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East‑West bikeway coalition urges DDOT to upgrade Q and R streets now, not wait for strategic bikeways plan
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Summary
A coalition representing cyclists, bike‑share users and advocacy groups told the committee that painted bike lanes on Q and R Streets between Connecticut Avenue and the Metropolitan Branch Trail are unsafe and should be upgraded to protected lanes without waiting for DDOT's strategic bikeways plan.
A coalition of bicycling advocates, parents, and residents urged the Council committee to direct DDOT to move forward on an east‑west protected bikeway on Q and R Streets between Connecticut Avenue and the Metropolitan Branch Trail instead of delaying action while DDOT completes a new strategic bikeways plan.
Richard Wetzel of the East‑West Low Stress Biking Coalition told the committee his group has gathered more than 1,500 petition signatures and endorsements from multiple ANC bodies and civic associations for the Q/R upgrade. "For the past year and a half, DDOT has used the argument that they are working on a new strategic bike plan as a reason for why they have not moved on the Q And R Street issue," he said.
Several witnesses described high usage of Q and R and frequent injuries. Brian Hart, a father whose daughter was killed while riding on a city street, said DDOT data show Q and R are high‑crash corridors for bicyclists. "DDOT's draft strategic bikeways planning identifies large swaths of Q And R Street as tier 1 corridors through the magnitude and severity of crashes involving cyclists," he said.
Joya Banerjee, a Ward 4 parent who bikes with her 3‑year‑old, described being struck twice while riding in painted lanes and argued a physical separation would increase safety and ridership. "A physical barrier between the traffic and riders will make Q Street and R Street safer for cyclists and riders of all ages and abilities," she said.
Advocates asked the committee to tell DDOT not to hold Q/R until completion of the citywide strategic bikeways plan, which opponents say could delay an implementable design for years. Several witnesses also asked DDOT to publish prioritization criteria (crashes, connectivity, equity, ridership) for how the strategic plan will rank projects.
Ending: The committee said it would press DDOT at its upcoming agency hearing for a clear timeline for the strategic plan and asked the department to explain why Q and R cannot be advanced sooner as an upgrade to existing painted lanes.
