Mayor Wants to help Hikers and Bikers Only
--and Exclude the Rest of Us

Klingle Road begins in the Ward 1 neighborhood of Mount Pleasant, travels under the Porter Street cloverleaf  (recent renovation costs: $6M) and ends in the Ward 3 neighborhood of Woodley Park.   The Mayor proposes to permanently close the middle section of this functioning roadway to the general public, and turn it into a neighborhood recreational trail.  We would no longer be allowed to travel the length of Klingle Road.   Under the Mayor's proposal, our historic public road would have three sections - a short road in Mt. Pleasant, a gated bike/hike trail skirting the edge of Cleveland Park, and another short section of road in Woodley Park.

Closing a public road in the middle makes no sense.   Just look at Pennsylvania Avenue, and the old G Street walking mall.

Klingle Road is surrounded by over 2,000 acres of U.S. parkland, with lots of bike paths and valley hiking trails stretching from Maryland to Virginia. 

By contrast, Klingle Road is a unique and irreplaceable transportation resource.  It is the only road in DC that travels east and west underneath Connecticut Avenue.  Klingle Road is one of only a few cross-park roads. Opening Klingle Road to traffic will benefit travel on important primary arteries like Connecticut Avenue and Porter Street.

These are the People Who Would Lose Use of This Road That They Have Enjoyed for Hundreds of Years

People who drive Cars 
People who drive scooters
People who drive motorcycles
People who drive electric cars
People who drive natural gas powered vehicles
People who ride skateboards
People who use roller blades
People who drive vans
People who drive pickup trucks
People Who Do Not Hike
People Who Do Not Bike
The Handicapped
The Elderly
Young and Old People in Wheelchairs
Young and Old People with Health Issues
The Metropolitan Police
The Park Police
The Secret Service
Firefighters
Ambulance drivers
Wheelchair Transportation services
People Who Live far away from Klingle Road (no available parking for the proposed trail)
School Bus drivers
Metro bus drivers 
Taxi drivers 
Soccer Moms and Dads
Carpool drivers 
Van pool drivers

Let's Get Real! 

Some may wish life was just hiking and biking--BUT IT'S NOT, especially living in the city.  IT'S:

Getting back and forth to work
Getting children back and forth to school
Going to the doctor
Going to the dentist
Going to the hospital
Carpooling
Taking your kids to soccer practice, basketball, baseball, hockey, and swimming
Grocery shopping
Any kind of shopping
Meeting friends for dinner, drinks, and lunch
Going to worship
Visiting friends and loved ones
Going dancing 
Going to the movies
Going to school
Getting fire trucks to fires to protect people and property
Getting ambulances to injured persons
Moving equipment and people around in minor emergencies and major disasters