City Hopes New Bicycle Lanes Will Get More People Pedaling

A section incorporated into the design of the New York Avenue Metro stop remains closed pending the transfer of land from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to the transportation department, followed by a property swap with Pepco, said Holben, who said he is as frustrated as bicyclists by the wait.

An expanded network of bike trails will boost the popularity of an already growing activity, according to transportation officials. Bike commuting increased 55 percent from 1990 to 2000 in the District, according to U.S. Census data, and membership in the Washington Area Bicyclist Association quintupled in a little over a decade.

"It has been proven nationally that areas with trails have more cyclists than areas without trails," Sebastian said.

Costs incurred by the city are minimal for many projects. Bike lanes are added during road resurfacing and are generally paid for by federal money earmarked for air quality improvements.

However, increased resources must be paired with raised awareness among motorists, particularly given that trails such as the Metropolitan Branch include bike lanes in congested streets, Farrin said.

Cars tend to treat bike lanes as extra space and use them for passing or double-parking, Farrin added. And where bike lanes run between traffic lanes and parking spaces, drivers sometimes park, neglect to check their mirrors, and open their car doors directly in front of bikers, she said.

Cyclists and city officials agree that bike lanes have benefits and that there is increased support for biking in the District. Bicycles can alleviate D.C. traffic and air pollution, both of which are among the worst in the nation, while providing health benefits and reducing the stress of gridlocked rush-hour commutes, they said.

They also agree with Sebastian's observation that "if you have it, people will use it."