Planning – bikeSpecific

DDOT to Install More On-Street Micromobility Parking Corrals

New dockless corral on E Street NW, across from one of the first corrals installed by DDOT

DDOT plans include the installation of 100 Off-Sidewalk Parking Corrals for Dockless Vehicles
Residents desiring corrals can submit a request for consideration
Coincides with regulation changes that previously allowed drivers to park close to intersections and crosswalks

According to a District Department of Transportation (DDOT) press release, the agency announced a plan to install 100 off-sidewalk dockless scooter and bike parking corrals across all eight wards of the District over the next several months. This appears to expand a bike corral pilot program that DDOT initiated last year.

DDOT has aggressively installed bike corrals across the District to test the the viability of corrals and possibly address concerns regarding scooters and bikes left in pedestrian rights-of-way, particularly on sidewalks in more residential areas.

According to the press release, “these off-sidewalk corrals provide a designated area where both shared dockless vehicle operators and riders and private vehicle riders can safely store their vehicles,” said DDOT Director Jeff Marootian. “By placing these corrals in no-parking zones near intersections, we are fulfilling Mayor Bowser’s vision of creative problem solving to make our streets safer for all users.”

Beginning in February 2020, DDOT will install off-sidewalk parking corrals across all eight wards. Residents on impacted blocks will receive notice from DDOT approximately one week before the corrals are installed.

Newly installed residential bike corral at the corner of 3rd and Gallaway Streets NE

DDOT has created a simple form that enables residents to submit a request for off-sidewalk parking corrals. DDOT will review submissions to identify possible micromobility parking locations, either in the roadway or on the sidewalk and assess submissions to determine safety and approximate demand.

DDOT intends to place corrals in the area between stop signs and the start of the parking zone, to also provide a deterrent against cars illegally parked and blocking the visibility of crosswalks. It’s unclear if DDOT intends to remove vehicular parking to accommodate new corrals.

Several years prior to this pilot, DDOT installed a hand full of bike corrals near Metro Center, Chinatown, and Penn Quarter. The most recent pilot expanded bike corrals in business improvement districts and commercial areas where higher numbers of dockless vehicles were expected to be parked. This pilot expanded bike corrals to residential areas where DDOT has received complaints regarding what DDOT considers to be improperly parked dockless vehicles.

DDOT also suggests that bike corrals incentivize dockless bikes and scooters operators and customers to place vehicles in a dedicated spaces. A map of installed and planned off-sidewalk parking corrals is available on DDOT’s website.

The bike corral plan also coincides with updated regulations regarding driver parking in residential zones. The updated regulation eliminated the exception for vehicles with in-zone RPP stickers to park overnight closer to the intersection than best safety practices and signage would allow.

Morning Commute – 12/20

The Morning Commute is an occasional look at meetings or other #BikeSpecific discussions and stories happening in the District. It also looks at interesting bike ideas or concepts from other places across the globe that could possibly work here. Again, this isn’t journalism, just fun.

Today’s commute includes:

Bikeshare wins
DDOT Dockless permitting process is unclear
Uber to expand its market

A Closer Look at Dockless Fees and If Operators Can Make a Profit

How will New DDOT fees affect dockless? Who Knows.
Image: Author

During the Wednesday, November 7 D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) meeting, the group discussed the proposed District Department of Transportation (DDOT) regulatory framework of rules regarding dockless bike sharing right-of-way permitting and related DDOT fees for potential operators.

The Bike Estate – Southern Hills Apartment Redevelopment Includes Bikes in its Plan

Artist conceptual drawing of a redeveloped Southern Hill Apartments.
Image: Southern Hill Apartments

The Board of Zoning Adjustment has scheduled a hearing September 3, 2018 for the a special exemption to dramatically redevelop over 9 acres of the Southern Hills Apartments. As part of this redevelopment, the apartment complex plans to add a total 98 bike parking spaces and other amenities that will hopefully encourage bicycling in an area that has few secure bike parking options.

Current aerial view of Southern Hills Apartments and the adjacent Oxon Run park and amenities.
Image: Google

In a community that has few bike options, the Southern Hills Apartment Redevelopment plan includes an investment in bike infrastructure. Located less than a block from Oxon Run, which has a recently rebuilt trail and other amenities, the Southern Hills Apartments are located in the Washington Highlands neighborhood of Ward 8.

The $90 million project will demolish the existing seven-building apartment complex and construct 42 town homes, five multifamily buildings with a total of 213 units, and an approximately 25,000-square foot community service center which will include a learning center, job training, child daycare, and arts and music centers, as well as space for community-based start-ups, recreation, and community meetings. The resulting redevelopment will serve households earning an average of 15 percent of the Area Median Income.

While the project will add additional vehicular parking, increasing from 120 to 147 spaces, the applicant states that the increase is a requirement of zoning regulations and will only slightly increase vehicle trips. Pedestrian connectivity through the site will be improved, including an ADA-accessible route between 3rd Street and 4th Street SE that does not currently exist.

The Community Service Center contains showers and secure bike parking
Image: Southern Hill Apartments

According to Southern Hills applicant statement, the project include new 98 short and long-term parking for residents and visitors. Long-term bicycle parking will be located on the ground floor of each apartment building and in the basement of the community center. The project will create at least 82 long-term bicycle parking spaces, including 72 secure, long-term residential spaces and 10 long-term community center spaces. Bicycle storage for the townhouse units is expected to be accommodated within each individual home. The project will at minimum meet these requirements and the community center will also provide shower facilities and lockers for employees.

The project will also add eight short-term bicycle racks that will accommodate 16 bicycles. These short-term spaces will include inverted U-racks placed in high visibility areas along the perimeter of the site. is willing to work with the District Department of Transportation in selecting locations for the racks in public space.

The Southern Hills developers worked collaboratively with the Southern Hills Tenant Association over a 3-year period. The Tenant Association is made up of existing apartment residents achieve community and design elements. The result is the replacement of all apartment units, a better use of green space, a larger number of family units, and reorienting units and overall density to directly face the street.

The Sustainable DC 2.0 Working Group Has a Survey with Lofty Goals

Image: Author

The Sustainable DC 2.0 Working Group issued a comprehensive survey to gauge support and help set goals, actions, and targets.

Sustainable DC 2.0 is the second phase of a District government initiative lead by the Department of Energy and the Environment and the Office of Planning to draft a vision and develop recommendations for goals and actions within the topics of built environment, climate, energy, food, nature, transportation, waste, water, and the green economy. The working groups recommended 900 goals and actions for consideration in the final plan.

The draft Transportation Framework survey contains four goals with goal 2, “Expand provision of safe, secure infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians“, articulating 10 specific actions. The primary target of goal 2, “By 2032, increase biking and walking to 25% of all trips“, doesn’t appear to be particularly ambitious any longer. As the Coalition on Smarter Growth noted last year, the District has the highest share of commuters who both bike and walk, a combined total of 18.3 percent.

The survey allows participants to comment on each target and prioritize their importance, with 1 being the highest and 5 being the lowest.