Missed connection

[nikki_d]

You- riding in the Penn bike lane last night in the dark, rainy night with no lights or reflectors.

Me- lit up like a Christmas tree and unable to see you until I was 5 feet behind you even though you were wearing some type of completely non-helpful “high-vis” jacket that yelled “How about some lights, jack*hole!”

Please, please, please at least get a friggin’ rear reflector. Then at least my 500+ lumens of light would have hit something on you to make you visible. If I am behind you on a bike and can’t even figure out you are there and I am expecting other cyclists, what the hell are the poor drivers that are most certainly not expecting you and not looking ever going to see before they flatten you?

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@Tim Kelley 72264 wrote:

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

Tim, OKAY! I volunteer to spread the gospel according to BikeArlington…Give as many as you can spare and I will politely and judiciously distribute to the worst offenders!
Dave 703-850-4433

[Kolohe]

Came across this in my twitter feed (via)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4290[/ATTACH]
This ‪#‎DCtaxi‬ hit and ran from my son this morning i]Tues Dec 17[/i . Peter’s bike was totalled, but thankfully so far he seems to have just bumps and bruises. The taxi went into the bike lane to hit him. A passerby took this picture at 8:30 AM. Contact me i]John Schans[/i) if you see this taxicab.

[culimerc]

I had the strangest kind of missed connection this morning;

Me; stopped on the WOD looking to cross Sunrise Valley Dr.
You: In huge Dodge Ram Pickup, slows and moves into middle of the road to block both lanes of traffic for me.

Me: Uh… WOW THANKS!!!!

[DCAKen]

Is it me or is the trail crossing where Rock Creek Parkway meets Beach Drive getting more dangerous in the evening rush? On Tuesday, I was waiting to cross (going southbound) when a car stopped in the right lane to let me cross. A truck coming up behind in the left lane didn’t seem to notice the stopped car and came to a screeching halt as I was halfway across. A car behind the truck was going even faster and couldn’t stop in time, rear ending the truck. When is this intersection going to get a HAWK signal or its equivalent, like at the MVT crossing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehpuON4Mlxw

And as an added bonus on Tuesday, I had an close encounter with a cab that was turning right on a red light at Q Street and 20th. I was in the left lane on Q Street to make a left on Connecticut. He couldn’t even stay in the right lane, despite the fact that he was continuing straight on Q Street. I had to pound on his window to get his attention.

[KLizotte]

@DCAKen 72389 wrote:

Is it me or is the trail crossing where Rock Creek Parkway meets Beach Drive getting more dangerous in the evening rush? On Tuesday, I was waiting to cross (going southbound) when a car stopped in the right lane to let me cross. A truck coming up behind in the left lane didn’t seem to notice the stopped car and came to a screeching halt as I was halfway across. A car behind the truck was going even faster and couldn’t stop in time, rear ending the truck.

Did you by any chance stick around for the police to show up? Am curious as to whether the driver was cited. Yes, this seems like a really good place to install signals.

[mstone]

@DCAKen 72389 wrote:

When is this intersection going to get a HAWK signal or its equivalent, like at the MVT crossing?

To clarify:

A HAWK (technically and hilariously known as a PHB) is a combination of yellow and red lights: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAWK_beacon http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures/fhwa_sa_12_012.htm

A yellow blinky light is a RRFB: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/resources/techsum/fhwasa09009/

It helps the discussion if people use the right terms to avoid confusion. RRFBs are what’s most likely to be installed because many of the local jurisdictions are reluctant to install PHBs. I’m somewhat troubled that the objection to a safety device seems to be caused by an aversion to requiring cars to stop for pedestrians.

[scorchedearth]

To the guy who traded pulls with me last night on the MVT heading south. Damn you’re fast. Sorry I couldn’t keep that pace up any longer. I need to meditate on Rule #5.

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@DCAKen 72389 wrote:

on Tuesday, I had an close encounter with a cab that was turning right on a red light at Q Street and 20th. I was in the left lane on Q Street to make a left on Connecticut. He couldn’t even stay in the right lane, despite the fact that he was continuing straight on Q Street. I had to pound on his window to get his attention.

Well, DCAKen, Pounding on drivers’s windows may avert a personal injury, even offer a quantum of solace, but do you REALIZE you might have interrupted his text message or phone call? Now that WOULD be a tragedy!
Dave

[holdthebeach]

To the driver of the minivan: Thanks for stopping before side swiping me and rolling down your window to apologize for being distracted. Boy, do I know how loud kids can be. If I still looked stressed after we parted, it just took me a second to process that you cared/apologized. Thanks again!

[baiskeli]

Sure, cyclist with no gloves on a cold morning, riding with both hands in the back pockets of your jeans does solve the problem, I guess.

[consularrider]

Was that a teenager on the Bluemont Trail?

[baiskeli]

@consularrider 74595 wrote:

Was that a teenager on the Bluemont Trail?

Yep. Baseball cap, headphones, jeans, road bike. You must have been close behind me. (I presume I was ahead, since I’m soooo damn fast).

[consularrider]

@baiskeli 74607 wrote:

Yep. Baseball cap, headphones, jeans, road bike. You must have been close behind me. (I presume I was ahead, since I’m soooo damn fast).

Nope, I didn’t go that way today. I see him every time I add some milage on my extended commute coming down George Mason from the Custis and getting on the Bluemont at Wilson. I just don’t have adequate balance to be riding with my hands in my jacket/hoodie pockets. I give him some props for riding to school (at least that’s where I think he is headed).

[baiskeli]

@consularrider 74608 wrote:

Nope, I didn’t go that way today. I see him every time I add some milage on my extended commute coming down George Mason from the Custis and getting on the Bluemont at Wilson. I just don’t have adequate balance to be riding with my hands in my jacket/hoodie pockets. I give him some props for riding to school (at least that’s where I think he is headed).

Yeah, to school – no helmet, headphones, strategy for keeping hands warm is to keep them in his back pockets and ride hands-free rather than just bringing gloves – definitely a teenager. (I am now officially the father of a teen so I’m full of such observations).

[Author]

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