Article: Easy Bikes, No Spandex Required

[GovernorSilver]

@PotomacCyclist 117881 wrote:

Are the classes free or is a fee charged?

I paid $65 for the class with REI back in April. I couldn’t find any WABA beginner’s class at the time. I paid $20 for WABA’s beginner class in May. I prefer WABA’s method btw.

I’ve practiced on my own since taking the WABA class. After two weeks of practice in a parking lot, abandoned cul-de-sac, etc. I ventured out on the road and hit the MVT for the first time. After my 2nd stint on the MVT (4 hrs, 23 miles) I have the confidence to bike more on the trails. However, I’m waiting until I take WABA’s City Cycling class before I try a test commute ride, which for me would take 1 hr. 5 min. each way, according to Google Maps – realistically probably more like 1 hr. 35 min. because my top speed in the flats is under 14 mph. I’m fine on our mixed-use trails but I’m not sure I’m ready to take on the streets of DC yet.

[PotomacCyclist]

Part of city cycling is pre-planning (finding good routes). Part of it involves familiarity with routes: where the good roads/trails are, where the more hazardous or unfriendly roads are, and so on. Part of it is experience and the comfort that comes from experience.

Some of the local side streets aren’t much different than riding on trails. Actually they can be better because there isn’t even much bike traffic on them. (The Mt. Vernon Trail has a lot of bike traffic at peak hours, which can sometimes be uncomfortable for many.) But arterials and high-speed roads can be more daunting, even if you’re just crossing them. I think the most important point that I try to remember is that car drivers (and sometimes other cyclists and pedestrians) may not see you, so act accordingly. Especially at intersections. I also avoid particular streets and intersections, even though others are more comfortable with them. For me, this means that I tend to avoid the Arlington Memorial Bridge area, because of the trail/road crossings. This was the case even before the emergency partial closure of the bridge.

[Steve O]

@PotomacCyclist 117881 wrote:

Are the classes free or is a fee charged? If there is that much demand, why not increase the price to get more people to sign up for the training and be available to teach the classes? Or find some other way to get more teachers for the classes. Additional funding from WABA, DDOT, BikeArlington, etc.? Large businesses and government agencies sponsoring adult bike classes.

WABA supplies the teachers and curriculum, with the funding coming from the local jurisdictions. They charge a nominal fee, but walk-ins are free. If they charged to cover costs, it would be roughly $100/person for WABA to break even. I know we have enough instructors to handle more classes than we offer now.

Some of the League Certified Instructors (LCIs) offer private instruction at whatever their going rate is. I think you have to email WABA to get the list (I thought it was posted on the site, but I can’t find it. I did find this pic of me, though!).
Now I found it using the search function, but I can’t figure out where the link to it is: http://www.waba.org/classes/instructors-individualized-lessons/

Once upon a time, WABA was trying to set up an event to teach the most people to ride a bike in a single day for the Guinness Book of World Records. Unfortunately they were unable to find a suitable location and put together all the logistics.

I know that WABA would love to provide more instruction than they currently do–both Learn to Ride and City Cycling–but they are limited by their funding and their staffing.

[PotomacCyclist]

Instead of trying to have all the people in one place for the single-day record, can they have multiple locations on the same day? Perhaps shortly before Bike to Work Day? Even if it doesn’t qualify for Guinness (and I’m still skeptical that Guinness is the world’s expert on what counts as the most people learning to ride in a day, or holding the most balloons simultaneously or baking the largest pie in the world or… ), it would still be a neat event. A Learn-to-Ride-palooza, or another phrase.

This would make sense. Some people might avoid Bike to Work Day because they don’t know how to ride or they are worried about riding in city traffic or they don’t know which routes are better than others. Having multiple locations would mean that WABA wouldn’t need to find a super-large place. They could have several smaller locations along with one larger primary location.

Or if funding is an issue, have a limited number of WABA-sponsored classes plus other classes organized independently.

Did they ever look into the parking lots at RFK Stadium? Those are empty on most days, aren’t they? Even when the football team was playing in DC, they only had eight home games a year. DC United plays there, but they only have 17 home games a year over a 7-8 month period.

[GovernorSilver]

@PotomacCyclist 117885 wrote:

For me, this means that I tend to avoid the Memorial Bridge area, because of the trail/road crossings. This was the case even before the emergency partial closure of the bridge.

