Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Around the Block

Street by Street, DC Builds Out a Center-City Protected Bikeway Network

Bike advocates from all over the country are in Washington right now for the League of American Bicyclists' annual Bike Summit. Among other things, it's a chance for out-of-towners like Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland to appreciate the city's progress on bike infrastructure.

Maus reports that there are now nearly 16 miles of protected bike lanes in the center city, and that DC is "well on its way to making a connected network that people can use to zip around on bikes with the same (if not better) ease and convenience as other modes."

Maus toured the First Street NE protected bike lane in the NoMa neighborhood, which is just 0.6 miles long but used by 1,500 cyclists each day:

Since D.C. has relatively good (for the United States) transit options (including one of the nation’s best bike share systems), a large majority of NOMA residents live without a car. [NoMa Business Improve District's Galin] Brooks said 80 percent of of them either walk, take transit, or use a bike to get around.

Because of this high non-driving mode share, business owners in the NOMA area have been very amenable to reconfiguring streets with improved access for bicycle users. “They just get it,” Brooks said.

As a result, DDOT was able to re-allocate 10-13 feet of road space on First St NE for 0.6 miles for the exclusive use of bicycles. The design is a two-way, green-colored bikeway with five-foot wide lanes and varying degrees of separation throughout.

For more on the First Street bike lane, check out this Streetfilm breaking down its three types of physical separation.

More recommended reading today: Doggerel looks into the persistent gender wage gap in the design professions, explaining the important role played by implicit bias. Tim Kovach says transit can help address inequality in job access, but it can't solve the problem on its own in a sprawling, segregated place like Cleveland. And Streets.mn questions what people really mean when they talk about "neighborhood character."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Friday’s Headlines: Post Thanksgiving Edition

We're going to take Black Friday off, but here are a few headlines to keep you going.

November 29, 2024

Sound Vision: Two Broadway Blocks To Get Permanent Upgrades

"We’re really looking to create a premier public space," said the DOT's Public Realm Unit acting lead. All right then!

November 27, 2024

Wednesday’s Headlines: Our Big Mack Attack Edition

Who knew that our little story about MTA Board member David Mack's illegal parking and placard abuse would generate so much heat? Plus other news.

November 27, 2024

Pedestrian Struck and Injured in Queens by an NYPD Traffic Agent: Cops

Police officials said that one of their traffic agents struck and injured a pedestrian in Jackson Heights on Monday night, and was not arrested.

November 26, 2024
See all posts