Thanks for the Bike Path! (Why the New Road?)

So, for those who live in the Maryland suburbs outside DC, the awesome news according to this WJZ story is as follows (and I quote in italics):

There’s a new way to avoid tolls on the Intercounty Connector.

We could have avoided the whole thing by not building the road to begin with. What this article doesn't tell you is how much opposition there was to building this damn road at all. Now, instead of spending money on yet another f*cking road in this traffic-clogged area, they could have 1) put the money into building a better public transit system; 2) improve the existing roads and bridges (many of which are ready to crumble to bits); 3) help upgrade the Metro system, which really desperately needs the help; 4) anything else, except build another damn road. 

WTOP-FM reports that a freshly paved biking and jogging path is now open between Needwood Road and Emory Lane in the Rockville-Derwood area.

The path is separated from the ICC by concrete dividers and freshly planted trees. It’s the first segment of what the Maryland State Highway Administration says will be more than 11 miles of bike paths built as part of the ICC project. The paths will make it easier to travel by bicycle from the Shady Grove Metro station to the Muirkirk MARC station in Beltsville.

Golly, that was nice of you to replace all those trees you tore down to put in that road no one wanted that we must pay to drive on. Thank you so much!

And I can just imagine how useful a bike path between a Metro station in Shady Grove and a train station in Beltsville will be. I'm sure people will clamor to connect from a train headed out of Beltsville by riding their bikes to Shady Grove and vice versa, since they're only -- what? -- 25 or so miles apart? Hmm ... these stations could have been connected by a light rail instead of a road, but hey, we got a bike path, right?

And somehow 11 miles of bike path will be enough to accomplish the job? Or more? A whole lot more, I guess? :)

The next segment of the ICC for drivers is expected to open later this year or early next year.

Oh, goody. More bike paths, right?

Hey, here's a thought. Save your money by not building the road and just widen the existing roads to create more bike paths. How about that?

And while we're at it, let's not forget to enforce parking laws so bikers can make full use of the roads unimpeded. (Awesome video via Grist)