Police chase in Crystal City last night

[jrenaut]

Was it a full moon last night?

Glad your incident wasn’t worse.

[KLizotte]

It is truly astounding how many people are completely unaware that cyclists are allowed on roads. Hit head against wall.

Glad you kept your cool and let the crazy driver go. There was no way you were going to reason with the guy and he sounds like he was just looking for a reason for a fight.

I thought the police had a no chase policy in order to prevent these types of accidents. I hope the bystander recovers fully.

[bobco85]

I’m glad you’re okay and that things didn’t escalate any further. This is all about that driver and the issues he was obviously having at the time. We have no idea what was going on in his mind, but at that time he was not thinking clearly.

Having had a somewhat similar incident with a drunk driver, I can definitely say you did the right thing by not pressing things any farther and by telling the police. It can feel quite disturbing after such an incident especially since there was no resolution, i.e., the guy got away with it, but I hope you feel better knowing you did the most prudent thing which was to avoid the conflict in such a lopsided fight (driver + tons of steel + possibly a weapon + rage/drugs/alcohol vs. cyclist usually ends with the cyclist in the hospital).

[PotomacCyclist]

@KLizotte 57751 wrote:

It is truly astounding how many people are completely unaware that cyclists are allowed on roads. Hit head against wall.

I’ve read about driver’s education courses and tests starting to cover basic laws re cyclists on roads and safety around pedestrians and cyclists. But even if that is a part of current tests, it won’t cover people who received their license in previous years.

I think it might be useful for large employers (like DOD) to include info about the rights of all road users as part of their commuter programs. That can cover a lot of adult drivers. But that may not cover smaller defense contractors. For some reason, that was the first thing that popped into my head, that this guy works for a defense contractor. I don’t know why. Maybe the combination of the new-looking car, the directness of his approach, his crew cut or short haircut and the fact that there are a lot of defense contractors in Crystal City and Arlington in general.

[dasgeh]

@PotomacCyclist 57764 wrote:

I think it might be useful for large employers (like DOD) to include info about the rights of all road users as part of their commuter programs.

This is a great idea, and potentially could be scaled to the entire federal government (basically get one agency to make the materials, and the others just need to distribute – should be an easy ask). The end of my commute every day is one two roads where 95% of all drivers either work for the State Dept or my agency (FRB). It amazes me how bad some of the drivers (and to be fair, cyclists) are when they’re so close to work. A couple times a week I get cut off (when I’m on a bike, going downhill, so pretty fast) by someone I know from work. Then they see me and smile and wave. They have to just not know they were in the wrong.

Of course, as I was walking in the building today, 2 cyclists decided waiting in a line of cars (travelling basically their speed) was too much, so they both salmoned. The second didn’t even break or swerve so that I could cross legally in the crosswalk (he had plenty of time, this wasn’t a last minute, emergency maneuver). I don’t know them, but I’m in Legal – eventually, we work with everyone (or so it seems).

[/RANT]

[txgoonie]

When I take the on-street route to work between N. Alexandria and Crystal City, it’s a little more than 3 miles. I have never gone that route without some negative encounter with a motor vehicle, whether it’s a blocked bike lane or being sideswiped or having a bus run me into the curb. Even with bike lanes and relatively low speed limits, I am routinely buzzed, cut off and yelled at, even when pulling into my own parking garage. I’m going to ride the elevator with you in about 30 seconds. So, uh, really? I guess DoD contractors are by and large just d*cks. That’s why I usually don’t go that way.

[NicDiesel]

@txgoonie 57833 wrote:

I guess DoD contractors are by and large just d*cks. That’s why I usually don’t go that way.

Really no need for the generalizing there hoss.

[KLizotte]

@txgoonie 57833 wrote:

When I take the on-street route to work between N. Alexandria and Crystal City, it’s a little more than 3 miles. I have never gone that route without some negative encounter with a motor vehicle, whether it’s a blocked bike lane or being sideswiped or having a bus run me into the curb. Even with bike lanes and relatively low speed limits, I am routinely buzzed, cut off and yelled at, even when pulling into my own parking garage. I’m going to ride the elevator with you in about 30 seconds. So, uh, really? I guess DoD contractors are by and large just d*cks. That’s why I usually don’t go that way.

Which route are you taking? I routinely ride between CC and Alexandria.

[txgoonie]

@KLizotte 57848 wrote:

Which route are you taking? I routinely ride between CC and Alexandria.

Potomac Ave. The stretch between Monroe Ave. and Glebe Rd. before the bike lane begins is an almost surefire place to get buzzed even though the speed limit is 25mph (which no one observes, not even close). I think sharrows with possibly a “share the road” sign would be lovely additions there. (I’ve flatted on the “trail” b/c of the gravel-filled gaps, which is why I chose the road.) The corner of Potomac and Crystal Dr. pretty must always has a shuttle bus blocking the bike lane and/or someone stopped in the bike lane to drop someone off. The mixmaster at Crystal Dr. and 23rd was never great but is even worse now that we have to cross the right-most lane to get to the bike lane. Etc. Etc. Lotta hazards for a mere 3 mile stretch of road. If it’s anywhere near 9 am when people are rushing to get to work on time, I get nowhere near the street.

[KLizotte]

@txgoonie 57893 wrote:

Potomac Ave. The stretch between Monroe Ave. and Glebe Rd. before the bike lane begins is an almost surefire place to get buzzed even though the speed limit is 25mph (which no one observes, not even close). I think sharrows with possibly a “share the road” sign would be lovely additions there. (I’ve flatted on the “trail” b/c of the gravel-filled gaps, which is why I chose the road.) The corner of Potomac and Crystal Dr. pretty must always has a shuttle bus blocking the bike lane and/or someone stopped in the bike lane to drop someone off. The mixmaster at Crystal Dr. and 23rd was never great but is even worse now that we have to cross the right-most lane to get to the bike lane. Etc. Etc. Lotta hazards for a mere 3 mile stretch of road. If it’s anywhere near 9 am when people are rushing to get to work on time, I get nowhere near the street.

Oh, have you tried Commonwealth Ave (or Mt Vernon) and then the 4MR connector tunnel to S Eads Street instead? Probably a little out of your way but would be more relaxing.

[PotomacCyclist]

The bike/ped trail along Potomac Ave. should reopen by this fall. I noticed that the southern section has been closed as part of the construction for the new park. They are tearing out the old asphalt and replacing it with wide concrete sidewalks. There will also be other concrete paths through the park, for slower bike traffic.

I’ve also noticed that crews have been adding sections of new asphalt trail on the west side of the road. And there is a new asphalt bike trail along the new (unfinished) road between Monroe Ave. and the Braddock Rd. Metro station. The trail isn’t open yet. But once it’s available, it should be much easier to ride from the Braddock Rd. Metro area up to Potomac Ave. and to Potomac Yard and Crystal City.

[Author]

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