Missed connection

[fuzzy]

@Rod Smith 61750 wrote:

Was he with dreadlocks on a very long homemade bike with space frame and multiple freewheels? I don’t remember the boombox so he maybe a different rider, but I mostly saw him very near the Queenstown area.

He was balding in the front, may have had dreads in the back. I don’t remember the setup of his bike…

[vvill]

Happy to report a good “connection” on the way home. I stopped at a red light and a driver’s ed student teacher (sitting in the passenger seat) said she would’ve bet I would’ve blown the light, but I didn’t, and that was good.

(The dude in the recumbent in front of me with a fairing didn’t stop though.)

[grandallj]

The name tag on your military-style Camelback said Reynolds. I can only assume, based on the way that you blithely ambled from the desire path along the MVT out into the actual path, in spite of my ding-ding-ding-“HEY!” warning, that your first name is Ivan.

[Terpfan]

Thank you to the FFX officer who pulled over the guy turning left in front of me after the expiration of their turn signal. I’m not sure if you just felt bad for me having to come to a super complete stop having come down Beacon Hill and already braked a ton or if it was just a simple one to nab, but thanks either way. Now if I could only convince you guys to watch some of those red lights up by Popkins.

[Hancockbs]

Why is it that joggers seem enamored of wearing dark colored clothing on unlighted MUTs before the sun rises, while eschewing any reflectors or lights? This is especially bad on MVT near the airport where the car headlights are shining in your eyes anyway. I can’t tell you how many near misses I’ve had. I hope they keep being misses!

[Steve]

@Hancockbs 62595 wrote:

Why is it that joggers seem enamored of wearing dark colored clothing on unlighted MUTs before the sun rises, while eschewing any reflectors or lights? This is especially bad on MVT near the airport where the car headlights are shining in your eyes anyway. I can’t tell you how many near misses I’ve had. I hope they keep being misses!

In defense of runners, I just don’t think they think about it much. I used to do it before I rode. Runners don’t move nearly as fast, and so the dark doesn’t make it so hard for them to see. I don’t think they really understand how hard it is on cyclists, because the closing speeds are so much faster.

[jrenaut]

You: 7th St SW, nice Chrome messenger bag
Me: They guy you passed very closely on the right as the light turned green. Thanks for that.

Cyclists on my ride in today were unpleasant. I got passed a ton by slow people running lights. Don’t do that. To the 8 of you who blew the light at Thomas Circle – there were pedestrians legally in the crosswalk that you ignored. If you want to jump that light, I understand (I usually do, it’s the one light I jump most days on my normal commute because it’s safer that way). But you yield to pedestrians.

[jrenaut]

@Steve 62602 wrote:

In defense of runners, I just don’t think they think about it much. I used to do it before I rode. Runners don’t move nearly as fast, and so the dark doesn’t make it so hard for them to see. I don’t think they really understand how hard it is on cyclists, because the closing speeds are so much faster.

The solution is to send Dirt out with his repertoire of “I can’t see you” songs and a cargo bike full of Bike Arlington blinkies.

[dasgeh]

@jrenaut 62604 wrote:

The solution is to send Dirt out with his repertoire of “I can’t see you” songs and a cargo bike full of Bike Arlington blinkies.

Signs could also help.

[bikeeveryday]

@dasgeh 62605 wrote:

Signs could also help.

How about something like this as a sign for cyclists to wear on their backs for runners to see as they are passed? “B SAFE – WEAR A LIGHT” or “RUNNERS NEED LIGHTS TOO”…

Definitely a campaign that is needed for the late Summer/early Fall mornings when visibility once again becomes an issue during normal rush hours…

[jabberwocky]

@Hancockbs 62595 wrote:

Why is it that joggers seem enamored of wearing dark colored clothing on unlighted MUTs before the sun rises, while eschewing any reflectors or lights? This is especially bad on MVT near the airport where the car headlights are shining in your eyes anyway. I can’t tell you how many near misses I’ve had. I hope they keep being misses!

