Missed connection

[huskerdont]

So it’s supposed to be a multi-use path but its paved to look like a sidewalk. I don’t know why they design things that way. Put a stripe down the middle and more people will clue in that bikes might come by, then they’ll be more likely to stay to the right and look out a little bit more.

[Steve O]

@Tania 136550 wrote:

Anyway, screenshot from DC’s bike path map here:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11193[/ATTACH]

It looks like it is actually a bike path (the dotted black line means “off street trail”) but I agree that it looks questionable.

I always use this sidewalk as my route to and from the bridge and have always assumed it was appropriate, giving due courtesy to people walking. I’ve never had a negative interaction.

I’m trying to remember what it was like before they built it out. I remember while they were building there was a while you had to use the steep connector that’s just off the bridge and then cut through the garage to detour around the construction in the front.
Maybe it was just a sidewalk along there without the walls. I seem to think that you had to ride farther along the front of the Center before somehow getting to the bridge. Anyone?

[Terpfan]

@scorchedearth 136542 wrote:

The MVT was a disaster yesterday. I saw far too many dangerous passes by oblivious riders for my personal comfort level and a friend of mine was nearly run off the trail a few times whilst coming to meet me. I’m going to avoid the trail for a while until the situation calms down.

From two nights ago on MVT, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkED7pELmF0 . I was not happy on that one by the guy because my pace was constant and he just chose to play chicken. Lucky for him I’m not a tool who felt the need to engage the game of chicken and was more interested in us both making it home without a collision.

[Terpfan]

Also, back to the condos on MVT at edge of south OT discussion. I took the time to look around a little this morning and I noticed that at the next traffic light (to the apartment buildings on the trail side, but before Wilson Bridge) there is a No Turn on Red sign. So I’m trying to fathom how they can’t turn right on red, yet have actual sight-lines to the trail and roadway, whereas the folks in the condo complex can? They should both just be no turn on red. (And I stand corrected on my previous comment suggesting connecting the two since the further north exit is no turn on red). I think that solves the problem all together.

[CaseyKane50]

@Terpfan 136591 wrote:

Also, back to the condos on MVT at edge of south OT discussion. I took the time to look around a little this morning and I noticed that at the next traffic light (to the apartment buildings on the trail side, but before Wilson Bridge) there is a No Turn on Red sign. So I’m trying to fathom how they can’t turn right on red, yet have actual sight-lines to the trail and roadway, whereas the folks in the condo complex can? They should both just be no turn on red. (And I stand corrected on my previous comment suggesting connecting the two since the further north exit is no turn on red). I think that solves the problem all together.

There had been a discussion at the July 2015 BPAC meeting with City staff about changing the signs at South Street and the Porto Vecchio Driveway signs to be “No Turn On Red”. Only the one at South Street made it to the Traffic and Parking Board for consideration in October. As you noted, it has been changed. Guess it is time to try again with the Porto Vecchio driveway.

[Terpfan]

@CaseyKane50 136608 wrote:

There had been a discussion at the July 2015 BPAC meeting with City staff about changing the signs at South Street and the Porto Vecchio Driveway signs to be “No Turn On Red”. Only the one at South Street made it to the Traffic and Parking Board for consideration in October. As you noted, it has been changed. Guess it is time to try again with the Porto Vecchio driveway.

I totally missed it and I know you guys do a good job putting the updates out; my bad!

Anyway, I would agree that I think it’s worth bringing to them again. Frankly, I think the Porto Vecchio one is actually the more dangerous of the two because of that huge concrete wall they have on both sides and the tall hedges, whereas the other one at South St seems easier to see. And, I should add, I do that was helpful adjustment that not only prevented these sort of situations, but also helped to reduce people blocking the path because it removed the incentive for it. Nice work by the BPAC getting that one. I was wondering i was crazy or if that was something newer, and definitely then is the newer side to it.

