VA/DC cyclists in dire need of more education and cycling culture

[camomansf]

Hi all,

I’m I’m an avid cyclist myself (road, cyclocross and mountain) and belong to the SF Bike Coalition and just moved from from San Francisco two weeks ago, to work on a three-month contract with the Gov.

Having left my bikes in SF, I decided to go out for a run two days ago, on the Four Mile Run path on Nauck. During such run I made sure to leave ample space for other joggers and also cyclists to pass me by. At one time, a line of cyclists passed me by so close that one of them hit with the handlebar of his/her bike, right in the middle finger of my left hand, fracturing the middle area of the finger.

In two weeks I’ve been here I’ve noticed that cyclists like to ride really close to people in spite of the clearance they might have on their side. This morning while crossing the Key bridge from Rosslyn to Georgetown (sporting my new finger-metal-cast) I noticed it again: it doesn’t matter how close to the railing I walk and much clearance I leave for cyclists most will ride so close (not even announcing “left or right of you”) it pretty much is an accident waiting to happen.

I have to wear this metal-cast in my finger now, take it off at work while I code, put it back in after work. Not funny.

DC/VA riders, “cycling culture” means cultivating a relationship not only with motorists but with pedestrians and joggers alike in order to create alliances. Riding defensively against people who are not on a bike only adds more to the angst that already exists between cyclists and non-cyclists and as I cyclist myself, I find it insulting to those of us who do have a cycling culture.

My question to you is: how can you expect for non-cyclists to identify with the issues you might be facing in DC/VA as cyclists, when you don’t even respect those who are not on bikes at any given moment?

Thanks and god bless!

Topic

[Tim Kelley]

@Brent 55787 wrote:

How big is Dirt-sized?

62? 22.5? XL? He’s shorter than me, but his monkey arms are longer proportionally.

[baiskeli]

Dirt on a rental bike:

[lim]

Dude must be a giant

[Tim Kelley]

His height is measured in more than inches.

[ShawnoftheDread]

If you see him in person he doesn’t seem that big at first. And then you stand closer and your neck starts to hurt.

[baiskeli]

@ShawnoftheDread 55803 wrote:

If you see him in person he doesn’t seem that big at first. And then you stand closer and your neck starts to hurt.

Well, yeah, but his neck probably hurts too from looking down.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@baiskeli 55818 wrote:

Well, yeah, but his neck probably hurts too from looking down.

But he deserves that, because he’s that tall on purpose.

[krazygl00]

Aaaaaaand suddenly this thread is the new “Missed Connection”. Bravo, Bike Arlington Forum.

[Terpfan]

@krazygl00 55827 wrote:

Aaaaaaand suddenly this thread is the new “Missed Connection”. Bravo, Bike Arlington Forum.

I will bring it back around. Potomac Cyclist sort of mentioned it, but I’m trying to envision how the one-and-done poster had his finger broken while jogging. The only conclusion I can come to is that the jogger put his hand out to acknowledge to the cyclist they heard a bell, pointing a finger, flailing hands up in frustration or shadow boxing while jogging. Now if I were recalling this story and my finger were broken while waving a fellow cyclist by then I would probably mention it in my rant. Which leads me to believe that it’s one of the other options. I’m sorry his/her finger is broken, but if it’s because of his/her own stupidity then my sympathy severly diminishes.

[cephas]

@nikki_d 55751 wrote:

I was out of town for work for 5 days last week and brought my Brompton with me. 5 day business trips are the worst with no bike!

I’m picking up my first folding bike tonight in Sterling, just in time for the trip south to the in-laws for the weekend. I wish I could put a Brompton in the budget, but that’s not happening before a major pay raise. Meanwhile, I’ve been trolling Craigslist for months for a cheap folding bike. And that explains why you won’t see me at happy hour tonight. but I do hope to show it off tomorrow at Friday coffee. Maybe we can find a Friday morning happy hour? Beer before work? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?

[krazygl00]

@Dirt 55768 wrote:

And I’m F-ING PISSED OFF that virtually all rental bikes are human-sized, and thus way too small for me to use.

Sorry. I had to say that. I feel better now.

Not to mention most rental bikes are only “bikes” in the academic sense.

I think you need a BTC bike in your stable, especially if you’re hard to fit. It will change your life if you travel a lot.

[MV Clyde]

Bacon

[just trying to get back on topic]

[Author]

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