About the DMV Right of Way Obstruction Reporter
A woefully common obstacle for cyclists and pedestrians in the DC-Maryland-Virginia area (the "DMV") are right-of-way obstructions: blockages of bike lanes or sidewalks that interfere with or entirely prevent the infrastructure's intended purpose. Parked or idling motor vehicles are perhaps the most common form of obstruction, but they may also be caused by building or road construction lacking adequate mitigation or alternative routes. While superficially an issue of convenience, these obstructions also pose significant safety issues. A vehicle parked in a bike lane or a construction site without an alternate route can force pedestrians and cyclists into the street, potentially exposing them to motor vehicle traffic and increasing the risk of injury or death. Moreover, it forces other road users to adapt to pedestrians or cyclists in ways they should not need to. Ultimately, these obstructions produce a more dangerous road environment for everyone.
As this is truly a regional issue, it requires a regional solution. To that end, this project intends to create a crowdsourced web map that stores and displays right-of-way obstructions throughout the DMV. In addition to collecting data from users, the app aims to direct users to the relevant enforcement agency upon report submission (this feature is still in development). While I cannot hope to force greater interjurisdictional cooperation in addressing this problem, the application constitutes a living, growing database that catalogs the problem while providing users with avenues to resolution.
Website features
- Report obstructions and view prior reports on the Obstruction Reporter page.
- Export collected data on the Data Download page.
