napes
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napes
ParticipantOr for the sake of something different, how about any of these instead of the silly stop signs?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3316[/ATTACH]
ParticipantYour searches may vary, but there are many, many bicycle-related options for folks in our area.
From
http://cfcnca.org/sites/cfcnca.org/files/sites/2012%20CFCNCA%20Catalog%20of%20Caring.pdf
10054 Adventure Cycling Association (800)755-2453 http://www.adventurecycling.org EIN#237427629 Promoting environmental and personal health by inspiring people to travel by bicycle for fitness/fun/self discovery and advocating for better cycling conditions since 1974. 10.3% N,Y,C
54808 Bikes Belong Foundation (303)449-4893 http://www.bikesbelong.org/foundation EIN#204306888 Encouraging children to bike while making bicycling safer. Building a mutual respect among motorists and cyclists ensuring safer routes for everyone to ride. 7.0% E,W,N
21964 Bikes for the World, Inc. (703)740-7856 http://www.bikesfortheworld.org EIN#275426399 Putting unwanted bicycles to good use overseas – for jobs, school, healthcare – and for youth development locally. Nation’s largest bicycle reuse effort – 70,000 delivered since 2005. 3.7% Q,O,S
12431 Bikes Not Bombs, Inc. (617)522-0222 http://www.bikesnotbombs.org EIN#043138753 BNB uses donated bicycles as a tool for empowerment in our youth leadership programs, international development projects, and vocational training center and retail shop. 15.8% O,Q,C
81999 Drive Smart Virginia (804)340-2870 http://www.drivesmartva.org EIN#541772269 Saving lives through education. Focusing on teen drivers, distracted driving, designated driving and on how to share the road with tractor trailers, bicycles and pedestrians. 12.1% O,P,W
11563 League of American Bicyclists (League of American Wheelmen Inc) (202)822-1333 http://www.bikeleague.org EIN#366206225 The League of American Bicyclists (Wheelmen) promotes cycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. 8.2% Y,R,N
12261 Pedals for Progress, A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation (908)638-4811 http://www.p4p.org EIN#223122003 Help developing countries by promoting self sustaining businesses. We collect/recondition used bicycles/ship them to developing countries where they become effective tools for self-help. 33.4% P,J,S
93587 Washington Area Bicyclist Association (202)518-0524 http://www.waba.org EIN#237305477 Advocates for safe cycling conditions, promotes bicycling as healthy and sustainable transportation, provides bicycling safety information, and educates youth and adults. 14.1% C,E,S
95568 World Bicycle Relief (312)664-3604 http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org EIN#205080679 Provides bicycles and trains mechanics to service them in Africa to improve healthcare delivery, help children attend school, and improve economic development. Builds independence, livelihoods. 36.3% S,B,E
ParticipantNot that it is particularly relevant to DC law or the widespread ignorance of crosswalk rules, Virginia’s laws and judicial opinions are on the side of the person waiting at the crosswalk. Of course, if a pedestrian is hit, he probably positioned himself “in disregard of approaching traffic” and would probably have a hard time with any court case because of contributory negligence issues. As a VDOT study noted:
“If a pedestrian seeks to cross lawfully at a crosswalk at an intersection and begins to cross in front of an approaching driver who, unbeknownst to the pedestrian, does not intend to yield, the pedestrian is also at fault, since ‘notwithstanding’ his or her right of way in section A, he or she is crossing an intersection in ‘disregard’ of approaching traffic. Thus, a situation may arise where a pedestrian who reasonably expected that the vehicle would yield the right of way is barred from recovery because he or she was contributorily negligent in crossing in ‘disregard’ of traffic.” (http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/08-r5.pdf pg 44)
A different VDOT study:
“The results of the locally distributed surveys revealed differing opinions about who has the right-of-way at the W&OD Trail intersections. Of those responding, 63 percent thought motor vehicles have the right-of-way; 28 percent thought trail users; and 8 percent did not know. These percentages underscore the level of uncertainty about right-of-way at the trail crossing and prompted a review by the researcher of the Code of Virginia language with respect to crosswalks and right-of-way laws.” (http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/11-r9.pdf pg 61)
Nonetheless, any pedestrian or bicycle rider has right-of way over vehicular traffic at a marked crosswalk or trail-crossing crosswalk without a signal. The Virginia Code says that drivers shall yield to bicycle riders and pedestrians at crosswalks and at most intersections, unless there is some traffic control device or law enforcement person directing traffic otherwise. At lights, in other words, the bicycle rider/pedestrian has to follow the standard light signals, but the bicycle rider and pedestrian has right of way at all other crosswalks (regardless of traffic speed) and at intersections without signals (if the speed is less than 35 mph).
