PA Ave u-turns – Enforcement?

[jrenaut]

I realize this is unscientific, but I know many of you ride the PA Ave cycletracks regularly. If you wouldn’t mind answering:
1) How often do you ride PA Ave, and at what times?
2) How often do you see illegal u-turns?
3) Have you ever seen police doing enforcement?
4) Have you ever seen anyone pulled over for a u-turn?

I’ll reply with my answers. I ask because today some &$&*@ with VA tags on his Infinity SUV (You know, the ones that sound like jet engines when you step lightly on the gas) was coming eastbound on PA Ave as I was going west. He was clearly going to turn, so I stopped in front of him and gave him my typical “WTF” look/arm gesture. He wouldn’t look me in the eye, but he sure would drive 20 feet down the street to turn behind me.

Topic

[jrenaut]

@JFMAMJJASON 43929 wrote:

First post. I ride PA Ave track am & pm, 5-6x week. Tonight at ~5:30 eastbound, I actually had TWO close calls w/ U-turning cars within 2 blocks (9th – 7th streets).

The 2nd close call was with a red, westbound SUV. Both the driver and I engage our breaks to avoid collision. We stared at each other for 3 or 5 seconds. He actually seemed annoyed at me for getting in his way and interrupting his cell phone conversation. His neck veins bulged. I saw no marked police cars present, so I gathered myself and cycled on.

Moments later, waiting at the 3rd street light, I resolved to come here tonight to commiserate. So seeing this thread was serendipitous.

It’s always nice to gain new members due to more positive experiences, but welcome nonetheless.

[83b]

Came within inches of death today when a cabbie pulled an illegal left turn onto 14th across the bike lane without even bothering to look or signal. It was right in front of the crossing guard and an MPD cruiser that was, incidentally, parked in and blocking the bike lane! The crossing guard was at least kind enough to nod in appreciation of my colorful language. The cop seemed more interested in ESPN on his laptop.

[Greenbelt]

When do we get our pylons back?

[SerialCarpins]

@Greenbelt 47645 wrote:

When do we get our pylons back?

They’re still sitting at the Capitol end of PA ave in a big ole pile, so it’s not like it would be a long trip to retrieve/re-install.

[bobco85]

@SerialCarpins 47785 wrote:

They’re still sitting at the Capitol end of PA ave in a big ole pile, so it’s not like it would be a long trip to retrieve/re-install.

WABA volunteer event, anyone?

[jrenaut]

PA Ave makes me so angry. It would be such a wonderful display of a city’s dedication to multi-modal transportation with buses, Archives Metro, and the cycletracks. And the car traffic is rarely heavy, if ever. But the Mayor, the Council, and the police department absolutely refuse to take any steps to make it safer. I talk to cyclists here and elsewhere ALL THE TIME and NO ONE ever sees ANY enforcement of ANY laws. I feel so helpless.

I fear someone is going to have to get killed there before anyone who can do something about it is willing to take action.

[bobco85]

I was just on PA Ave this evening. Went from the Capitol to the White House (westward), and I ALMOST made it the entire length without seeing anyone making a U-turn across the cycletrack up until the last half block when a taxi did it. Also, I don’t remember the PA Ave cycletrack trying to lead westward cyclists into some of the center stoplight poles. But anyway, they need to put the bollards back in now!

[jrenaut]

I really don’t think the bollards make much difference. Either they’re going to make enforcement a priority, or they’re not. The bollards might make it marginally safer right at the cross streets, but they do nothing for the rest of the road. I can’t say for sure, since it’s been so long since the bollards were there, but I’m pretty sure there were never bollards on the section where I was hit.

[Greenbelt]

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[Greenbelt]

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[jrenaut]

Are you trying to give me a $&%@ing aneurysm?

[83b]

That’s what it looks like at that intersection basically every evening when I go through. 14th St is just as bad when it doesn’t have someone directing traffic, but is manageable when it does. If the city is going to focus enforcement efforts, those intersections are the low hanging fruit.

[Greenbelt]

All they have to do is write a few tickets for a few days and people will stop blocking the box. Granted the lack of enforcement for congestion-causing driving violations is probably not as outrageous as the lack of enforcement for speeding, reckless driving, running red lights, illegal u-turns, not stopping for right on red, which are maybe more hazardous. But the lack of attention to low-hanging fruit is pretty unreal. My understanding is that nobody in MPD is accountable for traffic safety since there isn’t a dedicated traffic division. Sort of everybody is responsible, therefore nobody is accountable sort of thing I think.

[Greenbelt]

@jrenaut 47973 wrote:

Are you trying to give me a $&%@ing aneurysm?

My phone died or I could have taken pictures like that for an hour. Every light cycle, four or five cars and buses pulled into the box to block.

[americancyclo]

@Greenbelt 48018 wrote:

My phone died or I could have taken pictures like that for an hour. Every light cycle, four or five cars and buses pulled into the box to block.

And that’s why I take Independence Ave westbound in the evenings now instead of Penn Ave. It’s faster AND safer, or at least not as egregious.

[Author]

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