Missed connection

[lordofthemark]

Oh dear, as scary as I’ve had lately. After riding with Arlingtonrider from happy hour, I continued on my usual route home up Lucky Run to Walter Reed and King. As I crossed Walter Reed in the crosswalk (with the light of course) an SUV turned right from King – now that the slip lane is gone the is conflit there. I expected him to see me (helmet light, reflective jacket) but he kept coming straight at me and we both stopped when he was maybe two feet away. I managed to just say “next time be more careful when turning”. The was a runner also crossing just behind me.

This continues to be a terrible intersection, but at least it’s reconstruction has begun.

I will be getting more lights, and just expecting bad right turns there (and yeah, contemplating taking the lane on Walter Reed)

[LhasaCM]

To the large group of runners that were just past the south end of the 14th street bridge around 10:30 this morning: next time, maybe pick a gathering/stretching/milling about spot a little bit more removed from a narrow turn on a heavily used trail? And maybe not take up both lanes while standing there making it difficult for any other people to pass? And for the few folks that were annoyed that others were using the trail – maybe not yell/curse when folks try to make their way past? Thanks.

[dkel]

1) You roared by me in your pickup with barely a foot to spare
2) You also nearly ran head first into oncoming traffic (that’s why they honked at you)
3) You then proceeded to cut off the oncoming traffic in the intersection so you could turn left before the light changed

There’s a special place in hell for people like you. I hope.

[DrP]

(I am entering this for a friend since I was a little too far back to be in the midst of it, but I saw it all and my friend gave me more details when I caught up).

On the Mt Vernon trail heading towards Mt Vernon at Riverside Park (the one about 1 mile from Mt Vernon). I had a good view coming down the hill.
You: A group of riders that entered the lot from Stratford Lane and rode without looking anywhere through the lot and onto the trail. WITHOUT LOOKING! Did I mention WITHOUT LOOKING?
Us: ALREADY on the trail riding. In fact, since the trail starts at Roosevelt Island, so I would say that we had the right of way.
You: continued to enter the trail despite someone ON THE TRAIL yelling that there were people on the trail. At least the last one tapped the brakes and did not actually hit us.
Us: yelling to warn them about looking before entering a trail. And grabbing brakes and swerving to avoid being hit.
You: Continuing to ride and not say anything. No apologies. Nothing.

Do you do this in front of trucks too?

Apparently they continued past Mt. Vernon. We stopped at the visitor center and were half wanting them there to explain trail etiquette and half glad they weren’t for fear of something escalating.

[Brett L.]

@dkel 155913 wrote:

There’s a special place in hell for people like you. I hope.

A level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater.

[notinthe18]

Dude on blue cruiser on New Hampshire Ave this morning who cut in front of me at a stop sign, then proceeded to go through three separate intersections with four-way stops around GW where there were cars and pedestrians waiting without even slowing down: dude!! Don’t do that!!

But I am trying to maintain a positive outlook, so let me also say that I was grateful for several other friendly riders this morning, including my new friend who commutes SB on the MVT whom I’ve seen a couple of days in a row who always says hello!

[Crickey7]

@notinthe18 156099 wrote:

. . . including my new friend who commutes SB on the MVT whom I’ve seen a couple of days in a row who always says hello!

I love riders who say hello to fellow riders on the trail. It’s even better when you do it in a different accent every day.

[LhasaCM]

To the SUV (DC Washington Nationals plates) that didn’t want to wait another 20 seconds behind me and my 5-year old turning left from M St NE onto the MBT – I hope the cracked hubcap from hitting the curb was worth trying to squeeze inches next to us so you could wait at the red light up ahead.

[closebr]

Yesterday, as I was heading southbound on the College Park Trolley Trail in the rain, I approached the elevated crosswalk at Berwyn Road. I could see that a car was coming, but appeared to be slowing down for me, so I entered the crosswalk and made myself as visible as possible. I got half-way across, then suddenly realized that the car was not in fact slowing for me, but slowing for the cross-walk bump. They blew through right in front of me, I had to slam on the brakes to stop in time. I think I got lucky on this one.

To top it off, the very same motorist turned onto the road that parallels the trail and then crossed the trail again, this time the driver stopped for me and, yes looked embarrassed. Hopefully the lesson was learned. I have certainly learned my lesson, never trust driver’s ability to see in the rain, and yes I usually try to make eye contact, but visibility was poor in this case.

[Brett L.]

@closebr 156105 wrote:

Yesterday, as I was heading southbound on the College Park Trolley Trail in the rain, I approached the elevated crosswalk at Berwyn Road.

Yeah…….. that intersection always bothers me. Most motorists are REALLY good about waiting for cyclists, slowing and/or stopping. There’s always that one….. And to be completely fair, it’s very tough for them to see you if you’re heading southbound. With that gravel lot right there, you are always entering the crosswalk offset from where it actually is, either east if you go down the ramp or west if you go across the gravel. I don’t have good solutions for that intersection, but it would be awesome if that gravel lot disappeared (which it won’t).

[consularrider]

@notinthe18 156099 wrote:

… But I am trying to maintain a positive outlook, so let me also say that I was grateful for several other friendly riders this morning, including my new friend who commutes SB on the MVT whom I’ve seen a couple of days in a row who always says hello!

Probably Fast Friendly Guy (FFG).

[cvcalhoun]

I’m used to drivers telling me, “Get off the road!” Not pleased with it, but used to it. But I got a ridiculous extension of that this morning.

Me: Driving southbound on Old Georgetown Road. There are three lanes each direction, and a median strip in the middle.
Guy driving northbound on Old Georgetown Road yells at me to “Get off the road!” Yeah, he’s got three lanes his direction, and I’m not in any of them. And he couldn’t possibly get over to where I am, because there is a median strip in the way.

SMH.

[Steve O]

@cvcalhoun 156577 wrote:

Me: Driving southbound on Old Georgetown Road. There are three lanes each direction, and a median strip in the middle.
Guy driving northbound on Old Georgetown Road yells at me to “Get off the road!” Yeah, he’s got three lanes his direction, and I’m not in any of them. And he couldn’t possibly get over to where I am, because there is a median strip in the way.

I haven’t had an opportunity yet, but I keep waiting for the next time a motorist yells something at me to reply with a simple, “Why?” Not that I suspect the motorist who yelled at you is likely to be thoughtful, but I do wonder if it might stimulate some neuronic activity.

[cvcalhoun]

@Steve O 156582 wrote:

I haven’t had an opportunity yet, but I keep waiting for the next time a motorist yells something at me to reply with a simple, “Why?” Not that I suspect the motorist who yelled at you is likely to be thoughtful, but I do wonder if it might stimulate some neuronic activity.

Alas, I fear it would stimulate a lengthy response–with those parts not actually consisting of curse words boiling down to, “I own this road, and see no reason that anyone else should use it in a way that inconveniences me.”

A reasoned discussion, in which I could provide citations to the relevant laws, is not possible when someone yells at me while passing me.

[closebr]

I too have experienced the “I own this road” attitude from motorists. My experience is that the road is no place to have a nuanced discussion or an argument. I have gotten to the point where I just give a thumbs up instead of some obscene gesture. Shuts them up everytime. Most disputes come out of an irrational sense of extreme impatience anyways. If logic and truth were important, no one would be upset at cyclists. There is no good reason why, but asking why will not work.

Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk

[Author]

Posts