WMATA WANTS YOUR OPINIONS ON METRO

WMATA is surveying bus and subway riders online, and in public forums. Riders who take the survey could win a $50 Smart Trip card. The survey and forums are two ways for the agency to comply with its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. "Speak Up! It's Your Ride," is the official name of the communication effort.

PLEASE

VOTE FOR ME

IN

WASHINGTONIAN'S

BEST OF WASHINGTON

SURVEY

Dear readers, I could use your help. And you could win tickets to Washingtonian Magazine's Best of Washington 2012 Party, July 11 at the National Building Museum.

If you find this blog and/or my Twitter feed @BethesdaRow to be useful, I would super appreciate if you would take a minute to vote for one or both in the Washingtonian 2012 survey.

To do so, for #31, Best Local Blog, type "Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row"

For #32, Best Local Twitter Feed, type "@BethesdaRow"

Answer whichever other questions you wish, fill in your name and phone/email at the bottom to enter the ticket drawing, and submit.

Ready? CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

BETHESDA FOOD TRUCK

POLL RESULTS ARE IN

Residents Overwhelmingly Favor

Mobile Cuisine Purveyors

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Bethesda has spoken: residents and workers love food trucks.

An online poll created by Ken Hartman, director of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, was taken by 47 people.

Hartman reports that just over 80% favor food trucks, and would like to have more in downtown Bethesda.

16% said food trucks are "OK but...there may be a problem if too many trucks set up in one place."

Just 3% said "they're awful and the county needs to regulate them more."

The results certainly reflect what I hear regularly from people in Bethesda. Most express that they wish more of the popular trucks that operate in the District would come here, too.

That may require the county to rework and enhance their regulations to make our jurisdiction more attractive to DC food trucks.

Bravo to the Red Hook Lobster Truck for being one of the very few DC trucks to venture out to Bethesda.

In fact, the Lobster Truck is scheduled to be at Wisconsin and Leland for lunch today! So show them some support.

The other great thing that's happening even as we try to figure out how to lure DC trucks here, is that a set of homegrown, Montgomery County trucks are popping up at lunch hours countywide.

Suburban Bros., Go Fish Truck, Thatsalata!, Cravin Cookies, Cupcake Blvd. (working in MoCo and Anne Arundel), and Corned Beef King - to name a few - are not just meeting consumer demands, but are actively cooperating and supporting each other's efforts.

That is helping to grow the whole market for food trucks in Bethesda and the county.

For that reason, I disagree with the complaint about multiple trucks stopping at once. Sometimes 2 or 3 trucks will stop at a spot, and it allows people to spread their money among several operators. Likewise, diners can get a salad from one, a sandwich from a second, and a cupcake for dessert.

Thanks to all those who took the poll and to Ken Hartman for posting it. This type of feedback ensures that if code changes are made, that they will be guided by the knowledge that a majority of residents support food trucks.

Of course, brick-and-mortar restaurants need to be heard from as well. But the more choices available, the better for the consumer.

This poll indicates that consumer wants more, not fewer, dining choices.

BETHESDA

FOOD TRUCK

SURVEY

Bethesda food truck fans will want to fill out this one-question survey from the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, a.k.a. the Montgomery County Government.

By showing your support for food trucks, hopefully we can one day have the great variety of purveyors found during the lunch hour in downtown Washington right here in Bethesda.

One of the possible answers in the survey suggests that tougher food truck regulations could be coming from the county government, if a majority of the respondents are opposed to the status quo. That's why it's important to take 10 seconds and respond positively to food trucks in the survey. And to forward this to fellow food truck fanatics you know, so everyone can be heard.

Of course, food trucks' presence can be considered unfair by restaurant owners who pay the fees and taxes that help Bethesda Urban Partnership keep downtown Bethesda in such good shape. They've got a good point, and every significant issue in life is usually resolved through compromise.

So the poll is not about choosing one side or the other. It's merely a vote to favor more choices and free enterprise; the finer points will be resolved as we go forward.

Brick and mortar restaurants have advantages, too. Climate control. You can have a drink at the bar if there's a wait. Food trucks can't serve liquor, beer or wine at all! Ultimately, price, food quality, variety, customer service and atmosphere can trump a food truck. That's where competition and free enterprise make all of the competitors stronger.

Moreover, food trucks have had a positive effect on cuisine in Bethesda's restaurants. Two years ago, there weren't any lobster rolls in downtown Bethesda. After the popular Red Hook Lobster Truck came to Bethesda, there are at least half-a-dozen restaurants that serve lobster rolls in town. (They'll be here for lunch today, in fact!)

Go Fish Truck (Crab Melt!), Curbside Cupcakes, Cravin Cookies (Brownies!), Corned Beef King (Corned Beef Hash!), Toasted Truck, Sub Urban Bros. (Meatball sub!)... all have been to Bethesda. Let's keep them coming back, and maintain or improve conditions that will tempt some of the popular DC trucks to finally cross the border.

So, feel free to post your ideas and arguments for or against food trucks here, but make sure you get heard in this survey, because the results may impact future decision-making by the county.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY