[dbehrend]

I overlooked this thread when I posted about WABA’s email solicitation today : http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?14040-Judd-s-generosity&p=184447#post184447

Thank you again, Judd for sponsoring to match funds today!

[dbehrend]

Bill, I’m sorry this happened to you. It sounded like a terrible collision. You should be able to walk on a sidewalk without someone running into you from behind.

We all have an obligation to use our streets, sidewalks, and trails safely with ourselves and other users in mind. Based on what you described, it sounds like the cyclist failed to exercise reasonable care.

I, and I imagine many other members of this forum, certainly empathize with the frustration and anger that follows a vehicle striking you when you’re simply going about your day. I’ve had three vehicles strike me – two unintentionally and one intentionally. Beyond the injuries, damaged property, and the inconvenience of taking time off work to go to doctor appointments, they all left me quite rattled.

I want safe, walk-able and bike-able communities. That requires good planning and design, and good public policy. Unfortunately, I didn’t find your Op-Ed to contribute much to these areas.

I was confused most by your suggestion that bikes are not subject to many of the same laws as other vehicles. I would’ve thought that Virginia Code sec. 46.2-800 and 46.2-894 would apply in your situation. If not, it would have been helpful if you clarified why not. Is there in fact a need for legislation, is it an issue of interpretation, or is it a lack of interest in enforcement? When you called the police to report the hit and run, did they refuse to make a report? If you didn’t call to report the crash, maybe you should, especially if you want the data collected.

I understand being in shock after the collision. As others have noted, WABA and others include training people on what to do after a collision, including how to report collisions and ensure they gather the documentation they need to seek restitution for injuries and property damage, as part of their bicycle safety and education initiatives. It is really hard to think clearly with all the adrenaline, which is why the education initiatives are so helpful. If you reported the crash, I would be interested if the police would consider this a hit and run where the cyclist stopped and offered assistance. Not to diminish the responsibility of the guy who ran into you, but I suspect he was pretty rattled too, and he may have misunderstood the extent of your injuries when you declined his offer to call for help. I understand that Virginia law required him to provide contact information, but I wonder how police enforce this requirement in Arlington.

You mentioned in your Op-Ed that you’d support some of the policies in WABA’s December 2018 Action Plan. The Action Plan was in response to DC’s Vision Zero commitment, which is intended to eliminate traffic fatalities. This likely explains why the Action Plan didn’t devote much attention to WABA’s or local governments’ bicycle safety and education initiatives. Since you cited WABA’s Action Plan as motivation for writing the Op-Ed, I think your Op-Ed would have added more value to public discourse if you had elaborated which policies you supported and/or opposed and why. It would have been interesting to hear why many of the policies advocated in WABA’s Action Plan that promote safe space for pedestrians to travel don’t go far enough (e.g., better government coordination of Vision Zero, updated design guides, enforceable Complete Street policy, building protected intersections). Since WABA’s Action Plan was directed at DC’s Vision Zero Commitment, and you were struck in Arlington, Virginia, it would have also helped if you clarified whether you feel that Arlington should make a commitment to Vision Zero, and if so, what, if anything, they should do differently.

Regarding your concerns about the lack of data, it seems that DC and Virginia have made some progress in collecting and reporting this type of data in recent years (see e.g., https://www.treds.virginia.gov/mapping/map/CrashesByJurisdiction, http://opendata.dc.gov/datasets/crashes-in-dc). I’m sure there’s room for improvement. Again, it would have been really helpful if your Op-Ed had clarified why bicycle-pedestrian crashes that are reported to the police are not being counted or reported in a way that you think is useful to influencing public policy. I think this data would be helpful to policy makers in deciding where multi-use trails may need to be expanded to separate users by mode of travel, or where additional bike-specific infrastructure may help separate people walking and biking.

As you bike and walk area trails, I suspect you may have more common ground with many users on this forum than your Op-Ed would suggest.

[dbehrend]

@cvcalhoun 184216 wrote:

But you’d think they’d be more careful with the ebikes, given that they have to find and charge those at regular intervals.

Agreed. Since they rely on contract labor to charge and maintain their scooters and bikes, maybe they’re not concerned enough to provide clear information to riders as long as some “juicier” is willing to go get the bike.

