Residents across the Capitol Hill area will be pedaling through puddles this weekend, with two major biking events planned over the next two rainy days.
Cycling enthusiasts will brave the weather on Saturday for New Belgium Brewery’s Tour de Fat, a celebration of bicycling and beer drinking at Yards Park. On Sunday, roads around the National Mall and in Georgetown will be closed for the citywide DC Bike Ride.
Steady rainfall is expected throughout Saturday morning with temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s. Less rain is expected on Sunday, though there will still be some scattered showers across the area. Sunday wil also be about ten degrees warmer than Saturday.
Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:
- Balance Gym on Capitol Hill are holding a free Community Fitness Day on Saturday with family-friendly activities to inspire a more active lifestyle
- A ten-day art festival called the POW! WOW! Festival kicks off in NoMa on Saturday with a party and market set to include food trucks, DJs, vendors and, of course, art.
- The Folger Theatre hosts screenings of Shakespeare-based movies at Yards Park in Navy Yard both days this weekend. On Saturday they will screen the 2004 version of “The Merchant of Venice” starring Al Pacino and Sunday will feature a screening of the classic Romeo and Juliet-based musical West Side Story. Both screenings begin at sunset.
- The National Postal Museum celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a special themed story time for young children.
- The Hill Center’s “Seeing Red Film Series” continues with a screening of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” which has been called the most frightening film ever.
- The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is screening the 1987 comedy “Spaceballs” in the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater Sunday evening.
Photo via Facebook/ Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Capitol Hill Intersection Named Among Most Dangerous for Cyclists — The intersection of 8th and F streets NE was listed among those with the most reported accidents involving bicycles. [Washingtonian]
Car Catches Fire Near Capitol Hill Hyatt — Yesterday morning a car fire broke out near the intersection of 1st and E streets NW behind the Capitol Hill Hyatt. Nobody was in the car at the time and authorities successfully put out the fire. [WJLA]
Alcoholic Control Board Approves Bulldog Bagel Application in Eastern Market — The District Alcoholic Control Board approved Bullfrog Bagel’s application to serve bagels, brunch and booze at their new location at 317 Seventh St. SE near Eastern Market. [Hill Rag]
Survey Showing Native Americans’ Indifference to ‘Redskins’ Name Could Affect Decision on New Stadium — A Washington Post poll that found that most Native Americans are not offended by the Redskins name, which could affect how officials view the push to move the team’s stadium back into the District. [Washington Post]
Commuters will have extra incentive to bike to work on Friday as pit stops with free food, drinks and T-shirts will pop up across Ward 6 for Bike to Work Day.
Bike commuters will be able to grab free refreshments at 83 different pit stops across the area. In the Capitol Hill area, pit stops will be located near the NoMa-Gallaudet University Metro station, near the Eastern Market Metro station and at Canal Park in Navy Yard.
The event this Friday is free, but bicyclists must register online to receive a free T-shirt. Those who register will also be eligible to receive one of several bicycles that will be raffled off.
The NoMa pit stop will be open from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. while the Eastern Market and Navy Yard locations will open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 a.m.
Red Capital Bikeshare bicycles may become even more common in the Capitol Hill area as the District Department of Transportation looks to add 99 new docking locations and expand some existing stations during the next three years.
A plan released by DDOT Tuesday aims to expand Bikeshare to underserved locations and increase service in areas where the bicycle sharing program is already popular.
Much of the area near the U.S. Capitol is within Bikeshare’s “core” area, where riders are more common. In the next year, DDOT is looking to expand some stations in the core area while also adding some stations on the eastern side of Capitol Hill, as well as Navy Yard and Southwest.
The plan calls for stations to go up in the next year on the H Street corridor and near Nationals Park. During the next two years, DDOT plans to add about five additional stations on Capitol Hill, one in Navy Yard and three in Southwest. The agency already has identified locations for some of the stations it intends to add in the next year, as well as 21 stations intends to expand.
In the Capitol Hill area, stations are set to get more bicycles at:
- Eastern Market Metro station, which will bring on eight more bicycles.
- H and 3rd streets NE, which will add four more bicycles.
The plan also calls for new stations in 2016 to go in at:
- New Jersey Avenue and L Street NW.
- New Jersey Avenue and D Street SE.
- 901 D St. NE.
DDOT is seeking public input before finalizing the plan. Locals can comment online until Nov. 15.
