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@KLizotte 14582 wrote:

Oddly enough, I know of a bike that’s been locked up for a week now to a street pole where the owner simply let the cable lock drape around the saddle. This means that one can steal it without having to do anything to the lock except flip it off the saddle (out of curiosity I tried just that). I’m amazed every time I see the bike still sitting there (and it looks like a new bike). If I could think of a way to lock it up safely for the owner I would. Must be a newbie.

And no, I’m not going to say where this bike is located but it is in a highly trafficked area.

Sounds like a bait bike – cops place it to arrest a bike theif.

@jpaulwhite 14565 wrote:

I have a standard size Kryptonite Kryptolock. Combination, not key. I locked my bike to the bike rack this morning and I noticed that when I tried to close the lock it was a bit stiff. I then hit it hard with my hand to close it then I noticed that one of the combination wheels was stuck (The wheels with the numbers on them) I also noticed that the locking mechanism appeared to not be fully engaged, so I banged the lock again to get it to close completely without binding and when I did so the wheel with the number on it would move again. Since I had trouble getting it to close I figured I’d open the lock again to make sure it was working properly and lo and behold that b*tch wouldn’t open. I can enter my combination, but the button to release the lock will not move one bit.Has anyon ran into this before? My next u lock will be a key lock.

P.S. I left my shower flip flops at home today too. Great lol…

I’ve oiled my lock before with great success. However, a different lock froze up on me, and I jammed the key in it trying to get it out. Fortunately it wasn’t locking the bike at the time, but I should’ve oiled it in retrospect.

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I went to leave the office yesterday and only then first noticed the wet outdoors. I’d figured earlier that it would have been long gone by the evening commute, but no! it wanted to stick around to greet me. I keep the water ‘n wind breaker in the bike bag, but not the pants, so it was a wet 1.5 miles. Never trust the forecasters.

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I admit to having read this yesterday, and wimping out. I thought about commuting in from Manassas via the steel stead (I’ve managed it before), but the “not today” excuse won. I should be in Ffx by 5:30 or 6. One of these days…

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@MCL1981 10674 wrote:

Do you think DDOT would even notice if we started painting bike lanes down Penn from Georgetown in the middle of the night?

DDOT actually requested it. They thought bikearlingtonforum readers would be the best at it, since there are so many experienced cyclist-drivers among us. The only difficulty is that we need to have it done by December. I nominate MCL1981 as the lead painter, and that lead as in leader, unleaded please.

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I’m not sure why not go after him with a civil suit, in addition to pressing charges. There’s absolutely no excuse for tackling you, despite what the officer suggested.

Also, I’m a bit confused with your opening. You were heading northbound (i.e. away from that White House) on 15th? So, that’s right outside the metro entrance? Did the Escalade turn right or left? It took me a minute to remember that the cycletracks were on what would be the southbound side of the 15th St, but still not sure I understand.

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@Tim Kelley 676 wrote:

For more information on the regional bike sharing program, please visist:

Might wanna update that URL to http://www.capitalbikeshare.com/

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I always leave mine on blinky. I’m way too apt to forget to turn it on otherwise when I get back on the streets. I don’t mind too much when I see it on others, and it sure beats running up on a ghostrider.

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I’ll echo the sidewalk route, with the note that on the way into the city in the morning, there’s almost never a pedestrian problem. In the evening, when there is almost always an overflow of pedestrians on the sidewalks, I’m usually headed out of the city, and since I’m going the same direction as the traffic, I take to the street.

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It’s policies like Amtrak’s that scream “FOLDING BIKE”.

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I almost got hit by a u-turn taxi just yesterday morning, about 6:55 am. In my experience, taxis are the worst offenders, and I’ve seen them making u-turns accross the bike lane on more than one occasion. I had to stop defensively and yell at the guy. He was paying absolutely no attention to bike lane traffic.

The bike lanes need to be highlighted more. Maybe yellow lines on either side, instead of white lines, and bright yellow signs to beware of cyclists. Oh, and if it’s not too much to ask, a little enforcement would be really, really nice. (That said, I don’t fault the original story cop much. He was on another call, and there was no emergency at either. I would think protocol would be to continue on the first, even if he does need to learn manners.)

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As a fan of short routes, I suggest this one: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=4920+Stringfellow+Road,+Centreville,+VA+20120+(Stringfellow+Road+Park+and+Ride)&daddr=38.8591994,-77.3477187+to:38.86091,-77.2995+to:38.86537,-77.27478+to:38.8676973,-77.2723623+to:38.87068,-77.26898+to:38.87556,-77.22241+to:3141+Fairview+Park+Drive,+Falls+Church,+VA+22042-4531+(Fairview+Park+Cafe)&hl=en&ll=38.853946,-77.219725&spn=0.040505,0.0842&sll=38.868315,-77.267704&sspn=0.020249,0.0421&geocode=FenYUAIdtOVi-yH40VOyjjX3VA%3BFb_xUAIdesRj-yk1SinpPU-2iTGMpZ0–yK4pg%3BFW74UAId1IBk-ym5lfUEu062iTHr7ZNTGmWX3g%3BFdoJUQIdZOFk-ym5eQr2BUy2iTFpCCmkSL7MFA%3BFfESUQId1upk-yl5EvzlCEy2iTGICYAtoF9q-Q%3BFZgeUQIdDPhk-ymnjBIACky2iTGpKaJaqiFB-Q%3BFagxUQId9q1l-ymHAPkcZku2iTG7D4EPt5nLyA%3BFUX3UAIddMNl-yEqhV6cwcq1Vimdmt7loUy2iTFR9-bdxAlsgw&vpsrc=6&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=4&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&t=m&z=14&lci=bike
Of course, that’s from a guy who used to ride rt 7 from Alexandria to Tysons to work instead of adding 2 miles to get on the W&OD. I’d explore. Maybe get out there really early on a weekend when there’s not as much traffic if you can. I’d probably take the Cross County Trail myself, but that leads to the Gallows crossing that you want to avoid. All the best finding your way! and let us know which you choose.

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@hoelch 8365 wrote:

Hello,

I’d like to try biking my reverse commute from Mt Pleasant to Bethesda in the mornings. Does anyone have recommendations? I’m debating the traffic and steepness of Wisconsin vs. Connecticut, and also taking the longer but probably more pleasant Capital Crescent trail.

I highly recommend the CCT, in a debate over CCT vs Wisc/CT.

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Not sure what it was, but I saw tour buses being escorted around with a somewhat heavy load of police cars and motorcycles. Must be nice to be able to push everybody else out of your way when you get your site seeing done!

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I’m trying to figure out what the bolt holding your chain together is.

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I was especially glad to be on bicycle, as opposed to sitting in a seat in a car going nowhere or on a crawling train! I stuck around till 5:30, so I didn’t see quite as many nimrods, but glad to hear there were others getting out of the underground and walking/biking around, even if they don’t quite know what they’re doing.

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