[JeffB]

Cars rolling right on red without stopping are so common that pedestrians should, for sheer survival, anticipate them. I try to never step into the street until I have observed cars in every lane have stopped. A new rule I’m adopting is to stand several feet back from the curb while waiting to cross. I’ve occasionally seen drivers of turning vehicles come up over curb – often when they are distracted by looking left while running the red!

[JeffB]

Here’s my list so far ranked in order of least to most ask:

1) Floor pump
2) Swap good bike rack with wheel bender rack
3) 1 – 2 multi tool thingies, tire levers, chain lube
4) Allow day use of lockers
5) Install shelf in showers for soap & shampoo – they tried a suction cup thing but it never worked.
6) Bike stand or maybe rack attached to garage wall

bigger asks
7) Be more attentive to drains clogging in the showers
Drying area for wet clothing / Space for permanent lockers
9) Reconfigure locker room to permit a second bench which would allow more people to share it.

[JeffB]

@KLizotte 50485 wrote:

As a lady cyclist, it was pretty important to me that my employer’s gym let me keep toiletries in my locker overnight (esp since the gym is located in a different building from where I work). We ladies typically have shampoo, conditioner, soap, multiple brushes/combs, hair dryer, etc.

We used to have permanent lockers but there weren’t enough for everybody so somebody complained and the HR director just threw up his hands and said henceforth nobody gets a personal locker. I wish I had thought to ask at the time if the same reasoning would be applied to the limited reserved garage parking.

I think I will try getting back day use of the lockers. We used to have that but the same HR director decreed that away as well. I think the building manager felt bad about that but couldn’t overrule a VP.

[JeffB]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

Over the years I’ve asked for several small improvements but as I’m just a worker drone my requests went unaddressed. The other day my boss, who is an AVP, was fixing a flat on his bike when the building manager came up to him .

My company owns the building so – theoretically – any improvement is possible though I suspect the building manager is really asking for some low cost ideas. But I want to slip in some bigger things since the manager seems to be in a receptive mood.

SHOWERS
We currently have a small shower room in the basement so that’s covered.

LOCKERS
We also have lockers but no one is allowed to use them beyond the time they are in the locker room or are using the adjoining gym. Consequently the lockers are rarely in use. I think I will add a request to relax this rule to allow day use again (that used to be the case). In any event the locker room is poorly ventilated and wet clothing left there will not dry. So a bigger ask would be “clothes drying” space!

I carry my clothing needs back and forth each day but I know some people would prefer someplace they could store clothing for the week. So another big ask is some assigned locker space.

BIKE PARKING
We have 8 bike loops in a corner of our parking garage 30 feet from a 24/7 manned guard’s desk and next to an employee’s entrance. So the bike parking is already covered and secure – Yea! Now with biking becoming more popular there are days when I arrive to find 16 bikes doubled up on the 8 loops.

We have another corner of the garage with a “wheel bender” rack that nobody much makes use of and a really good bike rack (a prize won by one of our employees on BTWD and donated by WABA!) thrown behind the back of the building also not used. One my requests has been to switch these racks. Maybe with the AVP “making the request” we can get it done.

BRING BIKE INTO WORKSPACE POLICY
Sadly a couple of people have tried this and the guards will not allow it. Our work areas are very crowded and many hallways so narrow that people have to turn sideways to pass. I think we should improve the bike parking first. I know some people don’t want their bike to suffer “bike rack rash”. The rack donated by WABA is really nice and keeps the bikes separated so if that could be put to better use …

COMMUNITY TOOLS
Yes – please more on this. I think this what the building manager has in mind.

[JeffB]

Why Bicyclists Hate Stop Signs.

[JeffB]

If it bleeds it leads?

[JeffB]

I definitely agree that any forward facing lights should be set to steady while on a trail. And while we are at it would be nice if everybody would deescalate on the intensity of the lights and learn to properly point the things at the ground in front of you.

