Missed connection

[Riley Casey]

You: the sneaky person who rifled through my panniers while I was in the bank this morning. If you were desperate enough to steal why not take the apples and peanut butter? Not that desperate then, just opportunistic?

Me: realizing that the zone of never leaving anything attached to my bike except the lock has moved out to Silver Spring

[KLizotte]

@Riley Casey 72109 wrote:

You: the sneaky person who rifled through my panniers while I was in the bank this morning. If you were desperate enough to steal why not take the apples and peanut butter? Not that desperate then, just opportunistic?

Me: realizing that the zone of never leaving anything attached to my bike except the lock has moved out to Silver Spring

Oh no Riley! I hope nothing too valuable was taken.

[bobco85]

You: cyclist biking in the bike lane on 2nd Street South in front of the Thomas Jefferson Community Center this evening
Me: cyclist biking out of the TJCC parking lot with his helmet camera on, following behind a minivan who almost hit you when it was attempting a right turn onto 2nd St.

Good job avoiding a collision with that minivan by simultaneously yelling “Stop!” to get the driver’s attention and maneuvering out of the bike lane to give more space. I’m glad that you were able to avoid a collision, but just in case, I did get the whole thing on video:

[video=youtube_share;ipM7v1lKFhw]http://youtu.be/ipM7v1lKFhw[/video]

[jrenaut]

Yes, lady in the Mini Cooper, you DO have to yield to me when turning through a bike lane. Think of the bike lane like an HOV lane when you’re driving alone – you can’t drive there, but you have to remember that it MIGHT BE &#*$ING OCCUPIED when you cross through it.

[baiskeli]

@pfunkallstar 72105 wrote:

You: Possible Kiwi/Australian (sorry couldn’t quite identify the accent due to Doppler shift)

English/Canadian, perhaps? Where was Dickie on that day?

[consularrider]

@baiskeli 72213 wrote:

English/Canadian, perhaps? Where was Dickie on that day?

Or more appropriately, what was vvill doing driving through that intersection in the first place?

[jrenaut]

To really get a feel for how annoyed I am, please insert your favorite profanity after every 2-3 words in this post as you read it.

You: Cab driver turning left on A RED ARROW from 15th NW onto K St
Me: The cyclist who was going north WITH THE GREEN LIGHT who stopped and put a foot down in the middle of K St to yell, “HEY! RED LIGHT!”
You: Waving me through the intersection like you were doing me a favor.
Me: “LOOK AT YOUR LIGHT! IT IS RED!”
You II: Passenger in the back of the car, ALSO waving me through the intersection like I’m the crazy one.

I just emailed DC police to ask for some enforcement. Does anyone know the proper channel for reporting this in DC? I didn’t get a plate or cab number or anything, but as you can tell from my posts here, it’s not really hard to find someone doing this. Just wait two light cycles at Mass and you’re pretty much guaranteed to see it.

[Drewdane]

If you heard the following phrase on the WOD tonight, uttered in a sarcastic tone…

“On my left, I guess! Thanks for the warning!”

that was me and yes, it was directed at you and yes, you are an inconsiderate tw@twaffle. I don’t exactly know what a tw@twaffle is, but you are one.

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@eminva 3468 wrote:

I’ve seen some crazy stuff on the trails/streets, and I’m wondering whether any of you try to do any “education” in a constructive manner with other cyclists. … So far I’ve been unable to think of a way to offer anything that would be constructive and well-received. Maybe there isn’t any way to do it. Anyone else have any experience with this?

Thanks.Liz

Liz,
I’ve tried yelling warnings, but usually they just sound angry, even if I don’t mean to (well, I am yelling). for ninja runners, going in the same direction, I’ve tried slowing down and, in a conversational voice, saying, “Did you know I had trouble seeing you. It’s a danger to yourself and others. You should consider a light or at least a reflector.” which evokes an occasional, “Oh, thanks,” which I take as a successful contact. I wonder if Tim might let me have a supply of those nifty BikeArlington frog handlebar lights that I could hand out to ninja runners–but I’m not sure they’d actually wear them.

Generally, my experience is that motivation must come from within; from a desire to emulate someone behaving well that they respect, so I figure it’s best to lead by example. Personally the greatest positive influence on me, (to observe traffic laws and show more courtesy) has been this forum, because I respect the conscious (not always easy) efforts others make to do the right thing….and still I have trouble waiting for green lights,etc. (but at least I’m trying) “Thank you, Forum Users.”

Dave

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@Drewdane 72240 wrote:

If you heard the following phrase on the WOD tonight, uttered in a sarcastic tone…

“On my left, I guess! Thanks for the warning!”

that was me and yes, it was directed at you and yes, you are an inconsiderate tw@twaffle. I don’t exactly know what a tw@twaffle is, but you are one.

I thought it was “Tw@twhistle“

[rcannon100]

My approach is the advertising mantra that the audience has to hear the message 9 times before it gets through. In that moment, you probably wont convince anyone of anything. But say something. No excited – not angry – just matter of fact. “Visibility please.” And if the next guy says something. And the next guys says something. And if they see a PSA. And if a friend says something at dinner. And if they see an ad about reflective gear…. in time the message will get through.

If you see something, say something.

I see a squirrel.

[Tim Kelley]

@Fast Friendly Guy 72249 wrote:

I wonder if Tim might let me have a supply of those nifty BikeArlington frog handlebar lights that I could hand out to ninja runners–but I’m not sure they’d actually wear them.

Reflective vests are the preferred item to give to runners. And yes, we do have leftovers.

[83b]

Saw my first U turn through the zebra-ed section of the Penn Ave lanes today. It was pulled off swiftly and confidently (in fact they looked practiced at it) by some mid-sized sedan. Ugh…

[UrbanEngineer]

@jrenaut 72221 wrote:

You: Cab driver turning left on A RED ARROW from 15th NW onto K St

I see this happen from a distance maybe once or twice a week. I’ve caught it on camera a handful of times with me in or approaching the intersection (see this youtube hit (very far from actually being a hit) http://youtu.be/i8oLcpHOzCA for the evidence)). I think it happens more at R and S streets then it does at Mass and I think it would happen a lot more if it wasn’t for the delay associated with the pedestrian signal. I see the cars scooting forward wanting to go all the time, but since bicyclists get to go first, we scoot on through, or are clearly in their way, before they get to go.

I might grab a book and a cup of coffee and lock my bike up with the camera running and pointing at an intersection for an hour or so and send that in to the police if there’s an abundance or red light running.

[jrenaut]

I’m surprised you say R and S, because I rarely have a problem there. I’ve definitely seen it at both, but not recently. Maybe it’s light timing at different times of day? Most days I come through early, around 3pm.

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