Join WABA tomorrow, 3/14/08 Bike Rack Raising at DCUSA

[Jenn]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eric Gilliland
Director
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
p) 202-518-0524
c) 202-215-5249
e) [e-mail]

1000 Parking Spaces But None For Bikes:

WABA to Hold “Bike Rack Raising” at New Columbia Heights Development On Friday, March 14th at 11:00am, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) will be holding a “Bike Rack Raising” in front of the new DC USA building in Columbia Heights to highlight the lack of bike parking at one of the largest urban commercial re-development projects in the country.
Following the much-anticipated opening of the development last week, cyclists became irate at the lack of curb side bike parking. In response, WABA quickly contacted the District Department of Transportation and helped identify under-utilized bike racks at RFK Stadium that will be moved to the DC USA building. WABA is urging local cyclists to ride by and lend assistance in installing the new racks.

The event will also highlight the lack of other amenities for cyclists at the new development. According to DC zoning code, all new commercial developments that have onsite parking garages must provide bike parking at least equal to 5% of car parking spaces. Such parking is required to be installed inside the parking structure itself and provide convenient access to both the building and the street. Exterior signage is also required to direct cyclists to the bike parking area. The bike parking that does exist at DC USA consists of ineffective bike racks located near the parking garage in an unmonitored and highly congested area behind the building.

“With all the talk about the impact of the development on traffic on the Columbia Heights neighborhood, it’s amazing that nothing was done to encourage people go there by bike.” said WABA’s Executive Director Eric Gilliland. “DC has one of the highest bike commuting rates in the country and over 1/3 of District residents don’t even own a car. One thousand parking spots for cars, but none for bikes? That’s something I’d expect to see in a big box development in the suburbs, not in the middle of a city that promotes itself as walking, biking and transit friendly.”

For more information please contact Eric Gilliland at the Washington Area Bicyclist Association at [e-mail] or 202-518-0524. For reporters on deadline or for day of event information please call 202-215-5249.