The law specifically talks about “at” crosswalks, not “in” crosswalks, thus including the area where someone is waiting to cross the road. The MUTCD-based definition of “crosswalk” is brutally dense, but it also can be read to include the section on the side of the road where pedestrians stand as “crosswalk” area. Here is the Virginia Code:
§ 46.2-904. Use of roller skates and skateboards on sidewalks and shared-use paths; operation of bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, and electric personal assistive mobility devices on sidewalks and crosswalks and shared-use paths; local ordinances.
A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
§ 46.2-924. Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty.
A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, at intersections or crosswalks where the movement of traffic is being regulated by law-enforcement officers or traffic control devices, the driver shall yield according to the direction of the law-enforcement officer or device.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.
Pedestrians crossing highways at intersections shall at all times have the right-of-way over vehicles making turns into the highways being crossed by the pedestrians.
At a crosswalk Virginia courts have held “the pedestrian has a superior right — that is, the right to cross from one side of the street to the other in preference or priority over vehicles — and drivers of vehicles must respect this right and yield the right of way to the pedestrian. The pedestrian’s right of way extends from one side of the street to the other. It does not begin at any particular point in the intersection nor does it end at any particular point. It begins on one side of the street and extends until the pedestrian has negotiated the crossing.” (Marshall v. Shaw. Supreme Court of Virginia, 1955) (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2476417758289562501&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr)
“The duty of a motor vehicle driver on approaching an intersection is to keep a vigilant lookout for pedestrians between curbs on the traveled portion of the highway, and when pedestrians are negotiating the crossing, or about to step from the side into traffic lanes, to operate his car at such speed and under such control that he can readily turn one way or the other, and, if necessary, bring his machine to a stop in time to avoid injury to pedestrians.” (Sawyer v. Blankenship, Supreme Court of Virginia, 1933) (http://va.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19330615_0040113.VA.htm/qx)
None of this, naturally gives the pedestrian/bicyclist the right to jump in front of traffic too close to stop. The police will probably only interview the driver in such a case.
ParticipantOne way to make right of way more clear would be a different sign. A less visually disruptive option than a full traffic light would be to take a step back in technology and have a mechanical switchable signal like they used to have with mechanical railroad switches. Sort of like this,
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1011[/ATTACH]except what would rotate would be the stop sign itself. Put a spring-mounted handle on the Stop sign, and the pedestrian/bicyclist could then alert motorists that they actually want to cross, and that they aren’t just standing there at the crosswalk because it’s a park-like environment. You, know, something like:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1012[/ATTACH]
This will no doubt take time and money to implement, since we can only harvest a couple of stop signs like this from any given school bus, and a new school bus costs about $75,000, I hear.
ParticipantHorribly alarming is one comment in the VDOT study that indicates that 72% of individuals surveyed in Virginia were unsure, or actually did not believe that pedestrians/bicyclists had right of way at crosswalks on a trail. One hopes that the individuals who responded to the survey were not typical, but oh my word!
I can’t imagine that more than a few percent of drivers really don’t know that pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but maybe ignorance of the law is really widespread.
“The results of the locally distributed surveys revealed differing opinions about who has
the right-of-way at the W&OD Trail intersections. Of those responding, 63 percent thought
motor vehicles have the right-of-way; 28 percent thought trail users; and 8 percent did not know.
These percentages underscore the level of uncertainty about right-of-way at the trail crossing and
prompted a review by the researcher of the Code of Virginia language with respect to crosswalks
and right-of-way laws.”page 61 of http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/11-r9.pdf
ParticipantYou might try some of these route variants as well. You may find Gallows itself not that bad at certain times of the day.
ParticipantBruce Wright is spot-on, in my opinion. Despite widespread confusion about it, the Virginia Code says that drivers shall yield to bicycle riders and pedestrians at crosswalks and at most intersections, unless there is some traffic control device or law enforcement person directing traffic otherwise. At lights, the bicycle rider/pedestrian has to follow the standard light signals, but the bicycle rider and pedestrian has right of way at all other crosswalks (regardless of traffic speed) and at intersections without signals (if the speed is less than 35 mph).
