alternative hippopotamus

progressive cyberdadaism from our nation’s capital

December 14, 2007

WABA and the Park Service

by @ 12:46 pm. Filed under Life in D.C.

Last night I went to WABA’s holiday party in their funky Dupont Circle digs. I’ve walked by their offices bizillions of times without knowing: they’re just upstairs from the International Magazine shop on Connecticut and Florida, within spitting distance of the Hinckley Hilton.

Bicyclists are a very interesting group in that they are often so passionate about cycling. I mean, I’m pretty passionate about cycling, but I don’t think I could dedicate my life to it, as many that were there last night have. The word “passionate” has a multiplicity of meanings here, so I should pause to be more clear. One kind of cyclist is “passionate” about the everyday act of getting on a bicycle and going somewhere. It’s the euphoria that comes from getting up speed largely as a result of applying mind to muscle to gear-ratio. Though, gravity helps, too. For example, I was comparing notes with someone last night on what I consider to be a circuitous route to avoid Connecticut Avenue between Van Ness and Dupont Circle. Her take was that she was grateful for the extra miles so she could be on her bike that much longer.

Other people are passionate about biking in the sense of fighting the powers that be. The “powers that be” meaning those who would prefer that DC be turned into LA. You may know someone like the powers that be. They tend to believe that the world was created for cars, or least for their car. The type who would never bike or walk if they can possibly drive there. It takes someone with enormous passion to fight this particular form of conventional wisdom. My helmet is off to activists of this stripe.

The reward is having trails like the bike path between Bethesda and Georgetown. Nice pics here, if you like pics.

Folks at the WABA party last night were very helpful in answering a question that I’ve had: some of the paths in DC are pretty beat up. They would be good for in-line skating or skateboarding, but as they are, they’re just too worn and cracked. The one that’s a real shame for how poor it is, is near the Lincoln Memorial. So, what gives? As I gather, the Park Service is very reluctant to do any maintenance. So, barring a miracle, it’s not likely anything is going to happen. I didn’t exactly get what was the resistance, or if it was more a question of priority. I guess I need to do some digging.

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hip·po·pot·a·mus n. A notion, perhaps distinct from conventional wisdom, that needs to be verified by reality-based scrutiny.

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