[GB]

It’s my wife’s b-day, but she’s given me the green light. So I’ll be there, although probably not until 6:30.

[GB]

I’ve parked my newish road bike with a U-lock at the racks in the Ballston mall for the past 3 months. So far no problems, haven’t even had the tail light or saddle bag stripped off. I’d be pretty comfortable leaving it at the racks by the metro during the day.

With that said, 2 ppl from my office who have been working there longer bring their bikes into the office.

[GB]

@bobco85 78223 wrote:

Hmm, multiple things here:

1. I also park my bike at the Ballston mall bike rack, so hi, neighbor! Mine’s a silver Zum City bike with dual rear baskets. (I come in from Carlin Springs Rd with left-turning traffic to access that bike rack).

2. As stated by others, you did not do anything illegal, …but I can imagine the cop looking at you riding in the left lane and (wrongly) thinking you’re holding up traffic.
Question: do you ride in the left lane the entire time you’re on Glebe? Or do you only do that after crossing Wilson Blvd on Glebe? Do you signal for the left turn? (These do not place any blame on you, but they can affect how a cop sees your situation)

3. Glebe Road is not very bike-friendly, but the traffic lights do help to slow traffic. Whenever I’m on that road, I take the right lane and always signal longer and earlier for turns.

4. If you’re looking for alternative routes, you could do the following: starting on Fairfax Drive, at Stuart Street do a jug-handle turn (turn right then do a U-turn and go straight), take the right crosswalk across Wilson Blvd, get on the sidewalk, take the alleyway between Macy’s/Chipotle, and follow the sidewalk around to the garage entrance. Here’s the route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/363546999 I use this route when I return to work from a lunch grocery trip at Trader Joe’s because I find it an easy way to cut through the Ballston traffic mess.

1 – lunch? Turn this missed connection into a connection?

2 – Yes I was in the left lane the entire time while I was on Glebe. (Since I turn left from Fairfax on to Glebe, I’m in the left lane to start and just stay here fore the 0.5 miles that I’m on the road) I generally signal my turns but probably signal my move from the left lane to the left turn lane less often. I didn’t do it that day b/c I hadn’t made it that point before he pulled up next to me.

3 – Agreed the lights slow traffic. There are 3 of them on Glebe after I get on it and before I get off.

4 – Thanks for the route suggestion. That looks like a good alternative.

[GB]

@sethpo 78206 wrote:

Hopefully, it will arrive in tact and be an simple assembly but if I need to bring the wheels in for truing, so be it.

I bought a Nashbar bike a year ago and it arrived in good condition and assembly was very easy. I did have issues with the wheels but after 3 spokes broke I sent them back and Nashbar sent me a new set.

[GB]

@DismalScientist 78212 wrote:

The cop is clearly a doofus. That said, have you tried going south on Quincy and go into the back parking entrance of the mall?

Yes, that’s my alternate route. The problem is that it is 0.5 miles shorter and brings my commute dangerously close to sleaze status.

[GB]

@mstone 78207 wrote:

Hopefully you got a badge number?

I did. I have a question out to ebubar to see if it’s a match with his cop.

[GB]

@jnva 78189 wrote:

Last thing I want is a bunch of scooters zipping along the bike path.

Don’t repeat that around runners…they might feel the same way about bikes on the running path.

Although I don’t like being passed, I’d rather be past by an e-bike than an a regular bike.

My take is less driving is better, more biking is better, e-bikes seem to move strongly in the right direction.

[GB]

This morning pulled over while riding to work.

My normal commute takes me on Wilson (where I use the bike lane) to Fairfax (where I use the bike lane). I then turn left on Glebe, take the left lane, stay in the left lane for 0.5 miles, and turn left into the Ballston mall parking lot.

As I was riding in the left lane an unmarked car pulled up next to me and the driver told me I was taking up the whole lane and that I should be in the bike lane. I replied that I was turning left, had a right to the lane and that there was no bike lane (which there isn’t, no bike lane, no sharrows).