[dbehrend]

I saw the dockless Lime bikes end up in some far-flung and weird locations. I got the impression they were okay with people taking them out of the jurisdictions Lime operated in. Maybe they’ll be more concerned about keeping track of their ebikes. If so, you sound much more conscientious than other users, so it’d be in their interest to set up their systems to better notify users of the approved service area

[dbehrend]

@mstone 184165 wrote:

To put that into perspective, the new Wilson bridge was $2.35 billion.

The article and meeting materials streetsmarts linked to both mentioned an estimated cost of $1.3 – 1.6 billion for the preferred alternative. It sounds like the relevant entities support the project, so hopefully, that support translates to funding.

@mstone 184165 wrote:

Also interesting: the long bridge was built in 1814, rebuilt in 1863, rebuilt again in 1872, rebuilt again in 1884, rebuilt again in 1904, and then nothing changed in the next 114 years, and it’s expected that the 1904 bridge will continue to be used indefinitely. The 1904 bridge wasn’t even a new bridge: they reused spans taken from a bridge over the Delaware in Trenton. I wish those guys were still around to design our current infrastructure!

The history and lifespan of the bridge is impressive. I also read somewhere that CSX had completed a rehabilitation project on the bridge within the last few years.

[dbehrend]

@cvcalhoun 184162 wrote:

I’ll just be happy when they finish that trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring. Silver Spring used to be an easy ride. Now it’s like Tyson’s–not that far away, but impossible to get to.

It will be nice when they finish the Purple Line and reopen that section of trail.

[dbehrend]

@mstone 184163 wrote:

Well, they have until 2045…at which time, I hope to not have to worry about commuting.

2045 is a long way off. I was hoping there might be some news or update about the South Capitol Street Trail.

[dbehrend]

The Washington Post had an article on this today:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/cyclists-could-someday-circle-the-region-on-their-own-version-of-the-capital-beltway/2018/12/22/1cef85d8-ffd8-11e8-ad40-cdfd0e0dd65a_story.html?utm_term=.3718419fd612

The article doesn’t include any updates.

[dbehrend]

The Washington Post had an article on the Long Bridge project today:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/expanding-the-long-bridge-is-key-to-regions-growing-rail-needs-officials-say/2018/12/22/19301c02-fa59-11e8-8d64-4e79db33382f_story.html?utm_term=.72affbd06000

Regarding funding the article noted:

Funding for the project has not been identified. But as the study moves forward, officials in the District and Virginia say they will be working as a region to secure grants and have a funding plan in place by the time the study is complete. Virginia rail officials say $30 million has been budgeted for design and engineering — $15 million from state rail funding and a $15 million pledge from CSX Transportation, which owns the bridge.

[dbehrend]

@VikingMariner 183970 wrote:

The author presents ideas that I call tribalism–tribalism between pedestrians, cyclists, public transportation and vehicle owner/operators. The notion is that the other tribe(s) are responsible for the hardships that befall our tribe. I’m not buying it. I belong to all three tribes and have to say the notion that I must ally myself with just one tribe is ridiculous.

Interesting. While the author advocated for greater consideration of pedestrians and cyclists in urban design and planning, I didn’t take that as particularly anti-car.

[dbehrend]

Unfortunately, I don’t think the new landlords allowed a shop cat or dog. I believe Colonel Sprocket found a new home with one of their customers.

[dbehrend]

Thank you for sharing a fantastic Op-Ed, with so many great quotes and resources.

I’m also curious if any local communities have participated in Walk Your City. I couldn’t find a list on the website, and their social media pages look inactive. That said, the concept seems easy to replicate.

[dbehrend]

@n18 183947 wrote:

More tips:

I use this balaclava(REI/Amazon), which can be lowered down to cover only the bottom half of the head when it gets warmer.

I picked up the half-balaclava version of this last year ( https://www.rei.com/product/725711/seirus-neofleece-combo-scarf ). Relative to the Buffs I also use, it has been a game changer at keeping me comfortable when the temperature drops below the mid-20s.

[dbehrend]

@mstone 183921 wrote:

… I’ve got enough to worry about without my feet sliding off the pedals.

I haven’t had a problem with my feet slipping when it’s wet or icy. I use flat pedals that have a large surface area and pins. They’ve been great for commuting and everyday riding.

[dbehrend]

I plan to attend and bring one guest.

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