My Morning Commute

[Certifried]

sucked I drove today, despite knowing the weather would be nice. I ate at the “Original Pancake House” in Bethesda yesterday, and by afternoon was feeling pretty nauseous. I’m not sure it was the food, nor do I really have any idea what the issue was really. Still feeling a little “blech” today, and woke up way too late to ride.

Just another manic Monday.

Topic

[Terpfan]

@dasgeh 105638 wrote:

Great ride in: not only were the MVT connector and TR bridge completely clear, there was a team working with NPS at the TR parking lot side of the Trollheim — apparently resurfacing the bridge is a “priority” for NPS and they were structural engineers looking at the site. WHOO-HOO!!!!

This is great news.

Or bad news. This is the one thing I said I would be willing to pay their stupid canal toll for…them actually maintaining the MVT besides just moving trees when they fall onto it. But still, good enough news.

[komorebi]

Today was the first time that I’ve been on the MVT at the right time and temperature to see frost on the marsh grasses by the Washington Sailing Marina. It was surprisingly beautiful, in that understated winter way. The sunrise over the Potomac was equally spectacular, painting the river in soft pastels.

This ties into a conversation I had this evening, as I was in the elevator on my way out of the office. Normally, people in my building barely even make eye contact in the elevator if they don’t know each other; striking up a conversation is unheard of. But the woman who got on the elevator after me saw that I was carrying my hi-viz safety vest and biking jacket (I was on my way down to the locker rooms to change), and this conversation ensued:

Her: Did you bike to work today?
Me: Yes, and it was amazing. The sunrise over the river was beautiful.
Her: Wasn’t it cold?
Me: Not really. With the right gear, it’s not bad.
Her: Wow, you’ve inspired me. [Elevator reaches her floor.] Have a great evening.
Me: Have a great weekend.

All in all, a good day. I saw a gorgeous sunrise, and maybe the woman I talked to in the elevator will think a little more seriously about the possibility of biking to work. That’s how I got started — I learned that a woman down the hall was a bike commuter, and it made me think, “If she can do it, I can bike to work too.” That turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time.

[Terpfan]

Dearest Metrobus Rt 31 (#7149) Driver,

Cutting me off to make a stop where you know you’re not going to catch the light is just obnoxious. With the exception of the Circulators that park on 35th St and take up 2/3 of the road, I was on a roll with no Metrobus-related complaints that was going back months. You broke the chain. Lucky for you I was on the hybrid and able to easily stop.

[dasgeh]

@Terpfan 106126 wrote:

Dearest Metrobus Rt 31 (#7149) Driver,

Since you have the bus # and (I’m assuming) time and place of incident, you might want to take a second to report it on Metro’s site.

[Terpfan]

@dasgeh 106131 wrote:

Since you have the bus # and (I’m assuming) time and place of incident, you might want to take a second to report it on Metro’s site.

I thought about it, but last time I did it, I think it went into a blackhole. Maybe I’ll do it anyway in case that driver ever hits a cyclist

[dasgeh]

@Terpfan 106132 wrote:

I thought about it, but last time I did it, I think it went into a blackhole. Maybe I’ll do it anyway in case that driver ever hits a cyclist

I know someone who works for Metro, and although Metro doesn’t report back to commenters, my understanding is that they do use the information. I had a problem with a driver on my normal route, and I’m pretty sure that driver was reassigned.

[mstone]

@dasgeh 106133 wrote:

I had a problem with a driver on my normal route, and I’m pretty sure that driver was reassigned.

[Crickey7]

I’ve reported Metrobus incidents, and got a reply but no evidence of follow up. I’d still do it again, since I hope that a pattern with a particular driver will get noticed. I know that no actual negative ramifications ever ensue for the driver (not even if you punch out MacGruff the Crime Dog), but some warning that their record is under scrutiny is bound to improve things.

[Phatboing]

Someone waved me over and asked if I was a bike messenger today.

I’m glad I wasn’t riding fixed, because I was all set to pull some Premium Rush fothermuckery and would’ve ended up as a big red splotch this morning.

[Geoff]

Metro fare not paid this morning: $3.80

Fingers of dawn backlighting the DC skyline and reflected in the Potomac: priceless.

[jrenaut]

I love the camaraderie among those who bike on days like this. Pretty much everyone stays home, and you’re just left with the people who just bike. Whenever they leave the house, they think “well, I’m going somewhere, I’ll ride my bike”. I had a nice chat at a light on 7th NW with a man who I’ve seen a few times before. He was coveting the fenders and giant tires on the Xtracycle. I declined to mention the discs, that would have been piling on.

And I think one of the other dads at the kids school has crossed over. They got an Xtracycle a little while after we did and seemed a little unsure of the whole thing but i was talking to him the other day about riding it to the grocery store and how great it is.

[Powerful Pete]

Pleasant enough commute (which says something about how BAFS changes your perceptions of pleasant)…

Was snowing nicely when I left the house in North Arlington, turned sleety by the time I crossed the 14th Street Bridge.

But all in all only wet roads. Curious about this evening’s commute…

[UnknownCyclist]

My butt is wet.

[worktheweb]

Had the triple bonus today with rain, sleet, and snow. Had the right gear so was pretty comfortable. It is amazing how days like this make “normal” people complain about being freezing and wet, and I am thinking to myself, “what a warm morning, this is nice, what pretty snow”, the joys of BAFS … It will be interesting to see if the threats of snow-laced Armageddon ring true tonight, or if it is just wet. I have a meeting tomorrow morning bright and early, so what happens tonight will decide just how much extra time I have to give myself in the morning. I’m hoping that the warm temperatures during the day will make the snow look beautiful and fluffy on the grass but be non-existent on the MVT.

[Vicegrip]

@UnknownCyclist 106549 wrote:

My butt is wet.

beentheredonethat.

A Rear Fender works wonders for the cracktil zone.

[Author]

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