Found Connection

[DrP]

Me: Biking home from gym around 7:45pm, northbound on Quincy, I was stopped in the lane, left side since I was going to make a left on Fairfax.
You: Pulling up next to me, kinda closer than I would like, with the window down.
Me: All prepared for you to make some comment about my not being in the bike lane or other such comment I frequent get here, but…
You: “Your reflectors work really well. I could easily see you. I always worry when I am riding that no one will see me…”
and we chatted briefly along these lines until the light turned and you wished me a safe ride.

Thank you. That was a much better interaction than I normally get on that route.

[SpaceJockey]

Me: Biking home on my road bike taking the scenic route around the tidal basin after witnessing a crime near Waterfront metro and unable to catch the perp.
You: Sweet blonde woman with a green/purple jersey on a road bike zooming along your business at an impressive pace.

Thanks for the draft to Georgetown and the words of encouragement while doing a big gear crawl up the hill that resulted in both of us losing our clips.

[dbehrend]

Thanks to the cyclist who let me know I dropped a glove on my commute home & thanks to the driver who stopped short so I could pick it up.

[PeteD]

Dear Kurt,

Sorry.

–Paul

[lordofthemark]

Me: the only slightly disheveled rider in the garish orange raincoat

You: the MPD cop riding ahead of me in the west bound short PBL in the unit block of Eye Street SE

You “encouraged” a driver to not block the bike lane and when I said “thanks!” you said something about even though Uber is convenient, they really shouldn’t do that. And then you said something more to her, which I did not hear, when we caught up at the intersection with S Cap. You went on to do a perfect vehicular left at Delaware Avenue, properly merging from the bike lane into the general travel lane first.

I guess it seemed like being in a parallel universe. For all the kvetching here and on twitter, I actually saw this in DC. Thanks officer. And thanks to all the hardworking, tireless, persistent bike advocates in DC – despite much still to be frustrated with, this is the fruit of your work – and shows what can happen when there are enough people who ride to be a meaningful constituency.

[Jessica Hirschhorn]

Yeah hooray! Balances the US Park Police car that ran a stop light to take a FAST right turn and nearly hit me while I was in the crosswalk with the WALK sign. Nice to know.

[ChristoB50]

Me: Often spotted along 4 Mile Run Trail picking up trailside litter in the evenings.

You: The few bikers (at least 1, sometimes as many as 3 each time I’m out) who slow down to ask if everything is ok or if I need help (not realizing I’m picking up trash vs. say, looking for lost keys or some more serious situation unfolding trailside…)
It is a wonderful, refreshing jolt when strangers take an interest/concern in another stranger’s potential troubles like that!

[cvcalhoun]

Me: Stopped at a light.
You: Coming the other way, intending to turn left.
Me: When the light changed, started up immediately, but of course it takes a little time to get up momentum on a bike, which meant left turn guy has to wait a little longer.
You: Rolls down his windows to yell something at me.
Me: Wince, because that is usually a sign of trouble. But then I realize what he is yelling at me: “You can do it. You can do it. It’s Friday, you can do it.”

[lordofthemark]

Just happy to see so many folks riding today, in places I don’t usually see them.

There were TWO other riders on Park Center Drive – one heading to the “midwalk” over I395, one coming back up Park Center from King. I hardly ever see other riders on Park Center.

I passed an apparent newbie commuter on 30th heading to Abingdon.

On Abingdon I saw a few kids riding to school.

The best thing though was one little girl, on her bike, waiting to cross Abingdon in the crosswalk. Car going NB stopped for her, as I (going SB) did. Instead of crossing (for whatever reason) she waved the car forward with her hand, like an experienced bike commuter. Put a smile on my face.

[komorebi]

Scene: Crystal City, yesterday afternoon around 6:45 p.m. An SUV driver was heading west on 26th Street South, looking to make a left turn onto South Clark Street. At the stop sign, he stopped too far ahead of the stop bar, impeding a bus that was turning left from Clark Street onto 26th Street. After getting a glare from the bus driver, the SUV driver sheepishly put his car into reverse and backed up to the stop bar. Once the bus cleared the intersection, the SUV driver crept forward again but failed to see the pedestrians in the crosswalk, approaching from his left side. When he finally did notice them, he nosed his vehicle to the right to minimize his blocking of the crosswalk (but still got some well-deserved glares from the pedestrians). All of this maneuvering left his SUV in an awkward position to make the left turn onto Clark, so he had to wait a while for both lanes of traffic on Clark to clear in order make his turn.

You: the rider behind me who also saw all of these shenanigans. You snorted and said, “Worst driver ever.”

We shared a laugh at the cluelessness of the driver and went our respective ways.

[drevil]

@ChristoB50 188446 wrote:

It is a wonderful, refreshing jolt when strangers take an interest/concern in another stranger’s potential troubles like that!

…or is it?

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?11998-Please-Stop-Asking-If-I-am-Okay

[ChristoB50]

@drevil 191521 wrote:

…or is it?
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?11998-Please-Stop-Asking-If-I-am-Okay

Interesting read — perhaps recent things start making a bit more sense to me now…!
However, the explanation behind the initial gripe gets succinctly presented in #136; and it is something I can sort of agree with (though experiencing it doesn’t yet move me to anger.)

Dear god – if I can’t grow a proper full beard, what does this mean!?

[lordofthemark]

The rider who found my dropped pannier (first time this has happened, I swear) on the sidewalk north of the fish market, and who caught up to me and handed it to me. You are a credit to bikeDC, and saved me a huge huge hassle. Thanks!

[Crickey7]

To the rider who peppered me with questions about the L Street cycletrack and my helmet cam before excitedly exclaiming this was her first time bike commuting in 5 years, I repeat: That’s awesome.

[Judd]

Me: riding in the bike lane in Braddock Road.
Me: “oh, that driver was nice to give me additional room.”

1 second later –
Me: “oh, they have a bike rack. It’s good when bike people look out for each other.”

1 second later –
Me: “oh, wait, that’s Emm! I wonder if she recognized me.”

1 second later –
Emm: waves

Good to see a friend out on the road.

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