[KLizotte]

@scoot 158948 wrote:

And the most important point: if we want to “Ride The Drive” again without motorized traffic, we need to provide a lot of positive feedback to NPS.

Did you have a great time riding yesterday without car traffic? Do you have any suggestions for how NPS could improve this event? Did you not make it but want to try this another day? (Attendance was much lower than signups, possibly because of the rainy forecast that didn’t pan out.)

Let them know how awesome this idea is by using the email link at https://www.nps.gov/shen/contacts.htm

I heard that they did receive some negative feedback from motorists who were turned away. Some with lifetime National Park passes were especially upset.

I also heard that the mayor of Front Royal was not especially enthusiastic about supporting the event, and he could use some gratitude regarding provision of their facilities for parking as well as encouragement from any cyclists who spent money in town.

You can also post positive comments at their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shenandoahnps/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

I bet a lot of the people complaining about closing some of the Drive down to cars are the same folks who happily come into DC for events like the Marine Corps Marathon, parades, inauguration, etc. all of which shut down roads to the locals and tourists. Sigh.

[KLizotte]

The Federal Bike Challenge is on again this year! With a newly designed site as well. If you are a federal employee, please consider joining (it’s free!). I think the biggest value of the challenge is the time series data the challenge generates on how biking is changing over time.

https://www.lovetoride.net/fedbikechallenge/pages/info?ic=bf57f099&locale=en-US

[KLizotte]

@Steve O 158767 wrote:

So that would be 12 or 15, right?

Yeah but in a fairly small area and I was dock blocked for the first when I arrived home on Cabi.

[KLizotte]

I wrote a letter supporting the bike lanes a few weeks ago. How frustrating the board decided against them.

Can anyone explain why board members are so afraid of a vocal few arguing to save parking spaces in this situation? It’s particularly odd when most houses in the area have their own driveways, there is ample parking in the area, etc.

Why is government still so afraid of car owners??? I’ll never understand why my voice as a cyclist (or a ped) is worth less than when I’m a driver. I cost the government far more as the latter and do more harm to society and yet I’m put at the front of the line.

Sigh.

I am only heartened because I saw a ton of cyclists around Pentagon City this evening and trying to find a Cabi for the commute home is a challenge because all of the bikes are routinely taken (okay, that isn’t so fun).

[KLizotte]

Board & Brew is an awesome place to stop in College Park for food, coffee, etc. Yes, they really do have 500+ board games and a Game Master. And they are totally cool if you walk in wearing bike clothes. The only caution I have is the floor is really, really slippery by the bathrooms if you have bike shoes on! I love this place.

[KLizotte]

I consider my helmet mirror to be as important as the helmet for safety equipment. I’m absolutely amazed (and appalled) that more people don’t use mirrors. I know they are considered dorky but a mirror can really save your butt and make you less of an annoying cyclist. I am always checking what is happening behind me and make adjustments accordingly. Sometimes I will take the lane and sometimes I will move over far to the right to let someone pass depending on who or what is approaching. It also means I can see people coming up on the trails who don’t call passes.

This is the one I’ve used for years: https://www.amazon.com/Third-Eye-Helmet-Bicycle-Mirror/dp/B0012OKA6M/ref=sr_1_17?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1492563503&sr=1-17&keywords=helmet+mirror

I’ve never had one fall off so the sticky part is really sticky. I’ve broken a couple but that was due to sheer stupidity on my part (don’t ask). While I’m careful-ish with my mirror when carrying my helmet I’ve found it to be remarkably durable, esp for $10.

Because the mirror moves when I place the helmet on a table or hang it on a wall I have to readjust it every time I ride but I’m so used to the process that it takes me all of two seconds while riding. I spend more time getting my GPS set up. It’s easier to adjust while riding than when standing.

My preferred mirror positions requires that I glance up a little bit and look slightly to the left. Note that these motions are slight and I’m not in a terribly aero position. Also, I see a little bit of my left ear and a little bit of my shoulder. Once you figure out a comfortable head position for looking into the mirror you will learn how to adjust the mirror so quickly and easily you won’t even think about it. Give it a couple of weeks.

Most of the time you will be able to see all that you need with a slight head movement; occasionally, like going around tight curves or if you want to see a chasing dog you may have to move your head differently to get the mirror into the correct position. But this becomes very easy to do with practice. I still look after my shoulder in some situations “just in case” but mostly just rely on the mirror. I feel like I’m losing out on a lot of situational awareness on those rare occasions when I ride without it (like forgetting my helmet).

I think I’ve only ever used the mirror I linked above. I don’t know if others are easier or harder to use but I suspect it’s more a matter of how easy is it to adjust the mirror (e.g., stiffness) and practice.

Good luck!

P.S. I’ve often wondered why the heavy ped users of the MUTs don’t attach mirrors to their hats or glasses. Seems like it would make walking/running less stressful (and hazardous).

[KLizotte]

I don’t know if it has improved my driving but my pedestrian awareness has increased immensely due to biking. Now when crossing streets my head is swivelling around looking for all sorts of conflicts; even when on sidewalks I look behind me when moving around people and tend to stick to the right side in case a cyclist sneaks up on me. I often wish I had my helmet mirror on!

I’m amazed by how little people check for safety before crossing busy streets. They just see the little white man flashing and blindly go.

All that said, I do often fear a cyclist barreling through an intersection or coming out from a area where visibility is low.

[KLizotte]

Another example of why turns on red should be largely or entirely banned so people don’t even consider making them. I live in Pentagon City just a couple of blocks away and I can tell that you we have an unusually high number of blind people in the area. I shudder to think of what may have happened under different circumstances.

I am also a firm believer that detectors should be installed at high density intersections to stop all traffic when people in crosswalks are detected. I really don’t understand why my time and comfort is more important to planners when I’m in a steel box versus walking through the same intersection.

[KLizotte]

If it’s possible to narrow down the time frame to an hour or so maybe a call to the park police is warranted? They could send someone out to find the culprit. If it’s the homeless person maybe they can put him in touch with some social service workers. Or at least give him a case of trash bags.

[KLizotte]

Argh. I have to drop my car off at the dealership in southern Alexandria and bike back that night.

[KLizotte]

@anomad 158427 wrote:

I love motorcycling almost as much as acoustic motorcycling, but I am scared to death to ride here with all the traffic and need to get rid of it. I’ve helped many cyclists out of a jam out in the sticks when I was on a motorcycle. They are always bewildered to find I am packing bike tools, which work equally well on a moto. Having extra snacks and drinks always makes riders far from the nearest 7-11 happy too. I gave a couple beers to two international cycling tourists in the Owyhee Desert once. They were beyond grateful.

I don’t suppose I could convince you to follow me around everywhere on your motorcycle? I could pay you in beer.

[KLizotte]

Get some sweater racks and a fan and you should be good to go by the afternoon. The racks are collapsible.

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[KLizotte]

The slippery slope to an e-bike then a motorcycle then a car…..

Don’t do it man!

[KLizotte]

Don’t tell Uber about slugs. They will find a sneaky way to destroy that well-honed system because it undercuts their business model.

[KLizotte]

Major fail by Mother Nature this year. Only 424 hours of snow?!

[Author]

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