The congressional office that oversees the operation and maintenance of the U.S. Capitol grounds has picked up some kudos from an organization that advocates for “bicycle-friendly” communities.
The Architect of the Capitol received a bronze award for “bike-friendliness” from The League of American Bicyclists, the group announced today. The league this year awarded more than 100 organizations a platinum, gold, silver or bronze award for helping make the United States “a safer, happier, and more sustainable place to live and work,” Amelia Neptune, the initiative’s manager, said in a statement.
The AOC has worked with members of Congress and other federal officials to encourage cycling, according to the league.
“We are so pleased to make the U.S. Capitol campus a more welcoming place for biking commuters and the visiting public,” Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers said in a statement. “It is rewarding to be recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Business and to know that we have a passionate group of employees who implemented a cohesive program to achieve this recognition.”
Photo via Twitter/U.S. Capitol
Olympics Unlikely to Come to Capitol Hill Area — The U.S. Olympic Committee hinted that it would name Los Angeles as its official candidate to host the 2024 Olympics, quieting speculation that the games could come to D.C. Supporters of the District’s bid had discussed the possibility of constructing major Olympic venues in the Capitol Hill area. [Los Angeles Times]
New Pepco Substation to Serve Southwest — Pepco will build a new substation in Buzzard Point in an effort to address increased electrical usage in Southwest. [The Southwester]
Capitol Hill Bicycle Lanes Get New Paint Job — Bicycle lanes on 4th and 6th streets NE received a fresh coat of bright green paint over the weekend. [The Hill Is Home]
D.C. Officials to Meet With Rosedale Residents About Recent Crime — Councilman Charles Allen of Ward 6, a Metropolitan Police Department commander and other D.C. officials are scheduled to visit Rosedale tonight for a discussion on public safety in and around the area. [Hill Now]
A family-friendly search for “hidden treasure, forgotten islands, ancient ruins and natural wonder” is set to come to RFK Stadium this weekend, according to the event’s organizer.
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association will host its second “Choose Your Own Adventure Scavenger Hunt” along the Anacostia River from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The hunt will include “riddles, unexpected challenges, trickery and exploration,” according to the group. Participants must bring a bicycle, helmet and up to four teammates. A “costume fitting of a true adventurer” is encouraged, according to WABA.
Registration is free online. Clothing from Bluejacket brewery in Navy Yard and other prizes will be awarded after the event.
“So many D.C. area residents know the Potomac [River] and its views, but far too often, we forget about the Anacostia,” said Ursula Sandstrom, WABA’s D.C. trail ranger coordinator. “Saturday is an invitation to bring the family or a team of friends to explore what D.C.’s backyard has to offer.”
Photo via Flickr/WABA
(Updated at 7:55 p.m.)
Update on Cyclist Stabbed in Hill East — The woman who was stabbed on a bicycle ride in Hill East this week is seven months pregnant. “It was alarming and it looked like I was pregnant which was also disturbing because I also have a daughter that’s pregnant,” said a local. [WJLA]
Maketto Makes Waves — Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema gave Maketto on the H Street corridor 2 1/2 stars in his review of the new Asian street food restaurant from Toki Underground chef Erik Bruner-Yang. “My inner optimist wants to give Maketto three stars, but the realist in me wants to wait for a time, probably not far from now, when the recipe is enriched and the service feels more sure of itself,” Sietsema wrote. [Washington Post]
The Banneker-Wharf Connection — The National Park Service is seeking public comment on a project to improve the connection between the overlook at Banneker Park and the Southwest waterfront. The public also is invited to an open house at The Wharf on Aug. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. [Hill Rag]
A New D.C. Minimum Wage? — Elections officials have cleared the way for the introduction of a $15-an-hour minimum wage to be added to the 2016 voting ballot. Supporters will have to gather about 23,000 signatures to place it on the ballot. D.C. would be the first East Coast city with a $15 minimum wage. [WTOP]
A man stabbed a woman on a bicycle ride near Congressional Cemetery in Hill East yesterday afternoon.
The stabbing happened on the 1600 block of G Street SE about 5 p.m., police said.
The woman was riding her bicycle when a man approached her with a knife, according to authorities. He then stabbed her on her shoulder, causing a minor cut.
The victim was brought to a hospital where she was treated and released.
Police described the suspect as a 5-foot-11 man who is 30 to 40 years old and has a dark complexion. He wore a black shirt and dark jeans.
