Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

"A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most intrinsic and enduring characteristic." [Katz, EPA] This blog focuses on place and placemaking and all that makes it work--historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy--along with doses of civic engagement and good governance watchdogging.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Inadvertent bicycle track on North Capitol Street NW, abutting Rock Creek Cemetery

Part of the campaign to put in sidewalks in places in DC where they aren't present has led to the installation of sidewalks on the west side of North Capitol Street, abutting the Rock Creek Cemetery.

Normally this isn't a place where people walk--because people don't go in and out of the cemetery on this side of the street. But there are a couple bus stops.

I am not sure the installation is finished. There are some areas adjacent to trees that might be getting rubber sidewalks so that tree root movement can be better accommodated.

Guy wires for utility poles haven't been moved though and many of the trees need some of the branches to be trimmed in order to get to that recommended clearance of 8 feet.
Preferred heights for tree branches for streets and sidewalks
But it definitely shows that putting in bicycle tracks is possible. While continuing down North Capitol alongside the Armed Forces Retirement Home as well as McMillan Reservoir it certainly seems possible to continue a bicycle track all the way down. It would require some significant construction on the AFRH property, even the creation of an embankment, and there is an issue with the cemetery on the AFRH property, which is about one block long, and the grade.

There was someone else bicycling on this when I was, although the photo isn't too good.
Inadvertent bicycle track on North Capitol Street NW, abutting Rock Creek Cemetery

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