The National Park Service announced that it will begin removing a protected bike lane on 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C. from next Monday, stretching from Constitution Avenue all the way to the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial, just as the cherry blossom season and peak tourist period are approaching. This adjustment will cut off one of the most important and longest continuous bicycle routes in the District of Columbia, which has almost uninterrupted connectivity from the Tidal Basin to Columbia Heights and serves as a crucial cycling connection to the Virginia 14th Street Bridge. According to a study by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, traffic accidents and injuries related to cycling along this route have significantly decreased since its installation in 2021. This move also highlights again the differences in transportation philosophy between the local government of Washington and the federal government. Over the past decade, the district has continuously expanded its bicycle lane network. It has now built approximately 120 miles of bicycle lanes, 43 of which are protected lanes. However, high-level officials in the Trump administration have consistently criticized efforts to reduce motor vehicle space for the benefit of cyclists.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860243169349002/
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