He slowed as I slowed (I was approaching a red left turn signal). I stopped and he stopped. I got off my bike (put it in the median) and he turned on his lights.

He then asked for my license, which I gave him. He returned to his car and I waited on the median. He came back and told me I was charged with impeding the flow of traffic. (Strava showed my speed prior to being pulled over at 20-23mph. The speed limit in that section is 30 mph.) I asked for his card, which he gave me. He’s a detective in the homicide unit. He did not actually give me a ticket on the spot, but lead me to believe that I would get one in the mail.

Over all it was a very bad experience. I’ve been pulled over while driving and haven’t left furious. At the end of ticketing I offered to shake hands saying that we’d settle our differences in court, but he wouldn’t shake mine.

I called 2 Arlington numbers: the police and the ticket people. Both said that if I wasn’t given a ticket it was a warning, but that the warning should have been written.

Tim pointed me to this post which sound pretty similar.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?688-Missed-connection&p=62618#post62618

Based on these two incidents I’d say Glebe is not a bike friendly street.

I’m wondering how much I need to change my commute. I could take a different road, that shortens my commute by 0.5 miles I could ride in the right lane of Glebe. I could keep doing what I’m doing. I could….drive – no that’s just silly.

[GB]

@run/bike 78000 wrote:

I know it has come up in the past, but can we make the e-bike meetup a reality this spring? I think it would be great for those e-bikers among us to meet and for non e-bikers to have an opportunity to check them out/ask questions.

Can you make it to a FMCC?

[GB]

@eminva 78012 wrote:

They seemed receptive to my suggestion that they start a Friday Coffee Club out that way. They have the advantage of a budget so those cyclists might not have to pay for their own java like rest of us. ELITE!

Liz

May I suggest that this FMCC meet on Tuesday or Thursday so that those of who enjoy our current Friday coffee can still meet the Tysons riders. But my commute from court house to ballston seldom takes me through Tysons so don’t change it just for me.

[GB]

Pluggin’ my hood –

I’ve lived in a colonial village condo for 5 yrs and love it. It’s right between Court House and Rosslyn with easy access to Custis, the MVT and the Cap. Crescent Trail. The N. Arlington hills are in my backyard and so is the WOD. It’s easy to cross the Key, TR or 14th st bridges for cycling around DC or Haines Point.

It’s a 1 mile walk to Clarendon for groceries or a night out and it is well served by the metro, metro bus, and the ART buses if you don’t feel like walking.

If there’s a catch its that none of the units under $300k are new. But if you’re happy with 1980s construction (time tested) check out the area. I know there are a couple 1 bedroom condo’s for sale in the Colonial Village development at the moment (condo dues run around $300, which I think is lower than average). Be aware that some of these may be historically protected developments.

[GB]

Trail conditions as of 7pm: (road bike with slick tires)

Bluemont – Very rideable
WOD – Very Rideable (from bluemont to MVT)
MVT – rough – there were several patches where there wasn’t a single clear track.

Put your fenders on – it’s wet out there.

I was on Custis yesterday and the parts behind the sounds walls were icey, (I walked up the Rosslyn hill).

[GB]

How do you say sleazy in French?

[GB]

@dasgeh 75420 wrote:

I’ve been thinking lately:

How much does it cost the County (direct costs like road maintenance and police, or even indirect, like congestion on the roads and reduced safety) when a car drives 1 mile? Let’s say $X for now.
How much does the County (or whatever branch of government) subsidize a Metro ride? Let’s say $Y for now.
How much does the County (or whatever branch of government) subsidize a bus ride? Let’s say $Z for now.

You get the idea. We could put dollar amount on their foolishness of not clearing the trails.

The problem is that while the average cost of bus/metro/driving is higher thanvthe average cost of biking the cost of 1 more person doing any of those is close to $0. The cost of 1,000 extra ppl is still very low.

[GB]

The bike MS Ride the River is a very well supported ride. They have 30, 60 and 100 mile options. I’ve done it twice and really enjoyed both.

[Author]

Posts