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@Steve O 190283 wrote:

For those of use who spend time both in DC and out virtually every day, this can get confusing if you forget where you are. Cyclists being allowed to go on the LPI is legal in DC, not in Virginia.

True, though I think ACPD agrees that it’s the safer option, so in Arlington, at least, I would not expect enforcement.

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My experience is also that cars pass closer when I’m in a painted bike lane than when I share the lane. It is also my experience that drivers are more attentive/drive slow when lanes are narrow. So my preference would be putting in protection is best, but if not possible, painted bike lanes are better than nothing. Still, I probably will take the lane in situations where I may need space that I don’t expect drivers to give me.

@huskerdont 190313 wrote:

Something I observe anecdotally every time I ride on the line (to avoid the door zone) on Quincy.

There are spots (Quincy at the Custis entrance comes to mind) where there’s a median making it not possible for a driver to be 3 feet away from a cyclist in the middle of the bike lane. I really hate those, and always take the lane.

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@Brendan von Buckingham 190314 wrote:

Regarding Quincy and any other bike lane. Regardless of the parked car, standing car, delivery truck, trash can, gravel, jogger, stroller, tourist, zig-zag, bollard, blind spot or door zone that’s in the bike lane, if you don’t bike in it you are fair game as far as a driver is concerned. It’s just a matter of time until the traffic regs are changed to restrict us only to bike lanes.

Eh, I doubt it. Bike lanes & trails have been around for a long time and there’s been no traction on this (in DC & VA). And even the must-walk-on-sidewalks reg has a ton of exceptions that cover the issues noted above. Any rule would amount to “ride in the bike lane unless you don’t want to”

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@Dewey 190338 wrote:

Unsure how outreach about the no-sidewalk, no-passengers, rules works for people who can’t recognize when a protected bike lane is right in front of them or that it is the authorized place to ride.

Hotels. Seriously, it would be great if we could get some snazzy Bike/WalkArlington brochures about transportation options and how to use them, and get them on those car-free diet kiosks. Makes sense to wait until Arlington makes the pilot final, which should be by next January, though they could start planning now.

PS. sidewalk scooter riding will be legal July 1

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I agree with a lot of of what @ginacico wrote, and hate to focus on the negative, but this is the forum, after all ..

@ginacico 190247 wrote:

Not to be all GoT* dramatic, but BikeDC (#walkDC #bikeDC #liveDC) is fighting a war right now and they could sure use backup from people in the suburbs who venture within the city.

Can we stop with the false DC v suburbs dichotomy? The situation in the ‘burbs (particularly Fairfax, PG, and other places farther from density) is worse than that in DC proper. Plus, I would not say the issue is the ‘burbs not showing up for DC. While I see tons of ‘burbs advocates at the DC events, (and, thankfully, some DC folks at the Arlington stuff), it’s rare to see DC folks heading out to the ‘burbs when there are meetings and events. The ‘burbs folks have their hands full, and while it’s appreciated when they help out in DC, it’s understandable that they focus on ‘burbs. (If only WABA would help…)

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@Emm 190199 wrote:

The email also requested volunteers. Volunteering is great since if you volunteer, you can mark down as attending on a day you cant make it. So I’ll be volunteering Wednesday, so that I can get my sweet “attended all week” swag, even though I wont be able to make it Friday due to volunteering at a pit stop in Alexandria…

Per the email
“If you are interested in volunteering on one or more days, contact Cassie Hurley at churley@crystalcity.org. “

Thanks to the people who volunteer and just show up to these things. Many of us can’t be there, and it’s great that community exists.

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Lots of good suggestions. I’ll just add that in Arlington, unless there are signs, parking is free all day (I think technically they can tow a car if it’s been there 48 hours, but I think that is very rare).

For example, in my neighborhood (Cherrydale, just west of Spout Run/Kirkwood & Lee), most of the parking is totally unrestricted. The exceptions are along Lee and sometimes one block in, and near the HS and ES. But in almost all cases where there’s restricted parking, there’s also unrestricted parking within a block. And most of it is unused. The Custis Trail runs along the southern border of our neighborhood, and Quincy, which becomes Military and eventually gets you to Chain Bridge, runs right through it. Though, you can park for free much closer to Chain Bridge.

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@Dewey 190099 wrote:

Regarding the decision to temporarily withdraw CaBi+ ebikes this article in the Post makes depressing reading: that there isn’t safety oversight or a channel for communicating safety data between electric bikeshare operating companies. Uber/Jump reportedly fixed the problem in their bikes, Shimano said the Inter-M roller brake requires a wheel hub incorporating power modulators so Uber must have found a way to retrofit the power modulators into the motor hub – that they failed to share with Lyft/Motivate either the existence of the problem or their technical solution demonstrates a need for better regulatory oversight. Hope they do the right thing by anyone injured, and they fix the problem toot sweet so they can get CaBi+ back on the streets.

