[girlonabikedc]

I dunno. I just slow down. I’ve never had a problem, really. That sort of behavior isn’t limited to the cycletracks; its everywhere. Whether it’s pedestrians popping out from between parked cars, crossing against the light, or walking in the bike lanes, there are just some people (whether cyclists, motorists or pedestrians) that think rules don’t apply to them. There’s nothing you can really do except not take it personally, and move on. Issuing citations to them rarely helps because they are firmly stuck in the “I’m an exception to the rule” mindset and will blame getting a ticket on the issuer, the city, cops, etc rather than change their behavior.

When I learned to drive, my dad taught me to drive defensively, because even if you consider yourself the best driver in the universe, by default that makes everyone else a moron. I bike the same way, and its made my life much pleasanter (its a word!).

Honestly, the biggest “problem” I see with pedestrians vs. cyclists on the PA Ave bike lanes are cyclists not stopping at the stop lines. at the pedestrian islands. The stop bars at the lights are BEFORE the median islands, yet I see cyclists plowing through groups of pedestrians on those islands at red lights so they can get to the furthest edge of it. That’s not how its supposed to work. You aren’t supposed to stop in the island, you stop before it so pedestrians have a place to stand while waiting for the light to cross. It’s essentially a cross walk. I don’t think its done purposely though, just out of ignorance.

[girlonabikedc]

Wow! Definitely let me know if anyone is up for doing this in the spring!

[girlonabikedc]

What about businesses that allow their trucks to block bike lanes while they load/un-load? Do they have any responsibility toward this, or does it rest solely with the truck driver? What if it’s a chronic problem?

[girlonabikedc]

Ditto! I also want to say thank you.

[girlonabikedc]

@jrenaut 1545 wrote:

Any word on whether or not they’re going to adjust the timing on the lights? Going south on 15th is painful as it is now. I got caught at every single light, and usually early in the light cycle. With a little practice I could maybe catch a few of them, but right now the time it takes to go from V to the White House is maybe 2/3 riding, 1/3 waiting at lights.

Me too! It isn’t until around P St. that the lights are better synchronized for cyclists. After block after bock of go, wait, go, I’m tempted to simply ignore the signal lights, especially now that the weather is below freezing.

[girlonabikedc]

(sorry if this posts twice, I thought I posted a reply but it didn’t appear)

There is a dedicated bike signal to get cyclists from the 15th St. cycletrack onto the Penn Ave bike lanes.

(sorry for the crappy phone pic. The bike signal is on the left, in the middle)

[girlonabikedc]

What does Santa’s sleigh sound like? Is it the sound of Jingle Bells? The soft neighing of the Reindeer? The plopping of hot reindeer poo in the snow?

[girlonabikedc]

Ugh, on my way back north, it kinda sucked. Vermont Ave lanes were clear (except for one metro truck driven by someone who can’t park). No problem. Then I cross the street and UH OH, I either had to get on the sidewalk (illegal in that area) or head into ONCOMING TRAFFIC because the lanes were blocked by parked cars. Luckily I was able to scoot across the street to get into the vehicular northbound lanes without getting smooshed by a car. But still, bad planning DDOT! The barriers to keep cars from driving/parking in the bike lanes should have gone up BEFORE the lanes were painted.

Northbound cyclists from the White House are in for a heck of a surprise if they decide to use the cycletrack going north.

[girlonabikedc]

I rode the 15th St. cycletrack this morning; I was glad to see that the lanes were painted south of Mass Ave, but there were no barriers to prevent cars from straying into the track, and it appears the parking signage hasn’t changed resulting in cars being parked all along the cycletrack, completely blocking the bike lanes from Mass Ave to Vermont Ave. I look forward to when they are fully completed. Still, I had a pleasant ride.

[Author]

Posts