FedEx trucks on R Street NE

[BigBrightGreen]

I’d like to bring this topic up again and see what other people’s opinions are. I experienced this issue again yesterday (it seems to be at its worst on Thursday mornings during rush hour). Yesterday, it was so bad that another cyclist and I went up on the sidewalk just to get ahead of a major traffic jam. During the one city block that we rode, two different residents told me very forcefully that it was “illegal to ride on the sidewalk” (which it is not).

But I bring that up because I’m guessing that the residents of this particular stretch of road would also probably support a discussion with FedEx on this issue. I know I would certainly not be thrilled if some company was suddenly using the street outside my front door as they’re own personal through way…

[huskerdont]

I don’t know the route, but if the trucks are illegally blocking the road, you could contact MPD and point out that it is a safety concern. I don’t think they’ll do anything effective (they can’t stop it in the CBD so there’s no reason to think they’d be more effective out there), but barring that, I don’t see much you can do. You could contact FedEx itself, but they won’t care; it’s part of their business model to break the law and pay the tickets.

Riding on the sidewalk may be legal, but if there are pedestrians there that it’s upsetting, you might look at things. If it’s just one pedestrian or so, they could just be tetchy or crazy, but if it happens a lot, you could be scaring them. I know when I need to use a sidewalk (Key Bridge), I ride very gently. I have even taken to calling my passes in a conversational way rather than using my bell (which makes people jump) or shouting “on your left” (which people walking on a sidewalk can’t really be expected to understand). YMMV.

[annoyedindc]

I used to live on 2nd St NE and go down R st NE to get to work in Dupont. I’d have to echo huskerdont’s thinking that the city can’t/won’t do anything about it, and FedEx will care even less.

That street is just a narrow mess with people parking on both sides and going over speed humps too quickly. Take the sidewalk when it’s bad and just ignore the people who think they ‘know’ the law. There’s nothing they can do to stop you from riding there that wouldn’t break the law.

I’ll say I don’t miss living in that area and biking through there. That intersection with N. Capitol has some interesting characters that I also don’t miss.

[Author]

Posts