My Morning Commute

[LhasaCM]

I’m seriously starting to wonder about the state of driver education among the drivers on 1st NE near Union Station. 5 times in the past week before today (so averaging once a week), I’ve almost been hit by a driver who was travelling southbound turning left onto either L or K streets NE, while I was travelling southbound in the “protected” bike lane. Each time before today – we were sitting at the same red light, and the driver sat at the traffic light while they had a green left turn arrow. Then, they all tried to turn shortly after the turn arrow went red, and the “go straight” arrow was green. Only 2 of the 5 were looking at their phones while the light cycled through, so it couldn’t just be that. DC, MD, VA, and CT plates were represented.

This morning was probably the closest call, as I wasn’t stopped at the light but it turned green when I was about 200 feet away, and the “it just started raining” slickness of the road made slamming on the brakes and swerving even more fun than it usually is with the empty trailer cycle on the back. Makes me think I need to get a camera one of these days…

On the plus side – it would’ve been worse were I not expecting that to happen as I approached the intersection. So – thanks to the 5 inattentive drivers in the past week for making sure I assume that everyone is just as dangerous on the road as you are!

[cvcalhoun]

@LhasaCM 149948 wrote:

I’m seriously starting to wonder about the state of driver education among the drivers on 1st NE near Union Station. 5 times in the past week before today (so averaging once a week), I’ve almost been hit by a driver who was travelling southbound turning left onto either L or K streets NE, while I was travelling southbound in the “protected” bike lane. Each time before today – we were sitting at the same red light, and the driver sat at the traffic light while they had a green left turn arrow. Then, they all tried to turn shortly after the turn arrow went red, and the “go straight” arrow was green. Only 2 of the 5 were looking at their phones while the light cycled through, so it couldn’t just be that. DC, MD, VA, and CT plates were represented.

This morning was probably the closest call, as I wasn’t stopped at the light but it turned green when I was about 200 feet away, and the “it just started raining” slickness of the road made slamming on the brakes and swerving even more fun than it usually is with the empty trailer cycle on the back. Makes me think I need to get a camera one of these days…

On the plus side – it would’ve been worse were I not expecting that to happen as I approached the intersection. So – thanks to the 5 inattentive drivers in the past week for making sure I assume that everyone is just as dangerous on the road as you are!

FWIW, the cameras help. I was able to report getting hit by a car that decided to move into my lane without noticing I was in it, and run into me. There is no way I would have had all the details (license number, make and model of car) without the video. Plus, with proof of exactly what happened, the police were willing to cite the driver.

[cvcalhoun]

@bentbike33 149923 wrote:

Sorry, forgot the tags.

Seriously, if you use 2 of those round nuts, one on either side of the schrader hole, you should be golden.

Sorry, I’m so unfamiliar with Presta valves (having never had one, aside from the one they mistakenly installed) that I don’t even recognize sarcasm about them.

[LhasaCM]

@cvcalhoun 149949 wrote:

FWIW, the cameras help. I was able to report getting hit by a car that decided to move into my lane without noticing I was in it, and run into me. There is no way I would have had all the details (license number, make and model of car) without the video. Plus, with proof of exactly what happened, the police were willing to cite the driver.

The biggest hurdle for me right now is justifying adding another step/gadget/process to getting ready for my fairly short commute with a pickup in the middle (on the way home). Rounding up, it’s 3 miles each way. It’d be less of a hurdle if I had more close calls headed northbound in the evening (when I’m riding along with a non-empty trailer cycle).

[cvcalhoun]

@LhasaCM 149963 wrote:

The biggest hurdle for me right now is justifying adding another step/gadget/process to getting ready for my fairly short commute with a pickup in the middle (on the way home). Rounding up, it’s 3 miles each way. It’d be less of a hurdle if I had more close calls headed northbound in the evening (when I’m riding along with a non-empty trailer cycle).

I understand. Every day now, I start the day by unplugging my headlight, front video camera, rear video camera, and Garmin, installing all of them on the bike, and turning them on. Then I have to turn them all off when I arrived, and turn them all back on for my trip home. But for me, the trip is 12.5 miles each way, so the ratio of time spent dealing with gadgets to time spent riding is more favorable than it would be for you.

[TwoWheelsDC]

First day riding with my new BB+crank on my Cervelo. Shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but given that it’s press fit and a carbon frame and I had made a number of changes (bigger chainrings, moved derailleur) I was still nervous. Seemed to go fine, but after 10+ miles, it became clear that there was some play in the spindle. The cranks that I put on have a preload nut that I visually inspected on installation and looked fine, and I also did my best to feel for any play while the bike was in the stand and while test-riding…but it obviously took some time for the drivetrain to loosen up. Only took like 30 seconds to adjust the preload bolt, but the adjustment was just enough to make my front derailleur rub. I was, however, able to get back on the bike and just fix the derailleur issue while riding and the bike ran smoothly for the last 10 miles of my commute.

Oh, and the calibration for my power meter (despite calibrating) seemed to be way off, but whatevs…

[gibby]

@LhasaCM 149948 wrote:

I’m seriously starting to wonder about the state of driver education among the drivers on 1st NE near Union Station. 5 times in the past week before today (so averaging once a week), I’ve almost been hit by a driver who was travelling southbound turning left onto either L or K streets NE, while I was travelling southbound in the “protected” bike lane. !

