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This just in…. MWCOG reports 18,000 participants in Bike to Work Day this year, with 115 pit stops. 😎

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@Judd 190811 wrote:

As far as I know there’s not a plan to expand outside of DC.

Hmmm, except that the app already has “VA” and “MD” buttons when you go to report a violation. I don’t know what their timeline is, but it appears their ambitions are to expand. Rachel said they’re focused on DC now because some of the functions were already built and tested. And, like any volunteer dev team, they probably have day jobs and families.

I don’t know them personally, but the best way to communicate may be via Twitter @hmdappio

On this forum it’s easy to reach dasgeh (Arlington BAC) and lordofthemark and CaseyKane50 (Alexandria BPAC) to coordinate introductions. The biggest hurdle may indeed be how to integrate with the enforcement agencies.

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Thanks and kudos, buschwacker! You and about 70 volunteers logged nearly 700 vehicles blocking bike lanes in one day. If the Department of Public Works ticketed every driver that was logged Wednesday, it would have added up to more than $100,000 in tickets. 😎

https://dcist.com/story/19/05/16/advocates-logged-nearly-700-vehicles-blocking-bike-lanes-over-one-day/

Wednesday was a beta test for the How’s My Driving app. It’s currently only active for DC because the license plate lookup feature (which reports # of violations and a $ amount for outstanding tickets) hasn’t been built for VA or MD. But I believe the developers intend to expand it to the suburbs, eventually.

Bike Lane Uprising is also a great way to submit violations. Not only are they collecting vast amounts of useful data, but the admins actually contact repeat offenders (UPS, Uber, etc) to present them with facts and try to negotiate better behavior. In Chicago, people are “adopting” bike lanes and volunteering to check on known hot spots. We could do that in DC and the suburbs.

In the end, this is about several things. On the surface, of course it’s empowering average citizens, bike commuters, pedestrians, whoever to report violations with enough information that hopefully better enforcement will happen. But it’s also a way to highlight systemic problems in our street design. On-street car storage and lack of loading zones for delivery trucks, cabs / rideshare vehicles, and tour buses only exacerbate the problem.

I just want to recognize that these apps are grassroots efforts, built by active local advocates. Once again, WABA and the BPACs are doing their best, but anyone armed with an app or two can help change the equation for safety on our streets.

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So, who’s tried this app so far?

I had the strangest thing happen this morning. With the app loaded and phone on quick deploy, I rode up Eads St towards the Crystal City Bike to Work Week shindig, thinking my route would be a sure bet for finding a bike lane violator or three.

But….. none. None?!? I mean I could’ve taken issue with the tour bus who was over the line encroaching the bike lane, but his right tires were up against the curb; he’d done his best, and was parked in a legal spot.

On the way back southbound, same result. None. I did NOT stop for the fleet of NYPD cruisers and trailers who were also overlapping the bike lane. Again, the parking spaces were just too narrow for their vehicles, but they were legally parked. I ain’t gonna argue the gray area with NYPD cops who are burly and well armed.

I only made one pass, and if I’d had more time to cruise Crystal Drive or Potomac Ave, I might’ve had a more typical experience. But maybe, just maybe, things are starting to improve in Crystal City?

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@lordofthemark 190248 wrote:

I do think maybe the forum could do with some reorg to bring advocacy front and center.

Yes, please. Especially for DC.

@lordofthemark 190248 wrote:

Could it be better? Sure. Should we avoid confusing it with everyone who rides or has a stake in riding or has a stake in safer streets? Sure.

Nobody discounts that you can make friends riding bikes. But we shouldn’t be blind to the huge numbers of people who aren’t (and shouldn’t have to be) part of the cliques, and they should be equally empowered and educated on how to be a good advocate.

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@rcannon100 190206 wrote:

Nope. Not my rules. Not mine to clarify.

Sure, but you may assume enforcement is part of the “advocacy” you’re getting.

I’m not criticizing our advocates/groups in any way, and I relate to the time constraints. But it’s misguided to pay minimum WABA membership dues every year and expect that they’ll do the job for us. The truth is they simply don’t have the resources to monitor the forum with their logo at the top, or to fight for enforcement as forcefully as they do for infrastructure. Heck, even a hard-earned Board position is a volunteer job.

Don’t like it? IF YOU RIDE IN DC and truly want safety for all road users your better options are to

1. Donate a big truckload of money, or a car, or half your inheritance to WABA, or
2. Learn to do the job yourself.

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. The best of their soldiers have all the right authorities on speed dial, Twitter, bookmarks, and whatever means they need to report any type of shenanigans. For example:

• Bike lane violations and infrastructure improvements? Call 311 or tweet a location, license plate, and/or picture to @311DCgov and @DDOTDC. Submit pictures and details to Bike Lane Uprising. A resident expert here is LhasaCM, ask him about strategy.
• Safe accommodations around construction sites? Again call 311 or tweet a location, license plate, and/or picture to @311DCgov and @DDOTDC. Ask jrenaut about process and navigating city bureaucracy.
• See someone using their phone while driving? Submit a video to the TextToTicket app (bonus: and get paid!).
• Involved in or witness a crash or incident? Follow the guidelines. https://www.waba.org/resources/what-to-do-after-a-crash/
• Want to help organize the next memorial ride or attend civic meetings? Ask @HandlebarsDC about it.
• Wanna try some tactical urbanism? Check to see what @DCDOTRA recommends and recruit help. See also https://issuu.com/streetplanscollaborative/docs/tu-guide_to_materials_and_design_v1 and http://tacticalurbanismguide.com/
• If you just can’t anymore and it’s time to create a big, splashy, newsworthy scene with a mountain of spraypainted car parts in front of the mayor’s office to tell her she’s not doing her job, check with @NellePierson (who lives on a houseboat in Seattle and STILL shows up).
• And don’t forget to ask @JoeFlood to take photos and document the revolution, because even MLK knew there’s no point in protesting if it doesn’t make the news.

