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@DCLiz 56572 wrote:

Except for the red lights between PA Ave and the White House which say “PEDS FOR STOP,” where I don’t stop unless there are pedestrians, which I think is correct.

That’s also how I treat those, though I try to do more actual “stopping” for pedestrians than I see many folks doing. If we’re wrong, then there’s a major need to revise the signage along that stretch.

To everyone else, as an irate stickler for the rules, I’m glad to be in such good company!

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@DSalovesh 56274 wrote:

I know my building is adamantly against putting racks along their frontage at 9th and E (in the BID)…

People are jerks about everything on that block due to the FBI building. Moreso even than around every other federal agency building in DC. I was opposite them on the 10th St block for some years, and they wouldn’t let us use our balconies.

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From now on instead of giving pedestrians the benefit of the doubt, I’m appending “and I was jaywalking while texting with my headphones on” to every “I almost got run down by a biker in the crosswalk” story that I’m forced to see or hear.

At three consecutive intersections along the Penn Ave lane yesterday I had jaywalkers step blithely into my path while entranced by their phones. Just because there are no cars coming that does not mean that you’re free to cross against a light without paying ANY attention.

I was hammering to make the green and doing 23mph+. A ~55lb bike and a ~200lb helmeted man moving at those speeds makes for quite a missile. And if my choices are to hit the poles in the median, move into traffic suddenly, or to ram a pedestrian? Then I’m holding my line and aiming for the squishy target.

For the forum, yelling “::UNPRINTABLE:: JAYWALKER!” seems to more effectively communicate that they’re in the wrong than my previous “Oi!” or “Heads up!” Some of these latest idiots actually seemed contrite.

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Does everyone remember the infamous Lincoln Park bikeshare meeting? The one resurrected in the wake of Citibike?

Last year we moved onto the block and directly in front of where the racks were supposed to go. Having not made the connection, I really stepped in it with the neighbors my first week. I’d just ridden home and met my wife in the front yard chatting with some new faces. They asked if I always rode and if we were CaBi members. I replied that we were and that it was too bad we didn’t also have racks on our side of the park. There was nervous laughter and an acknowledgement that we almost did. Turns out two sets of these particular neighbors had been on opposite sides of the debate.

My favorite bit, and a good post-script for the whole imbroglio: One of the families that was fiercely opposed to the location of the station are now pretty frequent users.

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@KLizotte 55924 wrote:

So how much pedaling do you do on it? In other words, are you getting power for the entire ride? Is it much heavier than a normal bike?

Similar to the Stromer, mine weighs in at 50-60+ lbs when fully loaded with a wood basket, rack and other sundries. Also similar to the Stromer, I’ve got a 500 watt hub motor running 36 volts, which will assist up to about 22 mph (I turned the limiter off, but it was running pretty close to its peak as it was). A 14 amp battery will get me about 22-23 miles per full charge when going heavy on the throttle in stop & go city traffic. It can stretch a good deal farther if you’re judicious with the throttle and doing less stopping and starting.

Unlike the Stromer, mine is set up with a thumb-actuated throttle. You could conceivably do no pedaling and only suffer a minor lack of acceleration from a full stop. However, it feels pretty awkward to be riding around without any tension in the pedals, so I can’t say I’ve ever really done it. I like the throttle for being able to adjust the amount of assist on the fly. It’s especially useful in low traction situations like when starting on the Penn Ave pedestrian islands when it’s wet.

On days like today, when DC is showing off all of its swampy summer glory AND I have to travel to an off-site meeting in a suit, an ebike is especially awesome.

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Horrible story, and I hope the cyclist makes a speedy, fully recovery.

For anyone who feels unsure about safety along some or all of your commute, I keep a Sabre pepper spray strapped by my headtube that I find very easy to reach for if something feels dodgy. It even comes with a convenient velcro strap that fits handlebars, stems, and frames.

ETA: Regarding the quadrant-wars, I live in Southeast 😮 and remember the Trinidad checkpoints. The kids on my block are a menace! Just last week I saw them gang up to chase innocent lightening bugs.

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I used to live at the end of Crystal Dr and have long had the impression that it isn’t a well run event.

Two years ago, during the women’s race, several of the volunteers who were supposed to be watching 15th street were instead sitting on lawn-chairs in the shade on the other side of the road. They were yelling from 50ft away at people trying to cross when the field was nowhere in sight. Not realizing they were “officials,” my wife shouted back that we were perfectly capable of crossing the road. They responded with colorful sexist language. Annoying as that was, what really put me off was taking their picture on my phone and taking the issue up to the race director, only to be brushed off. The only response I got was to have them radioed and told to stand back on the corner in the sun.

Having events like the race come to the neighborhood was generally awesome, but constantly having Crystal Drive shuttered for numerous 5Ks and other events seemed to be wearing on the neighborhoods residents. Crystal Drive gets lots of them because it’s “convenient” and “easy” to close with only a few–but growing number of–high-rise residential buildings impacted.

Organizers of all these events needed to do a better job impressing on their volunteers that they should be considerate towards residents who are giving up access to their homes to facilitate the events. I think that’s going to be increasingly important as the neighborhood continues to become more residential and Long Bridge park competes for weekend resources.

/rant

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@Bilsko 54521 wrote:

Personally, I’ve never been interested in the least in e-bikes. Until now

Very stealthy! It looks like it uses one of the tiny new 250W Cute motors, which at 24V should assist up to about 15mph. The only downside looks to be the 8.5Ah battery, which would get 10-15 miles before a recharge. Reminds me a lot of the Farraday Porteur that was all the rage on Kickstartr.

That integrated GPS solution is awesome. I’ve considered trying a SpyBike, but can’t find much by way of reviews.

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I’ve followed the Eco-Velo guide to chainwaxing since switching to biking in a suit awhile back. It seems to work really well for lubricating the chain and keeps grime off of my cuffs (aided, of course, by a decent chainguard).

http://www.ecovelo.info/2011/10/10/chain-waxing-101/

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I use a Paul Gino to mount my light to a front porteur rack. Their stem cap mount might work well for you.

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@baiskeli 53819 wrote:

Jay-bikers? Meaning cyclists cutting across lanes in the middle of the block?

Well, that sounds illegal, and hazardous, so….

It was the nicest way to say “idiots who run red lights right next to MPD cruisers” that I could summon early on a Monday.

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@acc 53359 wrote:

A giant sunflower that seemed like a good idea if I can figure out how to attach it to the bike

Isn’t the answer always zip ties and duct tape?

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http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18993/zebra-could-prevent-u-turns-on-pennsylvania-avenue/

“Zebras” you say? They look perfect!

For anyone who didn’t get the email from WABA, here are the details for the meeting on this issue tomorrow:

Wed., May 29, 2013
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
National Capital Planning Commission offices
401 9th St. NW
Washington, D.C.
Google Maps bicycle directions
More information on the NPS website

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There’s *just* enough room to pull over and wait out of the cycletrack but also out of the pedestrian crosswalk. I’ve never seen the the security guys give anyone grief over where they stage, except in the very rare instance where a motorcade is or is about to come through.

The more common problems I’ve noticed are (1) big tourist groups herding across the intersection and obstructing everything and (2) multiple bikes queuing up in starting-gate fashion and then sprinting for position (which is pretty amusing actually, unless they get bunched up or run into oncoming bike traffic).

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Not to pile on, but I’ll add this to the collection. This is at least the third time I’ve seen professional camera crews setting up to shoot an interview in the lanes. The traffic islands really need some kind of painted indicator to show that they’re a lane. I’ve had tourists argue with me that they’re completely in the right to block the whole thing.

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