What We Do
We set priorities, write the asks, keep score, and testify — turning lived experience into policy the District has to answer for.
Our north star
Principles for arterial street space
The Council’s adopted resolution on how the District should allocate the limited space on its busiest streets — highest priority first. Only after each tier is satisfied does the next one get considered.
- ADA-compliant sidewalks on both sidesFree of obstructions — utility poles, tree roots, snow, scooters, trash bins. The foundation; without them nothing else is reachable.
- Dedicated, protected 24/7 transit & emergency lanesReliable lanes for public transit and emergency vehicles that move people, not parked cars.
- ADA pick-up / drop-off zonesSafe, dedicated curb space for accessible vehicles.
- Protected bike, scooter & power-wheelchair lanesSeparated from cars — plus orderly scooter parking.
- General motor-vehicle travel lanesConsidered only after the priorities above are met.
- Non-ADA pick-up / drop-off and ADA-only parkingLower-priority curb uses.
- Parklets, tree boxes, then market-priced car parkingThe lowest priorities — and ones the District should never subsidize.
Where we push
Key advocacy areas
Daylighting & sightlines
DC law requires clear sightlines at intersections. We built a daylighting survey and a 311-based tracking system to document violations with photo evidence — and press DDOT to treat daylighting as the legal duty it is, not “one of many treatments.”
ADA pick-up / drop-off zones
We’ve urged DDOT to audit the downtown core and establish ADA-compliant, midblock PUDO zones — so wheelchair users and paratransit riders aren’t forced to load and unload in moving traffic.
Bus-stop visibility
Red thermoplastic markings at bus zones, mirroring the treatment used for bus lanes — keeping the curb clear so buses can pull flush and riders can board safely.
Horizontal wayfinding
A pilot painting bus route names and destinations directly onto the sidewalk at stops — helping blind riders cross the “last ten feet” from sidewalk to bus door, and helping everyone find their bus.
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles
We press for reliable 24/7 WAV service, accountability on wait times, side-loading designs that reach the curb, and accessibility requirements written into for-hire and autonomous-vehicle fleet contracts.
Vision Zero accountability
With more than 350 traffic deaths since the District’s Vision Zero commitment, we hold DC to the safety promises it has made — and document where it has fallen short.
On the record
Recent letters & resolutions
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Resolution · March 2026
ADA Pick-Up / Drop-Off (PUDO) Zones
Urging DDOT to audit the downtown core and establish ADA-compliant, midblock PUDO zones that don’t block crosswalks or sightlines and are built into future capital projects. Carried to WMATA’s MetroAccess Subcommittee.
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Resolution · March 2026
Bus-Stop Red Pavement Markings
Calling on DDOT to install red thermoplastic markings at bus zones, mirroring bus-lane treatment, so drivers don’t block the curb. Raised at WMATA’s Bus & Rail Subcommittee.
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Resolution · March 2026
Horizontal Wayfinding Pilot
A pilot painting bus route names and destinations directly onto the sidewalk at stops — even three installations would prove the concept. Explored glow-in-the-dark paint and local-art partnerships.
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Questions · Winter 2025–26
DDOT IPMA Road-Diet Methodology
Technical questions to DDOT’s engineering team challenging how road-diet feasibility is judged — including arbitrary delay cutoffs like its 60-second rule.
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Resolutions · June 2024
Resolutions to DDOT
Calling on DDOT to consult the Council on all capital projects over $1M, conduct a citywide sightline (daylighting) audit with a compliance action plan, and evaluate banning left turns in high-volume areas.
Looking for a specific letter or the meeting where it was adopted? Browse the minutes →
See how we measure progress
Our Report Card tracks five metrics the District is graded on, year over year.