Random group of Bikers on Maine Avenue?

[DeisreeW]

Hello,

I am both a driver in the area and bike enthusiast. I was a little disturbed last night as I was driving a visiting family member to there hotel downtown for the upcoming marathon. I encounter a large group of cyclists that were riding illegally down Maine Avenue heading East from the MLK memorial to the Washington Monument. There had to be at least 30 cyclists, only about 5 had on helmets or any other appropriate attire for rush hour. They were riding in a large clumped up group causing traffic to traffic go merge into one lane through that bridge that runs over the Tidal Basin (including a Bikeshare van, which was ironic). The worst was when traffic came to a stop at the light at 15th Street, they rode between cars and blew through the red light. This was rush hour.

Now here are my questions, I know that we are all responsible drivers attempting to create good relations with the driving public. Has anyone else encountered this group? What is their purpose? As a person who actively uses all forms of transportation (Metro, bike, and car) in this area was upset with their behavior. I feel it makes it more difficult on the rest of us.

Thoughts?

[TwoWheelsDC]

Although I suspect this is a drive-by flaming, I’ll jump on this grenade. Change “cyclist” to “driver” or “pedestrian” and re-read your post. All people are dumb some of the time, all road users are people, therefore all road users are dumb some of the time. Difference is that cyclists aren’t piloting 3500 pounds of metal.

[Bilsko]

1) I’m assuming you mean Independence Ave. — Maine Ave doesn’t start until after the Kutz Bridge and heads southeast towards the waterfront.
2) Until you get to the mention of them running through the red light, there’s nothing in your description of their behavior that would be considered “illegal” (despite the fact that it’s the very first adverb you use to describe their riding): a) unless there were little kids riding, then no one is required by law to wear a helmet, b) our secret lycra-clad dresscode notwithstanding, there’s nothing that dictates what attire one has to wear while on a bike, c) when riding on ‘sub-standard’ lanes (as defined by DC Code as narrower than 12 ft), cyclists are allowed to take the lane if they believe that hugging the right edge will endanger them or others.

That they chose to run through the red light at 15th is unfortunate and doesn’t reflect well on cyclists in general. TwoWheelsDC is spot on – you could swap out motorist or pedestrian for cyclist in just about any part of your description and it would read exactly the same.

[rcannon100]

[ebubar]

I can understand why you were frustrated by the red light running…drives me crazy when I see it. As for the rest, I can also see why a group of cyclists might ride together like that. Kind of a safety in numbers thing. Remember that there are a lot of expensive cars being driven through DC and based on my experience, they get some kind of reward or have some massive rich people game centered on intimidating bicyclists (apologies to any expensive car folks on here).

I just always tell myself that when some ELITE biker blows through a red light and I stop and wait, i’m the ELITE one since I can obey the laws and then just catch Mr. ELITE at the next light that he’s unable to illegally fly through.

[PotomacCyclist]

I agree with the other responses. Red light running is never acceptable. The trouble is that I see way too many car drivers doing it too, blowing through the intersection after failing to beat the yellow light. (I’ve never understood why it’s supposed to be acceptable to run a red light just because you were trying to beat a yellow light.) In downtown D.C., I see a driver run a red light in this situation almost 25% of the time that I walk up to an intersection during rush hours.

Do I see cyclists run through red lights in crowded intersections too? Yes. But I won’t take the anti-“scofflaw cyclist” crusades too seriously when so many car drivers continue to break even more traffic laws (driving while texting, driving while talking on a hand-held phone, drunk driving, speeding, speeding into right turns on red without even slowing down or bothering to look for pedestrians in the crosswalk) on a regular basis. Such behavior has significant consequences too, in the form of tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. every year at the hands of car and truck drivers.

[Belcher]

@ebubar 50381 wrote:

I can understand why you were frustrated by the red light running…drives me crazy when I see it. As for the rest, I can also see why a group of cyclists might ride together like that. Kind of a safety in numbers thing. Remember that there are a lot of expensive cars being driven through DC and based on my experience, they get some kind of reward or have some massive rich people game centered on intimidating bicyclists (apologies to any expensive car folks on here).

I just always tell myself that when some ELITE biker blows through a red light and I stop and wait, i’m the ELITE one since I can obey the laws and then just catch Mr. ELITE at the next light that he’s unable to illegally fly through.

Well being a Elite Biker i don’t think that expensive car owner shall intimidate the elite bikers, don’ t know why you have faced this issue.

[Subby]

@DeisreeW 50354 wrote:

Now here are my questions, I know that we are all responsible drivers attempting to create good relations with the driving public. Has anyone else encountered this group? What is their purpose? As a person who actively uses all forms of transportation (Metro, bike, and car) in this area was upset with their behavior. I feel it makes it more difficult on the rest of us.

Did someone say bike gang AND/OR INAPPROPRIATE COMMUTING ATTIRE?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12575[/ATTACH]

[Henry]

@Subby 147371 wrote:

Did someone say bike gang AND/OR INAPPROPRIATE COMMUTING ATTIRE?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12575[/ATTACH]

It couldn’t have been those guys. Too many helmets. Though I can see why you’d suspect them.

[americancyclo]

@Henry 147512 wrote:

It couldn’t have been those guys. Too many helmets. Though I can see why you’d suspect them.

Definitely not them in the OP’s rant, but totally inappropriate, nonetheless!

[Author]

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