More Bicycles, Greener Alleys and Performance Parking

• May 11, 2011
• 4 Comments

by Mark Wellborn

Courtesy of Capital Bikeshare

For the smart growth set in DC, Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells continues to be “the man.”

Greater Greater Washington had a post earlier today that outlined recommendations in a draft report from the Committee on Public Works and Transportation (Wells is chair). Here are just a few:

• $2 million in funding to add 40 Capital Bikeshare stations to the DC area, doubling the size of the bikeshare system within two years of launching.
• Keep Circulator fares at $1 per ride, rather than the proposed increase to $1.50 or $2.
• Start a Green Alleys program, which would repair and greenify alleys around the city “with permeable paving, energy-efficient LED lighting, trees, and more.”
• Create another performance parking zone for the H Street Corridor, which would mean that parking on one side of certain streets would be limited to neighborhood residents.

There are a number of other recommendations offered up in the report that GGW does a great job of describing, along with the committee’s plans for funding these things. One peculiar recommendation that caught our eye, however, was funding for a “bait bike” in which the police would “place a bike which looks ripe to steal, and watch to catch people who try to steal it.” (Isn’t this entrapment?)

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/more_bicycles_greener_alleys_and_performance_parking/3472

4 Comments

1. arxdei said at 11:59 am on Wednesday May 11, 2011:

   Not entrapment -

   Entrapment holds if all three conditions are fulfilled:

   The idea for committing the crime came from the government agents and not from the person accused of the crime.

   Government agents then persuaded or talked the person into committing the crime. Simply giving someone the opportunity to commit a crime is not the same as persuading them to commit that crime.

   The person was not ready and willing to commit the crime before interaction with the government agents.

1. Cappy said at 12:01 pm on Wednesday May 11, 2011:

   Love all these recs…now the issue will just be funding them.

1. Tom said at 9:20 pm on Wednesday May 11, 2011:

   Please keep us posted on “Green Alley” recommendation.  It is a great idea. Or better yet, how does one keep up on idea such as this? 

   Thanks so much…

1. SWDC said at 7:14 pm on Thursday September 1, 2011:

   Capitol bike share program costs tax payers $7000 per three speed bike and one must have a credit card or a debit to be able to rent a bike.

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