A crosswalk area includes the bit at the side of the road where the pedestrian/bicylist is as he begins to cross the intersection. See http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+coh+46.2-100 The law, by the way, talks about “at” crosswalks, not “in” crosswalks.
The main reason there are stop signs on trails when they cross intersections is to slow down the bicycle traffic enough to give the car drivers enough safe time to yield to them.
Anyway, here is the Virginia Code:
§ 46.2-904. Use of roller skates and skateboards on sidewalks and shared-use paths; operation of bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, and electric personal assistive mobility devices on sidewalks and crosswalks and shared-use paths; local ordinances.
A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, or an electric powerassisted bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
§ 46.2-924. Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty.
A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, at intersections or crosswalks where the movement of traffic is being regulated by law-enforcement officers or traffic control devices, the driver shall yield according to the direction of the law-enforcement officer or device.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.
Pedestrians crossing highways at intersections shall at all times have the right-of-way over vehicles making turns into the highways being crossed by the pedestrians.
break-break
At a crosswalk Virginia courts have held “the pedestrian has a superior right — that is, the right to cross from one side of the street to the other in preference or priority over vehicles — and drivers of vehicles must respect this right and yield the right of way to the pedestrian. The pedestrian’s right of way extends from one side of the street to the other. It does not begin at any particular point in the intersection nor does it end at any particular point. It begins on one side of the street and extends until the pedestrian has negotiated the crossing.” (Marshall v. Shaw. Supreme Court of Virginia, 1955) http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2476417758289562501&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr
“The duty of a motor vehicle driver on approaching an intersection is to keep a vigilant lookout for pedestrians between curbs on the traveled portion of the highway, and when pedestrians are negotiating the crossing, or about to step from the side into traffic lanes, to operate his car at such speed and under such control that he can readily turn one way or the other, and, if necessary, bring his machine to a stop in time to avoid injury to pedestrians.” (Sawyer v. Blankenship, Supreme Court of Virginia, 1933) http://va.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19330615_0040113.VA.htm/qx
None of this, naturally gives the pedestrian/bicyclist the right to jump in front of traffic too close to stop. The police will probably only interview the driver in such a case. Please be careful out there, especially on roads with two lanes each direction.
ParticipantFunny. A German once yelled at me in Germany because I didn’t give the bicycle rider going uphill his fair share of space on the narrow path (in his opinion). I don’t recall that it was particularly dangerous and we certainly didn’t collide, but anyway, in Germany if there is no room to safely pass, the downhill rider/driver is generally expected (but curiously not mandated) to give the slower moving uphill rider/driver more consideration. “Auf Bergstrecken, auch solchen, die eine Begegnung wegen der geringen Fahrbahnbreite nicht erlauben, darf der Berganfahrende vom Bergabfahrenden weitestgehende Rücksichtnahme erwarten. . .”
This is the topic of some discussion in German bike threads, which generally say exactly the reverse, that it’s so much easier for the slower moving bike to pull to the side, that that is their general preferred practice for mountain bikes.
http://www.mtb-news.de/forum/showthread.php?t=398727
So anyway, clear as mud.
§10 StVO, Ausweichen
(1) Der Lenker eines Fahrzeuges hat einem entgegenkommenden Fahrzeug rechtzeitig und ausreichend nach rechts auszuweichen. Einem entgegenkommenden Schienenfahrzeug ist jedoch, wenn der Abstand zwischen ihm und dem Fahrbahnrand ein Ausweichen nach rechts nicht zulässt, unter Bedachtnahme auf den Gegenverkehr nach links auszuweichen.
(2) Kann nicht oder nicht ausreichend ausgewichen werden, so sind die einander begegnenden Fahrzeuge anzuhalten. In einem solchen Fall muss jenes Fahrzeug zurückgefahren werden, mit dem dies wegen seiner Art und wegen der örtlichen Verhältnisse leichter möglich ist.
Ausreichend ist eine Ausweichbewegung, wenn der Begegnende seine Fahrt ohne Gefährdung oder vermeidbare Behinderung fortsetzen kann kann – OGH 21. 10. 1971, ZVR 1972/7.
Auf Bergstrecken, auch solchen, die eine Begegnung wegen der geringen Fahrbahnbreite nicht erlauben, darf der Berganfahrende vom Bergabfahrenden weitestgehende Rücksichtnahme erwarten, doch besteht keine allgemeine Pflicht des Bergabfahrenden, dem Berganfahrenden den Weg freizugeben – OGH 3. 7. 1979, ZVR 1980/124.
