Earlier this month, D.C. nixed the plan to add protected bike lanes to a portion of Connecticut Avenue NW, causing a huge community uproar. But is this really the end of the fight between bikers and drivers?
Back Up, What Fight?
In 2021, after over 70 public meetings, Mayor Bowser approved new plans for Conn Ave. NW that included three miles of protected bike lanes on one side and 24-hour parking on the other. This was a compromise between bikers who wanted a safer way to get downtown and business owners who wanted parking for their customers.
However, earlier this month, DDOT abruptly announced that the project would move forward without the bike lanes.
The Backlash
Pro-bike lane residents have made it loud and clear that they won’t give up the fight. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association has a petition on their site to restore the bike lane plan, have organized demonstration rides, and are planning to speak out at upcoming DDOT hearings.
Additionally, Cleveland Park ANC Commissioner Sauleh Siddiqui told us the commissioners are trying to use the budget process to stop this new plan from moving forward. “If DDOT is going to spend our tax dollars on an option they have not vetted with the community, an option that looks unsafe, then that's something we want to stop through the budget process,” said Siddiqui.
What’s Next For the Bike Lane?
DDOT has not released what the new Conn Ave NW plan will look like or asked for public input yet. But, they did say they want to search for a north-south corridor for bikes through Ward 3. This could include Conn Ave NW as part of their 5-year plan to improve D.C.’s bike infrastructure. However, that could be years away.
