Missed connection

[JustinW]

me: Stopped on the W&OD yesterday afternoon, waiting to cross eastbound @ Columbia Pike
you: Offering protesting comments to the silly motorist who initially looked like he’d go through the yellow/red light, then ended up stopping squarely in the crosswalk, blocking your path. I had to agree that the motorist was in the wrong….
me: Exiting the W&OD @ George Mason, where….
you: Did not want to wait for the light at George Mason, so you ran through the red and then got stuck in the middle of the road waiting for traffic. Sorta like the pot calling the kettle black in this case. If you don’t like errant commuters blocking crosswalks, don’t be that guy stuck in the crosswalk in the middle of a major intersection.
me: Hoping you got home ok.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@JustinW 52138 wrote:

you: Did not want to wait for the light at George Mason, so you ran through the red and then got stuck in the middle of the road waiting for traffic. Sorta like the pot calling the kettle black in this case. If you don’t like errant commuters blocking crosswalks, don’t be that guy stuck in the crosswalk in the middle of a major intersection.
me: Hoping you got home ok.

I’m amazed at how often this happens…the timing of that particular light really messes with people, which is why I’m always content to wait for the walk signal.

[KelOnWheels]

@baiskeli 52112 wrote:

To the four (4) cyclists who all passed me on the right at different times in my commute yesterday, with no warning of course: don’t do that.

Maybe you were passing THEM… backwards… :confused:

[baiskeli]

@KelOnWheels 52147 wrote:

Maybe you were passing THEM… backwards… :confused:

Or maybe time was going backwards. That would explain why I was late to work, but arrived early.

[jrenaut]

This morning I was on PA Ave in the cycletracks, eastbound approaching 7th, where I turn right. The left turn arrow for cars to turn onto northbound 7th was green and two cars went through. The next car stopped next to me. The cab behind him honked. And honked. The turn arrow turn red, the light turned green, and smart guy went straight, never mind the giant turn arrows painted the entire length of the block. Those are for other people.

The cab pulled up to the light and stopped. I was still waiting to turn right. His window was down, and he began to complain to me about the car who didn’t turn. “I wanted to turn left!”, he said. I mentioned that I was surprised the first car had missed the giant “TURN ONLY”.

I post this because I complain, A LOT, about drivers, and in particular cabs on PA Ave, but this morning my interactions with them were at worst neutral (they were in their lane, I was in mine) and at best a brief chat about someone who annoyed us both. Combine that with it being a beautiful day, and happy hour, and I’m in a very good mood right now, despite being at work.

[birddog]

Thanks to Dave who helped me with a broken chain on the Key bridge this morning. I really appreciate the master link!

[Terpfan]

I almost forgot to add this. It’s bad enough cars run the light westbound on Constitution at 15th with a speed camera, but last night I was a half inch from being taken out by a fellow cyclist running the red a good 3-5 seconds after it went red. The woman next to me almost bit it walking as she didn’t even bother to glance to her left. Either way, I’d rather just have idiot cars and tourists to think about then adding in any more elements.

But on the bright side, I’ve noticed more people randomly saying good morning, which is refreshing after long rides.

[arlrider]

@birddog 52423 wrote:

Thanks to Dave who helped me with a broken chain on the Key bridge this morning. I really appreciate the master link!

Think I saw you guys at around 8 AM…looked like everything was well under control!

[bobco85]

To the fellow cyclist who was at the bike rack outside the Harris Teeter in Ballston tonight at the same time as me:

I felt a sense of camaraderie as we both spent about 2 minutes fitting each of our groceries into our carriers (you in your rear pannier, me in my side basket) using only our helmet lights to see. Sadly, I did not have more time to chat because the 75 degree (F) weather was already attacking the solidity of my ice cream and I had to get it to the safety of my freezer (some was lost on the way, ending up in my stomach). Nice running into you!

[mstone]

You: gaggle of gossipy joggers crossing on the W&OD
Me: cyclist stuck in the road when you crossed, then stopped as a horde as soon as you reached the other side.

Don’t do that.

[jrenaut]

Me: Cyclist going north on 15th NW on the way home from Third Thursday happy hour
You: DC police car completely ignoring the red left turn arrow when you made your turn onto V

It’s great that you said, “I apologize” when I caught up to you and let you know what you’d done, but let’s list the things wrong with this picture NOT INCLUDING the illegal turn.
1. I caught you as you blocked the box at V and New Hampshire
2. Even though your window was down, something that I couldn’t see was so distracting that you didn’t hear me until the third time I said something.
3. You are TWO BLOCKS from the police station here. You probably make that turn 10 times a day.

[consularrider]

@jrenaut 52507 wrote:

… 3. You are TWO BLOCKS from the police station here. You probably make that turn 10 times a day.

Probably always on red.

[dbb]

A truly missed connection. this morning at about 0620.

This bus took the roadway split just south of Memorial Circle to the tunnel under Mem Bridge. Realized about 250 feet too late that was a bad decision (but about 75 feet before it became a really bad decision). The other motorists didn’t seem to be particularly appreciative of the bus.

The bus was intending to take the tunnel. The idiot jogger is a bonus feature in this photo (which I took a couple of hours later).

Minor clearance issue

There was a USPP Officer doing a traffic stop at the Humpback northbound I was able to retask to this mission.

[ebubar]

Let this be a warning to other new bike commuters.

Made a boo boo on the GBT today near City Bikes in Chevy Chase. I was cruising along at around 12-13 mph on the crushed gravel trail. This doesn’t seem like a particularly fast speed to me. I rang my bell as usual for the older couple in front of me and then noticed a roadie coming up the other side. Since my experience has shown me that roadies are pretty unpredictable and prone to crazy move, I couldn’t pass on the left. Old couple thought they were being helpful, but instead of moving to the right, they kind of just got closer together in the middle of the trail. It was too late to stop effectively on the gravel (I was going too fast), so I passed on the right by swerving about 5 feet off the trail into the grass to slow down and pass everyone involved without a pileup!

I think it was the safest thing to do in that exact situation. However it probably shouldn’t have happened. Need to remember to:
Ring my bell earlier and as annoying as it may be I need to slow down. I’ve gotten used to commuting during the winter season and now need to learn to share the trails with pedestrians. I’m usually pretty good at avoiding Crazy Ivan’s, slowing down for dogs and children and had a lapse.

And on the off chance that the folks walking see this, I truly am sorry and meant it when I apologized. I didn’t intend to scare you and I did what I thought was safest to avoid colliding with anyone.

[krazygl00]

@ebubar 52597 wrote:

Let this be a warning to other new bike commuters.

Made a boo boo on the GBT today near City Bikes in Chevy Chase.
…
I passed on the right by swerving about 5 feet off the trail into the grass to slow down and pass everyone involved without a pileup!

A boo boo? Hell, that exact maneuver is one of the best reasons for running 32c or larger tires! Trail gets boogered up and you just “expedite” the whole process by bailing to the right. It helps if you yell “CYCLOCROSS!!” as you do it.

[Author]

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