My Morning Commute

[Judd]

@bobco85 141199 wrote:

Someone decided to hitch a ride on my bike from my apartment in Alexandria to just before I arrived at work in Ballston. When I was getting on my bike to start riding this morning, I looked down and saw a lightning bug sitting on the top tube. It proceeded to stay there the whole time up until I reached the Ballston parking garage where I guess it said, “This is my stop; see ya!”

I hope this means that I will start seeing lightning bugs out and about in the evenings

I’ve noticed a large increase in lightning bug riders because of safetrack.

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[vern]

I think I saw more bikes this morning than I have on any other commuting day outside of Bike to Work Friday, and some looked kind of ratty-ass, but the cyclists did uniformly well but for the two Cat6 racers along 4MR.

[Judd]

I’m at a training in Frederick this week. I tearfully watched the cyclists on the MVT as I drove down the GW Parkway.

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[Steve O]

@Vicegrip 141122 wrote:

l and my completely full complement of “Vienna ladies who walk their dogs at the same time I ride the same quiet neighborhood roads” to say “Gooood morning” to.

When I read that, it reminded me of this:

[KWL]

@Judd 141329 wrote:

I’m at a training in Frederick this week. I tearfully watched the cyclists on the MVT as I drove down the GW Parkway.

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Depending on the time of day, I may have brought tears to your eyes. So no CCCC for you tomorrow?

[Judd]

Unfortunately there will be no CCCC for me tomorrow. I’ll have a cup of joe in my car and lament how nice you guys have it sitting outside in this awesome weather.

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[Tania]

I had a vern moment at W&OD/Great Falls this am: woman in a red car stopped at crosswalk so I proceed through (slowly, because I always wave and smile at stopped cars). As I’m in the middle of the intersection – where there’s a neon yellow bollard/pylon in the road and a sign that says something like “state law stop for people in crosswalk” – she proceeds to go through the intersection.

[pdubs]

I saw a person riding a moped on the switchback between Clermont Dr. and the Eisenhower Ave. connector. Is this allowed?

[Anonymous]

@pdubs 141497 wrote:

I saw a person riding a moped on the switchback between Clermont Dr. and the Eisenhower Ave. connector. Is this allowed?

Probably not, but if they were being courteous and safe (important preconditions) I think I’d be ok with it. That’s getting across the beltway, right? I don’t think there’s a good option in the vicinity for a slow, small vehicle to cross the beltway.

[americancyclo]

@Amalitza 141501 wrote:

Probably not, but if they were being courteous and safe (important preconditions) I think I’d be ok with it. That’s getting across the beltway, right? I don’t think there’s a good option in the vicinity for a slow, small vehicle to cross the beltway.

Looks like the shortest option. The only other options would be Telegraph or Van Dorn.

[GovernorSilver]

@Tania 141473 wrote:

I had a vern moment at W&OD/Great Falls this am: woman in a red car stopped at crosswalk so I proceed through (slowly, because I always wave and smile at stopped cars). As I’m in the middle of the intersection – where there’s a neon yellow bollard/pylon in the road and a sign that says something like “state law stop for people in crosswalk” – she proceeds to go through the intersection.

Not fond of that behavior myself, but at least she was stopped.

I was about to walk onto a crosswalk yesterday evening when a car blew past the stop sign to make a right turn through iit at high speed. Good reminder of why I don’t blindly walk into an intersection.

[pdubs]

@Amalitza 141501 wrote:

Probably not, but if they were being courteous and safe (important preconditions) I think I’d be ok with it. That’s getting across the beltway, right? I don’t think there’s a good option in the vicinity for a slow, small vehicle to cross the beltway.

I only witnessed him exiting onto the road, so I can’t say for sure if he was courteous and safe while going down the switchback. To clarify, the vehicle was most likely not a moped but a small engine motorcycle, which I’m ok with but was curious since there are no signs.

[Anonymous]

I really need to learn how to track stand.

[mello yello]

Showed late for CCCC … 8:20 or so, but I used the time I would have spent drinking coffee helping a new commuter with a flat. Lesson 1: replace your patch kit after you use it once, the glue dries out (my patch kit is from BTWD 2013, I don’t see why they can’t make the glue in little blister packs like pills, so you only open one per patch). Lesson 2: your spare presta tube will fit in a schrader wheel, just leave the retaining nut on it before poking it through. If I’d learned lesson 1 I wouldn’t have had to change a flat twice.

Vos was very nice, he’s been riding bikes for 2 years now (road bike for trail riding), and just picked up a commuter bike to go from Del Ray to Rosslyn. Today was his second day commuting by bike. I hope he continues.

[GovernorSilver]

Had to ride straight to work today, so missed CCCC.

Followed this guy on a road bike down MVT into Jones Point Park. He turned towards Royal St, I continued on the scenic route (Union St, etc.). Later on where the two MVT branches rejoin, I see the same guy again, despite his riding at a faster speed. Just more proof that the Royal St. route can really slow you down if you’re commuting northbound through Old Town.

This is the 2nd commute in a row on the Uptown 8 in which somebody made a comment about electric bikes to me. The first time it was from a random cyclist who said “Get an electric!” as he passed me on Jefferson in the National Mall, after 3-4 other cyclists passed me. Today, it was a pedestrian on N. Capitol St. who asked me if my bike was heavy. I said “It’s 35 lbs”. He then asked if I had a motor on the bike. I said, no, just my legs.

I tried the Strava app for the first time but apparently just hitting the Record button wasn’t enough to actually record the ride.

[Author]

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