My work commute would be between Alexandria and NOMA so unless I want to add another hour to the route, I have to cross on that bridge that runs parallel to Arnold D. Williams Memorial Bridge (Google does not name it) or the Jefferson Memorial Bridge.

I never assume that drivers can see me, so I take the middle of the lane except on my home street, which is on a hill – I climb at about 3 mph – I switch to the sidewalk there if there’s nobody walking on it. Anyway, my main area of concern on my commute route is the section between National Mall and Union Station, though perhaps I should take this to the Commuter forum.

[PotomacCyclist]

That bridge is the George Mason Bridge, but is often lumped together with the other parallel bridges and referred to as the 14th St. Bridges. That’s my preferred route between Arlington and DC. I think it’s much safer and more comfortable than Arlington Memorial Bridge. Even with some of the improvements to the trail crossings near Memorial Bridge, I still avoid it when I have better alternatives. The 14th St. Bridge/George Mason Bridge is a faster route for me anyway.

[PotomacCyclist]

@GovernorSilver 117936 wrote:

My work commute would be between Alexandria and NOMA so unless I want to add another hour to the route, I have to cross on that bridge that runs parallel to Arnold D. Williams Memorial Bridge (Google does not name it) or the Jefferson Memorial Bridge.

I never assume that drivers can see me, so I take the middle of the lane except on my home street, which is on a hill – I climb at about 3 mph – I switch to the sidewalk there if there’s nobody walking on it. Anyway, my main area of concern on my commute route is the section between National Mall and Union Station, though perhaps I should take this to the Commuter forum.

From the George Mason Bridge, there are wide sidewalks most of the way to the Washington Monument grounds. Then you can turn onto Jefferson and Madison Drives to travel east-west along the Mall. Those drives usually have less traffic and at slower speeds than Independence Ave. and Constitution Ave. That will take you to 3rd St SW/NW.

I haven’t ridden from 3rd St to Union Station during peak hours too often, so I don’t have a specific recommendation for that part of the route. Louisiana Ave. would be a direct route, but I don’t know what the peak hour traffic is like. The sidewalk looks fairly wide, although bikes are restricted from sidewalks in central DC, including Louisiana Ave. That rule is not enforced that often and if the road lanes feel unsafe, slow riding on the sidewalk might be better. Just be aware that there’s the theoretical possibility of getting ticketed, even though I see many of the bike police officers (and Secret Service bike agents) riding on the sidewalks in the central business district.

If you do ride on a sidewalk, slow down. If I’m on a sidewalk, I try to ride at a speed that nearby pedestrians would be comfortable with. Also beware that drivers may not be expecting to see a cyclist crossing on a sidewalk. This is why many people think that sidewalk riding is more dangerous. I would agree, if the same speed is maintained. That’s why I slow down considerably if I’m on a sidewalk and I look carefully before every driveway intersection.

[gibby]

@GovernorSilver 117936 wrote:

Anyway, my main area of concern on my commute route is the section between National Mall and Union Station, though perhaps I should take this to the Commuter forum.

14st Bridge is definitely the way you want to go. The Mall–Union Station route is fabulous. Follow up 15th St to Jefferson Drive and cruise all the way to 3rd St at the Capitol. Minimal traffic– and where else can you ride past incredible museums on your commute both ways!

[PotomacCyclist]

Agreed. Those are some of my favorite running routes too. I feel comfortable running on Jefferson Drive most of the time. It takes you right in front of the Smithsonian Castle and the Freer Gallery. Spectacular views, although the Mall itself is looking a little shabby right now (because of the massive renovation project).

[GovernorSilver]

@PotomacCyclist 117940 wrote:

I haven’t ridden from 3rd St to Union Station during peak hours too often, so I don’t have a specific recommendation for that part of the route. Louisiana Ave. would be a direct route, but I don’t know what the peak hour traffic is like. The sidewalk looks fairly wide, although bikes are restricted from sidewalks in central DC, including Louisiana Ave. That rule is not enforced that often and if the road lanes feel unsafe, slow riding on the sidewalk might be better. Just be aware that there’s the theoretical possibility of getting ticketed, even though I see many of the bike police officers (and Secret Service bike agents) riding on the sidewalks in the central business district.

