[AFHokie]

I live on the Pike and was surprised how split my building was regarding the streetcar. For the most part, those against wasn’t due to cost, but the lack of a dedicated lane. Most feared the increased congestion potential. For the record, I wanted the street car, but the lack of a dedicated lane concerned me as well. I feel most congestion occurs from buses stopped to load/unload and vehicles waiting to make a left. As much as I dislike them stopping in the lane, the reason (I’ve been told) the buses do not have pull outs for stops is due to the inability to get back into traffic. Over the course of a route, thirty second/one minute delays add up. It makes sense, but it still sucks when you’re stuck behind a bus.

Based on my balcony observations, I feel a large percentage of Pike traffic is transient headed to the Pentagon, downtown etc. The argument against a another Metro line citing a lack of population on the route ignores this traffic. If people in Fairfax Station, Burke, Annandale, etc had commuter lot/Metro options would it take a significant portion of vehicular traffic off the Pike? Out of curiosity, was the population density along the Orange greater than what the Pike density is today when it was first conceived?

Then again, I’m also the guy who thinks the Orange should be extended to Centerville, the Green extended to Ft. Meade, the Blue rerouted along 395 with stops at W Glebe or Shirlington, Seminary, Landmark, and extended from Springfield to Ft. Belvoir North. Plus build a line along Route 7 from Tysons to Kings Street Station. I’m sure most everyone has ideas where metro stops and lines should be built, but for the most part, they start and end as wishful thinking.

[AFHokie]

I live on the Pike and was surprised how split my building was regarding the streetcar. For the most part, those against wasn’t due to cost, but the lack of a dedicated lane. Most feared the increased congestion potential. For the record, I wanted the street car, but the lack of a dedicated lane concerned me as well. I feel most congestion occurs from buses stopped to load/unload and vehicles waiting to make a left. As much as I dislike them stopping in the lane, the reason (I’ve been told) the buses do not have pull outs for stops is due to the inability to get back into traffic. Over the course of a route, thirty second/one minute delays add up. It makes sense, but it still sucks when you’re stuck behind a bus.

Based on my balcony observations, I feel a large percentage of Pike traffic is transient headed to the Pentagon, downtown etc. The argument against a another Metro line citing a lack of population on the route ignores this traffic. If people in Fairfax Station, Burke, Annandale, etc had commuter lot/Metro options would it take a significant portion of vehicular traffic off the Pike? Out of curiosity, was the population density along the Orange greater than what the Pike density is today when it was first conceived?

Then again, I’m also the guy who thinks the Orange should be extended to Centerville, the Green extended to Ft. Meade, the Blue rerouted along 395 with stops at W Glebe or Shirlington, Seminary, Landmark, and extended from Springfield to Ft. Belvoir North. Plus build the Purple line as well as a line along Route 7 from Tysons to Kings Street Station and a circular line around the metro area. I’m sure most everyone has ideas where metro stops and lines should be built.

[AFHokie]

@Steve O 100511 wrote:

At first, but over time you will ride more and more of the year until you are doing it year round.

I’m factoring days I realistically cannot bike in. Severe weather, after work commitments, etc. Unfortunately, some days will require driving instead of even the Metro. Ideally, I’ll average 9-10 months or better, but as an initial assessment I felt six months a realistic first goal.

@KWL 100522 wrote:

You don’t need no steenkin’ shower. Well, perhaps that’s not the best adjective to use. Seriously, why shower after only 9 miles?

@hozn 100524 wrote:

I think AFHokie said he wanted to be getting some exercise during the commute. If you are trying to get a workout and *not* sweating by mile 9, you are doing something wrong. (That said, in the cooler months you could very well just soft pedal it in and skip the shower.)

Exactly. After 9 miles I better be sweating or its not a workout; even in cooler months. I will not be known as the stinky guy in the office.

Ideally, I’ll leave shoes/belt, a dopp bag, etc at work, but I’ll still need to drag a suit with me.

While we’re on the subject; does anyone have any experience with these garment bags?
Two Wheel Gear – Classic Bike Suit Bag
Henty Wingman Suit Bag

I’m leaning toward the Two Wheel Gear bag. On the plus side, I could move everything from my seat bag into it plus my lunch, but it’s possibly too big. The Wingman Suit Bag, I don’t want a backpack or sling bag, but figure I can bungee it onto the rack instead, but wondering how crumpled a suit would look.

