Missed connection

[mikoglaces]

@PeteD 66757 wrote:

Me: Cyclist, being a PAL and stopped at Great Falls/Little Falls Light, going north on Great Falls.
You: Mercedes GL behind me.

It’s not my fault that Great Falls is a downhill slope, and I was speeding, but you decided to keep up with me, until we got to to the speed bump. I’d write a letter to the Falls Church city council to see if they’ll replace your suspension.

–Pete

I love going at speed over speed bumps when cars are behind. Am I the only guy that finds it irksome when cars pass me just as we are getting to a speed bump?

[creadinger]

@mikoglaces 66780 wrote:

I love going at speed over speed bumps when cars are behind. Am I the only guy that finds it irksome when cars pass me just as we are getting to a speed bump?

Suitland Rd SE, where it veers off of Alabama Ave SE is the definition of this. From the light at Branch Ave, I take the right lane and bear right onto Suitland Rd. Right after is the only place where cars can pass me and right after that is a series of 5 big speed humps on a downhill. Occasionally a driver will insist on passing me only to slow down to 15mph at the speed humps. I go around them and continue down the hill going more like 25mph. It’s the whole – Cars should always pass bikes mentality, with no thought put into what’s ahead.

[ebubar]

Final results of my ACPD complaint:

The officer was investigated and cleared of wrongdoing. I heard his side of the story and could see where he was coming from. I disagree with his style/approach/attitude, but it is what it is. I simply requested that something be on file in case the fellow has a pattern of treating cyclists poorly. I assume the best in people and think that it was probably just a bad day and the guy isn’t some rebel, bike hating cop. I’d say all ended well.

What might be relevant for others here is the conversation I had with ACPD about the legality of “taking the lane” on North Glebe Road (north of Marymount University). The officers I spoke with were all of the opinion that it is safe for a car and bike to occupy the same lane on that stretch of road. If they see you “taking the lane”, everyone I spoke with would consider this illegal and not subject to the “substandard lane width” exception in VA law. I was told that if I need to take the lane to feel safe, do so, but understand that I might have to defend this decision in court if ever ticketed. They suggested the sidewalks might be a safer place to ride (I disagree).

I should note that they officers were very cordial and willing to discuss the difference in opinion. They acknowledged that their interpretation was just an opinion and that I am equally valid in my interpretation too. I suspect that any ticket that resulted from taking the lane could be easily defeated in court. Especially since the investigation went to city planners who thought that any lane smaller than 14 feet is too narrow to safely share between a car and a bike.

Personally, to avoid any question of legality, I have taken to Military Road and am getting awesome thighs from chasing guys on folding bikes up the hills. Just ask my wife

[mstone]

Can someone inform LAB and have them take back that award? I don’t care how much bike share there is if the cops are running around with that kind of attitude.

[rpiretti]

ME: Humming along on the W O&D
You: Suicidal chipmunk. You can’t just dive into spokes and expect to get away w/o a scratch. Silly chipmunk.

[KLizotte]

@ebubar 66852 wrote:

What might be relevant for others here is the conversation I had with ACPD about the legality of “taking the lane” on North Glebe Road (north of Marymount University). The officers I spoke with were all of the opinion that it is safe for a car and bike to occupy the same lane on that stretch of road. If they see you “taking the lane”, everyone I spoke with would consider this illegal and not subject to the “substandard lane width” exception in VA law. I was told that if I need to take the lane to feel safe, do so, but understand that I might have to defend this decision in court if ever ticketed. They suggested the sidewalks might be a safer place to ride (I disagree).

Whoa. I don’t even know where to begin….:mad:

[kcb203]

@ebubar 66852 wrote:

Especially since the investigation went to city planners who thought that any lane smaller than 14 feet is too narrow to safely share between a car and a bike.

A standard truck is up to 8.5 feet wide. So if the truck stays 1′ on its side of the line and leaves 3′ for a cyclist who is 2′ wide staying .5′ to the left of the edge of the lane, we’ve got:

1′
8.5′
3′
2′
1′

Total of 15.5′ > 14′

It seems to me that the city planners are right and the cops are wrong.

[guga31bb]

@ebubar 66852 wrote:

They suggested the sidewalks might be a safer place to ride (I disagree).

Wow, that’s terrible

[Terpfan]

Me: Cyclist on a rented bike traveling back from Muir Woods on the downhill stretch of US 1.
You: Driving a dark blue hatchbag with VA license plates who decided to pass me and then hit your brakes hard because miracously the same cement truck was also in front of you.

I think I’m escaping from bad local drivers, ha, but they find me a coast away.

[consularrider]

@Terpfan 66916 wrote:

Me: Cyclist on a rented bike traveling back from Muir Woods on the downhill stretch of US 1.
You: Driving a dark blue hatchbag with VA license plates who decided to pass me and then hit your brakes hard because miracously the same cement truck was also in front of you.

I think I’m escaping from bad local drivers, ha, but they find me a coast away.

US 1 would still be on the East Coast!

[Terpfan]

@consularrider 66918 wrote:

US 1 would still be on the East Coast!

Good point, CA 1.

[baiskeli]

You: consularrider.

Me: baiskeli.

Gooooooooooood morning!

[Xarici]

@creadinger 66786 wrote:

Cars should always pass bikes mentality, with no thought put into what’s ahead.

Definitely experienced this tonight. Heading east on ECap there were four of us cyclists in a row, taking the lane to go around a couple cars parked in the bike lane when a black SUV driver zooms up, fully in the wrong lane, and tries to pass all four of us at once causing the driver coming the opposite direction to come to a complete stop in his own lane to avoid a head on collision. Unbelievable.

[jrenaut]

Me: Riding to work as usual.
Everyone else: Being complete a****les.

What was it this morning? Is there a full moon? First there’s CaBi guy riding down the hill on 14th NW above Florida, trying to squeeze in between the big truck and the parked cars, then getting mad when the truck turned right. Then I got shoaled by EVERY CYCLIST ON 14TH STREET. Then I hit PA Ave and the jaywalking started. Oh, the jaywalking. I should have stayed in bed.

[consularrider]

For me it was just the guy on the CaBi running the light at Quincy and Campbell in Shirlington as I was leaving HDCC at Best Buns. Worst thing was he was looking right at me (full lights and yellow jacket) and still kept coming knowing we were on a collision course. Jack/hole!

[Author]

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