Bike lanes in DC’s Adams Morgan neighborhood sparks mixed reactions, calls for removals
[Link includes video of WJLA broadcast]
by Carl Willis
Tue, April 29th 2025 at 11:31 PM
Some residents in D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood had mixed reactions on new bike lanes. (7News)
WASHINGTON (7News) — After weeks of risky traffic maneuvers, some Adams Morgan residents are calling on recently installed bike lanes to be removed.
Tuesday night, the Kalorama Citizens Association voiced their concerns to D.C. Councilmember Anita Bonds and a representative from the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Protected bike lanes and bus-only lanes on Columbia Road were put in place to keep things rolling and improve safety. However, some Adams Morgan residents say drivers and moped operators seem to be taking more risks as delivery drivers and ride-share drivers are stopping in the only lanes of traffic.
7News recorded several drivers swerving into oncoming traffic to get around those stopped vehicles.
Justin Sharma had to stop in a crosswalk with his baby stroller after a driver rolled through a stop sign while 7News was monitoring the traffic.
“There are pedestrians and little kids in the crosswalk, and that kind of thing is increasing in frequency,” said Sharma.
Some supporters of the bike lanes, like Ken Nisbet, said the blame falls on the risk-taking drivers and not necessarily the system that allows them to cycle safely.
“It’s incumbent on all of us to be safe and actually treat each other with respect and not do stuff like that,” said Nisbet.
“There’s always going to be a period where people need a little more time to get used to it, and I hope eventually people do,” he said.
It’s not just the issue of safety that has riled opponents of the new lanes. Shawn Fenty, owner of Fleet Feet, said businesses have lost 50% of parking.
Another business owner said she on the verge of closing shop because of the impact on not only her business but on her personal mobility.
“What I would like for them to acknowledge is this has been a tremendous mistake, and for them to pull it out,” said Fenty.
“If you can put it in, you can tear it out,” he said.
The representative from DDOT said he would take feedback from Tuesday night’s meeting back to the teams in his office.