Morning Commute – 12/4

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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:

  • Lime e-scooters are out of Elizabeth
  • Proposed Protected Bike lane legislation pulled
  • District Hardware and Bike Closes

Scooters are out in New Jersey city. Lime e-scooters are no longer allowed in Elizabeth, New Jersey one week after a teen was killed while riding one.

Last week, the city council voted unanimously to end its contract with Lime, after launching a pilot program at the beginning of November. WLNY

Bike Lanes shouldn’t be this hard. A proposal by Council member Brianne Nadaeu to compel the DDOT build or at least issue a report on the Easter Downtown Bike lane project was abruptly pulled.

CM Nadaeu indicate in a statement that some Council members voiced concerns from the community. Council member Robert White also released a statement saying that he hopes to work with the Member Nadueu to bring the bill back for a Council vote before the in of this year, about December 19, 2019.

DDOT selects operators for its 2020 Dockless vehicle program and will expand its corral program. In an effort to perhaps deflect from the pulling of an aforementioned bill, a District Department of Transportation press release states that the department will issue four permits allowing the operation of as many as 10,000 scooters and two permits to operate a 5,000 e-bikes during the calendar year of 2020.

As part of this rollout, DDOT also mentioned that, “In the coming months, DDOT will install 100 off-sidewalk parking corrals, designed specifically for dockless scooters and bikes, across all eight wards of the District.”

The following companies received approval from DDOT to operate dockless vehicles in 2020:

  • HelBiz (E-bike)
  • Jump (E-bike and Scooter)
  • Lyft (Scooter)
  • Skip (Scooter)
  • Spin (Scooter)

DDOT received a total of 19 applications to operate dockless vehicles with one to operate traditional bicycles; five to operate motorized bicycles; 13 to operate scooters. DDOT

So you really want those 9th Street NW lanes? A group of riders headed by @handlebarsDC will ride the projected route monthly in protest and as a way to draw attention to the need for protected lanes along this corridor.

From the Facebook group page: “We can’t wait any longer for a safe passage through downtown DC by bike or scooter. We don’t want anymore blood on our hands. We need a protected bike lane NOW.“

The next ride is scheduled for December 10. Build the Bike Lane in Eastern Downtown

The end of District Hardware and Bike. After a half a century, District Hardware announced this past Saturday that it would be closing for good the next day. Not far from the BikeSpecific’s momey making hub, this store was a critical link in the District’s bicycling culture. More than just a bike shop, it was a meeting place centrally located in the District but part of fabric of the region. TheDCPost

Why scooters ain’t so bad. Men’s Journal

Need an e-bike smaller than a piece of paper? The Xiaomi Himo H1 folds up smaller than an 8 1/2 x 11 in sheet of paper.

Bike lanes protected by cars is no protection at all. The United States builds streets that occasionally sees cars as a tool to protect bicyclists from moving cars. This doesn’t make a lot of sense. Parking protected lanes aren’t a thing that should stick around (looking at you 15th Street NW bike lanes) StreetsblogUSA

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