My Morning Commute

[Geoff]

Thought about putting this in the Missed Connection thread but I didn’t actually interact at all with the fellow.

This morning at about 6:50 I was at the Intersection of Doom waiting for the red light to change so I could cross Lynn.This fellow comes up behind me and, without stopping, goes across Lynn, against the light, threading thru the cross traffic.

I am an enthusiastic believer in Idaho Stops but always treat IoD with great respect and would probably do so even if there were no other vehicles visible in any direction. I was appalled. The guy was watching traffic and timed his crossing, but oh ye gods and fishes…

[Terpfan]

Pretty uneventful morning with great weather. Only complaints were the lexus suv running half of the bike lane on 33rd the whole way up this morning, but that’s kind of part to the course. The other was on the MVT when the tandem recumbent decided to pass a runner and force me to brake and skirt the very edge of the MVT. They know they’re a wider bicycle by definition and that I have no where to bail out too (right before TR island heading northbound) so the expectation then is that I will slow down to accommodate? Not going to happen unless I really think it’s collision or nothing.

[KWL]

@Terpfan 113592 wrote:

The other was on the MVT when the tandem recumbent decided to pass a runner and force me to brake and skirt the very edge of the MVT. They know they’re a wider bicycle by definition and that I have no where to bail out too (right before TR island heading northbound) so the expectation then is that I will slow down to accommodate? Not going to happen unless I really think it’s collision or nothing.

Is that the trike? Or, I guess quint would be more accurate. I’m surprised. They seem like an experienced tandem team. Usually very PAL-like.

[bobco85]

This morning, as I was riding on the Glebe Road sidewalk (I sometimes do depending on stoplight timing), a truck drove into a huge puddle near me, splashing a wave of water upon me. I did not get wet as I was wearing my rain jacket, rain pants, rain cover for my backpack, and sandals (I keep my dress shoes at the office). #winning

[Powerful Pete]

Wonderful, wonderful commute today. Rainy and windy, but mild temperatures. An almost deserted MVT as well as a very pleasant ride into the city. Let’s hope this weather keeps up all day so that the tourists will stay inside this afternoon!

[Dickie]

@Powerful Pete 113658 wrote:

Wonderful, wonderful commute today. Rainy and windy, but mild temperatures. An almost deserted MVT as well as a very pleasant ride into the city. Let’s hope this weather keeps up all day so that the tourists will stay inside this afternoon!

Totally agreed…. the Custis and WOD were empty today, lovely commute.

[Terpfan]

@KWL 113632 wrote:

Is that the trike? Or, I guess quint would be more accurate. I’m surprised. They seem like an experienced tandem team. Usually very PAL-like.

Correct and I have definitely seen them before, although never really in similar scenarios so can’t offer much perspective toward their passing. It just frustrated me as it was clear they saw me and decided to pass anyway. But hopefully it was just a bad call, which we all make.

[Rockford10]

To the guy in the high-viz jacket, the high-viz full-leg leg-warmers, the high-viz shoe covers, the high-viz gloves, hey, I saw you this morning! I was blinded for a little while, but I saw you!

[komorebi]

The cherry blossom petals looked like confetti at Hains Point this morning. They made me smile and think about the “winning your commute” thread.

[chris_s]

Did my morning commute in record time (first time sub 30 minutes). I was just starting to pat myself on the back when I realized it was almost certainly just the amazing traffic-signal karma I had this morning. Only had to put my foot down at two lights my whole commute in, and neither for more than 5 seconds.

[Powerful Pete]

Traffic light karma still counts. Good on you for your PR.

[creadinger]

Musings from recent commutes…

Southern winds blow strong
Dirt and dust on fourteenth bridge
Fast cars, gritty teeth

Blossoms great on trees
On the ground they obscure glass
Glass shards cause punctures

[Emm]

The switchbacks at Potomac Ave/MVT strike again! Every morning this week I’ve watched someone fall on them. First day I was going down, and 2 people started going up, FAST. On one of the straight segments one of them knocked into me since he couldn’t control himself/stay to the right side of the trail after a turn, and I tipped over in veerryyyy slow motion. Luckily I caught myself before I completely fell (yay guardrails). He fell down a few yards away. I was ticked so outside of confirming he was alive, I ignored his misery.

The next day a guy on a mountain bike/hybrid thought he’d power through the switchbacks going up. He powered so fast he went right over the trail and fell into the grass during one of the turns (luckily, on the one turn that doesn’t have a metal rail). I looked back and saw him sheepishly smiling as he pulled himself and his bike off the ground.

And the last 2 mornings I have I watched someone going down it bike right into the guardrails during the turns and knock themselves over.

People need to SLOW down on the switchbacks, or learn to carry their bikes up and down the stairs. Otherwise, I’m getting a camera and making tons of internet-money when I post their fails.

[Terpfan]

@Emm 113945 wrote:

People need to SLOW down on the switchbacks, or learn to carry their bikes up and down the stairs. Otherwise, I’m getting a camera and making tons of internet-money when I post their fails.

Do it!

[dasgeh]

@Terpfan 113951 wrote:

Do it!

Seriously – engineers should NEVER build switchbacks like that. They are literally unusable by bikes with long wheel bases. The bike gutter on the stairs is unhelpful if you have a box bike or kids on your bike. Ugh.

[Author]

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