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@rcannon100 21751 wrote:

Where the accident took place, I dont have sufficient facts, but the pedestrian could have gone under Route 50 on Washington. Washington is on the slate for major improvements, including a bike path.

The pedestrian should have walked a bit further and gone under Route 50. Getting safely across Route 50 is not a huge problem. Not only is there the pedestrian/bike bridge at TJ, but there is also the pedestrian tunnel under it at the Red Cross. There area number of traffic lights with “Walk” signals — if you press the button. (Some will give a “Walk” signal without pressing the button. Bridges over Washington Boulevard and Carlin Springs Road have sidewalks, as do the bridges over Route 50.

I actually think it’s easier for pedestrians, than bikes, since the bridge at TJ can be a pain and I dislike sidewalks. I’ve crossed Route 50 more times than I can count. As a pedestrian, I hardly give it a second thought, I just think about which “crossing” is closest (Park, Henderson, George Mason, the tunnel, Glebe, the pedestrian bridge etc.), while on my bike I think about which one is the “easiest.” (For example, the traffic light at Irving is easier than the pedestrian bridge.)

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@PotomacCyclist 21678 wrote:

As we were headed up a road, a woman walked into the road without even looking to see if there were any oncoming cars.

This is my big beef — pedestrians hardly ever look before crossing the street. When I was a kid, I was taught to look both ways before crossing the street and I do it to this day. I’m convinced that no one gets taught this anymore. Do I jaywalk? Sometimes, but I always look and never step out in front of a car or bike.

When riding on the streets, if a pedestrian is near the curb, they’re going to step into the street. (Just like on the trail I assume that a bell or “on your left” has a good chance of getting someone to jump to the left.)

Never underestimate the stupidity of pedestrians (or drivers or cyclists).

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@pfunkallstar 21461 wrote:

Bike to Work Day is an excellent introduction, but we still need more day-to-day ways of motivating people to get on a bike.

This is why I’ve always thought Bike to Work Day should be a Monday or Tuesday — so people can ride the second time a day (or two) later. With a little effort/luck, someone might ride a few times in that week and that makes it easier to continue. If you ride for the first time ona Friday, you forget about it over the weekend, and then it rains on Monday and ….

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@thucydides 21214 wrote:

The week before last I did a little mini-study (very mini) on called passes.

An even smaller study — minier? — from yesterday:

3:00 – 4:00 pm: 1/2 called their pass

(No one passes me in the morning.) The called pass was on the George Mason Memorial Bridge, by an older (60-ish) rider, who might not have thought he could get past me. The uncalled pass was not a surprise, since it was one of the poster boys for bad cycling.*

One thing I’ll have to start noting is the age of people calling their passes. It seems that older cyclists call them more, but maybe that’s because they’ve been riding longer.

On the other hand, I suspect some cyclists know me and don’t bother to call their passes because they know how I ride and that I’m probably aware of them. (Two examples I can think of don’t signal/call anything in advance, but usually greet me as they are passing.)

* — I see him on a regular basis and his normal afternoon commute involves headphones, the wrong way on a one-way street, running Stop signs (if there are no cars in sight, he doesn’t even slow), and running red lights (he stops only if there is a car and only long enough for it to cross). I’ve seen him have a couple of close calls, but the cars have always managed to stop in time.

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@Dirt 21250 wrote:

My expectations for everyone on the trail are quite low. I can’t change anyone’s behavior. I can, however, set a great example.

I agree, Although I don’t set out to set any sort of example, I tend to ring the bell, call out pass, and then thank them as I go by.

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@PotomacCyclist 21194 wrote:

Cyclists may be breaking the laws but a heck of a lot of car drivers are too.

No disagreement here. On the other hand, though, I rarely see a car stop for a red light and then go before the light turns green. Evidently, Ballsotn is in Idaho, because I see “cyclists” do it all the time.

Personally, I think that if every vehicle operator that ran a red light (and that includes not stopping before making a right on red) got locked up, we could solve the region’s traffic problems in a week.

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@PotomacCyclist 21190 wrote:

Some cyclists may just be rude, but I think others have just given up because of all the zombie earphone wearers.

Or they’re just clueless. It seems that I notice the same number of called passes year-round, which means the percentage plummets with nice weather. If so many cyclists are cluelessa about red lights, why would they know anything about calling their passes? (Recently I’ve been counting cyclists at traffic lights in Ballston — 13 of 19 running red lights.)

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@Rootchopper 21059 wrote:

Wear an old cycle cap under your helmet. The visor will keep the rain out of your eyes.

A helmet with a visor works, too.

@Rootchopper 21059 wrote:

The only other issue is when water gets in my eyes it stings. So I have to pull over because I can’t see.

Visor, helmet cover, and glasses usually work unless it’s a torrential downpour, but I’ve thought of trying goggles a few times.

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@jrenaut 21037 wrote:

There, I fixed that for you. M St is an abomination.

M Street is a breeze — ooh, wait, you mean M Street NW! Yeah, it sucks. (Although I hear it’s not bad at 3:00 a.m.)

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@DismalScientist 20570 wrote:

So, if I become fatter, I become less of a jackass?

I can’t believe I’m going to let this one slide….

@DismalScientist 20570 wrote:

The same with riding a racing bike?

With a racing bike, it depends on what you’re wearing. Khakis? A low score. A full US Postal or Discovery kit? Higher. (Lesser known — here in the U.S. — teams like Euskaltel-Euskadi or Katusha or Vacansoleil-DCM are slightly lower; while a yellow jersey US Postal is even higher, much higher.)

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@dbb 20551 wrote:

This morning at about 0645, the benefits accrued only to vehicles of the four wheel variety, effectively blocking the sidewalk kludge that seems to be the PP legal approach.

That’s not too bad. Every couple of months, I encounter a Park Police cruiser parked on the curb cut.

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@Dirt 20446 wrote:

Honestly and sincerely… My ride to work would only be better if it were longer. I have it pretty easy.

Limiting it to my ride to work, I’d agree. It’s peaceful and almost car-free — my favorite part of hte day.

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@jabberwocky 20438 wrote:

I’ve had a few days where I’ve seriously considered riding to work with my AR-15 slung over my back.

My hands-free riding needs work; but, I know I’ll never manage unslinging a rifle and taking aim without stopping. Mounting something next to my light? I can manage pulling a trigger or pressing a button.

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My ride would be better without the FWCs. Once the weather turns nice and the Fair Weather Cyclists come out, my commute home is much more aggravating. Riders not calling their passes on the bridges. riding two abreast on the trail, passing when they don’t have room, etc. Cyclists ignoring traffic laws — especially running red lights — bothers me, too, and goes on year-round, but is also much worse once the weather warms up.

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@jabberwocky 20422 wrote:

My ride would be better if my bike was equipped with a rocket launcher.

I’ve seriously thought of mounting a paintball gun next to my light. A high-powered squirt gun with paint remover would be less obvious, but not as usefull for non-cars.

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