My Morning Commute

[KayakCyndi]

Another body …. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/mans-body-found-in-tidal-basin-near-jefferson-memorial/2015/06/24/0fe0bcd0-1a72-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html?hpid=z3. Well that explains the very heavy police presence I saw while heading to down to Haines for a lap this morning.

[Tania]

consularrider and I rolled past the Jefferson around 8:05ish this am and I didn’t notice anything – in fact, I read this article earlier today and figured they were all gone by the time we passed by there.

(Or maybe I’m just inured to police cars in the district…)

[kwarkentien]

Ah, now I understand why all the popo cars were parked by Jefferson this AM and the stray cameraman that was setting up there.

[worktheweb]

My morning commute was beautiful and quite pleasant, until I got onto the 14th Street Bridge. I was going along at a comfortable pace and rang my bell to pass a pedestrian well in advance of my pass. As I was moving left to complete the pass I came inches from a collision with a guy who was racing along the left side silently. I yelled that he needs to call his passes, but he made no acknowledgement. Thinking that perhaps he didn’t hear me I chased him down having to get to over 22mph to do so. He continued to ignore me, even when a 115 dB horn was used to get his attention … and of course his bib shorts had the letters “KOM” emblazoned on the leg. I have a feeling I’ll find out who he is later on today via Strava’s fly-by …

Is it so hard to call your passes? If you see someone about to overtake someone else, is it so difficult to slow down a little and allow them to do so safely before you try to overtake them both? The person being overtaken always has the right of way, and perhaps an enclosed space with nowhere to escape isn’t the best place for you to act like you’re on the Tour.

[Crickey7]

Anecdotally, it seems like uncalled passes are getting more common this year.

[elbows]

Almost got t-boned by a guy in a red SUV this morning at the crossing over Wash. Blvd. south of Memorial Circle. A jogger directly in front of me was crossing and I decided it would be easier for all parties if I tagged along.

I was in the crosswalk and halfway across when he decided to come right up on me in the crosswalk. Not the way I wanted to start my day.

[ian74]

@worktheweb 118957 wrote:

My morning commute was beautiful and quite pleasant, until I got onto the 14th Street Bridge. I was going along at a comfortable pace and rang my bell to pass a pedestrian well in advance of my pass. As I was moving left to complete the pass I came inches from a collision with a guy who was racing along the left side silently. I yelled that he needs to call his passes, but he made no acknowledgement. Thinking that perhaps he didn’t hear me I chased him down having to get to over 22mph to do so. He continued to ignore me, even when a 115 dB horn was used to get his attention … and of course his bib shorts had the letters “KOM” emblazoned on the leg. I have a feeling I’ll find out who he is later on today via Strava’s fly-by …

Is it so hard to call your passes? If you see someone about to overtake someone else, is it so difficult to slow down a little and allow them to do so safely before you try to overtake them both? The person being overtaken always has the right of way, and perhaps an enclosed space with nowhere to escape isn’t the best place for you to act like you’re on the Tour.

This happens all too often, the failure to call passes has always driven me up a wall, and I always make sure I call. Its practically constant on the MVT both on my way in and out. I even say “Thank you!” after I pass or even “Good morning!.” Yesterday I passed pedestrians on the CCT, said “Bike passing on your left, thank you” and Good morning to them. One of the gentlemen walking said I was the most courteous cyclist that’s passed them all morning.

I just continue muttering “call your pass douchenozzle!” as they speed by me. I also find myself constantly checking over my shoulder before I make any move out there on the paths.

[Steve O]

@worktheweb 118957 wrote:

I was going along at a comfortable pace and rang my bell to pass a pedestrian well in advance of my pass. As I was moving left to complete the pass I came inches from a collision with a guy who was racing along the left side silently….
If you see someone about to overtake someone else, is it so difficult to slow down a little and allow them to do so safely before you try to overtake them both? The person being overtaken always has the right of way.

