My Morning Commute

[dasgeh]

@Subby 78637 wrote:

Arlington.

An email will go out about this. I share your rage. *If you have any better pictures (showing APS and/or bus numbers), please let me know.

As to the buses on Wilson Blvd, I am told that a bus is there every day but only once for 10 minutes (there’s a quick turn around drop off/pick up). If you see buses more often and/or for longer, or if you find this unacceptable, please let APS know.

[jrenaut]

Can’t quite tell from the photo, but it looks like they’re blocking the crosswalk, too? I just don’t understand how people who drive professionally can be so oblivious.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@jrenaut 78641 wrote:

Can’t quite tell from the photo, but it looks like they’re blocking the crosswalk, too? I just don’t understand how people who drive professionally can be so oblivious.

In my experience the people who drive professionally are the MOST oblivious…or at least they give the fewest f%*ks.

[Subby]

I tweeted at them – no idea if they pay attention.

https://twitter.com/Chris_Shue/status/439479452779569152/photo/1

[rcannon100]

So did I. Here is the APS Superintendent’s email patrick.murphy@apsva.us

I find APS to be responsive…. but transportation has been a real problem.

[dasgeh]

@rcannon100 78647 wrote:

So did I. Here is the APS Superintendent’s email patrick.murphy@apsva.us

I find APS to be responsive…. but transportation has been a real problem.

You may also want to let the School Board’s special committee on transportation know about issues you see. If school buses have a negative impact on the community at large, and if there are things that can be done to reduce that impact, it would be helpful for that committee to hear that. MMTSSSC@yahoogroups.com

[Terpfan]

@Subby 78645 wrote:

I tweeted at them – no idea if they pay attention.

https://twitter.com/Chris_Shue/status/439479452779569152/photo/1

Wow, how did they even get the busses into there with secret service? I’m surprised given i’ve seen cabs let people out there, but never stopped. What idiots. It would make more sense if they were from some super-rural area lacking any form of bike lanes, but it’s not like this is some super secret to Arlington bus drivers.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@TwoWheelsDC 78644 wrote:

In my experience the people who drive professionally are the MOST oblivious…or at least they give the fewest f%*ks.

The latter, definitely.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Terpfan 78652 wrote:

Wow, how did they even get the busses into there with secret service? I’m surprised given i’ve seen cabs let people out there, but never stopped. What idiots. It would make more sense if they were from some super-rural area lacking any form of bike lanes, but it’s not like this is some super secret to Arlington bus drivers.

They had to have been directed there. Secret Service and NPS park there all the time themselves, so it’s not like they are averse to blocking bike lanes.

[rcannon100]

APS tweet replies

Thank you for making us aware of this issue. We will follow up on this with our Transportation team.

[oldbikechick]

It was cold enough this morning that I tried my new goggles (like these): [ATTACH=CONFIG]4874[/ATTACH]

Verdict: they are probably even more ridiculous looking than ski goggles, but they have much better peripheral vision. I still had a terrible problem with them fogging up, but it had more to do with my glasses underneath the goggles than the goggles themselves. Once I stopped at Java Shack to put in contacts, everything was better. I will still be on the lookout for the perfect solution for protecting my eyes on the coldest days.

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@vvill 78584 wrote:

It was a kudos-to-all-who-rode sort of morning. My thumbs are still reeling a bit.

You should’ve invited them to come inside and sit by the fire

[Arlingtonrider]

@oldbikechick 78679 wrote:

I will still be on the lookout for the perfect solution for protecting my eyes on the coldest days.

Ski goggles are pretty amazing for biking in extreme cold when combined with a partial face mask or balakava, and while you might have to be a little more cognizant about peripheral vision, I haven’t found that to be too much of a problem. I think I compensate by looking around a little more. Also, they’re vented on top and designed not to fog up. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they are when riding. I might have sprung for a good pair when I bought them several years ago (for skiing), but it was awesome to have them in yesterday’s temps.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@oldbikechick 78679 wrote:

It was cold enough this morning that I tried my new goggles (like these): [ATTACH=CONFIG]4874[/ATTACH]

Verdict: they are probably even more ridiculous looking than ski goggles, but they have much better peripheral vision. I still had a terrible problem with them fogging up, but it had more to do with my glasses underneath the goggles than the goggles themselves. Once I stopped at Java Shack to put in contacts, everything was better. I will still be on the lookout for the perfect solution for protecting my eyes on the coldest days.

Are those equestrian goggles or lab goggles? Where did you get them?

[rcannon100]

Reply from APS

Dear Mr. Cannon,

Thank you for contacting me regarding this matter. After speaking with the Transportation Team, I learned that the buses were parked in that location as directed by the Secret Service while a group of students from the Stratford Program visited the White House. You may be aware that the Stratford Program is designed to serve our students with disabilities who were visiting an event at the White House at the invitation of President Obama

Given this information, I respectfully request that you correct the misinformation on Twitter and explain that APS was following the direction of the Secret Service.

Sincerely,

Dr. Murphy

I think the problem with this is superficially obvious. While I can understand what the superintendent is saying, nevertheless what has happened is that this activity was done at the expense of the safety of one group for the benefit of another.

This happened in DC – but this is the same problem we are facing in Arlington. We create rules. We create rules in order to make the transportation system safer. And then those rules are ignored. At W&L there is a sign that says pull all the way forward to drop kids off – ignored leaving a stream of cars backing up onto the road. At W&L there is another sign that says no left turn during morning drop off- ignored resulting in traffic becoming precarious. On the other side of the school is a do not enter sign – buses only – parents drive through there all the time, creating a stream of traffic that children cannot easily predict. Go watch traffic at any APS school during drop off – you will observe risky behavior and you will observe traffic rules being ignored.

Yes, this put APS in a hard place. SS is telling them to do something. But SS is telling them to do something that is unsafe – that APS can predict will be photographed and exposed. SS is telling them to do something that will put people’s lives at risk. APS did not have its blinking red lights on (well if they did, traffic would have had to stop so that probably would have caused greater problems). SS is not seen in this picture ensuring that traffic can safely get around the buses.

APS does not acknowledge that parking in a bikelane is illegal. APS does not acknowledge that they put other people at risk. APS simply says “we were following orders and want an apology.”

At some point, even with school buses, it is on APS to do the right thing – and to coordinate with their destination to do the right thing. If they have to do something like a drop off – fine – while doing it they need to ensure a safe situation – and then they need to promptly remove the risk regardless of what the SS is telling them.

Neither was observed.

One outcome of this might be asking APS for their SS POC, and requesting that SS and DDOT meet to discuss the safety of the 15th St bike lane – that it is not optional white house parking.

[Author]

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