Missed connection

[scoot]

When: a bit after noon yesterday, just as a light sleet-rain mix was starting to fall
Me: guy who had just checked out a CaBi from Fairfax and N Randolph, walked across to the stop line on Randolph just as the light as changing, intending to turn left onto eastbound Fairfax
You: driver waiting for the signal on the opposite (northbound) side of N Randolph, intending to turn left onto westbound Fairfax

In my absent-mindedness, I botched my routine and totally forgot to adjust the seat height. Until I mounted and tried to pedal out into the intersection, realized I was way too high, so came down and hunched in front of the saddle. Then realized I couldn’t signal my turn with weight on my arms.

All the while, you stood by, probably curious to see if I would fall over. Thanks for your patience

[baiskeli]

@Drewdane 109938 wrote:

Did you think to get a copyright for this thread?

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/missed-connections-for-a-holes

Interesting. I think my copyright wouldn’t apply because they added “a-hole” to it. Which is how the New Yorker steals everyone else’s ideas too, by adding an a-hole writer.

[Terpfan]

Serious props to the bad— riding down Washington Blvd by Memorial Circle. I merge in and see a dude passing cars in my rear view mirror. Looked like a mountain bike. Only non-compliment I would offer is no form of blinking lights, which I think is sort of suicidal given how few drivers had actually cleaned off their cars, mirrors, turn indicator lights, etc.

[dplasters]

Sigh… to the car who decided to sit behind me honking for about a 1/4 of a mile on Fairview Park Dr this morning. You do understand that it was 6:15am, on a six lane road, with no traffic. This means you had not one but two! lane options to pass me in. The only thing slowing you down this morning was your apparent refusal to change lanes. But then you did decide to pass me on the left, despite the fact that the ramp you wanted to be on was on my right, and the lane had started like a 1/4 mile back….

Both I and the PT Cruiser you then cutoff getting onto the ramp for 50/495 know this. Hopefully you learned this as well. Also, blinkers. I mean seriously.

[83b]

Oblivious Trench-coat Guy suddenly stepped into the 15th St cycletrack by the Treasury while staring hard left to check for cars and his ability to jaywalk. I was coming up fast to his right.

Related, I just rebuilt my commuter and installed (my very first!) disc brakes. MAN THOSE THINGS ARE LOUD WHEN WET! I didn’t know it was possible to jump that high in loafers.

[Phatboing]

@83(b) 110887 wrote:

MAN THOSE THINGS ARE LOUD WHEN WET! I didn’t know it was possible to jump that high in loafers.

My front mini-Vs are ear-piercing. After vague attempts to fix that, I’ve embraced the sound, for exactly this reason. I’ve seen drivers look around with that “oh crap what did I do” look, even.

[GB]

Me: riding the WOD east bound just after Shreve Rd.
You: pasted without calling then didn’t ride any faster than me. You also zipped across in front of a school bus, who rightly honked at you.
Me: looking apologeticly at the bus driver trying to convince her that not all people on bikes have a death wish.

As we rode with you about 10 ft in front of me, I noticed you were in full castelli kit, all black. If this was you please call your passes and don’t dart in front of automobiles.

[Terpfan]

I got a new camera (kind of cheap rip off of hero). Anyway, once I figure out how to reduce file size, I will have some fun videos.

This morning’s fun one was over in Georgetown. I’m heading uphill/north on 35th St and R. I see a young girl that’s at best middle school aged with her backpack on waiting to cross R at the four way stop. A red van proceeds to turn left right in front of her. She then takes two steps out and I also begin proceeding north when a woman behind the wheel of a black beetle heading southbound turns left right in front of the girl and myself. I refrained from any obscenities, but I rather vocally yelled “look at her” and pointed to the girl. I don’t like being illegally cut off, but I especially draw an issue when drivers ignore kids in crosswalks; barring a medical emergency, there is absolutely 0 excuse for endangering clearly visible kids just so she can race to wait for a red light.

[baiskeli]

Hey, a-hole in SUV, don’t run a red light while I’m trying to cross on a green in front of you. You’re an a-hole. Hope you get eaten by a shark in Sharknado 3.

ADDENDUM – the jerk who cut me off despite the no turn on red sign at the Intersection of Doom, and then the almost-dooring on Wilson Blvd. made it a trifecta of vehicular hazards for the day.

[jrenaut]

To the young lady in the BMW crossing 11th St NW at Wonderland: there’s really no way you could be paying sufficient attention to your driving when you’re switching your phone to your left hand and your makeup brush and some other thing (it was probably a makeup thing but I don’t wear makeup so I’m just guessing here) to your right.

[bentbike33]

YOU: A highly visible jogger (white long-sleeved shirt, bright blue blinky belt) going east on the Custis approaching the bottom of the valley between the Two Sisters.

ME: Well-lit, momentum loving cyclist behind you at the top of the first Sister about to call my pass.

YOU: Pulling a no-look Crazy Ivan at the bottom.

ME: Yelling a panic pass and grabbing two handfuls of brake lever.

YOU: Leaping off the trail and saying something unintelligible as I passed, which I assume to be a confession of your sin.

ADVICE TO YOU: Keep up the good work on wardrobe selection. But look back before you turn around, it alerts us all to potential danger.

NOTE TO SELF: When descending the Two Sisters, call passes on first sight of joggers/peds.

[scorchedearth]

Me: Riding down North Pegram Street in Alexandria at about the speed limit of 25mph.

You: the young woman in the SUV who just couldn’t wait and passed me on the right in my lane.

Did you really need to pull that kind of move on a residential street with kids walking from school only to make a left turn into a driveway 200 metres later?

[lebiciano]

@baiskeli 3463 wrote:

This is my version of a “missed connection” post…

You: headphones, no helmet passing me on the right in the bike lane on Clarendon Blvd. the morning of May 9 about 8 am.

Me: riding safely as usual

You should call your damn passes – especially when passing on the right. I could have swerved right into you.

Dumbass.

I’ve been telling people this site is better than craigslist but this forum topic is proof! So let me take my turn:

Me: blue and grey refletive backback, black crosscheck, neon/bumblebee yellow phantom jacket riding in the right side of G Street NW (near foggy bottom).

You: Ugly dude with an anger-management problem in a white late-model BMW who – on more than one occaision – intentionally approached uncomfortably close my left-rear side while leaning over into the passenger side of the car and giving me the finger.

I have your license plate and a witness, I wear a GoPro, and when I catch you doing this on camera I’ll get tremendous satisfaction from filing a lawsuit under DC’s Access to Justice for Bicyclists Act.

[that felt good]

[brendan]

You: riding west across the IOD.
Me: riding east across the IOD.
Everyone else: crowded-ly crossing the intersection on foot.
You: moving left.
Me: moving right.
You: moving right.
Me: moving left.
You: widening your eyes.
Me: braking to a complete stop and saying “I’m stopping.” with an exasperated-at-myself tone.
You: kinda grinning at the ridiculousness of it all.
Us: proceeding without hitting each other (or anyone else) in the crowded crossing.

Well, that was dumb, and I gotta say it was at least partly (mostly?) my fault.

[baiskeli]

@lebiciano 111618 wrote:

I’ve been telling people this site is better than craigslist but this forum topic is proof!

Hmmm.

“Baiskelislist.”

Not sure if it works, but I’m willing to try.

[Author]

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