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I’m just repeating myself ad nauseum, but what does it take anymore to revoke someone’s driving privileges? Even in the most egregious cases, it just never seems to happen. It makes me crazy to think this guy could be driving again in 18 months.

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@dasgeh 186486 wrote:

In fact, they’ll be at our February joint meeting. If you have questions, post them here or get them to me in whatever form works for you by next Wednesday!

So since we’re over here in the General corner NOT talking about Freezing Saddles , I have a .02 comment/suggestion for your Feb meeting.

Does Arlington have cops on bikes? Could one or two of them make it their job to ride around Crystal City at various times of day? Because I guarantee they could hand out a slew of tickets to people poaching the bike lanes. Even more importantly, they’d get a sense of who those drivers are (mostly rideshare?), interact with and educate people, and gain some perspective on how bad and dangerous the problem is.

One of the things i heard last night was that maybe Crystal City drivers are “still getting used to” the bike lanes, and don’t know quite how to behave. On bikes, ACPD could help with both education and enforcement at the ground level. Being our advocates from a shared POV could be a whole lot more effective.

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@dasgeh 186486 wrote:

Oddly enough, they monitor Twitter but don’t like people posting this stuff on Twitter.

I think both PD and FD are kinda new to social media, and figuring out how to manage/monitor it. (ACFD did a very effective job live-Tweeting about a 3-alarm fire in my neighborhood awhile back, and I told them so.)

In the meantime, when I asked specifically how to report a violation in the moment, the response was to call the non-emergency number. There’s also an email address if you want to send pictures.

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@dasgeh 185278 wrote:

Please get pictures. This is one of the BAC’s “priorities” for this year.

This particular obstruction has been there since before Christmas (pics taken 12/25), but the construction zone and detour has been a pain for months.

Dumpster completely blocking trail / sidewalk to the light at Glebe & Meade. (Apparently it will be removed tomorrow.) Pedestrians and cyclists have been trying to walk around, which means either shimmying between the dumpster and a backhoe, or stepping out into the traffic lane.
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Signs closing off sidewalk. The detour is to cross Glebe at the other end of the shopping center, which is a long way and there’s no light or crosswalk; with the speed of traffic on Glebe, it’s not safe.
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Ironically there’s a fence and signage protecting a tree. Pedestrians, not so much.
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@Judd 185270 wrote:

Please contact the Arlington Project Manager Hisham Wadham at hwahdan@arlingtonva.us

That’s the PM for the ArlCo sewer pipe project.

Be aware that the dumpster and detour signs might belong to the Berkeley apartments construction project (if you can distinguish one obstruction from another). I just dug up their contact info as well, Mary Claire Davis (AHC, Inc.) at davismc@ahc.org.

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@semperiden 185265 wrote:

This section is getting worst and worst.

Agreed. I’ve got someone from BikeArlington on the line and have shared pictures of the obstruction. She’s communicating with the project team and we’ll try to get it rectified. It’s been that way since Christmas, and I’ve seen people doing dangerous things trying to get around. Be safe.

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Noooo! That sucks Leslie, so sorry. Be well and please let us know how we can help while you’re recovering.

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@trailrunner 184817 wrote:

Personally, I’d replace the fork with a cheap rigid fork, like I did with my bike. Or fill the air chamber with Elmer’s glue.

Yeah, except part of the point was I’ve never had a suspension bike and am curious. We just need to get its squish back.

@trailrunner 184818 wrote:

Biopace!

Right?!?! I don’t feel the mechanical difference much, but there’s this notable sound of “whoom whoom”. And… toe clips. This bike makes me giddy.

Any tips where to take Shady to ride and not be miserable? I’m hesitant on anything remotely technical.

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@lordofthemark 184793 wrote:

Turned out it was not a rabbit, but a very fluffy cat, which she picked up.

That fluffy cat lives nearby. The cat is exceedingly friendly and unafraid, walks along with her owner almost like a dog, and will approach people.

@huskerdont 184795 wrote:

I’d file that under close calls and incidents or, possibly, missed connections. Unless you’re SteveO of course; do we have thread for lost opportunities to run over living things?

There should be a thread for close calls with or missed opportunities to avoid Steve O.

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@trailrunner 184773 wrote:

I overhauled my Mag fork once, although I had to take one of the legs to Metropolis to get it unstuck from the upper.

We need to do that actually, one side of the fork is completely shot. I think you can get a kit with the innards for about $50? A shop wanted $100 to do the overhaul, but we’ll (at least try to) do it ourselves.

This is a beater bike, given to me to play with for sh!#s and grins. It’s about par with my MTB skills.

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@drevil 184766 wrote:

Gina, spill the beans

Ha! Totally would if I knew anything, but this bike has been a mystery since it was bought in the early 90s. No labels, parts may or may not have been swapped. Even its past is Shady

Def Rockshox mag something.

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Also definitely steel. The handlebars are original and were a deep purple, now very faded on top.

Cranks are Shimano.

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@LeprosyStudyGroup 184288 wrote:

I can’t expect tourists or others to know or adhere to the “correct” way to use public space. Do you guys think this is the right way to deal with the situation?

I think so. Those walkways on the Mall are wide enough that you can usually pass with a good amount of space. And if not, ringing like a fool seems to result in unpredictable behavior and alarmed reactions. I’m always prepared to just stop and wait for a gap, maybe one ding, and once they notice me they often step aside.

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@Subby 184294 wrote:

Donate to WABA and score a blow against WHATABOUTism?!!

Preferably today to double your contribution.

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Co-Mo shmo-mo, Santa brought me THIS gem. Complete with a matching red (also previously used) bow, some new drivetrain parts, and decent knobby tires. I’ve verified that it will navigate dirt and gravel (though I discovered I’m afraid of big roots).

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This mutt of uncertain origins is one Shady character, hence its new name.

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@bentbike33 183444 wrote:

rcannon100 contends that Arlington’s confusing street names were a Cold War tactic to delay or prevent a Soviet invading force from reaching the Pentagon.

And today, preventing anyone including friends, the pizza delivery guy, and often the mail carrier from finding your house.

@huskerdont 183434 wrote:

*Seriously. Whoever originally named Arlington’s streets needs exhumation and a kick up the backside.

Agreed.

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