When I’m coming up on a rider who is about to pass someone, I both slow and tell the rider in front, “go ahead, go ahead” (usually have to say it twice). That reduces any confusion about who is going first.
It does, of course, ruin my PR going across the bridge.

[dkel]

@ian74 119005 wrote:

I also find myself constantly checking over my shoulder before I make any move out there on the paths.

This, especially at this time of year. During freezing saddles I get out of the habit, though, as I’m usually all alone during my commutes!

[bobco85]

Whatever happened to that questionnaire that the NVRPA had concerning the W&OD trail which had questions on educational signage (i.e., signs reminding trail users to signal before passing, stay to the right, yield to pedestrians and horses, etc.). I don’t remember the NPS having one, but I would not mind seeing a few reminder signs (they could be small so they don’t look too bad) every mile or so on all of the major trails in the DC metropolitan area.

[Steve O]

@bobco85 119035 wrote:

Whatever happened to that questionnaire that the NVRPA had concerning the W&OD trail which had questions on educational signage (i.e., signs reminding trail users to signal before passing, stay to the right, yield to pedestrians and horses, etc.). I don’t remember the NPS having one, but I would not mind seeing a few reminder signs (they could be small so they don’t look too bad) every mile or so on all of the major trails in the DC metropolitan area.

Right. Combine with the Burma-Shave-esque signs:

Don’t be an ass
Call your pass!

[Brendan von Buckingham]

@Brendan von Buckingham 118887 wrote:

OK June, a couple more like this morning and we’re even.

I take it back. What is it about finally getting a great weather day that brings out the asshats? Stupidty and selfishness off the charts from all modes in that evening commute.

[Anonymous]

@worktheweb 118957 wrote:

Thinking that perhaps he didn’t hear me I chased him down having to get to over 22mph to do so. He continued to ignore me, even when a 115 dB horn was used to get his attention …

While I agree that the double-pass in stealth mode is unacceptable, I have to say I also would ignore and would probably speed up to avoid interacting with someone who yelled at me then chased me down blaring a horn at me. Even if– or realistically, especially if*– I knew I had just committed a bonehead move. You may know you’re not planning on instigating a physical confrontation of some type, but the stranger you’re chasing down doesn’t know that.

*since they’re more likely to be angry and less likely to just be trying to return my taillight that fell off

[mstone]

worktheweb;118957 wrote:

i yelled that he needs to call his passes, but he made no acknowledgement. Thinking that perhaps he didn’t hear me i chased him down having to get to over 22mph to do so. He continued to ignore me, even when a 115 db horn was used to get his attention

wtf?

[worktheweb]

@Amalitza 119060 wrote:

While I agree that the double-pass in stealth mode is unacceptable, I have to say I also would ignore and would probably speed up to avoid interacting with someone who yelled at me then chased me down blaring a horn at me. Even if– or realistically, especially if*– I knew I had just committed a bonehead move. You may know you’re not planning on instigating a physical confrontation of some type, but the stranger you’re chasing down doesn’t know that.

*since they’re more likely to be angry and less likely to just be trying to return my taillight that fell off

Yeah, I was upset and adrenaline-filled — my response was not the best and I probably should not have done the chase or the horn. I guess I wanted the person to understand the severity of his actions and that it wasn’t okay. Unfortunately, short of getting into a collision and being subject to legal action, that’s probably not going to happen. The only times I’ve been that amped-up on a bike were the times I’ve been hit by cars or when cars have come close to doing so. It is just not something I expect from another cyclist.

Interestingly enough, that same night I had another close call on the same bridge at almost the same spot going home. I was on the right and there was a group passing me. All but one made it safely, but another person going the opposite direction was right beside me as the last guy decided he could not wait and went right between us. I could feel his wind as he did it, and both the other cyclist and me voiced our disapproval. Recently, I’ve been feeling like cyclists are putting me in more danger than cars, and I’ve been hit three times by cars … sometimes I long for Winter.

[Author]

Posts