[AFHokie]

I’m about to start a new job downtown near Federal Triangle, so I’m pretty sure I’ll find a place to lock up the bike, but I don’t yet know my options as far as showers, etc. By bike its about a nine mile trip each way so its about the same amount of time as taking the bus/Metro. Plus, it’ll combine commuting with workout time. Ideally, My goal is to bike in at least half of the year. Taking the Metro will cost me ~$6-$8 dollars a day depending which station I get on/off at (multitude of options based on which bus/train arrives first). So the Metro will cost me about $2k a year to ride.

Without traffic driving is the fastest, but when is traffic not an issue? Plus, driving is also the most expensive; $250+ for parking, plus gas & maintenance costs.

[AFHokie]

@Dickie 100266 wrote:

I once wore a sarong to a party and let me tell you it felt so-right… albeit I have never considered riding in one, that sounds like a total disaster for everyone involved.

Sounds like a missed or found connection depending on your point of view

[AFHokie]

@chris_s 100146 wrote:

Might be worth taking a look at the Breezer Beltway Elite.

Who do I tell to shut up and take my money?

[AFHokie]

@Sunyata 100106 wrote:

+1 for the carbon belt drive and internal gear hub. Practically maintenance free and it does great in the rain and snow.

Every time I’m at REI I end up looking at Novara’s Gotham Bike for that very reason. It’s close to everything I’d want in a commuter bike. They dropped the dyno hub from previous model years. I’m not sure how long I could resist if they brought that back and figured out how to incorporate an effective integrated lock.

[AFHokie]

@Bilsko 99812 wrote:

Looks like this, but now I have the rear wheel off of the Surly:

https://twitter.com/Bilsko/status/361118624800448513

Thanks, that won’t work for mine, but it gives me some ideas.

[AFHokie]

@Bilsko 99762 wrote:

Its gonna be pretty tough to get out of spending over $100

I have the Top Peak TwoUp in the living room with two bikes haning on it right now. Not enough space to have them mounted properly (horizontally), I have them both hanging vertically with the seat tubes resting on the stand arms. It’s location behind the TV makes it tough to get set up to use as a service stand, and the few times that I have used the stand, its been adequate but not great.

If you want to do your own work, you really would do well to get a stand that will support and secure the bike.

All of that said, if it looks like the type of thing you’d like, I’ll gladly part with mine for $100.

Could you post a photo of that? I’m having a hard time visualizing how you describe the bikes on the stand in the space you described. I’m using a Topeak Dual Touch 2 stand in a location that’s a little too short to stack the bikes one above the other without some overlap. Wondering if your method would work better.

[AFHokie]

@Dickie 99706 wrote:

thoughts of tossing the bike into the 4MR creek and walking actually flashed through my mind for a few seconds.

Thoughts or repressed memories? There was a bike out on the sandbar in 4MR by the sewage plant about a month ago…

[AFHokie]

This Water Bottle Can Generate Water From The Air Looks interesting, but currently doesn’t look like it’ll produce enough water even in the best (humidity) conditions. Is it just me or are products such as this always ‘just over the horizon’ but never make it to mass production?

[AFHokie]

@dasgeh 99466 wrote:

If you are serious that helmets have the same effectiveness as a weapon as guns, awesome. I’m happy to print you a permit to carry a concealed helmet.

My point, which you seem to have missed entirely, is that guns amplify the violent force of an individual and therefore should be regulated more than, say, knives. If you disagree with the beginning of that statement, you need to learn more about guns. If you disagree with the latter, well, unfortunately for the safety of our children and our country, you can take comfort that the majority of decision makers agree with you.

I never said or implied a helmet is as effective as a gun when used as a weapon. Your initial statement indicated a helmet posed no danger as a weapon and my point is most any object can be used as an effective improvised weapon.

