruction of K Street NW and a return to the design table.

Major Strides Building DC’s Low Stress Network

2022 was a big year for expanding DC’s Low Stress Network! Read about some of the community advocate driven campaigns and successes from the past year.

Low Stress Network September Updates

83 months after the first tumultuous public meeting, more than 7.5 years after DDOT staff began working on it, we FINALLY have final plans and an official Notice of Intent from DDOT for the 9th St. NW Protected Bike Lane Project! This is not a drill

Beach Drive for people, all year round!

This is an unqualified win for everyone who loves to spend time in Rock Creek Park. Your petition signatures, your letters, and your presence out on Beach Drive made this possible. Thank you for speaking up.

Don’t let NPS end car-free Beach Drive.

NPS wants to give Beach drive back to cars for most of the year.

DC Protected Bike Lanes & Trails Update: June 2022

A key meeting on DC’s longest protected bike lane, a new trail tunnel, and more.

Advocate Resources

2023 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Candidate Questionnaire Results

Check out responses to our Fairfax County Board of Supervisor candidate questionnaire.

Workshop: DC’s Budget Process & Working with Your ANC

Learn how to weigh in on DC’s spending plan and how to engage with your Advisory Neighborhood Commission for safe streets.

Equitable Investment in Montgomery County’s Bike Network

Read WABA’s proposal for investing in improving transportation equity through better biking and walking network in four Equity Focus Areas.

Envisioning a Safer Street

Your street doesn’t feel safe. How could you change it to make it better? You don’t need a traffic engineering degree to come up with workable solutions.

Workshop: Working with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions

In this session, we’ll look at the ups, downs and idiosyncrasies of the District’s hyperlocal elected bodies. ANCs are critical to advancing safe streets projects in DC.

Workshop: Understanding and Participating in the Transportation Planning Process

In this video, we explore how the District Department of Transportation moves a project from idea to construction and opportunities to weigh in.

Workshop: Effective Tactics

In this video, we will cover some tactics to build support for a project, and then demonstrate that support to the right decision-makers.

Workshop: Planning to Win

Thoughtful strategy is key to a successful campaign. In this video, we look at strategies for winning campaigns—power-mapping; understanding the process and biases of people (and agencies); setting goals and measuring progress; and connecting the right tactics with the right people at the right time.

Workshop: Talking About Safe Streets

In this session, we’ll tackle one of the most fundamental parts of winning campaigns: how to talk about what you want.

Workshop: Geometry of Street Transformations

Dive into the geometry and limits of transforming streets, plus get to know a tool for mocking up street changes.

Workshop: Getting Safe Streets that Work for Everyone

Proven strategies for getting attention and action from DC agencies on sidewalk fixes, intersection improvements, traffic calming, and more.

How do I get a bike rack?

Here’s a quick breakdown on how to get new bike parking installed.

Bikeable, Walkable Workshop for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners

A rundown of how DC’s Department of Transportation moves forward street safety and redesign projects, explore effective ways to participate in that process or tried and true tactics to get a good idea moving.

Reporting Road and Infrastructure Maintenance Issues

Tips on using DC’s 311 system to report maintenance issues to get things fixed.

How to report construction blocking your bike lane in DC

DC law requires that when a bike lane or sidewalk is closed for construction, an equally safe accommodation, free of hazards and debris, must be provided. Here’s how to identify and report violations.

Other ways to help out

A monthly contribution supports WABA’s organizing for safer streets.

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