Missed connection

[jrenaut]

Being a jerk is multi-modal. When we say “all pedestrians jaywalk and don’t pay attention”, it’s exactly like when pedestrians are shocked that cyclists can yeild, too. None of it is constructive.

[83b]

Agreed. But I’ve always viewed this more as a thread for catharsis than constructive dialogue! Cue the angry-typing GIF.

Sometime last fall I was subjected to a neighborhood listserv rant on cyclists the same day several people blithely stepped out in front of me and each was doing all of those things. So a rule was born, somewhere earlier in this thread in fact. Unfortunately, it turns out I have very little legislative authority…

[jrenaut]

Haha, fair enough. I’ll return to catharsis tomorrow.

[Terpfan]

To the woman driving the KIA minivan or SUV, you’re my hero. We were waiting on Belle View to turn left onto the GWMP (in my case, to go straight) and there was a break in traffic. Of course in that break you could see one car breaking away like it was the final lap of the Indy 500. You pulled out anyway quickly and instead of speeding up insanely on the GWMP, you pumped your brakes once or twice to make a point to the woman who was probably doing 75. She honked at you. You may not have been able to see it, but I gave you the thumbs up since she deserved having to slam her brakes and I hope her coffee spilled all over the floor.

[jrenaut]

To the CaBi shoalers on 14th and then PA Ave – Ok, yes, it’s great that you’re helping someone else commute by bike. I love that. But maybe we teach them to wait in line and ride single file in narrow bike lanes, huh? She could also use a lesson in staying in the lane on 14th instead of drifting over until a giant SUV honked at her.

I should have said something, but constructive criticism is hard and I’m grumpy this morning.

[Subby]

To the CaBi I almost took out coming out of the Crystal City connector tunnel, I’m sorry. I had just passed a baby stroller and was zoned out too much to get back over in a reasonable amount of time. I suck.

[brendan]

To the three Arlington County motorcycle police officers who played two-wheel leapfrog with me from the easternmost onramp of the Custis Trail all the way to the west end at Bon Air Park…

…that was…kind of interesting. I do appreciate that y’all kept your speed slow and waited oh so patiently behind me (and my cargo bike) to pass. Each time. Kudos.

Secretly, I was really hoping to make it to the first of the two sisters before your first pass, but, alas, I was pretty slow on an uphill before that and it was finally clear for y’all to take a clean pass.

But by the second time I passed y’all waiting on the side of the trail, only to have you tag along behind me again, I was getting worried that maybe, just maybe I’d done something wrong! Maybe I should be looking for a “rear blinkie light too similar to emergency vehicle light” ticket in the mail?

[Drewdane]

Me: JRA on the bike path

Almost every cyclist who passed me: *silence*

IS IT SO $&@%!*# HARD TO CALL YOUR PASS???

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go turn back the tide or something…

[jrenaut]

Hey, big black car turning out of the parking garage onto 14th St just below the circle. Next time please LOOK IN THE DIRECTION TRAFFIC IS COMING FROM before turning out. Thanks!

Also, to the guy in the silver Acura(?) between L an K – I didn’t SEE you slash the tire of the Parking Enforcement van that I imagine had just given you a ticket, but I definitely heard the air rushing out as you were hurrying away from it. And you know when you wanted to go right on red so you honked at me to get out of your way? And then I asked you if you’d let the air out of the tire? I’m guessing since it was super cold and windy, you had your window up. The fact that you knew exactly what I said and responded so quickly sure doesn’t point towards your innocence.

[cyclingfool]

@Drewdane 79508 wrote:

Almost every cyclist who passed me: *silence*

IS IT SO $&@%!*# HARD TO CALL YOUR PASS???

I’ve encountered a lot of that lately, even in places where it seems especially important to call a pass, like the 14th St Bridge. I usually have the same reaction as you.

[Terpfan]

I didn’t get to ride in due to a car repair on our way car. This enabled me to use the great Metro system and wait 45 minutes at Gallery Place before giving up to hail a cab. Enter my MC–the cabby was taking 15th up and a left onto Mass. He got the arrow and then had to stop as someone riding in a blue jacket decided to entirely run the light (it was a few seconds into the arrow, no less) while I saw others waiting patiently. The cabby rightfully honked and I was disappointed to see such a silly decision.

[jrenaut]

@Terpfan 79521 wrote:

…15th up and a left onto Mass…

This is especially stupid for the cyclist since so many cars seem to treat that left turn arrow as optional and just turn left on red. It is good to hear occasions where we have a bad cyclist/cabbie interaction and the cyclist is in the wrong – it reminds us that cabbies are people, too.

[Steve O]

Me – In street clothes commuting home from Rosslyn on Wilson Blvd.. Preparing to turn onto Fairfax at Northside Social.
You – White sports car, didn’t like my taking the lane while crossing Washington Blvd., passed me (engine racing) anyway, zoomed onto Fairfax, sped to red light, where you got to wait until…
I – pedaled up to light at Kirkwood, which I never run (except late nights in the dark w no traffic). Feeling irked and seeing no traffic, I decided to piss off said driver by doing an Idaho stop.
You – honked and honked at me. Then when light turned green, zoomed by again, honking all the way – oblivious to the fact that your speeding also constitutes a traffic violation.
Me – Waved a friendly wave.

[brendan]

Me: Running an hour late commuting west on the Custis Trail by Lyon Village.
You: a flash of brightly colored clothes and bike, white rimmed sunglasses and a smile riding the other way.
Me: several-second delayed reaction: oh, is that Dirt? “Morning!” If not, still…”Morning!”

[NicDiesel]

How many of you bammas am I gonna pass on the MVT the first week in April? Just look for the defensive end on the Bikeshare blazing down MVT.

[Author]

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