There are plenty of people out there who know how to get sh!t done in DC. We should start a whole thread, but most of them are not hanging out on this forum. And they’re all exhausted. If you do see any of them, buy them coffee and pastries and beer.

One more point. People are gonna argue about it, but this vexes me particularly. This is not a cult. This is not a community. There’s no such thing as the bike community (credit to Gear Prudence). You don’t have to identify as a cyclist. They don’t have to be your so-called family. You are no less legit if you usually take Metro, or have an e-bike, or have never been to a “coffee club” (spoiler: It’s not a club). If you EVER walk, scooter, or ride in DC and want the streets to be safer, your voice counts and you can help make a difference.

None of us can do enough alone, but every one of us can contribute. Next time, instead of coming to the forum to complain, figure out how to take action. Oh hello YOU ARE WABA.

Or, y’know, just go back to the coffee and games and cliques, and maybe we should just remove any references to DC and WABA from this site. That’s just where I’m at #sorrynotsorry

*I totally don’t watch GoT. Just tossing out a pop culture reference as a cheap attention getter.

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@Emm 189984 wrote:

Side note–I think when it comes to WABA issues, you need to trust Judd, who holds a position on their Board and therefor has a good amount of insider knowledge. Not sure any of us can really claim to more more than him about WABA’s current activities… (unless you too are also as involved as he is with the organization)

Not a side note at all. The frustration may stem from misunderstanding that, despite its misleading name and logos at the top, this is in no way an official forum for DC bike advocacy. Exceptions are Bike Arlington who hosts and monitors the forum and chimes in with news, and both dasgeh and lordofthemark who do their best to engage about what’s happening in their respective advisory groups (much appreciated). People may alert you about potholes and detours.

But if you want to know specifically what WABA is up to in DC, or what input you can offer with your membership dollars, you’re barking up the wrong tree. This is a minefield of dumb games and social cliques badly disguised as a forum for DC bike advocacy. WABA is not listening here. I confirmed that years ago while riding with a (then) staff member. If you have the stomach for true social media hell you can follow #bikeDC on Twitter, but you won’t get many clues about WABA strategy there either.

My most effective tactics for any kind of dialog with WABA have been to show up at their events and corner one of them, or write emails. Judd gets mega kudos (and should never have to buy coffee or beer again) for volunteering a lot of time and agitating until they put him on the Board.

Equity issues, indeed. I don’t even know where to start.

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This article nailed it.

It’s SO easy (and frankly a whole lot more fun) to be “comfortable among cars.” Until one hits you, erasing the very convenient illusion that drivers value your life and will avoid a crash.

I see it as a change of perception more than a hurdle to overcome. You can do everything safely and defensively, but the reality is many drivers are distracted, impatient, angry and sometimes violent. It’s hard to unsee that inhumanity, and perfectly reasonable to stay clear of them. This week has been a tough reminder.

You can tweak the variables in the algebra — systematic enforcement and driver liability, protected bike infrastructure, etc — but ultimately the risk calculation has to reflect what you think your life is worth.

@Judd 189963 wrote:

WABA has made a deliberate decision to not focus on enforcement versus advocating for infrastructure changes.

If so, that’s a mistake.

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@Emm 189796 wrote:

I should clarify I am not, and never will be, in the running to win a race

Agree wholeheartedly with this caveat, but I’m still riding on the WTB Riddlers (both 45s) that came on my new Klatch. They’re supple as can be. I don’t find them annoying on pavement, and they make a smooth transition from road to anything else. Very confident grip on gravel, grass, etc.

However I do want to save the knobbies for rougher terrain, so I just bought a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Supreme (35s) for pavement and touring. They’re slicks, low weight and low rolling resistance, and rumored to be pretty fast. I’ll post back when I’ve had a chance to try them.

I also have two pairs of Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour (28s and 40s) that outlived my Vaya and are still in great shape, a bombproof all-around tire. I rode the GAP/C&O on the 40s several times.

I set up with tubes so I can switch them out anytime.

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Me too. My neighbor Chrissie and I will be there, hopefully early enough to spot you guys.

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@ChristoB50 189451 wrote:

Good grief, was it really 15 years ago that movie came out?!

Right?! It’ll take at least that long to get the soundtrack outta my head

@ChristoB50 189451 wrote:

{Just bought my ticket!}

Awesome!

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Stop arguing about FS and ebikes and behold something beautiful.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]19545[/ATTACH]

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C’mon, you miss the sewer pipe along Four Mile Run, right? Here’s how the project got done with minimal digging and expense.

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@wheels&wings 187497 wrote:

Is that what people do, or is there a safer option?

I used to live at MacArthur and Sangamore Road. You can stay on the CCT just past the tunnel, then climb a side trail up to Sangamore. Get onto MacArthur at that traffic light, and from there on out you can ride the bike trail adjacent to MacArthur. (The trail is so-so, feel free to take the lane wherever you feel like it’s appropriate.)

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@Steve O 187418 wrote:

– Predict the date the Vienna Bike and Ride officially opens for business to the general public. One date per person.

12/31/2025. I’ll give them that long to finish all the track work and upgrades before bike infrastructure gets any real attention.

So the one at East Falls Church never got completed either? I gave up on it when I moved away from there 3 years ago.

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