Bike DC is Alive and Well and Pissing Off the ANCs
But it’s not their fault.
Bike DC coordinator Sheba Farrin asked ANC 6A tonight for their approval of the East Capitol Street section of the tour route. The commissioners were angry at the short notice about a plan that would cut the city in half for several hours, effectively trapping some people in their homes for an entire Saturday morning.
But a representative of the Mayor’s Special Events Task Force had ordered Bike DC not to approach the ANCs until the route was finalized. They started working with Special Events on the route in January. It was finalized in July. The ANCs don’t meet in August.
ANC 6A voted 3-2 not to approve the route, falling all over themselves to affirm their support for biking and community events, but they just couldn’t put their stamp of approval on such bad procedure.
WABA had some supernaturally bad luck with Bike DC for a few years (with cancellations due to terrorist attacks and hurricanes) and they let it go. There was no Bike DC for a few years. But now the car-free ride is back, due to the sheer will of its committed coordinators and the money of a private investor who does the same thing for Portland, Oregon. (He’s counting on 10,000 riders and praying for good weather and no whammies September 27.)
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10:51 am
Bike DC 2008 will begin on “America’s Main Street”: Pennsylvania Avenue. With the U. S. Capitol as the backdrop, we will bike up Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House to Embassy Row. On Massachusetts Avenue the ride goes by 40 embassies—from Azerbaijan to Zambia.
The first rest stop on the route will be at Twin Oaks, adjacent to the National Cathedral. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has graciously allowed us to visit the 18-acre grounds of the Twin Oaks Estate. The Georgian Revival mansion was build by Gardiner Greene Hubbard, founder of the National Geographic Society, and once was home to Alexander Graham Bell. Later, this nationally registered historic site served as the official residence of ROC (Taiwan) ambassadors to the United States. It remains a symbol of friendly relations between Taiwan and the U.S. to this day.
For registration and more details, please check out http://www.bikedc.net/
4:29 pm
Wait, I don’t understand why you have to pay to ride on city streets. If I just happen to show up on the route on by bike without registering, what can they do?
1:57 pm
Ever tried that with the Marine Marathon? (substitute riding with running).
Eric
“Wait, I don’t understand why you have to pay to ride on city streets. If I just happen to show up on the route on by bike without registering, what can they do?”
8:27 am
“Ever tried that with the Marine Marathon? (substitute riding with running).”
Eric,
Actually people do it all the time in running races. In fact they have a name for those people. They are called “Bandits”.
By the way, the Marine Corps marathon won’t take your money if you don’t register in the first three days.
11:50 am
It’s a fund raiser. Just like the Marine Corp marathon.
Plus even if it wasnt you still have to pay for police, emergency services, food and water, promotion, etc etc etc. Aint nuthin in this world free brother!
I’m bring my wife, and -2- other couples, because A) it sounds like a good time. How often will I get a chance to bring less confident riders into the city for this kind of thing. and B) its for a good cause. WABA’s been doing good work for a bunch of years now and they deserve the support they need to continue it.