Missed connection

[baiskeli]

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.

Topic

[Hancockbs]

My apologies to the rider headed toward JBAB this morning (6:10 am) on ART. I came off the Capital St bridge to make a right on ART. While I was in complete control and stayed on my side, I clearly understand why you slowed down and waited for me to make the turn. I appreciate you yielding your right of way to ensure I didn’t collide with you.

[Drewdane]

It’s nice that you thanked me for covering up my light.

It would have been nicer if you had extended me the same courtesy.

[cvcalhoun]

Police officer who was driving down Old Georgetown Road called out over his loudspeaker, “Get off the road!”

No, he was not proceeding with lights and sirens, or I would have pulled over.

And aside from the fact that riding in the street is the safest option at all times, today would have been a horrible day to ride on the sidewalk. The street was totally clear, while there was a lot of ice on the sidewalk.

Fortunately, I just ignored him, and he didn’t stop to press the point.

[cvcalhoun]

@cvcalhoun 186747 wrote:

Police officer who was driving down Old Georgetown Road called out over his loudspeaker, “Get off the road!”

No, he was not proceeding with lights and sirens, or I would have pulled over.

And aside from the fact that riding in the street is the safest option at all times, today would have been a horrible day to ride on the sidewalk. The street was totally clear, while there was a lot of ice on the sidewalk.

Fortunately, I just ignored him, and he didn’t stop to press the point.

This just gets better and better. On reviewing the video (since I have video cameras front and rear on my bicycle), I realized that I was right in front of a sign that said “Bike route” at the time this occurred.

I have now filed an official complaint with the Montgomery County police. I just wish the video had been clear enough to get his license plate.

[Sunyata]

@cvcalhoun 186760 wrote:

This just gets better and better. On reviewing the video (since I have video cameras front and rear on my bicycle), I realized that I was right in front of a sign that said “Bike route” at the time this occurred.

I have now filed an official complaint with the Montgomery County police. I just wish the video had been clear enough to get his license plate.

I am not sure why law enforcement officers have lately decided that it is okay to harass cyclists over their loudspeaker, but it needs to stop. In the past year, I have had this happen twice. Both times I was doing something legal and safe (for everyone involved). Unfortunately only one of those incidents was I able to get a car/license plate number and report it.

Thanks for reporting it.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Me: Inbound on Wilson/Clarendon Boulevard starting in Ballston.
You: Friendly police officer doing the same.
Us: Pacing each other and catching up with each other at red lights all the way through Courthouse.
Us: Catching the green at the bottom of Rhodes and cruising neck and neck, side by side at a good 25 MPH.
That other guy: The car, just 2 seconds ahead of us on Quinn, approaching his stop sign to cross Clarendon that…oh my god!…he just blew through that stop sign never getting under 10 mph.
Me: Ha! my cop pal is now going to turn left, flick his siren for a second and bust That Other Guy.

No? We’re both still going straight then? Um, OK.

Us: stopped for a red at Pierce.
Me: trackstanding because the light’s been red a while and Pierce just cycled to yellow. I start cranking the pedals to get going on the green.
You on the loudspeaker: “Don’t go through that redlight Mr. Bicyclist.”
Me: Pointing to my greenlight and steaming at how useless you are. I hate you.

[Steve O]

@Brendan von Buckingham 186990 wrote:

..he just blew through that stop sign never getting under 10 mph.

This reminds me of a Missed Connection I had back in December in your neck of the woods.

Scene: Late at night, streets very quiet, bike bedecked with Christmas lights

Me: Riding on Pershing PBL westbound approaching 4-way stop at Barton–about 1/2 block back
You: Headlights of one lonely car approaching same 4-way stop from other direction.
You: Turning left through stop, barely slowing down.
Me: (thinking) “That cop car just totally blew that stop sign!”
Me, 15 seconds later: (why not?) Roll the same stop sign, thinking “Won’t it be ironic if that police car stops, turns around and pulls me over?”
You: Demonstrating irony, stop, turn around, and pull me over.

[ChristoB50]

@Steve O 186993 wrote:

Me, 15 seconds later: (why not?) Roll the same stop sign, thinking “Won’t it be ironic if that police car stops, turns around and pulls me over?”
You: Demonstrating irony, stop, turn around, and pull me over.

How did the resulting discussion between you two play out?
Also – Curious if there is a nickname for the riders who (of course blow through stop signs) specifically blow through the Hanes Point stop sign that features the added signage: “All Bicyclists Must Stop”?

[Steve O]

@Christob50 186995 wrote:

Also – Curious if there is a nickname for the riders who (of course blow through stop signs) specifically blow through the Hains Point stop sign that features the added signage: “All Bicyclists Must Stop”?

“Bicyclists”

[Steve O]

@Christob50 186995 wrote:

How did the resulting discussion between you two play out?

Him: “That’s really dangerous. Do you know the statistics on bicyclists getting hit?”
Me: “As a matter of fact, I do. As a member of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee, ACPD comes to our meetings and shares those statistics with us.”
Him: “Nice lights. Be careful.”

(He denied rolling the stop sign. I gently suggested he review his camera footage.)

[ChristoB50]

@Steve O 186998 wrote:

“Bicyclists”

Ha! That can’t be 100% right, as I consider myself a Bicyclist — but I stop at that stop sign Every. Single. Time.
(Especially after seeing a training group of 10 riders get pulled over by police there, for NOT stopping — as they blew past me while I was stopped there

[SarahBee]

You- ninja traveling east on the WOD in the dark with no lights. Thanks to your deep dish pizza rims, I heard you coming long before you nearly clipped me in my lane, passing a family on your side of the trail. I wasn’t so much offended by your skin suit and aero sperm helmet as I was by your absolute lack of consideration for anyone else last night. You couldn’t even be bothered put you hands on your handlebars from your time trial arm rests as you clipped by going a cool 25 mph in the dark. My only consolation is that knowing for the next few weeks, no one will have to deal with you until real spring. Enjoy your indoor trainer in the meantime!

[ChristoB50]

@SarahBee 187035 wrote:

I wasn’t so much offended by your … aero sperm helmet …

Oh, that’s a new term I’ve not encountered before!

[Sunyata]

@SarahBee 187035 wrote:

I wasn’t so much offended by your skin suit and aero sperm helmet

OMG. I almost spit out my breakfast! I am totally stealing that term.

[ChristoB50]

Ah, I think I have my first missed connection!

Me: Half mile from home, on a sleepy side residential street, no traffic at all, deep into dusk and rather cold. Suddenly my chain derails. I pull over onto a sidewalk (all grass & ground is wet) to tackle the chain (which was surprisingly challenging, given the chain-guard in place on my bike!)
You: Biking down the sidewalk entirely (despite the acres of empty asphalt road available to you) as you pass me. with no offer to help or even check if I could use help, you mutter “Just a thought – maybe not on the sidewalk.”

[Author]

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