[Bryanh]

I sent this to the NPS today, lets see what they say:
As a DC metro area resident, I bike extensively through NPS properties. Some have decent bike facilities; others are deficient in this area or have no accommodations for biking. Executive Order 13514 requires federal agencies to limit greenhouse gas emissions (bikes of course, produce fewer greenhouse gases than buses or even electric Metro Rail lines since they derive their power from fossil fuel power plants). So by helping people commute via bike through NPS properties, this can help alleviate CO2 emissions. One of my biggest commute obstacles is the Arlington Memorial Bridge and the National Mall. Both tend to be clogged with pedestrian tourist and are enclosed with high speed multi-lane roads that are not conducive to biking. Adding bike facilities to these two NPS properties would encourage more bike commuting and help fulfill the goals of Executive Order 13514. One area of low hanging fruit where the NPS can accommodate bikes and limit potential conflicts with tourist and vehicles is the Memorial Bridge. With a major repair and rebuild now in the planning stages, looking towards a future with dedicated bike facilities for this bridge is a must. It is evident that this bridge does not need the current capacity it possesses. The unintended consequence of shutting down one travel lane in each direction due to a failing roadbed at the bridge’s midpoint shows that if the bridge was reduce to 4 lanes it would not produce large amounts of congestion. I bike this bridge every day and even at the height of rush hour, traffic still flows smoothly over the bridge. The NPS should consider making this bridge permanently 4 lanes and adding dedicated bi-directional bike facilities to both sides of the bridge with subsequent connections to future bike lanes leading away from the bridge, along the Mall and the waterfront into DC. This would encourage biking and reducing risks to both bikers and pedestrians on the bridge. And since bikes will not damage the roadbed, these bi-directional lanes can be added right now simply by expanding the lane closure to encompass the entire bridge and allowing bike to use these lanes.

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