Gordon By Bike
By Gordon Chaffin
This is Gordon Chaffin's newsletter featuring commentary on life in Washington, D.C., and tourism on a bike as the primary means of functional and recreational transportation. If society does not replace car-based infrastructure with public transportation and safe-for-everyone (e-)bike lanes, t... Read more
This is Gordon Chaffin's newsletter featuring commentary on life in Washington, D.C., and tourism on a bike as the primary means of functional and recreational transportation. If society does not replace car-based infrastructure with public transportation and safe-for-everyone (e-)bike lanes, the planet will be destroyed by climate change. Gordon moonlights as a 5-star dog-sitter and freelance photographer, video producer, and audio technician. #GoBlue #RaiseHigh #ForksUp #DCStatehood
issues
Vote Palmer for Chair, Parker for Ward 5 in D.C. on June 21
Washington, D.C. will hold primary elections on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. If you live in D.C. and are even a little bit interested in its future, please register to vote and then cast a ballot.It is incredibly important for you to participate in local D.C. elec…
You gotta send an email about this
There are *a lot* of chances right now for D.C.-area residents to offer their feedback to affect decisions on road design, public transit, and then ask election candidates questions about transportation issues. Please participate in as many of these feedback …
Due tonight: feedback on DC's Met Branch Trail
Please complete the feedback form about the design for the final D.C. section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail. It's due by midnight tonight. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association has a blog post with suggested feedback.I'm sending an email about this bec…
Gold Shaw Farm: My favorite YouTube channel of 2021
2021 was a year of really good things and really bad things in my life. Maybe this has also been your experience. I wanted to share something that made 2021 better: the Gold Shaw Farm channel on YouTube.Morgan Shaw moved to Peacham, Vermont from Washington, D…
Going viral makes you want to disappear
On November 4th, 2021, I came upon a driver parked in a protected bike lane and blocking a curb ramp. I asked the driver to move and tapped the hood of their car to get their attention. The driver and passenger got out of the car, took offense to my touching …
She flipped off D.C.'s mayor
Recently, I covered the re-opening of a downtown D.C. park and told the story of a woman who interrupted the ceremony, flipping the bird at Mayor Muriel Bowser.Mere hours after workers finished laying sod on the last Friday of September, elected officials, go…
Back In D.C. + Dogsitting
Hey, y'all it's been a while. I wanted to send an update that I'm moved back to D.C. and very much enjoying my new apartment perched above the Metropolitan Branch Trail. All the furniture is built, but I still haven't figured out how to organize my stuff in t…
I couldn't pay my rent and D.C. helped
Hey, folks. I thought you might be interested in the STAY DC emergency rent assistance story we published today. Please download the app and consider supporting a Street Sense vendor. That's the best way to help us continue doing this journalism.Summary: Stre…
My New Job: Deputy Editor at Street Sense DC
I started a new full-time job on July 6th as Deputy Editor at Street Sense Media. Street Sense is the "street paper" for Washington, DC. It's a nonprofit news organization that provides low-barrier employment to homeless residents. Vendors purchase weekly new…
My Dad Built a Formidable Shed
Today is my father's birthday. Mark Chaffin is 63 years young, a new e-bike rider, and retired. For his birthday, I'm sharing with you all a photo essay: how he built an 8' x 16' storage and work shed this winter in my brother's Jacksonville backyard. I staye…
Recordings & How To Support: Beach Drive, 9th Street NW, Anacostia Park
On June 29, 2021, Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) hosted a public meeting to hear from District residents on the proposal to continue closing Upper Beach Drive NW in Rock Creek Park (RCP) after the COVID-19 state of emergency ends. The Beach closu…
🚨 Support Georgetown Extended Sidewalks - Due Tomorrow Nite
Please fill out this short survey by tomorrow evening -- Sunday, June 27 -- to support widened sidewalks in Georgetown. <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GeorgetownDecksResidentSurvey> The neighborhood's Business Improvement District (BID) is collecting f…
Keep Beach Drive Open to People, Not Cars
The National Park Service may close Upper Beach Drive -- the North-South road running through DC's Rock Creek Park -- to car traffic permanently. However, you need to raise your voice now so NPS doesn't respond narrowly to the unverified fears of privileged W…
Landlord Forcing DC Nonprofit Bike Shop to Move
A DC landlord is kicking Gearin' Up Bicycles out from the shop's space in Eckington next to the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The fast-growing organization takes in donated bikes, trains underserved youth to fix them up, and sells them back into the community. G…
Please Support Safe Streets in Takoma Park
Takoma Park, Maryland is asking for public comments right now on proposed improvements to 1.0 miles of Maple Avenue from the DC heading northeast. As shown above, Maple is a critical road connecting downtown Takoma DC with the fantastic Sligo Creek walk/bike …
Support DC's Ward 7 & Their Benning Rd Project
I'm writing to ask that you speak this Thursday, June 10th at a DC Council hearing supporting the immediate completion of design and beginning of construction on the Benning Road Reconstruction and Streetcar Project. It's urgent. The proposed DC budget crippl…
What we Owe and Expect of Each Other
It's been a difficult week for me in both job searching and online dating. It's not news to say they're both frustrating, emotionally difficult, and isolating processes. But, damn, it doesn't get better even after your resume gets longer and when you've built…
COVID is Supercharging the Patriarchy
On Friday, I wrote about a last-minute change DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson made to DC's master land-use map. He ruled out housing and commercial uses for important industrial land. I -- and other Ward 5 residents -- want the land re-purposed; it's right ne…
Help Me Prevent Gentrification in Northeast DC
I'm writing my DC Councilmember today, asking him to restore housing opportunities after a last-minute change to DC's master land-use map ruled out housing or commercial uses like grocery stores. I hope you will join me in writing that a fast-growing part of …
Your Ideas Needed: NE DC Bike Connections Coming Fall 2021
On April 30th, 2021, one of DC's neighborhood commissioners Michael Braeuninger hosted a public community meeting to discuss safety improvements coming to 8th Street NE and Monroe Street NE in DC's Edgewood neighborhood. Residents and other stakeholders for s…