A Look at D.C.’s Contraflow Cycle Track
While we were down in Washington D.C. for the National Bike Summit, Streetfilms got the chance to check out some of the innovative bike infrastructure. Tops on our list: the city’s first protected, contraflow lane for bicyclists. The D.C. DOT has redesigned 15th Street NW between U Street and Massachusetts Avenue to accommodate two-way bike … Continued
4:00 PM EDT on March 23, 2010
While we were down in Washington D.C. for the National Bike Summit, Streetfilms got the chance to check out some of the innovative bike infrastructure.
Tops
on our list: the city’s first protected, contraflow lane for
bicyclists. The D.C. DOT has redesigned 15th Street NW between U
Street and Massachusetts Avenue to accommodate two-way bike traffic on
a one-way street. Northbound cyclists get a shared lane moving in the
same direction as car traffic, and southbound cyclists ride in a
parking-protected lane. The treatment has also slimmed down the street,
removing a vehicle lane and calming traffic.
on our list: the city’s first protected, contraflow lane for
bicyclists. The D.C. DOT has redesigned 15th Street NW between U
Street and Massachusetts Avenue to accommodate two-way bike traffic on
a one-way street. Northbound cyclists get a shared lane moving in the
same direction as car traffic, and southbound cyclists ride in a
parking-protected lane. The treatment has also slimmed down the street,
removing a vehicle lane and calming traffic.
D.C. transportation
officials say that when designing this protected bike lane, they looked
to New York and Montreal for inspiration. Additional use of contraflow
lanes could help make critical new connections in New York’s bike
network, like the gap between the Park Slope and Fort Greene neighborhoods that one Brooklyn community board recently asked the New York City DOT to take a look at. So hopefully some of that inspiration will flow back up the Acela corridor.
officials say that when designing this protected bike lane, they looked
to New York and Montreal for inspiration. Additional use of contraflow
lanes could help make critical new connections in New York’s bike
network, like the gap between the Park Slope and Fort Greene neighborhoods that one Brooklyn community board recently asked the New York City DOT to take a look at. So hopefully some of that inspiration will flow back up the Acela corridor.
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog USA
The Forgotten History of ‘Bloody 66’ And How Public Memory Helps Perpetuate Traffic Violence
Centennial events downplay the violent history of one of America's most "iconic" highways, and obscure how that violence persists to this day.
May 25, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are in Decline
The U.S. is becoming a dying petrostate, while China leads the world in renewable energy.
May 22, 2026
Spirit’s Shutdown Exposes America’s Fragile Affordable Travel System
"Affordable travel is not a fallback. It is what makes broad mobility possible."
May 22, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Greensboro’s Downtown Greenway
Dabney Sanders explains how Greensboro’s Downtown Greenway came together.
May 21, 2026
Can Neighborhood Block Parties Unite A Broken America?
The best way to celebrate the nation's birthday might not be a road trip to a national treasure; it might be just a few steps outside your front door.
May 21, 2026