[oldbikechick]

If it’s still happening, we plan on coming with the kids

[oldbikechick]

We had a Hamax bike seat and really liked it. It was an older model than what they have now, but similar idea. It’s great that you can buy them in the US now! We lost a part to ours that we had purchased overseas and had to “improvise” since we couldn’t find any here at the time. I believe we had the frame mount and used it on a bike that had a rack, but it fit over. The key was that it should not rest on the rack at all. At least the one we had. It was very easy to attach and remove the seat from the bracket. If you wanted to move it between bikes, you could get two brackets. Our kids fit in it up to a pretty big size (age 3 or so), the main challenge being the unwieldiness (sp?) as the kid gets heavier.

[oldbikechick]

There’s no shame in walking your bike up the steepest hills if you need to, at least until you get in shape.

[oldbikechick]

+1 to signs or brochures or PSA’s about trail rules and safety. With bigger numbers there could be a lot more “handlebar benders” if folks don’t know the rules of the trail and some basic safety tips.

+1 to better enforcement or even traffic cops at key crossings like IOD and perhaps even the crossing of GW parkway south of the Memorial Bridge. More people will be driving too, so traffic is likely to be terrible, people will be even more likely to speed through red lights or get frustrated waiting to turn right at Lynn St.

[oldbikechick]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ll start looking for a spiked wheelset. Now if there were just some way to get rid of the goose droppings…

[oldbikechick]

@creadinger 138330 wrote:

Me: Riding north on Beulah Road in the bike lane on Monday evening during my post-work ride.

You: Big-ass Fairfax County fire truck who passed me twice (stoplight timing…) and failed to give me 3ft.

Dude – seriously?! That truck is huge and you drove it with your right side tires ON the white line. I watched you. You were giving the cars in the left lane 3ft. Why not me? The one who’s not surrounded in air bags and steel safety cages and shit. You really need to learn to drive that thing before you take it out for a spin. For comparison, I’ve been passed that close by a-hole dump truck drivers and those guys get the finger. I guess since you’re a fire fighter you got a break, but come on. How about try to be a good example, instead of a bad one.

I’ve always thought they should have a simulator at the DMV that everyone has to do in order to get their license renewed. First, they go in the simulator as a driver, and as they are driving along, they pass a cyclist. Then, they have to go in as the cyclist they passed. Just so they get an idea what the pass they just made feels like to the cyclist. I think some people who never cycle on the street really may not know.

[oldbikechick]

OK, this seems really stupid, but the idea of exercising while commuting by bus or train is not SO crazy. There are many people who ride commuter buses or trains for an hour or more each way. That means between work and commuting, most likely they have no time to exercise. Wouldn’t it be great if they could use that wasted time for exercise? I am able to use my bike commute for that purpose, but that’s because I live close enough to do that. It would be awesome if you could fit more people on it and use the pedaling to power it!

[oldbikechick]

I agree that while the area is bike-friendly, some smaller or larger changes could make things more accessible to more people. As a commuter, I think the infrastructure is pretty good now, but there are some things that could make it more accessible for riding with kids.
-The intersections to cross Lee Highway are not great in that respect (George Mason and Lee Hwy, Harrison and Lee Hwy or Glebe and Lee Hwy) all are busy with bike lanes that turn to sharrows, or don’t exist. Crossing on Lee on smaller streets without a light is difficult with the amount of traffic. It is uncomfortable to cross with a kid trailing behind or on their own bike. If the intersections could be improved, that would improve the linkage between North Arlington and Westover.

Likewise, the intersection of Yorktown Blvd and N. George Mason could be greatly improved by a four-way stop. Cars are coming downhill on Yorktown Blvd from both sides, which increases their speed and shortens sight lines. It’s hard enough to get through the stop sign in a car, much less on a bike with a kid on their own bike struggling to get across fast enough. That affects the ability to cut through Rock Spring park. Pedestrians trying to use the park could also benefit from this since you can’t count on drivers stopping for folks using the crosswalk.

-I may be mistaken, but I believe the bike lane on Williamsburg disappears momentarily at the top of a hill between George Mason and the new elementary school. This makes no sense to take away the bike lane when sight lines are at their worst. The parking lane is maintained, so maybe it could be removed and the bike lane kept in that spot. All of these take away from the bike-ability to the Elementary school.

-Lee Harrison shopping Center would be much more bike-friendly with more bike parking. Also, the parking lot is a zoo, so bike with caution among the distracted drivers exiting and entering and looking for parking.

Lastly, it is true that the hilliness is a barrier especially for kids on their own bikes. But, having better infrastructure would help so you don’t have to worry that the slightest wobble going up hill isn’t going to put them in front of a car.

[oldbikechick]

I’m not a cool kid, but I’m familiar with McLean’s poorer cousin. What do you need to know? It’s hilly. People drive as stupidly as elsewhere. But it’s pretty bikeable around here.

[oldbikechick]

I decided to finally try to venture out today in hopes that I wouldn’t be doing something too stupid. Took a Cabi in the evening from the Washington monument to Rosslyn, figuring that the Memorial Bridge sidewalk surely would be cleared by now. I was really surprised to see that it wasn’t. Something had been done there, but not the usual clear sidewalk. So, I did a little walking and really started to worry about the 110 trail since that (and the memorial bridge) has always been my go-to in the snow. Luckily, only a bit more walking to get over to it and the rest was clear. And then a little dodging of cars crossing over rt 50. So, probably not time yet to get back on my slick tire bike, but the glorious sunset reminded me why I love my bike commute and really need to get back to it as soon as possible. Maybe it’s time to get studded tires…

[oldbikechick]

Thanks really cold day for revealing the kink in my armor. Ski jacket and three layers on my legs kept me warm and toasty and even my hands and feet were OK. There was just one spot on my forehead not covered by ear warmer or balaclava that I quickly became aware of! I will cover that up next time…

[oldbikechick]

+1 for ski mittens. They are unwieldy, but for the occasional cold day, they are great. My hands were sweating today.

If it ever gets really cold, I plan on using these:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10353[/ATTACH]

I picked them up in China for about $3, but they look like they’d be very warm. There they were using them on mopeds and scooters.

[oldbikechick]

@PotomacCyclist 130864 wrote:

Where did it snow? Not in Arlington? I didn’t travel around much today.

It did snow in Arlington. A few tiny flakes swirled around in the air on my way in around 7:30 in North Arlington.

[oldbikechick]

My agency has it as part of the health and wellness program. I use Cabi to go back and forth to meetings that I would otherwise have taken metro or a cab to get to. So, the agency has definitely made back the price of my membership and then some. And it is so much faster and more enjoyable to use the bike to get to and from meetings.

[oldbikechick]

Note to self: check weather before leaving work…

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