[JeffB]

National EMS Memorial Ride

Twice now while riding home I’ve gotten mixed in with them on the CCT.

[JeffB]

KLizotte (post #81) and jabberwocky (post #87) pretty much sum up my thinking on the use of e-bikes on the trails.

As for the idea that we should allow legal e-bikes on the trails:
A) They are already too many people going too fast on the trails as it is. We don’t need more.
Once some people begin riding legal e-bikes on the trails others will want to join in. And they may not be so discriminating in their choice of bike.
C) Asking the authorities to referee between legal and not legal e-bikes is a fool’s errand.
D) I use the CCT which in DC is monitored by the US Park Police. Given the state of their relations with the pedi-cabs on the mall last thing I want is for them to be spending time on the CCT.

About 2 years ago I encountered a fellow using an e-bike on the trail. The first time I was on the long straightaway by Fletcher’s boathouse about to pass another rider. I saw a skinny rider coming towards me sitting upright and pedaling slowly on what I took to be a mountain bike. He was some distance away and my quick read was that he was of absolutely no concern.

How wrong I was! No sooner had I begun to pull around the other rider when I noticed that the oncoming rider had closed the distance between us at an astonishing speed. I barely had enough time to throw my bike back to my side of the lane before he zipped by. I estimate he probably was going about 30 MPH.

I observed him a couple of other times as well over the next few weeks. Always going at the same very high speed. Apparently his behavior raised a number of complaints and the CCT organization put up a posting asking people to report their encounters with him.

Shortly after that I was riding home and saw a Montgomery Park Policeman (on the MD CCT portion) sitting on a motorcycle hidden in the bushes. I don’t know if they ever got him but I haven’t seen him since!

[JeffB]

@jrenaut 16085 wrote:

If you aren’t operating a motor vehicle, you don’t have to present ID, do you? My understanding is you need to tell police name and address, but don’t actually have to show ID.

In most states that is true. However it is a very good idea to have such id with you.

[JeffB]

Following the New 8 story last night on the cyclist was a story on the PG Councilwoman who was observed speeding 100 – 105 MPH along the beltway and rapidly changing lanes. A police car went into pursuit and so she left the beltway and blew through several lights before finally stopping. Police report that she was verbally abusive to them demanding did they realize “just who she was”.

I guess the officer finally did because he gave her the mildest ticket you could think of – improper lane change :mad:. So yes – very dangerous drivers are allowed to continue until they finally kill someone. It’s the American Way.

[JeffB]

According to this News 8 story the cyclists has a crushed pelvis among other injuries. Police gave the cyclist a ticket for running a red light.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/02/d-c-cyclist-hit-by-truck—and-then-ticketed-73152.html

[JeffB]

I had a longer reply but the Internet Gods were angry 😡

Anyway – I recommend crossing on Calvert St. During the week the Park is a traffic sewer anyways. Do yourself a favor and stop by City Bikes or WABA and pick up a copy of the DDOT Bicycle Map for Washington.

Here’s the route I recommend (take the suggestion to first ride it on a weekend):
Calvert St
X Conn Ave
R 29th
L Cathedral Ave
BR Woodley Rd
R 36th
L Porter
X Idaho
R 37th
L Yuma St
arrive at Tenley Circle

[JeffB]

tpo = Temporary Protection Order

It signifies that our Escalade driving friend has a violent temper.

[JeffB]

@acc 12353 wrote:

PS – Oh, and for what it’s worth, when you re-dock the DecoBike, a ladylike tap and click isn’t enough. You have to ram that bike into its docking station like you’re trying to sink a pirate ship. That’s when the lights on the kiosk light up like a slot machine and you know you’ve successfully docked the bike. Don’t ask how I know this….

Hey – no need to strain yourself when docking/undocking CaBi bikes Next time just lift the rear wheel a couple of inches off the ground first before removing or reinserting the bike into the dock. When you do it this way you are using the length of the bike as a lever to break contact with the magnetic plate lock.

[Author]

Posts