Sounds like adding a requirement that operators share safety information would be an improvement to dockless policies.

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@scoot 190095 wrote:

To be fair, the citizen dashcam shows that the police driver did initially stop for the red light as required. It’s hard to tell if he was completely behind the stop line, but it is clear that he wasn’t blocking the crosswalk at all while stopped. His error was his subsequent attempt to make a right-on-red when it was not safe to do so. Because he didn’t check to see if anyone was about to use that crosswalk. If the bicyclist hadn’t been there, that would have been a legal turn.

I thought the police car was slightly over the stop line, but that there was room in the crosswalk. Also it looked like the cyclist was in the crosswalk, making the chief’s statement that he was on the highway incorrect. It really seems like a case of “they were both wrong” and the fact that PD is trying to cover it up is shameful.

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@dkel 190077 wrote:

You could try Paul Stoddard, the Chief Planner. Jeffery Sikes is another city planner, and is listed as the contact for Bike to Work day, for what that’s worth. Either is reached via email by using first initial together with last name at fallschurchva.gov.

@n18 190079 wrote:

Here is FC Bicycle Master Plan page, clicking on “Staff Directory” shows emails and phones for the people that dkel mentioned.

Thanks to you both!

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@Steve O 190074 wrote:

So this whole thing is a cluster, more or less of a problem depending on your abilities and experience and familiarity. If the weekend is really nice, it will be interesting to see how the thousands of recreational riders fare.

My huge pet peeve about detours is that the people who make them never, ever come and observe them in action. Many times they merely draw them on a map without actually testing them. Nor do they try them after they have been put in place to make sure the signage is clear.

In this case, I’m not sure who would be responsible for all that. VDOT? Falls Church? Arlington? The line between the two jurisdictions cuts through the middle of the detour.

This is squarely a VDOT project. But since it impacts Arlington, I’ve been including Arlington on my emails — but I should also include Falls Church. Does FC have a bike/ped planner? Anyone have contact info?

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@sjclaeys 190046 wrote:

Here is what the charter says:

Public Involvement
The BAC is expected to convene a public meeting at least every other month, but might choose to meet more often. A full calendar year of meetings should be set up in advance and posted to a publicly accessible forum or forums. To help engage those not naturally inclined to attend public meetings, the BAC should develop an online presence using Google Groups, BikeArlington.com or other social media tools appropriate to their mission.

I guess that one could take the most narrow reading of this language and say the BAC isn’t required to listen to the public. Is that the BAC’s official position? Also note that the charter requires the BAC to provide summaries of meetings to the public within two weeks, which I do not believe it does. No meeting notes has been posted on its website since May 2017.

The charter is outward facing — we are supposed to do our work in a way the public can see. Is it a good idea to listen to others? Yes. And I do it. It’s just not in the charter.

And yes, the meetings notes issue is a problem. County staff controls the website. They get regular emails from me about the minutes being missing. But I spend most of my time on other things. Maybe I should spend less time on this forum and more time getting the minutes posted.

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@ReneeYvonne 190039 wrote:

Arlington County Board approved updates to the Master Transportation Plan’s Bicycle Element to make Arlington a place where all person can feel safe and comfortable while biking for transportation. Read full plan here:bit.ly/ArlingtonMTP

That link isn’t updated. In fact, I haven’t seen the version of the Bike Element that was adopted (i.e. with the changes made at the dias). Any idea when that will be up?

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@scoot 190034 wrote:

The green right turn arrow is certainly lit when the cyclist enters the roadway, so he was presumably facing a steady red hand.

I’m not too familiar with that area, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the walk signal is only activated by the beg button. While the default cycle probably just lights the green turn arrow whenever Route 1 traffic has a green. Typical car-centric suburban design.

All this arrow seems to accomplish is to give legal cover for drivers who hit people in the crosswalk. I can’t imagine that it even increases traffic flow measurably. But hey, at least a driver can hit someone and then point fingers at him, since he could have pushed a button and waited two minutes to see if the next Route 1 green cycle would deign to include him as well.

According to Twitter, the beg buttons are required to activate the ped signal, but aren’t all working.

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@sjclaeys 190010 wrote:

Well the Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee is charted by Arlington County so, as required by their charter, they at least are required to listen to the “peanut gallery” of the great unwashed masses.

I’m happy to listen to everyone. In fact, I check this forum and other social media regularly and build time for public comment into every meeting agenda. But the charter does not require it.

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