Google Maps seems to think Louisiana Ave. is a “bike friendly” road, so I guess I’ll just have to try it and see.

Google Maps also seems to think the paved paths cutting through Senate Park are “bike trails”. Do these “bike trails” count as “sidewalks” from the DC bike law perspective? Anyway, Louisiana Ave to D St. then through the “bike trails” in Senate Park and around Columbus Circle (where the “bike trails” become actual sidewalks) seems to be a way to get from National Mall to First St. and its dedicated bike lanes.

@PotomacCyclist 117940 wrote:

If you do ride on a sidewalk, slow down. If I’m on a sidewalk, I try to ride at a speed that nearby pedestrians would be comfortable with. Also beware that drivers may not be expecting to see a cyclist crossing on a sidewalk. This is why many people think that sidewalk riding is more dangerous.

Yes, I’ve already learned some painful lessons in sidewalk riding. Trash cans and random objects were tricky to go around, and most of my bruises came from messing up trying to go around said objects. I am also aware of fatalities like the elderly woman who was struck by a cyclist on Four Mile Run Trail because he refused to slow down, as well as my own experience as a pedestrian with aggressive cyclists flying around me on MVT.

There are a couple of of occasions though where I cannot avoid the sidewalk. I must climb my home street, which is narrow enough to only allow one car at a time (if two are headed in opposing directions, one must yield to the other) to get home and my speed is only 3 mph on this climb. If a car comes up behind me, I switch to the sidewalk, unless there is someone on it, in which case, I stay on the road until I pass the person/animal on the sidewalk. Another example is the Eisenhower overpass connecting Huntington/Telegraph to Eisenhower – the only way to get onto the protected mixed-use path is to get on the sidewalk. Yet another is Holmes Run Trail, which runs parallel to the sidewalk for most of Eisenhower, but then merges onto the sidewalk as it approaches the overpass.

[kwarkentien]

I work just off Louisiana at 1st and C and it is a reasonably safe bike route. I take it all the way to the circle most times. If you’re riding your own bike and need to lock it up, the racks are on the 1st St NE side just above the secure indoor bike parking structure. If you’re taking CaBi, the bike dock is on the other side by SEC.

[PotomacCyclist]

I posted all the bike racks near Union Station on the RackSpotter map this week, plus photos of each location.

[gibby]

@GovernorSilver 117979 wrote:

Anyway, Louisiana Ave to D St. then through the “bike trails” in Senate Park and around Columbus Circle (where the “bike trails” become actual sidewalks) seems to be a way to get from National Mall to First St. and its dedicated bike lanes.

Depending how far you’re going up 1st ST (NE?), an easier (less traffic) route I’ve found- after trying many routes around Union Station and being eternally frustrated with the amount of insane traffic and angled streets, is to continue up 3rd ST to E St, then left on 1st ST NW. Traffic gets a bit weird around the Walmart sometimes, so you can veer left to up go NJ Ave at the GU Law Center, right on I St, left back on 1st, right on K St or go thru the intersection at K to L St, which is an alleyway there. Continue across L St to 1st NE.

[PotomacCyclist]

FYI – A new CaBi station was added today at 2nd & G NE, about a block away from Union Station. There are three other bike stations already, within a block or 1.5 blocks of Union Station, but the new one covers the NE side.

I mapped all the bike racks on that block to RackSpotter just last week. No CaBi station then, but there’s one now.

https://www.facebook.com/CapitalBikeshare/photos/a.667621183271206.1073741828.134700293229967/1014930455206942/?type=1&theater

[GovernorSilver]

@PotomacCyclist 118396 wrote:

FYI – A new CaBi station was added today at 2nd & G NE, about a block away from Union Station. There are three other bike stations already, within a block or 1.5 blocks of Union Station, but the new one covers the NE side.

I mapped all the bike racks on that block to RackSpotter just last week. No CaBi station then, but there’s one now.

https://www.facebook.com/CapitalBikeshare/photos/a.667621183271206.1073741828.134700293229967/1014930455206942/?type=1&theater

Thanks for your efforts. My workplace has its own bike parking room but it’s good to know where the options are if, say, I want to hang somewhere outside of work nearby, like Union Station.

[Author]

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