[eminva]

Same issue as Greenbelt — most of my riding is back and forth to work.

I’ve only been using Strava regularly since the end of May, so this is what I’ve got:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1820[/ATTACH]

[eminva]

Just a reminder — we’ve discussed this fully in other threads — but DC, Maryland and Virginia are all contributory negligence jurisdictions. Therefore, if you are involved in a crash and you are not 100% in compliance with the letter of the law (car centric though it may be), you may not be able to recover any damages for your injuries and you may also be subject to legal action for others’ damages — even if the other party was mostly or nearly entirely at fault.

Some people understand this and take a calculated risk, and that’s fine, but I want to make sure any newcomers are aware of this local quirk in liability law.

Liz

[eminva]

There is another option, which is to dismount, walk the bike to the crosswalk and walk the bike across like a pedestrian. Not intimidating, and within the letter of the law.

@jabberwocky 32846 wrote:

The issue is that legally, if you’re in the vehicle traffic lane, you’re vehicle traffic, not a pedestrian. So you need to act like it, which means obeying traffic signals, same as if you were a car.

This is right. Or, as the League of American Bicyclists has it, “Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.” Come to a Confident City Cycling class to learn more!

Liz

[eminva]

@GuyContinental: Check the forecast — I went as a spectator last year, and it hadn’t rained in so long it was hard packed dirt and dust.

@vvill: New bike! New bike! New bike!

Tell me the day/time you guys are racing — a colleague sent a message around looking for volunteers. The days are long though, so I might just shoot for a shorter range to be there. I will try to watch you if I can.

Liz

[eminva]

I had the pleasure of RESTONTODC’s company both directions today! I also saw Tim Kelley going the opposite direction on the W&OD this evening.

Liz

[eminva]

@CPTJohnC 32706 wrote:

BTW: I didn’t realize my bldg had a garage until this happened, as the access is through the building next door — the single garage entrance serves 3 or 4 different ‘buildings’ based on addresses. Have you confirmed that the parking garage is not a shared structure?

This is a good question — there is no parking garage directly under our building, but the senior officials of my employer park (their cars) in the same garage where I park my bike. I assume the company rents the spaces, so maybe we have some sort of relationship with them.

@CPTJohnC 32706 wrote:

I presume there are spaces in the garage that are unusable to cars, but that would be appropriate for bike parking? Are there bikey-folks who DO work in the correct bldg who could offer the suggestion(s) on your behalf?

It’s kind of difficult to say because you see familiar bikes on the racks, but don’t often run into the cyclists. I have seen one woman on occasion who I think works in the building — I will ask her next time I see her, or even leave a note on the bike. Most of the cyclists parking there work for my company, though.

Liz

[eminva]

If you get it figured out, let me know — my building doesn’t even have a garage, so the cyclists here park in the building next door. The rack (wheel bender style) is shoved up against some boiler equipment located in the garage — so on top of limiting the available space, I’m worried that if some HVAC emergency happens in that building, the building engineers will have to shove the rack out of the way without regard to what is attached to it. I could see a couple of ways the situation could be improved without sacrificing a single Extremely Valuable Automobile Parking Space, but am afraid to bring it up since I’m sort of a squatter there. I’ve resolved the issue by being friendly to the parking attendant in the hopes he will alert me if I need to get my bike out of there in a hurry.

Liz

[eminva]

@Bilsko 32477 wrote:

Been a few days since anything covetable has come along. Here’s today’s covet:

http://www.moment-industries.com/products/bone-burner-rotor

Whatever you do, keep that thing away from Dirt — he wouldn’t have any fingers left at all!

Liz

[eminva]

:confused: So, Riley, just how do you feel about parking lots?

For my part, Greenbelt said everything I would have.

Liz

[eminva]

@Tim Kelley 32225 wrote:

Custis Ridership: 2011 vs 2012 (so far) at the top of the Rosslyn hill and at the Custis/W&OD Intersection:

Wow, we were way ahead of last year’s pace until the summer, when we dropped off . . . was it the oppresively hot weather? Any other explanation?

Liz

[eminva]

@ShawnoftheDread 32191 wrote:

Did the agents stop you, or did you seek them out so you could discuss it?

In both cases, they stopped me — one attendant was sitting right next to the accessible fare gate at Farragut West, and three were sitting right next to the accessible fare gate at Vienna.

Liz

[eminva]

I tested Metro’s new policy today. Due to schedule issues, I could ride in, but not home. I rode my folding bike to work this morning. In the afternoon, I folded it up and took it to Farragut West. The station attendant did not know about the new policy, so I showed her the announcement on Metro’s website on my smart phone. She thanked me and asked if I could print a copy for her and bring it to her at my convenience.

I had decided in advance to wait for an uncrowded train (for good will and my own comfort/convenience), but the first train that came had plenty of space for me and the folded bike. The train never got crowded, so I don’t think I was inconveniencing anyone. When I exited at Vienna, the station attendants also did not know about the policy, so I got out my smart phone again, and promised to bring hard copy next time I’m through.

All in all it was a success. I would recommend bringing hard copies of the policy for station attendants, though.

Liz

[eminva]

@Certifried 32021 wrote:

I don’t recall seeing anything about T-shirts, sort of mad at myself for not going to the after party and getting one I was, in my defense, completely wiped out. Awesome and challenging ride that I had not expected to finish.

edit: damn, my fault I didn’t read

I’m sure if you call the WABA office someone there will be happy to set aside a shirt for you!

Liz

[eminva]

@dasgeh 32002 wrote:

So is there any hope? As the toddler becomes a kid, then a middle school student and even a – gasp – teenager, will we be able to stick within bikeable range of central Arlington?(

Well, speaking only from my own experience, that depends on what interests your child develops and how determined you are. Most of our life is within an easy bike distance, even though we live a bit futher out that you. For example, my son’s music school is just five blocks from home, although this particular concert venue was quite a drive. You’re always going to have that concert that’s just a bit too far, the birthday party in McLean, etc. If you are okay with having to drive on the occasional weekend you should be okay.

Also, it will be a lot easier if you stick to local schools. Don’t know what your intentions are there.

Now if your child develops an interest in some obscure form of renaissance music that can only be studied in Ellicot City, MD, I’m afraid you are out of luck.

Liz

[eminva]

@jopamora 31949 wrote:

I want to find the person who made the route and ask if they break into maniacal laughter every time they think of Garfield and University Terrace.

Nooooo! It’s been a year and I thought I was over my PTSD!!

Congrats to everyone and glad you had so much fun. Last year, either there weren’t any other forum folk out or I didn’t know them yet. I still made lots of friends along the way. So happy some of you were able to link up.

Liz

[Author]

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