A Tesla driver crashed into the outdoor sidewalk dining area outside of Silver Diner at 7150 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda shortly before 6:00 PM tonight. There is no report of injuries to the driver. It did not immediately appear that there were people dining in the impacted portion of the dining area at the time of the crash, and diners further up from the crash in the same patio area are dining as if nothing serious had happened at this time. Personnel from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad are on the scene. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Autopilot just mistook the sidewalk seating area for a beltway on-ramp. Nothin to see here folks!
ReplyDeleteCorrect. I award you a blue check mark
DeleteThanks for that chuckle.
ReplyDeleteTemp tags on the car...seems likely thy didn't understand some component of their new vehicle
ReplyDeleteWhy is Silver still allowed so have outdoor dining in the street? They have a nice wide sidewalk with space for lots of seating along the log frontage of their restaurant. I believe that all other ad-hoc outdoor dining has been removed in other areas of downtown. Why does Silver get to keep theirs?
ReplyDelete@ 6:26 PM - Probably because the setback of the building was designed to allow sidewalk seating.
ReplyDeleteCOVID must not be over in Bethesda.
ReplyDeleteThat is why the tables are in the street instead of inside the dining room.
2:49 - And many folks are still masked while driving alone.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe people are blaming the restaurant for this?! Has anyone been to Europe? we lived for 4 years in Madrid. ALL restaurants near a street have outside sitting. All of them. I never saw, heard, or experienced something like this...crazy.
ReplyDelete@ 2:49 PM - Silver has had tables outside since it opened in 2015.
ReplyDeleteJAC - I don't understand this fixation over "masked while driving alone" among those who trivialize or even deny Covid. Many times I've needed to keep my car safe for other passengers whom I've picked up later.
The Streetery in Woodmont Triangle needs to come down. My God, when are people gonna wake up about these ridiculous areas that have taken up much needed roadways? I'll give you a clue on the motivation and it isn't about COVID.
ReplyDelete@JAC that is ridiculous. The Streeteries have given life to an area that was on the decline for years. I'm sorry if you don't live here and have to drive, but there are many garages so you just have to walk an extra block at most! If you did a poll I'm sure you'd find that 90% of people love the Streeteries.
ReplyDelete7:26 - What is ridiculous is this notion that we need more green space and more space for recreation, etc. What is ridiculous is that people are unaware that this is a total scam and has nothing to do with outdoor dining which, during Covid, wasn't a bad idea. Well, we aren't in Covid lockdown times any longer thank goodness. But the scam is that these roads are being taken away to try and reduce carbon imprint and other nonsense. It is anti-car pure and simple and that's the con being perpetrated on the taxpayer by a far Left radical group in Rockville. Have you seen the pushback on the Little Falls Parkway saga? Thank goodness for that bold statement loud and clear from those in adjoining neighborhoods. Wait until they ruin Tuckerman. Lastly, I don't understand why Bethesda Row steetery was taken up finally and Woodmont Triangle has not. That doesn't square with your statement that they have given life. They are roads. Open them up.
ReplyDelete7:26 - I would love to see that poll by the way. If 90% love the streeteries, why then did they pull up the one in the Bethesda Row area? You know how many retailers and restaurants owners love them? Not many because those businesses are hurt by passersby in cars not seeing their establishments. And worse, if they are patronizing restaurants in the area, they are not staying as long and definitely are not eating and drinking nearly as much as they would and were when dining in.
ReplyDeleteJAC, I doubt the Norfolk streetery is going anywhere. In fact, the county wants to add a stage and other items to that stretch of road.
ReplyDeleteIt's debatable whether they help restaurants. Harp & Fiddle closed because of the streetery. They got the cut street access on Cordell and none of the benefits.
Rock Bottom, Olazzo and Duck Duck Goose already have outdoor seating.
What is the turnover of a streetery table? Tends to be large groups who linger longer, buying less. Great free outdoor space for a birthday gathering, for example.
JAC @ 5:25 PM -
ReplyDeleteNorfolk Avenue is not your freeway.
1:44 - And it's not a permanent outdoor dining area wake up.
ReplyDelete1:32 - the way this county operates, I'm sure you're right sadly. It's not a matter of debate whether it hurts retailers but a fact. Does the county care, of course not, they hate business.
ReplyDeleteThe "elected" think the Gubmint provides everything without retail. They just up the tax rate to keep getting more until they just can't and we implode. There's no fixing it until we teach the Democrats about 'cause and effect,' what they're doing is simply unsustainable.
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