At the crowded, 2-hour candidate forum in Adams Morgan Wednesday night, April 29, ANC1C which hosted the event raised no question about bike lanes. One of the moderators quipped, “At least I don’t have to ask about bike lanes.” It is disturbing that the grassroots arm of the District government responsible for hearing the concerns of residents would omit an issue which continues to roil the community after three years. Asked about the omission, one commissioner replied that they were tired of hearing about it. Where do the candidates stand on safe streets, road diets, parking, protected bike lanes and commercial deliveries? We don’t know. ANC1C would not ask. ANC1C did not allow questions from the audience.
In this election year, streateries are emerging as an issue. One of the candidates at the forum said he missed them on 18th St. and reflected fondly on streateries in Paris. Paris is famous for its sidewalk cafes, not streateries. The French would be disgusted at eating in traffic amid gas fumes and concrete barricades. Ironically, as the candidate spoke, a QR code projected a survey on the wall regarding the rat infestation in the community. One of the complaints about streateries has always been that they provide food and shelter for rats.
Terry Lynch, a candidate for the Ward 1 Council seat and longtime civic leader, quietly raised a question this week with the Mayor’s office. He reported his personal experience at nearly being hit by e-bikes in crosswalks on Columbia Rd. and the recent shooting in the 3300 block of Mt. Pleasant St., where two were injured as a suspect fled on an e-bike. Lynch asked whether license plates on E-bikes had been considered to hold e-bikers accountable. Thank you, Terry. We look forward to the response.
DC Safe Streets Coalition has begun a campaign to regulate e-bikes, including registration and tags to hold bikers accountable. Please sign our petition https://c.org/GVFzcRN8kP
Nick DelleDonne
DC Safe Streets Coalition
703 929 6656
May 4, 2026