DC Plans to Expand Bike Lanes

WASHINGTON - Dan Hoagland is D.C.'s bike ambassador. He got the job by "being willing to talk about how much I love bicycles and how much I want other people to love bicycles."

Dan says a good bike ride in the morning is better than a cup of coffee. It's even more invigorating now that D.C. has announced a plan to nearly double the miles of bike lanes in the city from about 45 miles to about 80.

Some of the new bike lanes will be lined with posts to keep cars and trucks out.

"It makes it safer for the bicyclist. They feel more secure. Also downtown it keeps the parking and the loading out of the bike lane, as well," said Jim Sebastian of DDOT.

For cyclists like Jessie Posilkin it may be safer. It's already faster. Her commute to work takes 15 minutes by bike. It can take 40 on the bus.

"If the cars can cut sort of diagonally across the city it feels pretty great that I could too on a bike and it's so much faster," she said.

Perhaps the most high profile way to cut across town will be Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Yes, D.C.'s most famous street may soon get bike lanes right along the median.

DDOT plans to roll out the new bike lanes later this spring.

LINKS:

Plans for Innovative Bike Lanes in the Central Business District

http://dc.mybikelane.com/