My Morning Commute

[dplasters]

@Terpfan 93225 wrote:

Approaching curbcut right before Key Bridge where GWMP exit ramp is located, I looked right and no cars there. Right before I enter intersection I check again and a young girl driving a black toyota suv is flying up like she’s merging onto another highway. So I skid-stop and she does as well. Then I decide to go again and she starts to move forward before stopping a few inches from me. She’s lucky I slowed her down as she would have come flying onto the road way too fast hitting traffic. I don’t know sign markage there, but now I’m going to check since she seemed oblivious to the notion she was leaving a limited access highway.

Otherwise beautiful ride in.

I’m always curious about the intersections in that area, so I was bored and went about on streetview. Not defending the driver at all, but there isn’t a single speed limit or recommended speed sign on that ramp and then the whole way into the city on the bridge. That seems like something that should be fixed (assuming streetview isn’t so old it already hasn’t been fixed. Particularly given the blind uphill curve of the ramp.

[dasgeh]

@dplasters 93250 wrote:

I’m always curious about the intersections in that area, so I was bored and went about on streetview. Not defending the driver at all, but there isn’t a single speed limit or recommended speed sign on that ramp and then the whole way into the city on the bridge. That seems like something that should be fixed (assuming streetview isn’t so old it already hasn’t been fixed. Particularly given the blind uphill curve of the ramp.

As you get onto the ramp, there’s a sign saying the speed limit is 20mph.

Not that it’s enough signage, but it’s not nothing.

[dplasters]

@dasgeh 93251 wrote:

As you get onto the ramp, there’s a sign saying the speed limit is 20mph.

Not that it’s enough signage, but it’s not nothing.

Oooo I missed it. Although it isn’t a speed limit, its a speed advisory sign. Lots of lovely ambiguity in those. Although most people assume they are speed limit signs, but then most people don’t pay attention to the limit on those signs anyway.

But for the sake of everyone involved:

An advisory speed limit is a speed limit that is recommended by a governing body, but is not enforced. Advisory speed limits are often set in areas with many pedestrians, such as in city centres and outside schools, and on difficult stretches of roads, such as on tight corners or through roadworks. While travelling above the advisory speed limit is not an offence, liability for any accidents that occur as a result of traveling above the limit can be placed partially or entirely on the person exceeding the advisory speed limit.

Source (Good Old Wikipedia)

[Terpfan]

Yah, they could do a better job marking it. I think it would be nice to have another set of Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk sign another 75-100′ back. The two existing signs are fairly close to the crosswalk. With that said, it’s a pretty tight turn around so in this girl’s case (and I usually wouldn’t say girl except she had a Stone Ridge sticker in the window and looked all of 16 or 17) she seemed to gun it coming out of the turn either oblivious to the yield and crosswalk or just not caring. I’m not sure if I would hope the former or latter more because the former would scare me more than the latter (ie, I would rather she knows I’m there is an just a ahole versus is totally oblivious).

[KWL]

@Terpfan 93225 wrote:

Approaching curbcut right before Key Bridge where GWMP exit ramp is located,

@americancyclo 93233 wrote:

That’s always a fun spot.

The only time I’ve been hit by a car is right there. It was really just a nudge that bent my rear wheel without knocking me over. It certainly (along with the close by Intersection of Doom) is a place to be watchful.

[dbb]

As I was heading into town this morning, I happened upon this gent.

He was pretty stoked about his street strider.

[dplasters]

@dbb 93267 wrote:

As I was heading into town this morning, I happened upon this gent.

He was pretty stoked about his street strider.

What speed can be obtained by one of these… contraptions? I’m assuming you could ride it in the bike lanes?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dplasters 93285 wrote:

What speed can be obtained by one of these… contraptions? I’m assuming you could ride it in the bike lanes?

I’ve never seen this particular model of strider, but Elliptigos (basically the same thing, but with only one wheel in the front and the arms swing like an Elliptical machine) are fairly common on the trails and seem to keep up with bikes. The ones I’ve seen have cassettes, so they’re multi-speed. Although the snob in me judges them, I kinda want to try one…I imagine it would be a pretty intense workout.

[dbb]

Streetstrider

http://www.streetstrider.com/summit-8r-p-161.html

The rider/driver/operator said his had an 8 speed internal hub. He admitted he wouldn’t be able to keep up with me on my road bike but he was doing about 13-15 mph when I was riding alongside. It did seem a little wide, but no more than an urban assault stroller or a Burley.

[Powerful Pete]

Diabolical contraptions… :rolleyes:

[jpaulwhite]

It was a great ride in this morning!

[Terpfan]

Is there an option to keep this week’s weather thus far for the rest of the year? 70, no wind, and sunny makes for an awesome morning commute. I’m struggling to imagine BAFS lies just a little over 4 months away. Maybe I was really meant to live in San Diego.

[Powerful Pete]

Yes wonderful commute… I second your proposal. We keep this weather year-round and significantly improve quality of life in this area.

[cyclingfool]

@Terpfan 93350 wrote:

Is there an option to keep this week’s weather thus far for the rest of the year? 70, no wind, and sunny makes for an awesome morning commute. I’m struggling to imagine BAFS lies just a little over 4 months away. Maybe I was really meant to live in San Diego.

To each his own, right? Give me 40-45 in the AM and 55-60 in the afternoon year round, and I’d be happy as a clam. Alas, it can’t be late October/early November year round. I’m not going to complain, though. This summer has been decidedly more comfortable than I would ever have anticipated. 70 is way better than 80 in the AM,which we haven’t had yet this year, knock on wood.

My commute in this morning was quite nice, even though I’m going on about 2 and a half hours sleep. Spent way too much time on bike maintenance projects last night, including tearing down and rebuilding a rear wheel. One of those times where everything seemed to take longer than I thought it would, but I needed to get everything done so I wouldn’t have to suffer through another morning on metro, coupled with a late start on the projects.

I feel fine now and actually , but now that the bike ride energy is starting to wear off, I’m gonna need some serious caffeine.

[Harry Meatmotor]

@Powerful Pete 93355 wrote:

Yes wonderful commute… I second your proposal. We keep this weather year-round and significantly improve quality of life in this area.

San Washington Diego of Columbia?

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