EasyRider

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 362 total)
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  • EasyRider
    Participant

    OP here, posting a update.

    As I mentioned, I followed the advice of the non-emergency dispatch and filed a report. I described the events, and provided the license plate, and said I had video to share. After a week, I had gotten no response so I called to get the case number and assigned detective. I decided to wait another week. After two weeks, still nothing from police, so I emailed the assigned detective. He was polite enough, but it was pretty obvious to me that if I hadn’t contacted him I’d have never heard from them. He was quick to point out this was a traffic violation and not a criminal case. I responded, yes, I know. I then asked if having video of the incident would allow the police to issue a traffic citation. That was several weeks ago, and I’ve not heard from the detective since.

    The silent treatment leads me to believe that they probably can issue a citation, but have just about zero interest in doing so. I understand or imagine the reasons why, but being ignored like this has increased my cynicism about the police when it comes to matters of pedestrian and cyclist safety. I’ve nothing against the detective, but I’d guess his superiors are focused on airbag thefts and loud mufflers.

    In the end, I decided not to share the video, knowing there was at least a decent chance what it did or didn’t show would be used against me, to make it my fault, or my son’s. Sorry there’s no happy ending here.

    EasyRider
    Participant

    Agree, it won’t fix it. However, I do think a traffic light in this location would be more convenient for cyclists and pedestrians, and relatively safer than the current lighted crosswalk, which most drivers feel free to ignore.

    FWIW, I did file a police report. I called the non-emergency number and they advised me to file an online report. I told them I looked into that and none of the category options were related to pedestrian or cyclist safety. Half of them were property crimes involving vehicles. I would’ve thought keeping children safe from reckless drivers might be as important as recovering stolen airbags and pocket change, but I guess not.

    Dispatch said, “I know” when I told them about the categories and suggested I file my report under “suspicious circumstances.” I did so and described upfront that this was not a case of suspicious circumstances, but clear video evidence of failure to yield and reckless driving. I was able to input license plate and VIN info, so hopefully my report is taken seriously.

    I will be updating this post to note progress, or lack thereof.

    EasyRider
    Participant

    @chris_s 219272 wrote:

    I just wanted to share that the county is proposing to add a project to its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to upgrade the Glebe & 9th St intersection, including adding a full traffic signal. That plan is in draft form, there will be a public hearing at the end of June and then a final plan will be adopted in July.

    This project was one of the priorities we rode for at Bike4ThePike back in 2018 and it’s great to see some potential progress on it.

    One positive potential use of the video is emailing it to the County Board along with a note about the dangers you have experienced at this intersection and encouraging them to move this project up in the Capital plan to happen faster (though I’m not 100% clear on its current schedule, to be honest).

    Thank you Chris, I think I will email the video to the County Board and ask them to expedite this project.

    in reply to: BAFS2022 Team 11 Bierpuncheur #1116560
    EasyRider
    Participant

    Hi team, I’m Pete and this is my 4th Freezing Saddles, and my 20th(!) winter of bike riding here. I live in South Arlington. Sorry I missed the HH. I thought I set myself a reminder. I blame Alexa.

    In years past, commuting to work accounted for most of my mileage, but work-and-school from home in 2020 and 2021 changed that. It was hard to go for a long ride with two young kids at home and so my mileage did a nose-dive. I did get in some memorable trailer rides with the kids, and one overnight on the C&O.

    My goal this year is to get my mileage back up and I’m shooting for 10 per day. When I can’t do that, I’m still diligent about getting in a sleaze ride around the neighborhood. Like Judd I have many (too many?) bikes and spend almost as much time thinking about what to ride as where to ride.

    in reply to: Wired mag story re e-bikes #1116135
    EasyRider
    Participant

    I wouldn’t call a 30% rebate “a pittance,” but like the writer, I really wish the tax credit applied to larger, more costly e-cargo bikes.

    Sorry to sound conspiratorial, but what gives? Did the automobile lobby ask for the $4,000 limit so as to tamp down on the number of eligible e-cargo bikes, which in an area like ours really can compete with a car for schlepping children and groceries? If I understand the measure correctly, the rebate doesn’t count toward the first $4,000 of an e-bike’s cost, but applies only to those e-bikes that cost less than $4,000. It seems to me if cost was the only issue, a smaller, but more broadly applicable tax credit could have been devised instead of one with a cliff.

    in reply to: Seeking opinions for new bike #1114813
    EasyRider
    Participant

    @secstate 211504 wrote:

    Do you plan to build this yourself?

    Please post a spec list and any lessons learned when you’re done. I didn’t know there were off-the-shelf frames with split chainstays. Looks like there’s a lot of bike commuting in my future and I’d consider a build like this when & if I decide to replace the Space Horse.