Photo via Google Maps
A charity bicycle ride benefiting cancer research is set to pass through the Capitol Hill area this fall.
“Ride to Conquer Cancer 2015” will begin and end at RFK Stadium over two days, from Sept. 19 to 20.
The riders will cycle 150 miles via Mt. Airy, Md., in their trip to and from RFK, stopping periodically for food and beverages throughout the route.
The cyclists raised $2.6 million last year, and organizers are hoping to top that in 2015. Non-participants can donate right up until the day of the ride.
Organizers don’t know yet how many people will participate. But more than 1,000 riders took part last year.
Ride to Conquer Cancer has a particularly special tie for John Murph, who’s riding for the second consecutive year.
The 48-year-old journalist from Petworth lost his father to lung cancer in September 2013. Completing the ride last year is something he said he will never forget.
“The 2014 race was one of the highlights of my life,” Murph said. “While the battle against cancer is making ground, there is still work to be done.”
Photo courtesy of Ride to Conquer Cancer/Edwin Santiago
A cyclist and a car crashed into each other near Nationals Park this morning.
The collision happened at Half and O streets SW, the D.C. Fire and EMS Department tweeted about 8:45 a.m.
The cyclist was taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries, according to D.C. Fire and EMS.
Photo via Google Maps
A cyclist and a car collided in NoMa this morning.
The crash happened at 1st and L streets NE, near Storey Park. The D.C. Fire and EMS Department tweeted about 9:45 a.m. a vehicle accident occurred at the intersection.
By 10:30 a.m., the cyclist was en route to a hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries, according to D.C. Fire and EMS.
Photo via Google Maps
A cyclist and a car collided in Navy Yard this morning, according to the D.C. Fire and EMS Department.
The crash happened about 9 a.m. at 4th and M streets SE, near the Harris Teeter in Navy Yard.
The victim was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, a D.C. fire and EMS spokesman said.
Photo via Google Maps
Community leaders on Capitol Hill are urging D.C. and federal officials to install protected bicycle lanes that would connect cycle tracks near Union Station and the U.S. Capitol.
The two-way cycle track ANC 6C formally requested last night would be on Louisiana Avenue, between Columbus Circle NE and Constitution Avenue NW. The bike lanes are intended to bridge the Pennsylvania Avenue NW bike lanes with the 1st Street NE cycle track that is under construction, helping link bike lanes that stretch across the District.
“Right now, it’s a dangerous stretch of roadway for cyclists,” said Joe McCann, a former ANC 6C transportation committee chairman, who is helping lead the commission’s push for the cycle track.
The District Department of Transportation last year identified the cycle track as a second tier priority in the “Multimodal Long-Range Transportation Plan” it released last year. The cycle track, which would be almost a half-mile long, would cost $900,000 to complete, according to DDOT.
To build the bike lanes, DDOT would need the approval of the Architect of the Capitol. Louisiana Avenue NE between Columbus Circle and North Capitol Street NE has three lanes for congressional staffer parking, one of which needs to go to support the cycle track, the ANC wrote in a letter it approved last night to DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo and Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers.
A DDOT spokeswoman didn’t have an immediate comment. A representative of the Architect of the Capitol wasn’t immediately available to comment.
A Navy Yard resident who fixes bicycles across Capitol Hill is fundraising to turn a food truck into a bike repair truck.
Peter Buck, the Navy chief petty officer who owns the “mobile pop-up business” Handy Bikes DC, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a new “self-contained, efficient and agile mobile bicycle repair truck,” he said on his fundraising website.
“Think food truck, without the food,” the site says.
Since he started his business in 2013, Buck found that his pickup truck and trailer — which together stretch 38 feet in length — aren’t ideal for maneuvering through D.C. streets and parking on them. He usually sets up evenings and weekends near 1st and K streets SE, offering services that include a $10 flat tire repair and a $59 basic tune-up.
Buck, 33, said he would like to move throughout the District with a vehicle similar to a food truck. But mobility with his current setup is a “little untenable,” he said.
“The execution was a bit lacking,” Buck said.
So far, Buck has raised more than $3,600 from 51 backers. His goal is $8,500 by May 31.
If he doesn’t reach his goal, Buck said he will continue to fix bicycles and try to raise money again.
“This business is not going to fold,” he said.
Photo via Kickstarter/Handy Bikes DC
