Arlington Bike Lane Free-for-Alls

[elbows]

Admittedly, I’m not sure this rose to the level of a close call, but it was a near close –call, so I’ll post it here as it speaks to a pet-peeve of mine.

On a rainy Saturday morning (4/23) I was riding north on Quincy in the bike lane, approaching Fairfax. I noticed a minivan to my left with no regard for the lane weaving in and out, so I had my eye on them. Then, I came upon another driver who had pulled into the bike lane to attend to her cell phone. I guess it’s admirable that she stopped driving, but it would be nice if those lanes were not treated as vehicle hang-out lanes. So, I had my right eye on her as I’ve noticed that those with willful disregard of the bicycle lane are apt to start up again without looking around.

Next thing I know, I look up and notice I am beginning to pull into the intersection at Fairfax and completely blow through the red light which had just changed since I had been able to look forward, what with being occupied eyeing the bozos to my right and left. I slam on my breaks, screeching in the rain (and thanking Green Lizard Cycling in Herndon which recently suggested I replace my braking system with v-brakes) and then hurriedly back up as vehicles begin coming at me.

I know we’re looking to a future of protected bike lanes on Quincy. In the meantime, does ACPD ever issue warnings or citations* to drivers? Perhaps if they did this and could collect some data, it would bolster the case for protected lanes. The bike lane on Lynn Street in Rosslyn can be another free-for-all.

*See good parenting theory of punishment.

Topic

[dbb]

You hit on a big rub with any form of traffic control – compliance requires enforcement. If we decline to do enforcement, the public will realize that compliance with a traffic control device (traffic light, stop sign, bike lane paint, other traffic control device) is really elective. While motorists may be difficult to train, it is possible. Alas, that will likely take a bit more engagement than a couple of weeks a year of “smooth operator”

Just like some cyclists play the odds with respect to compliance, motorists do the same thing.

[accordioneur]

This morning I was heading south on the very same bike lane. As I was passing the Arlington Ed Center a car turned right into the parking lot right in front of me, almost hitting me. I must say that I ride the Quincy St. bike lane all the time and don’t usually have problems, but all it takes is one time!

[Rod Smith]

We all know who is targeted by “make biking safer” law enforcement efforts.

[kjdtarheel]

In Alexandria, on Monroe Ave., just at the south end of Del Ray, the city had resurfaced the road and then striped in new bike lanes. As part of the rehab, they also replaced the speed humps in the car lanes. This, however, only led to cars avoiding the speed humps by weaving through the bike lanes. I even saw cops do it.

That said, as of last week, there are three new speed humps through the parking lane and part of the bike lane. So, thank you Alexandria for recognizing this problem and acting quickly to address it.

[creadinger]

@kjdtarheel 138898 wrote:

In Alexandria, on Monroe Ave., just at the south end of Del Ray, the city had resurfaced the road and then striped in new bike lanes. As part of the rehab, they also replaced the speed humps in the car lanes. This, however, only led to cars avoiding the speed humps by weaving through the bike lanes. I even saw cops do it.

That said, as of last week, there are three new speed humps through the parking lane and part of the bike lane. So, thank you Alexandria for recognizing this problem and acting quickly to address it.

I like that stretch because with the humps there it’s easy to go as fast or faster than the car traffic and take the lane all the way up to Mt. Vernon.

[dasgeh]

@elbows 138851 wrote:

Admittedly, I’m not sure this rose to the level of a close call, but it was a near close –call, so I’ll post it here as it speaks to a pet-peeve of mine.

On a rainy Saturday morning (4/23) I was riding north on Quincy in the bike lane, approaching Fairfax. I noticed a minivan to my left with no regard for the lane weaving in and out, so I had my eye on them. Then, I came upon another driver who had pulled into the bike lane to attend to her cell phone. I guess it’s admirable that she stopped driving, but it would be nice if those lanes were not treated as vehicle hang-out lanes. So, I had my right eye on her as I’ve noticed that those with willful disregard of the bicycle lane are apt to start up again without looking around.

Next thing I know, I look up and notice I am beginning to pull into the intersection at Fairfax and completely blow through the red light which had just changed since I had been able to look forward, what with being occupied eyeing the bozos to my right and left. I slam on my breaks, screeching in the rain (and thanking Green Lizard Cycling in Herndon which recently suggested I replace my breaking system with v-brakes) and then hurriedly back up as vehicles begin coming at me.

I know we’re looking to a future of protected bike lanes on Quincy. In the meantime, does ACPD ever issue warnings or citations* to drivers? Perhaps if they did this and could collect some data, it would bolster the case for protected lanes. The bike lane on Lynn Street in Rosslyn can be another free-for-all.

*See good parenting theory of punishment.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE report to des@arlingtonva.us and police@arlingtonva.us . Just a few blocks north of there, while my husband was doing the first of his six preschool runs of the day (it was one of those days), he noticed that cars were parked on the northbound side just north of 66 before the parking started – i.e. totally blocking the bike lane. He also noticed a ton of glass in the bike lane by Carpool. He emailed about both — the glass was cleaned up by his next trip down Quincy. The cars were never ticketed, despite being there all day.

Good thing ACPD is spending its time on a bike/pedestrian safety campaign this week.

[Author]

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