Author: WABA Staff

A summary of the transportation bills in Maryland’s legislative session.

Some wins, some work left to do!

WABA and RTC conducted a focus group to better understand trail awareness, safety, and barriers among DC area residents

We’re hiring 2021 DC Trail Rangers!

Over the last six months, the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced every aspect of life in cities, including where, how, and how often we move around. As the pandemic peaked in DC, WMATA’s rail ridership declined 90%. Despite service returning to near pre-pandemic levels and taking steps to restore rider confidence by promoting public health and […]

Robert Livingston, Harvard Business Review: How to successfully develop policies and practices that promote racial equity in the workplace.

WABA does not tolerate inappropriate behavior of any kind, be it directed toward a staff member, volunteer or event participant.

NPR Code Switch: A deeper look at how academics, writers and the show’s listeners feel about the phrase “people of color.”

As we shared in our statement in response to George Floyd’s murder, WABA is appalled by the violence perpetuated by our long-broken, racist system. We stand in support of Black Lives. We also strive to be anti-racist, to combat the pervasive structural racism in America manifesting in on our streets, bike lanes, and trails.  Like […]

Resources our staff have found useful, educational, or inspiring.

WABA is 503(c)3 nonpartisan and non-political organization. The following information provided as a public service to educate voters about political candidates’ positions on transportation issues. WABA does not endorse any political candidates. Because transportation is such a critical election topic in DC, WABA wants to inform our members about ward-level candidates’ positions on some of […]

On February 23, 2020, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was jogging in his neighborhood when two men chased, shot, and killed him. A third person recorded this in a graphic video that shows exactly what happened. Ahmaud Arbery was murdered.  Brunswick, Georgia, where Ahmaud Arbery lived, is 650 miles from Washington, DC. But this issue hits close […]

Policies to keep people walking and biking safe

In 2019, half of the traffic fatalities in DC have happened in Ward 8. Removing safety infrastructure is not the way fix that.

You’ve probably noticed that there are more electric bikes (e-bikes) around than there used to be. Once the domain of DIY tinkerers, bikes with an electric motor to make pedaling easier are now available off the shelf. For folks who are accustomed to bicycling without the help of a battery, this trend can inspire skepticism […]

“When I’m not riding, or working, I try to make a difference by advocating for improved bike infrastructure in the area.”

“If you think bicycling in D.C. is good now, wait until you see what WABA’s efforts will bring by the time you turn 60!”

“Biking in the region has improved drastically since I was sixteen, and I’m so grateful. Today, I can ride my Dutch cruiser on trails, bike lanes, and cycletracks almost everywhere I need to go.”

“Today I feel invincible, smart, and especially proud every time I complete a bike ride. I feel strong and I am having a great time.”

Local support is building for a protected bike lane on Louisiana Ave. to fill a clear gap in DCs protected bike lane network.

We’ve been working on this project for a while and we are excited to share it with you.

Easy steps to keep your bike in great riding condition.

The federal government is withdrawing its long-standing claim that bicycle helmets prevent 85% of head injuries, in response to a petition filed by WABA under the federal Data Quality Act.

In the 2013 Maryland General Assembly, our efforts to promote and defend the interests of bicyclists were reasonably successful this year—especially compared to how things might have turned out.

Last night, we asked you to take action to oppose a mandatory helmet law introduced in the Maryland House of Delegates’ Committee on Environmental Matters. In response, some of you asked for additional information on the “debatable” effects on bicyclists’ safety and the negative impacts on cycling that a mandatory helmet law would have. We […]

This post is part of WABA’s Women on Bikes program, an ongoing campaign to create a community, share resources, and develop strategies for getting more women on bikes. To read about the project so far, click here to check out the WABA blog. To learn more and sign up to receive emails about this project, […]