The sidewalk is over there!

[Terpfan]

@bluerider 27864 wrote:

However, if MPD can’t or won’t enforce laws that make the system work it just encourages incidents and violence. I know there are some cyclists that are getting feed up with MPD’s lack of concern or caring for enforcing laws on pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists in a consistent manner. I just feel like the cycling community is heading for a similar incident in this city at some point without good law enforcement and leadership.

Spot on. From first hand experience, MPD is really a mixed bag. Some of their officers are cyclists themselves (even on their own time) and very knowledgable about the issues and laws we confront. These are the ones you hope respond when you need them in a cycling situation. Unfortunately others are absolutely horrendous and looking for the quickest way out of more paperwork. It’s the latter officers that you have to go all the way over their head to the chief’s office to get any sort of resolution to your problem. Now with that said, the chief’s office is responsible, will look into things and will take appropriate action.

[Subby]

God what kind of idiot runs in the cycletrack? ON 15TH STREET NO LESS. They are lucky I wasn’t riding past!

[justasaintz]

i think the difference being cyclists are legally allowed on roads and runners are not. if it is legal for them to run on the road, i’d be glad to accommodate them. But when they start running on the road, they are unnecessarily putting cyclists in danger for their own comfort.

[krazygl00]

@justasaintz 28542 wrote:

i think the difference being cyclists are legally allowed on roads and runners are not. if it is legal for them to run on the road, i’d be glad to accommodate them. But when they start running on the road, they are unnecessarily putting cyclists in danger for their own comfort.

Oh, that reminds me of a good addition to the Forum Dictionary.

[txgoonie]

@justasaintz 28542 wrote:

i think the difference being cyclists are legally allowed on roads and runners are not. if it is legal for them to run on the road, i’d be glad to accommodate them. But when they start running on the road, they are unnecessarily putting cyclists in danger for their own comfort.

Can someone please clarify this? As far as I know, it’s not illegal for pedestrians to be on certain roads. Highways, yes. I can see how it might even be true for roads with sidewalks accessible and in bike lanes (although on Potomac Ave. in Arlington there are bike lanes but no sidewalks, so…), but I don’t know for sure it’s actually against the law. And when you consider roadways outside somewhat urban areas, there are probably more roads without sidewalks than those with them, so you gotta do what you gotta do. Furthermore, anytime that I’ve seen any rules for pedestrians, they always state that they should walk against the flow of traffic. It’s safer to see what may be coming at you.

I know there are some folks who know legal codes for their states backward and forward and would genuinely appreciate any info you might have.

[Dickie]

@txgoonie 28747 wrote:

Can someone please clarify this? As far as I know, it’s not illegal for pedestrians to be on certain roads. Highways, yes. I can see how it might even be true for roads with sidewalks accessible and in bike lanes (although on Potomac Ave. in Arlington there are bike lanes but no sidewalks, so…), but I don’t know for sure it’s actually against the law. And when you consider roadways outside somewhat urban areas, there are probably more roads without sidewalks than those with them, so you gotta do what you gotta do. Furthermore, anytime that I’ve seen any rules for pedestrians, they always state that they should walk against the flow of traffic. It’s safer to see what may be coming at you.

I know there are some folks who know legal codes for their states backward and forward and would genuinely appreciate any info you might have.

In virginia, according to Virginia Law Code § 46.2-928. (Pedestrians not to use roadway except when necessary; keeping to left.) Pedestrians shall not use the roadways for travel, except when necessary to do so because of the absence of sidewalks which are reasonably suitable and passable for their use. If they walk on the hard surface, or the main travelled portion of the roadway, they shall keep to the extreme left side or edge thereof, or where the shoulders of the highway are of sufficient width to permit, they may walk on either shoulder thereof.

[Subby]

Just a heads up, but the sidewalk is closed on the portion of 15th street along Treasury and all of the peds are spilling into the bike lane. I (sadly) drive into today and saw three near collisions in about 2 minutes.

