2589 Ontario Rd. NW s WA B. A Washington, 020008 2025180524. F: 2025180996, WASHINGTON AREA BICYCLIST ASSOCIATION WWW,.WABA.ORG December 1, 2010 The Committee on Public Works and Transportation ‘Attn: Ms. April Hawkins-Mason Room 116, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20004 Dear Chairman Graham and the Members of the Committee: ‘The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), on behalf of its over 4,500 area members, appreciates the opportunity to state publicly its strong support for the Bicycle Commuter Parking Expansion Amendment Act of 2010. For the same reasons this expansion of bicycle parking was necessary and appropriate when initially approved by the Council in 2007, it remains necessary and appropriate to address the District's significant shortage of bicycle parking. And now the need is even more critical, as cycling in the District has grown over the past three years, due in part to the supportive actions of this Committee and the Council ‘Amending the 2007 law in the manner proposed is necessary to achieve its intended effects and to allow implementation of the policies originally intended by the Council, Both implementing regulations and enforcement mechanisms are critical to the effectiveness of this law, and WABA supports the enactment of each. While we have many suggestion and opinions regarding the most effective and appropriate implementation of the Act, we will reserve most for the public comment period on the implementing regulations. However, WABA strongly believes that those funds raised through the imposition of civil fines, penalties, and fees for failure to provide the legally mandated bicycle parking should be dedicated to the provision of additional bicycle parking in public space. Currently, the provision of bicycle parking in the public space falls to DDOT and is inadequate to meet demand. Allowing these funds to be used by DDOT to provide additional parking would further the goals of this legislation and, presuming that the Mayor wil delegate the rulemaking and enforcement of the Act to DDOT, provide a natural incentive for diligence in creating and operating an effective enforcement system. Thank you for the opportunity comment on this proposal and for your continued support of bicycling in the District of Columbia. Respectfully submitted, Shane Parthing, Executive Director