M Street Cycle Track May Arrive Spring, Summer 2013
The District Department of Transportation is studying other bike lanes in the city before installing a cycletrack on M Street.
As workers begin constructing the new eastbound L Street Cycletrack, the M Street cycletrack's future is under consideration by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
DDOT is evaluating and making revisions on a possible westbound M Street Cycletrack, based on lessons from the 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue lanes. Additionally, lessons from the L Street track will impact a future M Street lane.
The L Street cycletrack will run east from New Hampshire Avenue to 12th Street NW. Initial plans for the M Street cycletrack would have it running westbound from 15th Street to 29th Street in NW.
"If all goes well, we’re hoping to be ready to install the lanes on M St next spring or summer," wrote Monica Hernandez, a spokeswoman for DDOT, in an email to Patch.
Cycletrack are bike lanes that feature both a painted buffer and flexible bollards to separate cyclists from drivers and to prevent vehicles from illegally parking in the bike lane.
Justa Guy
12:38 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I want to see if bicyclists will really use the designated bike lanes, or if they will continue to recklessly dodge in and out between cars as they always have. So far I am seeing more bikes in traffic than in the bike lanes, which means we are just making it even more difficult for people who need to drive to and from work to get to their destinations.
Shaun Courtney
1:07 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I can't speak for other bikers, but I love using bike lanes when they are available. They make me feel much more comfortable biking in the city, meaning I'm one less car on the road. -Shaun
Justa Guy
1:30 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Don't get me wrong, I am all for the bike lanes if bicyclists will use them. I can accept the inconvenience of a narrower road if it means I can know where the bicyclists are as I drive and not have to worry about maneuvering around them (or about them maneuvering around me). It will be safer for everybody if they are used.