[Terpfan]

@Subby 37582 wrote:

Just a heads up, but the sidewalk is closed on the portion of 15th street along Treasury and all of the peds are spilling into the bike lane. I (sadly) drive into today and saw three near collisions in about 2 minutes.

It’s been going on for about two or three weeks now. Today was actually a good day because they didn’t have the crane truck parked in the bike lane which then had peds and cyclists walking and riding onto 15th somewhat blindly. Not helping matters is peope turning left onto G or whatever it is right there because then the folks would pass on right as the cyclists and peds would have to walk out onto the street.

On the bright note, the best ride home last week was during the Christmas Tree, Holiday Tree or whatever it’s called, where they closed 15th from Treasury down to Constitution, but allowed bikes. I felt so free flying down 15th.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

mstone;26950 wrote:

i see these guys jogging in the street next to an empty sidewalk just about every morning (in the dark), so it’s not about congestion or safety. I think i’ve heard bull#!^ excuses like “the sidewalk is too hard” or “the sidewalk is too bumpy”. (to which i think, “suck it up or find a sport that’s better for you”.) i dunno, i guess they’ve just seen someone else do it and now think it’s the right thing to do, in spite of common sense.

shin splits! Shin splints!

[jopamora]

@Terpfan 37584 wrote:

On the bright note, the best ride home last week was during the Christmas Tree, Holiday Tree or whatever it’s called, where they closed 15th from Treasury down to Constitution, but allowed bikes. I felt so free flying down 15th.

Darn, I avoided going up 15th on Thursday night. Must remember for next year.

[Terpfan]

@jopamora 37613 wrote:

Darn, I avoided going up 15th on Thursday night. Must remember for next year.

Well, my fiancee reminded me to skip it and I just forgot. But, yep, it was fortunate forgetting as it was near-bliss all the way home. Basically no one was on 15th all the way down to Maine Ave (or whatever that is down below Bureau of Printing and Engraving right before Tidal Basin). Not to mention tourists stayed on the sidewalk because they were evidently too worried to walk in the street. I approve all-around.

[dasgeh]

@Terpfan 37621 wrote:

Well, my fiancee reminded me to skip it and I just forgot. But, yep, it was fortunate forgetting as it was near-bliss all the way home. Basically no one was on 15th all the way down to Maine Ave (or whatever that is down below Bureau of Printing and Engraving right before Tidal Basin). Not to mention tourists stayed on the sidewalk because they were evidently too worried to walk in the street. I approve all-around.

We went to the concert. It was great. There was a ticket lottery in early November and we got standing room tickets. But we ended up with seats when they gave away the extras around 4:45pm. Really a great time. Just make sure to dress for the temperature AFTER the sun goes down.

@FFX_Hinterlands 37601 wrote:

shin splits! Shin splints!

I call BS. Just get better shoes/inserts.

[Tim Kelley]

@dasgeh 37622 wrote:

I call BS. Just get better shoes/inserts.

When it comes to shoes, less is more! But yeah, asphalt feels softer than concrete. And the sidewalk can be uneven and less smooth.

I’m not saying it’s right, but there is a reason why some runners prefer the road…

[thecyclingeconomist]

@Tim Kelley 37634 wrote:

When it comes to shoes, less is more! But yeah, asphalt feels softer than concrete. And the sidewalk can be uneven and less smooth.

I’m not saying it’s right, but there is a reason why some runners prefer the road…

My wife and dad and mother-in-law are all long-distance runners (probably about 30 marathons and countless half’s between the three), and I have no question as to whether asphalt is “softer”. It’s SIGNIFICANTLY softer on joints when you look at the additive impact on joints when 1000s of miles are logged running. As long as they are running opposite of traffic with lights/reflective garments, then what’s the biff?

[mstone]

Sure, less is more, then bitch about the surface.

[Author]

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