[Tania]

Yesterday morning around 10:45 heading east on the W&OD around Spring/Oak streets approaching Falls Church. Again, plenty of room to pass, no oncoming traffic, and I’m going about as fast as a jogger.

Me: “Good morning! Passing on your left.”

Woman: Raising your hand to acknowledge except you also give me the finger.

Guess she’s not a morning person.

[bentbike33]

@Tania 136719 wrote:

Me: “Good morning! Passing on your left.”

Woman: Raising your hand to acknowledge except you also give me the finger.

Perhaps she would have preferred an unannounced pass at high speed close enough to feel your air wake.

[Steve O]

@Tania 136719 wrote:

Guess she’s not a morning person.

Or maybe she thought you were me.

[dkel]

It doesn’t matter how small the difference is between your speed in your minivan and my speed on my bike, if I can reach out and touch your car, you’re too close! (Idiot!)

[DrP]

You, teenaged rabbit on a dare (I presume )
Me, riding home in the dark on Custis (with my lights)
You: leap out of the low plants on the left race along side and then cross in front of me with inches to spare.
Me: what the.. and I slow a bit.
You: cross back in front of me back to the left side of the trail even closer than last time despite my slowing down.
Me: stupid rabbit! As I try to regain composure after thinking I was going to run over you and likely fall. I wasn’t chasing you a d did not desire to catch you. What were you thinking? !

[cvcalhoun]

Me: Going down the CCT, calling out pleasantly, “On your left!” to the small child on a bike.
Him (indignantly): I am on the right!

Not having time to stop and explain the whole concept, I just cheerfully said, “I know. That was just to let you know.”

[creadinger]

@dkel 136754 wrote:

It doesn’t matter how small the difference is between your speed in your minivan and my speed on my bike, if I can reach out and touch your car, you’re too close! (Idiot!)

I can piggy back on this a little from Saturday….

Raven Rock Rd up the mountain a little way from Ft Ritchie. I was riding to the right and you slowed down to pass me at the same time two cars were coming the other direction. It was a close pass, but definitely not the closest I’ve had in the past month. After you passed though I shook my head to show my disapproval. To my surprise you slowed down and stuck your hand out the window in a “what??” gesture.

So to the driver in northern MD who’s not sure what I was saying – I appreciate you slowing down to pass me, and I appreciate the fact that you seem to care about what you did wrong. But as I tried to show, the law says you need to give 3-ft to pass a cyclist. All you had to do was slow enough to wait for other cars to pass and then you could get by giving us both plenty of room. Again the fact that you seemed to care what was up gives me some hope that other drivers are like you, but most importantly I hope you figured out what I tried to say and didn’t feel angry/defensive about it.

The other positive thing from Saturday’s ride was the large amount of drivers that moved completely over into the other lane to pass me. Not totally necessary, but I’m happy to have the space.

[creadinger]

@cvcalhoun 137754 wrote:

Me: Going down the CCT, calling out pleasantly, “On your left!” to the small child on a bike.
Him (indignantly): I am on the right!

Not having time to stop and explain the whole concept, I just cheerfully said, “I know. That was just to let you know.”

I get the feeling that a lot of adults feel this way too. When we say “on your left” instead hearing, “just a heads up that I’m coming”, they hear, “you’re in the way and get off the trail.” Which is totally not the point.

[Emm]

@creadinger 137936 wrote:

I get the feeling that a lot of adults feel this way too. When we say “on your left” instead hearing, “just a heads up that I’m coming”, they hear, “you’re in the way and get off the trail.” Which is totally not the point.

Yea, I’ve noticed that too. More experienced joggers usually give thumbs up or say thanks though which makes me happy.

I always call something like “I’m passing you on your left sweetie” or something else VERY clear, but nice to little kids. Little kids are unpredictable little creatures, so I always try to be VERY clear in what I say, and slow down enough that I can stop of they suddenly decide to swerve across the lane. I also try to be loud enough their parents can hear if they’re close by.

[Author]

Posts