Trail ninja! The single reason I ran an 800 lumen light on the W&OD when I commuted that way. A lot probably don’t really think about. I talked to many over the years while commuting and most just seemed to not care. I’d say I couldn’t see them very well and they should consider a blinky or reflective vest, and get a “meh” at best.

[ebubar]

Missed connection from the Fiat 500 on North Glebe Road a little north of Marymount University. Luckily a cop saw the whole thing (or so I thought). He pulled me over for not hugging the curb while i’m riding. When I hug the curb cars don’t give me any space when passing and try to squeeze through. I tried to explain this to him, but he wouldn’t hear any of it. I tried to clarify what I should do, but he just wanted to lecture me. I may look like a 20 year old college kid joy-riding on my bike, but i’m a 30 year old professor of astrophysics trying to get to work. Treat me with some respect and have a conversation with me so I can clarify what you expect me to do. This is a 4 lane road (2 each way). It is unsafe for me to hug the right curb since it encourages cars to be in the lane with me. I ride far enough to the left (about 1/3 into the lane) that if they want to pass me they should use the left lane. This seems reasonable to me for the low traffic times that I plan my commutes. I’m riding in a position that I deem as safe (according to VA’s bike laws, “Bicyclists operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under conditions then existing shall ride as close as safely practicable to the right curb or edge of roadway.”) and i’m not impeding traffic since they can get around me.

I really don’t think I was in the wrong here. Its consistent with the REI cycling skills course I took (I think). Happily he just gave me a warning, but the comment “these roads are dangerous enough without you people on them” was uncalled for.

From now on it looks like i’ll get good at climbing and just brave the hills of Military Road on my way to Chain Bridge from now on, but this seriously shows me why more people don’t bike. If you follow the law, you’ll get hit. If you follow what’s safe, you’ll get ticketed (potentially).

[dasgeh]

@ebubar 62618 wrote:

Missed connection from the Fiat 500 on North Glebe Road a little north of Marymount University. Luckily a cop saw the whole thing (or so I thought). He pulled me over for not hugging the curb while i’m riding. When I hug the curb cars don’t give me any space when passing and try to squeeze through. I tried to explain this to him, but he wouldn’t hear any of it. I tried to clarify what I should do, but he just wanted to lecture me. I may look like a 20 year old college kid joy-riding on my bike, but i’m a 30 year old professor of astrophysics trying to get to work. Treat me with some respect and have a conversation with me so I can clarify what you expect me to do. This is a 4 lane road (2 each way). It is unsafe for me to hug the right curb since it encourages cars to be in the lane with me. I ride far enough to the left (about 1/3 into the lane) that if they want to pass me they should use the left lane. This seems reasonable to me for the low traffic times that I plan my commutes. I’m riding in a position that I deem as safe (according to VA’s bike laws, “Bicyclists operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under conditions then existing shall ride as close as safely practicable to the right curb or edge of roadway.”) and i’m not impeding traffic since they can get around me.

I really don’t think I was in the wrong here. Its consistent with the REI cycling skills course I took (I think). Happily he just gave me a warning, but the comment “these roads are dangerous enough without you people on them” was uncalled for.

From now on it looks like i’ll get good at climbing and just brave the hills of Military Road on my way to Chain Bridge from now on, but this seriously shows me why more people don’t bike. If you follow the law, you’ll get hit. If you follow what’s safe, you’ll get ticketed (potentially).

I assume from the warning you have his badge number. Please, please, please report him. If this guys ends up responding a non-missed connection, it could cause problems for others.

[Tim Kelley]

+1. Yes, I would urge you to follow up with the Arlington County Police non-emergency number: 703-558-2222

Please report back to let us know how things go.

[ebubar]

@dasgeh 62620 wrote:

I assume from the warning you have his badge number. Please, please, please report him. If this guys ends up responding a non-missed connection, it could cause problems for others.

It was a verbal warning only, so no badge number. I was so shocked that I got pulled over, my wits escaped me. I was questioning if I was even legally in the right.

[Author]

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