Missed connection

[bobco85]

@viennabiker 54391 wrote:

You’re not being Helpy Helperton any more, you’re being Solomon the wise. Thank you in advance.

I was having trouble viewing the situation from the perspective of other cyclists. In my mind, when someone would pass me I would think, “Hey! I’m trying to let this driver go! Can’t you just wait another second?” without realizing that I was screwing up the traffic pattern for what other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians were expecting.

@viennabiker 54391 wrote:

You’re not from Minnesota by any chance?

Haha, there’s some truth to that! My dad grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota (closest town is Blooming Prairie which has a current population of 1,994). Even though I was born and grew up here in Arlington (my dad is the last generation of his side of the family to grow up on a farm), I think I did pick up some Minnesotan sensibilities, most notably from my paternal grandpa (died before I was born) who was known in their farming community for his ability to compromise and was often called upon to settle disputes between farmers. It also means I can get really “corny” (yes, that’s a deliberate pun) with my jokes!

[brendan]

@bobco85 54256 wrote:

I was going to just describe in detail what happened, but then I realized I had my helmet camera. Both happened on the W&OD around Brandymore Castle.

Missed connection #1: Near crash due to a cyclist double-passing a jogger right in front of an oncoming cyclist who was coming down a hill
Missed connection #2: A cyclist calling his pass with, “Risk-averse cyclist on the left!” that I couldn’t help but laugh at.

I’ll note: that hill always invites (demands?) a bit of sprinting, but the sight lines aren’t very good…

[baiskeli]

@viennabiker 54391 wrote:

[A true story: I was once in a small town in Minnesota in a line for coffee. When the cashier at the front of the line asked for the next customer, the woman *in front* of me in line turned around to ask me if I minded if she went first.

You’re not from Minnesota by any chance?]

When I visited Minneapolis last year, I called ahead to rent a road bike for a day. The guy at the shop said he didn’t have any road bikes for rent, but I could just borrow his personal bike.

[txgoonie]

Ms. SUV driver on Potomac Ave: I’d be happy to debate with you where a cyclist should ride his or her bicycle or explain to you why we do what we do. I’m totally reasonable. No need to point wildly to the crappy path next to the road I won’t ride my 23mm tires on or turn on the turbo when you see me catching up to you. I don’t bite, but I don’t respond to frantic gesticulating either. Please use your words. Unfortunately for you, at present the law permits my riding on the road, and, no matter your opinion on my presence there, it requires you to give me safe passing distance. Next time, please take the 10 seconds it would require to slow down (Shouldn’t require much as I’m sure you’re not crushing the 25mph speed limit.) to accommodate such a pass. Hope to see you again soon.

[Tim Kelley]

@txgoonie 54774 wrote:

Ms. SUV driver on Potomac Ave: I’d be happy to debate with you where a cyclist should ride his or her bicycle or explain to you why we do what we do. I’m totally reasonable. No need to point wildly to the crappy path next to the road I won’t ride my 23mm tires on or turn on the turbo when you see me catching up to you. I don’t bite, but I don’t respond to frantic gesticulating either. Please use your words. Unfortunately for you, at present the law permits my riding on the road, and, no matter your opinion on my presence there, it requires you to give me safe passing distance. Next time, please take the 10 seconds it would require to slow down (Shouldn’t require much as I’m sure you’re not crushing the 25mph speed limit.) to accommodate such a pass. Hope to see you again soon.

In Arlington? You could always report the plate to Arlington’s ACPD aggressive driving program…

[Steve]

@txgoonie 54774 wrote:

No need to point wildly to the crappy path next to the road I won’t ride my 23mm tires on or turn on the turbo when you see me catching up to you.

Ha! I had the exact opposite last week. Coming down off the South Capitol St. Bridge a truck was completely blocking the crosswalk ramp at the bottom. I asked him if he could move forward a few feet, so that I could cross (I had the walk sign). There was plenty of room to move forward without entering the intersection. He told me to hop off the front of the curb. I explained that was difficult on a loaded road bike on skinny tires. He then proceeded to yell at me and tell me that I was in the sidewalk, told me it was illegal, and to “Ride on the Road!” Mind you, riding on the road in this situation would have meant taking the lane across the bridge. I explained the law. He rolled his window up.

[bobco85]

To the RESPONSIBLE dad who I saw biking in Alexandria this evening with his 8 year old (I think) daughter standing on the rear bike rack holding onto his shoulders, neither person wearing a helmet:

I hope your daughter is either a good gymnast or a trained astronaut, considering how high she’s going to fly through the air and have to stick the landing when you crash.

P.S. – Dude! WTF?!

[thucydides]

Definitely not defending the dad, but yesterday I was showing one of my research assistants the cover of a report on cycling that was produced in Belgium. You can see it here [it’s a pdf]. I can’t imagine even seeing something like that in the US today.

[Dickie]

@thucydides 54875 wrote:

Definitely not defending the dad, but yesterday I was showing one of my research assistants the cover of a report on cycling that was produced in Belgium. You can see it here [it’s a pdf]. I can’t imagine even seeing something like that in the US today.

Oh those Europeans! I think the son picked the short straw!

[Terpfan]

Dear Super Elite guy @Union and King St last night at 7pm,

You had absolutely no right to shower any shame on the pedestrian that you yelled “whoa, whoa” as she attempted to legally cross Union St at the crosswalk. Especially given you didn’t even attempt an Idaho stop or even slow down, no, you were doing a good 20mph clip. And, both cars and myself at the intersection all had the right of way first. Look, I’m not a dbag about saying everyone should stop at every stopsign, but certainly when there are other vehicles and pedestrians crossing you shouldn’t pull an evil keenevil trying to dart through without even looking. So I apologized to the pedestrian and called you what you were, a total elite ahole.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Two-tenths deduction for Terpfan for misspelling ELITE. Standards must be maintained when calling out BS.

[baiskeli]

You were walking across the Lynn St. Intersection of Doom in front of me. You were about 2/3rds through when I caught up with you. You decided to turn left, apparently heading for the Key Bridge, without looking – a semi-Crazy Ivan. I was just about to pass you on your left. Bad idea. This is why cyclists should always call their passes, and why pedestrians should never do ill-advised things like what you did.

[Dickie]

@ShawnoftheDread 54880 wrote:

Two-tenths deduction for Terpfan for misspelling ELITE. Standards must be maintained when calling out BS.

He gets the two-tenths re-instated for un-intentionally calling me a Dbag.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Dickie 54889 wrote:

He gets the two-tenths re-instated for un-intentionally calling me a Dbag.

I don’t know why you’d assume that was unintentional.

[Dickie]

@ShawnoftheDread 54890 wrote:

I don’t know why you’d assume that was unintentional.

Only because Terpfan doesn’t know me that well… if it had been you there would have been no question.

[Author]

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