The Bethesda Streetery, the outdoor dining area located along Woodmont Avenue between Bethesda Avenue and Elm Street, just got a little smaller. Planters along the southbound vehicle lane have been pulled back to allow for the creation of a stopping lane. It is supposed to be a temporary stopping zone for delivery drivers, and for the Bethesda Circulator shuttle bus to pull into near its bus stop. But in the early going, a few drivers have appeared to use the lane as free parking.
6 comments:
It's a parking lane. There's 1-hour and mobile payment signage on the curb.
Sorry but thats not correct. ParkMobile signs have been posted along the west side of Woodmont Avenue. A bit on the south end is signed as a loading space, but most of it is paid parallel parking.
Furthermore, I believe that Federal Realty has plans to move the concrete curb to permanently widen the pedestrian walkway, much like they did on the south side of Elm Street near Jenny’s Ice Cream. This is their effort to create a wider and more pedestrian friendly streetscape, with more room for street furniture, plantings and shade trees, while still providing short term parking. Parallel parking, by the way, helps create a safer buffer from traffic.
Streetery should be shrunken even further. Covid-era ideas such as this, while very sensible, need to be permanently removed. I see very, very few people utilizing that area. Many or even most coffee shops and restaurants have their own outdoor dining and that's great and more than sufficient. The Woodmont Triangle removal (they close it down on Fridays) of that streetery has been great. Cars can move thru easily and the return to parking meters there has been a real benefit. The Bethesda Row at least allows cars to flow without barriers, detours, etc. But again, time to remove them altogether.
The streetery is great. If you don’t like having to wait an extra 90 seconds, drive around the block.
"few drivers have appeared to use the lane as free parking." Maybe they are the same drivers who, when they clearly see ahead the lane is closed, yet shoot to the front anyway and nudge their way in. Ahhhh, gotta love the entitled people around here.
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