And while they’re at it, a pedestrian education course would be very helpful, since the general practice closer to union station is ‘come bolting out of the metro tunnel, don’t look left or right, throw quick glance over shoulder when you’re halfway into bike lane, express shock that there is a bike crawling up your back’

[ian74]

Mine was more or less the same as always EXCEPT for finding proof that there is a monster that lives on or near the Capital Crescent Trail in Georgetown. I found this big carp with a big bite missing from the middle of it laying on the pavement. If it happened in the water, something dragged it up a steep embankment and left it on the trail. Judd and I discussed this via Strava and concluded it is either a chupapesca or Mack the Potomac Bear Monster. Be careful out there! I’m glad whatever took the bite was no longer there when I rode by. Notice foot for scale, I wear a size 43 shoe.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12917[/ATTACH]

[Crickey7]

You’re braver than I. I saw that and determined not to even slow down to check it out, lest the Chupucabra still be lurking nearby.

[TwoWheelsDC]

The explanation is much less scary. Dismal was bonking and needed a snack…no newfangled energy bars for this OG, just pure, natural protein.

[LhasaCM]

@gibby 150049 wrote:

And while they’re at it, a pedestrian education course would be very helpful, since the general practice closer to union station is ‘come bolting out of the metro tunnel, don’t look left or right, throw quick glance over shoulder when you’re halfway into bike lane, express shock that there is a bike crawling up your back’

Yeah, that area is really problematic. You have the intersection at the top of the hill that nobody seems to understand (it’s a simple pattern – 1st street, then bike lanes, then parking garage, then pedestrians). And down the hill between Metro and the PSB, it seems folks still haven’t processed the “this crosswalk moved a long time ago when this bike lane showed up – maybe I shouldn’t cross here without looking. You also get folks who do the same thing at the other crosswalks – make a sudden turn to cross the street without looking, expecting everyone to be able to instantly yield.

[scoot]

@gibby 150049 wrote:

And while they’re at it, a pedestrian education course would be very helpful, since the general practice closer to union station is ‘come bolting out of the metro tunnel, don’t look left or right, throw quick glance over shoulder when you’re halfway into bike lane, express shock that there is a bike crawling up your back’

This is a general problem with distracted pedestrians. Many step into roadways without glancing up from their phones, especially if what’s next to the curb is a bike lane. Expect it anywhere, not just Union Station.

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

I don’t understand the urge people have to argue and defend their actions under any circumstance. This morning I knocked on the window of a SUV parked in the bike lane next to an empty parking spot near the school on Commonwealth, I guess cause they didn’t want to bother fully pulling into the empty parking spot (???).

I was like “You’re blocking a travel lane and causing a hazardous situation, and all you need to do is park in that spot next to you”. He says “I have my hazards on”. And I’m like “Just park against the curb, move your car 4 feet to the right”. He says “I have my hazards on. I’m waiting for her”

Several iterations of this argument later I gave up with a “OK, I’ll report your vehicle to the police, have a GREAT day” and as I mimed getting my phone out of my pocket he drove away, presumably around the block.

If I was in his shoes I would just say “Yeah sorry” and pull my car into the parking space??????

[DrP]

@LeprosyStudyGroup 150105 wrote:

I don’t understand the urge people have to argue and defend their actions under any circumstance. This morning I knocked on the window of a SUV parked in the bike lane next to an empty parking spot near the school on Commonwealth, I guess cause they didn’t want to bother fully pulling into the empty parking spot (???).

I was like “You’re blocking a travel lane and causing a hazardous situation, and all you need to do is park in that spot next to you”. He says “I have my hazards on”. And I’m like “Just park against the curb, move your car 4 feet to the right”. He says “I have my hazards on. I’m waiting for her”

Several iterations of this argument later I gave up with a “OK, I’ll report your vehicle to the police, have a GREAT day” and as I mimed getting my phone out of my pocket he drove away, presumably around the block.

If I was in his shoes I would just say “Yeah sorry” and pull my car into the parking space??????

Like my mother, you likely believe everything is your fault, that you are often not correct, and you just do as others tell you. Like my father, the driver KNOWS that he is always right, despite any information to the contrary and he must always explain how it is that he is RIGHT. (I won’t discuss the, um, fun I have when I visit home).

[KLizotte]

@LeprosyStudyGroup 150105 wrote:

I don’t understand the urge people have to argue and defend their actions under any circumstance. This morning I knocked on the window of a SUV parked in the bike lane next to an empty parking spot near the school on Commonwealth, I guess cause they didn’t want to bother fully pulling into the empty parking spot (???).

I was like “You’re blocking a travel lane and causing a hazardous situation, and all you need to do is park in that spot next to you”. He says “I have my hazards on”. And I’m like “Just park against the curb, move your car 4 feet to the right”. He says “I have my hazards on. I’m waiting for her”

Several iterations of this argument later I gave up with a “OK, I’ll report your vehicle to the police, have a GREAT day” and as I mimed getting my phone out of my pocket he drove away, presumably around the block.

If I was in his shoes I would just say “Yeah sorry” and pull my car into the parking space??????

Evil me is thinking you should have parked yourself and your bike right in front of him and refuse to move (you could have flashed your lights at him and said hey, “I’ve got my hazards on”) so he would have to drive around you. 😡

Sad me is thinking, egad, he’s raising a kid. What kind of lessons can he be teaching her?

[Author]

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