ParticipantIf you don’t have a military ID card you will need to produce some sort of valid photo ID and sign in. You consent to a search, should the gate guards decide to select you. You will also need a helmet. The base is very safe for bicycling, although I would also strictly obey every stop sign and speed limit.
In my opinion, the Arlington Bike Map should also add in the Sixth Street route skirting around the National Foreign Affairs Training Center and running through Fort Myer. While the route on 8th Street is perfectly acceptable, I personally disliked the steeper hills and extra cars around George Mason and 8th Street on that route. Until something better comes along, the Sixth Street route would be my preferred bike route to bypass the Columbia Pike congestion.
ParticipantI commuted by bicycle to the Suitland Federal Center from Virginia for a few years. I’m a middle aged white guy who biked during daylight hours, and never felt particularly at risk of traffic or crime on the routes I chose, although some areas off the main route had me more on edge. This is an overlay of my routes.
Blue was uphill from the river. Massachusetts Avenue SE has a nice bike lane that made the detour worthwhile. Because I had a mountain bike, I could easily go cross field from Fort Davis Drive to Alabama Avenue. I also usually cut through Cedar Hill Cemetery. I would usually just take the lane on Pennsylvania downhill.
The biggest disadvantage to the Suitland Parkway route was that there was no easy cut through for bicycle riders at Southern Avenue SE and Naylor Road and Southern Avenue SE and Branch Avenue. From the map it looks like there is, but it was a fenced-in apartment complex. Maybe that has changed now.
ParticipantI’d like to see someone turn these into public service announcements:
…and there’s a backup on the WO&D at Wiehle Avenue as a Cadillac Escalade driver failed to yield to two bicycle riders at the crosswalk. Oh wait, the next driver stopped, and the WO&D is moving again. . . remember folks, pedestrians and bicycle riders have right of way at crosswalks without signals. . .
[http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-924%5D. . . and there’s a problem at Sunrise Valley Drive and the WO&D, one car stopped for a bicycle rider to cross at the crosswalk and a Cadillac Escalade passed that car. Oh wait, the next driver stopped and the WO&D is moving again. . . remember folks, pedestrians and bicycle riders have right of way at crosswalks without signals and if you pass a car stopped for pedestrians at a crosswalk, that’s an example of Reckless Driving in Fairfax County, and can cost you your license for up to six months. . .
[http://search.municode.com/html/10051/level4/FACOCO_CH82MOVETR_ART4RETR_DIV1REDRSPDRWHINOTPRCOOPAU.html%5D. . . one lane is moving slowly on Beauregard Street as a bicycle rider works her way up a hill. Oh wait she turned onto a side street. Remember folks, bicycle riders have every legal right to the road and when the lane is too narrow to allow a driver to safely pass a bicyclist, the safest place for that bicycle rider is in the center of that lane so that drivers don’t try to squeeze by. . .
[http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-905%5DParticipantPlaying with the on-line map may also raise the question whether the Arlington Bike Map should also add in the Sixth Street route skirting around the National Foreign Affairs Training Center and running through Fort Myer. While the route on 8th Street is perfectly acceptable, I personally disliked the steeper hills and extra cars around George Mason and 8th Street on that route. Until something better comes along, the Sixth Street route would be my preferred bike route to bypass the Columbia Pike congestion.
December 18, 2010 at 12:59 am in reply to: West Falls Church Metro pass-through from commuter bus: What recumbents are legit? #924203ParticipantI’m sure you’ve also looked at the maps at http://wmata.com/pdfs/bus/VA.pdf to see if you could jump buses at West Falls Church Metro to get you closer if you wanted to really start slow. Looks like the 3B and 28A 28X buses get you a bit closer. Of course for those buses, you’d be better off with a normal style bike for the bus rack.
I’ve taken a commuter bike through West Falls Church to get to the bus area on a few occasions and I don’t think anyone would bother you if you just keep moving. I would hope you triple measure any bike larger than a normal size to see if it can get in the rather cramped elevator since my recollection is you can’t use the escalator for bikes.
Before spending big bucks on a recumbent or trike, I’d recommend you get a normal commuter bike with upright handlebars or even a cheap mountain bike to refine your commuting plans. I’ve always enjoyed having the bus as an emergency backup for my commuting plans, and if I had a trike or recumbent, I don’t know that that option would be as available. I’m sure some recumbents can ride on the racks, but I haven’t played with that.
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