[nosweat]

@Tania 181162 wrote:

Really? I’d say it seems you live in metro fantasy land. I actually have to take the train a stop or two in the OPPOSITE direction in order to get back on a different train heading in my direction. And that’s at 4:30pm before the real rush hour crush.

We can’t even get cyclists to call their passes; there’s no way they’re not going to board crowded trains. And what if the train fills up after they’ve boarded?

I’ll say it again, it’s a TERRIBLE idea. Metro is bad (crowded) enough as it is. Ridership may be down but safety issues or crowded tracks (OSB for example) mean the trains aren’t running as frequently.

Even thought I want to be able to take my bike on the metro during rush hour, I have to agree with Tania’s sentiment in that the metro system is not well-designed for bikes. If they are going to do this and avoid a bikelash from regular riders, WMATA needs to think long and hard about implementation. Bikers should get on at only very specific places and there should be good rules/etiquette signage on how to bring a bike on board without irritating the 10-15 metro riders near you.

The more I think about it, it seems like some phased pilot implementation, limiting it to select stations or maybe scaling back the current no-bike hours, would be best. Metro should proceed cautiously.

[nosweat]

Yah, it was a lousy way to start the morning.

On the flip side, the experience makes me realize that I ought to join WABA (actually pay dues) and be a more active member of the bike community. I had a conversation with a co-worker that uses the same route the other day and we reflected on the frequency of aggressive biking behavior on the Mt. Vernon trail lately.

I guess everyone (myself included) is in a rush and gets unnecessarily impatient and that can lead to conflict.

[nosweat]

I join the Mt. Vernon Trail from Del Ray most mornings, taking Commonwealth Ave, crossing over 4-mile run on the Rt.1 bridge, joining the 4-mile run trail and taking it to the Mt. Vernon Trail.

This morning I passed a man on a red/grey (or black) Specialized road bike with disc brakes, grey tires, a rack and a panier. You (the rider) had no helmet but you had earbuds in your ears. I passed you on the Rt.1 bridge just before joining the 4-mile run trail. You shouted several homophobic slurs at me. Startled, I slowed down and you passed back in front of me. When I was ready to pass in the left lane later on, you intentionally swerved to block the left lane and nearly caused an accident. Eventually I passed you.

Reflecting on the absurdity of the incident and thinking maybe I should hear you out (ha, what was I thinking?), I pulled over to the grass after the footbridge right before the Crystal City turnoff and waited for you to catch up so that we could have an adult conversation. After all, I regularly take this route and often see the same bikers (I didn’t recognize you before, but now I am sure I will, unfortunately), and I don’t want there to be conflict when we cross paths in the future. As you came over the bridge, I signaled for you to stop and talk. You passed and directed another slur at me instead.

So, this is my last attempt at avoiding future conflict and awkwardness with you. Everyone loses their cool and makes mistakes sometimes. It’s a small community of riders that use this particular route and come from this same Alexandria neighborhood. Send me a private message through the bike forum and let’s have an adult conversation to resolve this (and leave the junior-high insults behind ).

Thanks.

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