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| Cars on the Capital Crescent Trail!?! The integrity of the Capital Crescent Trail in DC is under threat from the construction of a large boathouse for the crew team of Georgetown University. Act by June 12th to protect this critical non-motorized recreation and transportation resource and local treasure. The National Park Service recently released an Environmental Assessment on a proposal to construct a large boathouse for Georgetown University along the popular Capital Crescent Trail. The proposed location for the boathouse would be on public land upstream (west) of the Washington Canoe Club near the CCT trailhead in Georgetown. Access to the site would require construction equipment, boat trailers and delivery vehicles to share the use the Capital Crescent Trail for a distance of several hundred feet. While the NPS proposal calls for widening the pavement in this section, the usable width of the trail would be reduced and the mingling of large vehicles with bikes and pedestrians would create conflicts. In addition to the potential for conflicts between bikes and motor vehicles on a non-motorized facility, the proposed boathouse raises other serious concerns:***Allowing the private motor vehicle use of a public, non-motorized National Park Service facility poses a grave danger to other trails in DC and around the county. ***The user experience on the trail will be diminished by blocking the views of the river. In addition, the sheer size of the structure will give the trail a "tunnel-like" feel and create shadows that will prevent the melting of ice during the winter. ***With the C&O Canal, Capital Crescent Trail, Jack's Boathouse and the Washington Canoe Club, this area is one of the busiest public recreation corridors in the District. The EA fails to recognize the impact to the trail during the construction, maintenance and operation of the boathouse. WABA urges you to contact the National Park Service today to urge them to reject the current plans for the Georgetown Boathouse and to conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement that explores alternative locations for the boathouse that would not damage the Capital Crescent Trail. |
6/17 Bike Swap
6/17 Confident City Cycling Class 7/1-7/23 WABA Member Happy Hour at Lucky Bar during Tour de France coverage 7/8 Flooding the Headwaters of the Anacostia Ride 8/5 City Paper Singles Ride and Bike-In Movie 8/6 City Bike RFK Criterium Eric Gilliland Maggie Thompson Dorcas Adkins Susanna Murley Jeff Peel Contact WABA: The mission of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association is to create a healthy, more livable region by promoting bicycling for fun, fitness and affordable transportation; advocating better bicycling conditions and transportation choices for a healthier environment; and educating children, adults and motorists about safe bicycling. For more information about WABA, please visit our website at http://www.waba.org/. |