Missed this story the other day: Since 2019, DC has added 50 miles of bike lanes and 11 miles of bus lanes. But commute times have not changed, sinking opponents' arguments that the new infrastructure would cause havoc.
The GGWash staff read and discussed Richard Schragger's City Power during our lunch breaks. Naturally, we all have takes to share on it.
It’s interesting to see how different countries/cities navigate preserving historic neighborhood character…
A brand new high school building sits less than 50 feet from a temple gate built in 1775 in Kamakura (the temple itself is 800+ y/o.) Personally, I love seeing old and new together.
5. Graphics to make your transfer seamless
At each station in the Tokyo Metro, they have these guides that let you know which car to enter to be closest to your exit at your destination station. (This is especially helpful when some stations have 30+ exits.)
4. Transit-oriented development (we just call it development)
This apartment building sits directly above the train station/bus hub. The entire station has everything you need: an easy train connection to Tokyo, a grocery store, a cafe, and dozens of other food and shopping options.
3. In denser neighborhoods, most people bike or walk to the grocery store.
Free bike parking at this store for 90 minutes. ¥100 for every two hours after. This place has a small car parking structure above the store, but the car entrance fronts the larger road on the other side of the block.
These two-way streets are barely wide enough to fit two cars side by side. The design reflects that pedestrians and cyclists have priority, even without sidewalks or bike lanes. Drivers have to negotiate space with each other and naturally drive slowly to navigate the tight spaces.
2. Climate-controlled waiting rooms on platforms.
If you’ve been to Japan in the summer, you know how brutal the heat can be. I often see older riders and families with young kids using these rooms as they wait for their train.
I commuted to school by foot via this street starting at age 7. Here are some other examples of streets kids rely on to walk to school in a nearby city. (Note the “School Zone” painted on the street in the first pic)
I’m visiting my family in Japan for the holidays. Sharing some observations about the places I grew up in around the Tokyo Metropolitan Area:
1. Human-scale streets…
Pete’s on-the-street interviews find that streateries on 18th Street NW, which the District paid for but is, nonetheless, about to dismantle, are overwhelmingly popular. Alex ruminates on the connection between streateries and street closures.
our quarterly(ish) @ggwash.org planners of color happy hour is one of my favorite things we do, and our next one is next thursday, november 13! join me and @kaihall10.bsky.social at shanklin hall in adams morgan–and rsvp here: secure.everyaction.com/Ia18zMvDokeu...
The #WeekWithoutDriving is a great opportunity for local public officials to tout the benefits of the investments they've made to expand transportation options in DC and share how it can be better. I hope to see more leaders sign up! @councilofdc.bsky.social @mayorbowser.bsky.social @wmata.com
The District isn't just a stage for a national show: people live here. And what happens here will set the scene for what happens in cities across the country.
absolutely stoked to see my colleague @kaihall10.bsky.social quoted in @51st.news about the "transportation time tax" and how we should think about the ways transit does or doesn't work for people 51st.news/metrobus-dc-...
M8.7 is the kind of magnitude that makes seismologists swear.
While the District’s population went up by 15% between 2010 and 2020, Lanier Heights’ population increased only 3%. A downzoning is a big part of the reason the neighborhood hasn't grown.
"In D.C., no driver has been charged in any of the 15 fatal hit-and-run crashes of 2024."
💔
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Congratulations to the Office of Disability Rights for completing the new Olmstead Plan last month! 👏🏾
This plan sets a strategic vision for how we can make transportation in the District more accessible to seniors and people with disabilities.
