There has already been much consternation over DDOT’s decision to re-do the nearly-completed Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes, one day before Mayor Adrian Fenty and bicycle-patron-saint Rep. Earl Blumenauer were to triumphantly ride down them to kick off Bike-to-Work Day 2010. DDOT director Gabe Klein’s explanation was that the lanes were too wide, making them difficult to recognize as dedicated bike lanes, without a barrier like the one on 15th Street.

It bears repeating that other cities deal with this in a very simple way: painting the bike lanes a different color. Klein himself raised that possibility last October, but the National Capital Planning Commission said no no no, L’Enfant wouldn’t have wanted green paint marring his broad avenues. So, the lanes must be shrunk, at who-knows-what expense to the District.

Happy Bike to Work Day, all.

Photo via flickr user iKel V 9.0.