Nope, I got your point, however you missed when I pointed out any object when used maliciously as a weapon amplifies an individuals violent force. You’re fixated on firearms. A firearm can cause damage a faster than a knife, but so can baseball bat or a car. You say I need to learn more about firearms, so I’ll ask, have you ever: held one? fired one? taken game with one? carried one throughout your daily activities? have your life and the lives of others depend on the use of one? I have for all and I have more than enough experience/first hand accounts with the consequences. Unless you can say yes to some of those, you should objectively ask yourself if you have a fair and qualitative perspective.

My point which you refuse to even acknowledge is the root cause of violence: the motivation and mental state of the individual. I find the ignorance from both sides of the argument appalling. Banning won’t fix the problem and neither will ‘guns for everyone’. Nothing will resolve the issue until we as a nation focus on the root motivation and mental state of the individual.

If you feel we must specifically discuss firearms further, PM me. I do not wish to derail the thread topic any further.

[AFHokie]

@dasgeh 99435 wrote:

I forgot, guns don’t kill people; helmets kill people.

Sarcasm aside, you can’t be serious about this line of reasoning. Guns amplify the violent power of a person by a huge amount. Yes, someone can use a helmet to injure another, but the helmet is going to inflict damage through the power of the person wielding it. And it is EXTREMELY unlikely a bystander will be seriously injured or killed by a stray helmet.

Of course we should teach children about being safe around all of the dangers in this world. But even a sitting Vice President managed to be involved in a gun accident. Guns are tools that any person – even a toddler – could easily use to kill themselves or others, even in a way that’s unintended (but not a freak accident). The danger they pose is different than helmets and even knives. There’s no rational discussion if you can’t recognize that.

Put another way gun:knife:helmet as mack truck:bike:big wheel

No, people kill people. Nowhere in world has an inanimate object ever jumped up on it’s own and attacked a person ever.

I am serious. The same way you will never have a rational discussion if you cannot recognize the root cause of the problem is not the object, but the mental state of the person wielding the object. Additionally, recognize children’s access to dangerous items is a separate issue. That toddler could also easily kill themselves or others in a way that’s unintended with a knife. How do we prevent this? We keep knives out of reach of toddlers.

Vehicle accidents occur every day and more people are killed by cars per year. A vehicle will amplify the violent power of an enraged driver and many an innocent bystander has been hit by a stray vehicle. It certainly did in these three incidents:
2001 Isla Vista, CA
2006 San Francisco SUV Rampage
2006 UNC SUV Attack

Three incidents involving cars. In the first two Incidents, the drivers were later diagnosed with mental health issues. In the third, the driver demonstrated through previous acts of reckless behavior that perhaps his license should’ve been revoked and he not allowed to drive. Lets address the root cause of an incident and not the mechanics.

The former VP’s accident is as much a teaching point about inattention and distraction causing an accident the same way texting while driving can cause an accident.

Back to the whole point of the thread. In order to improve safety along the trail, a holistic approach is needed. One thing will not improve the situation. CC permits are not the solution. Once the pedestrian bridge is completed, how likely will traffic on the trail increase if there’s a history of assault in the area and no other improvements? As I pointed out, improving the lighting is an additional step and something that can easily be done in a day with portable light towers.

[AFHokie]

@Terpfan 99391 wrote:

Prius–can’t hear it and often owner’s seem oblivious to the fact that I can’t hear them

“The Prius is silent if he keeps it under 5 miles per hour. He deserves the win.”

[AFHokie]

@dasgeh 99410 wrote:

Helmets can’t be used against you and don’t injure and kill innocent bystanders and kids who find them a get curious. BIG difference.

If I or an attacker is wearing a helmet; my attacker will find out how a person can effectively use a bike helmet as a weapon.

Just about any object can be turned into an improvised weapon and just like my bike helmet, a firearm is an inanimate object when sitting on a shelf. The true danger comes from the individual holding it.

Firearms are not a magic panacea and like many tools; misused. That said, I’d rather kids be educated to understand and respect the danger they can pose if misused. I view firearms no differently than a set of kitchen knives on the counter. Do we teach kids to be afraid of them, or do we teach our kids how to handle them properly and understand the dangers if handled carelessly?

As far as the attack on the trail. I’d like to see more lighting on areas of the trails where incidents occur. A few portable light towers in key areas would be extremely useful.

[Author]

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