3 days ago
Bicyclists upset at removal of Arizona Avenue protected bike lanes
WASHINGTON () — There's controversy in the District after the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) removed barriers from a bike lane in the Northwest neighborhood because it looked ugly.
Bikers in the Palisades said it will make using Arizona Avenue more dangerous.
DDOT said it's because neighbors don't like the way it looks, and it's not used much.
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The top half of Arizona Avenue was just repaved about two weeks ago, from Loughboro Road to Hawthorne Place. Orange cones now replace the bike lane's protected barriers. The bottom half to MacArthur Boulevard hasn't been repaved yet, so the protected bike lanes will remain until that construction starts.
Protected bike lanes are a big reason Nathan Barbour ditched his car and bought a cargo bike.
'I was like, great. I take my son to school and back every day using the lane,' Barbour said. 'I do grocery shopping for our family of five up the lane every single — I'm on it daily.'
But in testimony Tuesday, DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum said the protected bike lanes on Arizona Avenue from Loughboro Road to MacArthur Boulevard are going away.
'Today, it has very little usage because it doesn't take you anywhere. It takes you to a trailhead that is not bike accessible,' Kershbaum said.
Neighbors disagree with that assessment.
'I use this every day, for exercise and for commuting with these awesome scooters,' said Willie Maiden.
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As Arizona Avenue gets resurfaced, the barriers aren't going to be replaced.
'The concrete blocks and flex posts are–I think there's very few people that are a fan of how those look aesthetically,' Kershbaum said.
DDOT plans on painting five-foot-wide standard bike lanes in both directions. One will be along the curb on the north side and one adjacent to parked cars on the south side.
Barbour isn't happy about the decision.
'You think I'm going to have my son ride up this bike lane with just paint? Paint isn't infrastructure. It doesn't protect anyone,' Barbour said. 'Aesthetics. There's no other reason given because there's no other impact of the lanes.'
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Kershbaum said once the Capital Crescent Trail is done, which is more than a year off, they can revisit protected lanes on Arizona Avenue.
Public comment can be filed in writing or by email by July 25 with the District Department of Transportation, Capital Planning Division, 250 M Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003, or by email to
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