You Want a Better #BikeDC? - Testify at an Oversight Hearing

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You want the District Government to complete the Metropolitan Branch Trail or add protected bike lanes near you?

Ask them.

The Council of the District of Columbia has posted its Performance Oversight hearings schedule for the Fiscal Year 2018 Approved Budget for the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council (DCBAC), and Pedestrian Advisory Council.

Hearings for these agencies are scheduled for Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at 2:30pm in room 123 within the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

The agencies will make presentations before the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, chaired by Council member Mary Cheh (Ward 3). Specifically, oversight hearings provide a forum for Council tobask questions regarding the current operations of District Government agencies like DDOT, committees, and other government organizations during the current fiscal year, which began October 1, 2017 and provide information about successes (and failures) during the prior year.

The hearings also provides an opportunity for residents like you to testify about bicycling-related issues before a live studio audience and members of the District of Columbia Council. DDOT representatives will be present and may answer questions about the District's bicycle-related policies.

By testifying, you are effectively becoming an advocate for bicycling - put that on your resume! Once you're done Council members, or their staff, may ask questions about your issue to DDOT - on the spot!

While bike advocates always ask people to be advocates, they rarely explain what that entails. As BikeSpecific has testified a few times before, it has some thoughts on what to expect. If you are ready to testify for the first time, great. Below are some tips:

• Sign up now. Actually, if you do do this, you can't testify.  Contact Aukima Benjamin at 724-8062 or e-mail her at abenjamin@dccouncil.us.  She coordinates with the the Committee on Transportation and the Environment.
  
  
• What to say.  The most compelling testimony typically is about something that you've personally experienced. To really make an impact, that experience should have a broader context where, upon hearing your story, anyone can understand it,  relate to it, and feel compelled to do something about it.
  
  Your testimony shouldn't be solely about complaints. It's easy to kick DDOT for its seemingly decade's long the Eastern Downtown Protected Bike Lane study - because some day it will move past 30 percent design - but how does that really impact you? And more importantly, who else besides you can benefit from whatever it is you think needs improving? You are an advocate for the bike community, remembering that puts a lot of what you say and how you say it in perspective. If you can, chat with someone from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association to make sure that you get your facts straight - because facts help. Lastly, suggestions for improvements can work. Start with that.
  
  
• The panel. Once the Committee chair begins the hearing and provides opening remarks, she will empanel witnesses by calling out names and having them sit at a table placed in front of the dais. There can be several panels depending on the total number of speakers. Sometimes, organizations go first, then public witnesses, then government witnesses. The panel table has up to 4 microphones and sometimes a pitcher of water. Have a drink.
  
  When called, make sure you turn the microphone on and bring it within about 12 inches of your mouth. Say your name, speak normally. If they can't hear you, make sure the microphone is on and closer to you. When you're done speaking, turn the microphone off, no one wants to hear you breathe.
  
  At the center of the witness table, their are 3 lights: green (keep talking), yellow (you've got less than 30 seconds), and red (times up and electronic buzzing will commence). They may give you a few more seconds to finish your thought but don't press your luck.
  
  
• Written testimony. Council encourages, but does not require, the submission of written testimony in advance of the hearing, typically three business days before. If you do not submit written testimony beforehand, Council requests that you bring 10 copies with you to the hearing so that they can circulate it among the members and staff. It's not required but it's helpful so that they can ask better questions.
   
• You'll be on TV. The hearing will be televised live on the District Council's Cable channel. Tell your friends and warm up the VCR or some other recording device. Sit up straight and look at or in the direction of the council members. You're having a conversation about something you're interested in so try to relax. Try not to look into the camera because that's just weird.
   
• Watch your time. While written testimony can be longer, your oral testimony must be under 3 minutes as they can be strict with regard to time. Those representing organizations tend to have more time, up to 5 minutes. So if you represent a group, you'll have extra time to make your case.
  
  Generally, most witnesses read from their written testimony while more experienced speakers tend to highlight particular points so that they have time to discuss them later. Practice reading it your testimony. Do this to ensure that you don't go over time and what you write sometimes doesn't sound the same as when you speak it.
   
• You are not the only person with questions. Typically after the panel has made their statements, Council members may ask follow up questions or they may not. The Committee Chair typically is the first to act. The questions are usually asked in the same order as witness statements. Once the Committee Chair has completed asking her questions, she will ask if members of the committee have questions. If it's an issue they value, council members may ask more than one question or may ask your thoughts on what someone else at the witness table says. If the Council members don't ask questions, don't be offended, time may be an issue. Rarely, Council members who are not member of the Committee may participate. Lucky you.
   
• Can't make the hearing. Not everyone is capable of attending due to work or they are out of the area. Council accepts written testimony now and up to two days after the end of the hearing.
  
  The DCBAC also encourages you to submit comments to it directly. As they will be testifying as an entity of the government, you can contact them about what they've done or let them know if you've experienced issues while biking.
   
  
• Talking in front of large crowds isn't your thing. Hearings are open to the public so if you have issues with public speaking, the option of just sitting in the hearing room may be for you. As these hearings tend to happen during the day, they aren't always well attended. As the hearing will be shown live, having a full room shows the Council members and the public the importance of bicycling. Also, attendance is important for the public witnesses, as it lets them know that you have their back.
   
• No need to freak out. This process can be intimidating. Relax. Hundreds of people of all ages are public witnesses so it's really not that hard. Talk about what you know, don't talk about what you don't. For most public witnesses, the process is not adversarial so be cordial and topical. Council and government agencies really want to know what almost all of you think - but keep it about transportation. If you need to talk about boxing and wrestling, there's a hearing for that.

This seems like a lot, but it's not as much as you'd think. The important thing is that you've done a really important thing and spoke on behalf of thousands of people and directly helped make bicycling better in the District.

Congratulations!

A version of this article was published January 25, 2017.