As cycling grows in popularity, activists fear loss of beloved space
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The average D.C. resident bikes 40 miles every year — ranking 13th among big U.S. cities, per data from StreetLight.
Why it matters: Two recent fights — over President Trump's East Potomac golf course makeover and Connecticut Avenue bike lanes — are putting D.C.'s long-running debate over bike access back in the spotlight.
Driving the news: While a final design hasn't been put out, Trump was seen carrying a rendering of the new East Potomac links that appeared to wipe out the popular 3-mile perimeter loop.
- That's worrying cyclists, runners and other locals like Davey Hearn, the Olympian canoeist who was accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool. Hearn will headline a protest against the East Potomac plan on Sunday, Washingtonian reports.
- "Davey will speak to us about the importance of standing up for our rights and celebrating these great spaces," says Kalli Krumpos of the Washington Area Bicyclists Association.
Zoom out: The East Potomac fight comes as cycling advocates renew their push for more protected bike lanes across the city.
- Dozens of cyclists jammed up traffic on Connecticut Avenue during Wednesday morning's rush hour, calling for the city to revive a scrapped bike lane project.
- D.C. studied adding bike lanes to Connecticut Avenue for over three years, before killing off the idea in 2024. Those opposed: Some shops and restaurants who worried about a loss of parking for customers and 2,700 residents who signed a petition.
What we're watching: The next mayor will inherit the debate.
- Likely-next mayor Janeese Lewis George's picks for key posts — transportation director, namely — could determine whether projects like the Connecticut Avenue bike lanes get another look, even if they can't control what happens on federal land like East Potomac Park.