Opinion: Why I put up a yard sign opposing Connecticut Avenue bike lanes

The sign in the author’s yard.

by Rebecca Stevens

I have lived in Forest Hills since 1973, with a brief interlude in nearby AU Park (1976-1981). I have seen many changes to Connecticut Avenue, some good, some bad. The best was the coming of Metro, which – with buses – provides efficient and fast mass transit along the avenue. The worst, unfortunately are the planned dual bike lanes. The reduction of vehicle lanes from six to four, the closure of several bus stops, and the elimination of most street parking are not positive changes.

Like many in our neighborhood I use Metro when I can, but I continue to drive on the avenue for all my groceries and other shopping. I am 76 years old and experiencing the inevitable health problems of aging that prevent me from walking long distances. Drastically reduced parking on the avenue and in the adjoining neighborhoods will make it very difficult or impossible for me to patronize many small businesses and restaurants. And if I take the bus or an Uber/taxi, I will have to cross the bike lanes in order to get to the curb. I walk slowly too. Will the bikers stop for me? I doubt it, since in my experience most bikers do not stop for stop signs or red lights even now.

As I understand the current plan, buses will now stop in one of the two vehicle lanes and bus riders will have to cross the bike lane to reach the sidewalk. Passengers using wheel chairs and walkers will not do this quickly or easily. The Metro Access van will likewise block traffic for several minutes as elderly and disabled passengers disembark.

DDOT (DC Department of Transportation) estimates that more than 7,000 vehicles will be diverted daily from Connecticut Avenue mostly to arterial streets including Reno Road and Wisconsin Avenue.

A DDOT map showing projected traffic diversions under the concept selected by the DC mayor and DDOT leadership in December 2021. The slide is from a February 2021 DDOT presentation (page 29).

My concern is that drivers in a hurry to get somewhere will be speeding longer distances through our neighborhoods to get to these streets. Another concern is how emergency vehicles and police navigate the bike lanes and access our apartment buildings in responding to 911 calls. And as they travel along in the bike lanes, I also fear that bikers will develop a false sense of security and pay less attention to pedestrians and vehicles, leading to more crashes involving bikes, pedestrians and cars.

According to a survey conducted by the Save Connecticut Ave organization (see saveconnecticutave.org for more details on the negative impacts of the planned bike lanes), local businesses along the avenue ”are overwhelmingly against the bike lanes because they fear the loss of street parking, and the need for customers to cross the bike lane to reach their establishments, and the inability to stop curb side to pick up or drop off customers and goods will decimate their establishments.” And when we lose these small businesses that we all love where will their employees who are our friends go?

Washington DC is not Amsterdam on the Potomac, or at least Connecticut Avenue is not. We don’t have the uniform practice of bikers strictly obeying traffic lights and stop signs as was the case the last time I visited Amsterdam.

Wouldn’t the money which will be spent on the bike lanes do more good if it were spent on making mass transit better and more affordable for everyone, including low-income riders? Would not this also benefit a greater number of people?

Of course, biking in the right place is a good thing. Biking on our less crowded neighborhood streets and in the designated biking areas in Rock Creek Park is completely appropriate. One can even bike to work downtown mostly using the Rock Creek Park bike trails or neighborhood streets. Connecticut Avenue should be about access to mass transit instead.

One last thought: I have voiced my concerns about the bike lanes by putting “No Bike Lanes on Connecticut Avenue” signs in my yard. Unfortunately, over the past few months my signs and many of my neighbor’s similar yard signs have been stolen or vandalized on multiple occasions. Hopefully most of us still believe that we resolve our differences over public policy through discussion and debate. Please be a good neighbor and respect our signs as free speech.

What’s your view? Forest Hills Connection welcomes op-eds about neighborhood issues. Contact us at [email protected] for submission guidelines.