    I’ll be following this build! This is the green Wolverine frame with yellow decals? It’s a looker.

    Speaking of belt drives, last year I got my kid a 20″ belt-drive bike from Priority that uses a Shimano 3-speed hub. The quality is good, and I think the internal hub has been helpful as he learns about gears and shifting. I think that frame splits at the dropout. Priority also sells an adult commuter bike that uses a Gates belt and a 7-speed Shimano hub for under $800. It reminds me of the Jamis Coda.

    in reply to: Da Brim for the follically challenged #1114585
    EasyRider
    Participant

    I use a white Headsweats brand cycling cap, and will probably get another soon. They are good at soaking up sweat and more breathable than a traditional cotton cap, and machine washable. They probably make a brimless version you could pair with da Brim.

    I know you said no bandanna, but you can just tuck the edge of one under the back of the cap to cover your neck. Sort of like a cycling kepi. I occasionally do this, and use the bandanna to wipe my face and neck when I arrive at my destination and begin sweating profusely. Da Brim still wins for dorkiness, but this combination isn’t too far behind.

    @lordofthemark 211132 wrote:

    QOTM has been after me for a while to get better sun protection while I am riding. I figured this https://dabrim.com/ might be a good solution. Now that I get around to actually buying it I see that “Air flows freely through helmet vents, promoting cooling” Which seems like a great idea. For folks with hair. But for those of us with male pattern baldness, it would sort of defeat the purpose, allowing me to get a sun burn on my scalp. QOTM had an idea – ride with one of these under my helmet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kippah Honestly though, I’m not THAT religious.

    Any other ideas? Something like a cross of da brim and a cycling cap? (No don’t suggest a bandanna, I will likely do a kippah instead of that)

    TIA

    in reply to: Serious injury crash in Arlington July 28 #1114520
    EasyRider
    Participant

    I hope the rider recovers!

    Looks like an older budget road bike with an OEM carbon fork. I’ll don’t ride carbon, but I’ll take this as a reminder to check each of my forks before I ride them again. One doesn’t need to strap a gasoline motor to a bicycle to get a fork failure.

    EasyRider
    Participant

    I would file a police report. There’s no way you’re the first person that menace has targeted. The police might not know him, but others in the neighborhood almost certainly do.

    EasyRider
    Participant

    @ursus 210370 wrote:

    It’s off topic, but how is one supposed to make a left turn from a protected bike line on the right? I usually leave the PBL earlier and get to the left, but this requires me to know the PBL well. Making the left at the last minute requires a tight turn and often is impossible without stopping and waiting for a long time for a break in the traffic. It also angers others in the PBL who want to continue straight.

    Good question. Feb 2020, I was pulled over by ACPD at Wilson and Highland for doing just that. I was heading west on Wilson, left the bike lane a block or so from the intersection because I needed to turn left on Highland. Turned left, got pulled over a block later by the Trader Joe’s. Stood there on the sidewalk while the officer tried to figure out what traffic violation I had committed. After 20 minutes he gave up and let me go with a written warning, something petty like “not signaling my lane change”, though in conversation he seemed to be under the impression that I should be confined to the bike lane.

    in reply to: Freezing Saddles 2021 – Daily Photo Scavenger Hunt #1112301
    EasyRider
    Participant

    2/22/21 – purple house

    Ok, it’s not a house, but South Arlington’s notorious and recently shuttered Purple Lounge is too purple not to submit.

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    in reply to: Freezing Saddles 2021 – Daily Photo Scavenger Hunt #1112152
    EasyRider
    Participant

    2/20/21 – overhead shot / such great heights / USPS

    On the footing of the old Georgetown aqueduct bridge. Gratuitous inclusion of ‘the District Sleeps Alone Tonight’ CD single, which includes a remix version of ‘Such Great Heights’.

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    EasyRider
    Participant

    I waved to a Bobcat with a plow (the plow was raised) on the W&OD yesterday afternoon near Glencarlyn Park, before it snowed again. The trail was fairly clear from Columbia Pike to the Custis Trail, but the many small bridges were iced over I’m guessing they can’t plow those without damaging the decking.

    in reply to: Freezing Saddles 2021 – Daily Photo Scavenger Hunt #1109896
    EasyRider
    Participant

    1/21/21- Adidas

    Looking through the window at Soccer Kicks in Dominion Hills, Arlington, Va.
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    in reply to: Freezing Saddles 2021 – Daily Photo Scavenger Hunt #1109835
    EasyRider
    Participant

    1/20/21 – president name

    Rare Nixon sighting
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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 362 total)