Secret Service Stopping Bicyclists on Beach Drive

[Drewdane]

@cesar.bouillon@gmail.com 107882 wrote:

I was biking on Beach Drive (in the part that has a path next to it) on Rock Creek Park at 15 mph. A secret service agent stop me and told me to get out of the road because I was going below the speed limit. He would have been wrong in DC, but would it be the case in the park because it is federal land? The Park Superintendent Compendium code says: “Bicycles must be operated at speeds reasonable for existing conditions. Speed should not exceed 15 mph on paved multi-user trails or 25 mph on paved roadways.” Is a reasonable speed 25 mph. Any expert opinions or ideas? Thank you

I’d be more interested in knowing how the Secret Service has any jurisdiction at all there?

[ShawnoftheDread]

I didn’t realize the “speed limit” is the same both minimum and maximum. But the SS knows all.

[dkel]

From the Rock Creek Park page at nps.gov:

Bicycling:
All roads and paved trails in Rock Creek Park are open to bicyclists. A popular paved path begins just north of Peirce Mill and follows the creek all the way to the Lincoln Memorial. On weekends, much of Beach Drive between Broad Branch Road and the Maryland boundary is closed to vehicular traffic.

Meaningless, of course, if law enforcement doesn’t see it that way.

[PotomacCyclist]

Maybe he is confusing the Park Police for the Secret Service? Secret Service doesn’t handle traffic enforcement, unless maybe it’s the immediate vicinity around the President or something like that.

[Greenbelt]

Jurisdiction doesn’t seem to matter when some police are behind the wheel. I swear I think some of them get their legal information from hate radio alone. Similar thing happened to a friend of mine: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24415/prince-georges-officer-thinks-cyclists-dont-belong-on-the-road-tries-to-run-one-off-route-1/

Did you get any more info, was there a citation? Get the agent’s name or picture? GreaterGreaterWashington.org or Washcycle are often interested in stories like these.

[dkel]

@PotomacCyclist 107888 wrote:

Maybe he is confusing the Park Police for the Secret Service? Secret Service doesn’t handle traffic enforcement, unless maybe it’s the immediate vicinity around the President or something like that.

Either way, it’s still weird.

[Crickey7]

As much as NPS hates cyclists, I think they would hate even more other law enforcement horning in on thier territory. They’re kind of prickly about MPD’s jurisdiction not extending in to the parks, and I can’t imagine why they would welcome SS officers taking it upon themselves to start enforcing traffic laws there (the fact that they made up the traffic law would not particularly bother NPS).

[Terpfan]

@cesar.bouillon@gmail.com 107882 wrote:

I was biking on Beach Drive (in the part that has a path next to it) on Rock Creek Park at 15 mph. A secret service agent stop me and told me to get out of the road because I was going below the speed limit. He would have been wrong in DC, but would it be the case in the park because it is federal land? The Park Superintendent Compendium code says: “Bicycles must be operated at speeds reasonable for existing conditions. Speed should not exceed 15 mph on paved multi-user trails or 25 mph on paved roadways.” Is a reasonable speed 25 mph. Any expert opinions or ideas? Thank you

This is one of those situations where I think it’s worth asking to be cited for whatever infraction they have dreamed up. The ticket can’t be more than $25-30. And then make them show up in court to explain it, while proceeding to continue to ride on the roadway. I mean, it’s not like you were riding on 395 or something.

[PotomacCyclist]

“Of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

“The National Park system is designed for the preservation of wildlife in all its forms, whether it is the majestic bald eagle, the garrulous prairie dog, the fierce wolf or the hardiness of the SUV, uh, what, uhhh, …”

– “Harold” Roosevelt

[Mikey]

@ShawnoftheDread 107885 wrote:

I didn’t realize the “speed limit” is the same both minimum and maximum. But the SS knows all.

You should see their definition for “Escort” duty.

[Rod Smith]

I so want a ticket for “Failure to exceed posted maximum speed”.

[Harry Meatmotor]

Please let WABA know about this, it’s an “active” point of frustration – and try to get the officer’s badge number or name, too, if possible.

On multiple occasions my team has been pulled over en masse on RCP, and told to get on the bike trail. We’ve dutifully complied, but have later received confirmation from NPS through WABA that we, in fact, were not breaking any law.

There seems to be a significant amount of misinformation circulating through the various metro area law enforcement agencies with regards to cyclists and the RCP.

[Crickey7]

It’s probably a little murkier for the Parkway, but the original poster said Beach Drive (though they may have meant RCP). There’s no question about Beach Drive being legal for cyclists at any speed.

[Crickey7]

The interwebs confirm cycling on RCP is legal. http://dcist.com/2013/06/glover_park_residents_wonder_about.php

[Lt. Dan]

@Rod Smith 108210 wrote:

I so want a ticket for “Failure to exceed posted maximum speed”.

I think I would frame that… lol

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