Saw the aftermath of a crash between a bicyclist and jogger

[alexhome]

Saw this on Saturday (yesterday), on the trail by the Potomac just past the Kennedy Center heading to Georgetown. The bicyclist had just passed me a few minutes before.

The bicyclist was on the grass crouching and holding his throat, while the jogger seemed dazed and had a bloody or broken nose. I called 911 because the bicyclist said he might need medical attention, but then cancelled as he got up, and within a few minutes they went in separate directions, although they appeared to be dazed. The bicyclist used his water bottle to assist the jogger in cleaning the blood from his hands and face.

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[zapata]

I’m surprised I haven’t witnessed one of those yet. I commute via bike and frequently run on 4-mile run and W&OD trails. I can’t count how many close passes I’ve had while running by people on bikes who don’t understand safe passing. When I bike, I’m sure I annoy many fair weather bikers by slowing down when I approach runners if there are oncoming bikes/pedestrians in the other lane.

[scorchedearth]

This doesn’t surprise me at all unfortunately. Since the weather turned warmer, I’ve seen the trails far busier and some people cycling on them are jerks. Threading the needle and passing around blind corners are common habits of these people. This is why I usually hug the center line on the MVT. It usually dissuades the impatient from trying to pull dangerous passes.

[BTC_DC]

@scorchedearth 139749 wrote:

This is why I usually hug the center line on the MVT. It usually dissuades the impatient from trying to pull dangerous passes.

I have done this as well in the past. And then one day a guy tried to pass on my right because there was oncoming traffic to the left…

[OneEighth]

@scorchedearth 139749 wrote:

This doesn’t surprise me at all unfortunately. Since the weather turned warmer, I’ve seen the trails far busier and some people cycling on them are jerks. Threading the needle and passing around blind corners are common habits of these people. This is why I usually hug the center line on the MVT. It usually dissuades the impatient from trying to pull dangerous passes.

Do you do this at all times or only when you are approaching a situation where you want to discourage passing?

[scorchedearth]

@OneEighth 139753 wrote:

Do you do this at all times or only when you are approaching a situation where you want to discourage passing?

I do it mostly when I want to discourage passing however my tendency is to sit close to the center line at other times.

[Jason]

@zapata 139700 wrote:

I’m surprised I haven’t witnessed one of those yet. I commute via bike and frequently run on 4-mile run and W&OD trails. I can’t count how many close passes I’ve had while running by people on bikes who don’t understand safe passing. When I bike, I’m sure I annoy many fair weather bikers by slowing down when I approach runners if there are oncoming bikes/pedestrians in the other lane.

This is EXACTLY what I do, and I frequently hear the HRUMPFHS from bikers on my wheel who want me to pass dangerously so they can maintain their speed. I feel like stopping behind runners/walkers gives me an opportunity to sprint. I am certainly not going to pass unsafely so some a$$hole can maintain their speed/PR on Strava. I get back at annoying wheel hangers by dropping them after I pass safely.

Both yesterday and today, I had to wave at people heading directly at me in my lane as they leisurely used my lane (their oncoming lane) to pass slower bikers/runners. Yesterday one douche said “oh dont worry buddy I can see you.” My response was “O really, CAN you.” Today as I waved some guy to get over back to their lane said “F*** you A$$****.” I returned with my best and deepest sounding punk rock style “FUCK YOU MOTHERF*****”

OneEighth’s method of not hugging the side but instead running right down the center of your lane DOES work and I have been copying this method the last few months since an ELITE cyclist ran head first into me after doing an unsafe pass into my lane. You need to show oncoming bicyclists with your body language that their use of your lane to make unsafe passes is not acceptable.

[Terpfan]

I did see a pass on the right of a pedestrian the other day. I felt bad as the poor guy was trying to slide right because of oncoming cyclists from the other direction. Some people (drivers/cyclists/joggers/etc) are just plain aholes.

[huskerdont]

@Terpfan 140597 wrote:

I did see a pass on the right of a pedestrian the other day. I felt bad as the poor guy was trying to slide right because of oncoming cyclists from the other direction. Some people (drivers/cyclists/joggers/etc) are just plain aholes.

I hate to pass on the right and generally think it’s a poor idea, but in the early mornings going down into Rosslyn on the Custis, a lot of the construction workers don’t seem to realize that you should walk on the right, so sometimes it can’t be helped. But if someone is just doing it to avoid oncoming cyclists, they prolly need to learn to wait.

[Tania]

@huskerdont 140598 wrote:

I hate to pass on the right and generally think it’s a poor idea, but in the early mornings going down into Rosslyn on the Custis, a lot of the construction workers don’t seem to realize that you should walk on the right, so sometimes it can’t be helped. But if someone is just doing it to avoid oncoming cyclists, they prolly need to learn to wait.

I see so many people (70% construction workers) doing this all along that hill and the stretch down to the IOD (am and pm). Don’t get it. I also see a lot of unsafe passes here and cyclists going WAY too fast. I loathe that section of my commute – heading west is a little better thanks to everyone having to slow down a bit to make it up the hill.

[jabberwocky]

I actually used to pass on the right occasionally, just because some joggers would take the “jog in the center” a bit too far and actually be mostly in the other lane. My thought process is that there are two of us and two lanes. If you seem to be claiming the left one I”m gonna use the right. Though it was always a fun game to try and guess whether they mean to be there or just drifted there and will jump back once they realize someone is coming up behind them.

I soooooo don’t miss the W&OD. :p

[Mariner]

This is common on the “trail” around the Tidal Basin on Ohio Drive (Street View here). Many pedestrians, many large out-of-town groups splayed out four abreast, very few aware of it being an active trail. I really do not like that stretch. Southbound into Virginia I take the road, but in the evenings I have to use the sidewalk.

[GovernorSilver]

This reminds me of last week…

There was a couple with a baby stroller on 14th St. Bridge headed in the opposite direction. I had just enough space to pass the jogger in front of me and get in front of him without getting too close to the stroller.

Another cyclist came up behind me at much higher speed and tried to squeeze between me and the baby stroller. He wasn’t too pleased that he had to brake. My heart bled for him, of course.

[Author]

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