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Thank you for the link.

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Might these two blocks be a candidate for traffic calming? A few speed humps, like the ones north of 50, could help to chill out drivers.

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@elbows 148911 wrote:

I am not going to enrage drivers who have just turned off 50 by taking the lane during rushhour.

Where have you been riding? I can’t imagine riding through there without taking a lane.

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I also would like to see something done to improve that stretch of S Joyce. I haven’t had any memorable encounters, but some vehicles do come up from behind very quickly. As long as it were widened again approaching the intersections at each end, one vehicle lane plus a bike lane in each direction could easily handle the traffic load. Protected bike lanes could work well there.

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@KLizotte 148818 wrote:

If I’m heading east, I stay in the left lane that way I am out of the way of drivers taking the exits or merging traffic. When heading west, I take the lane or the trail depending on my mood and conditions.

That does make sense, but I never feel comfortable using the left lane of a multi-lane road unless I’m either passing someone or else preparing for a turn. I don’t like getting passed on my right. It may delay considerate drivers a few seconds, but they seem to understand. I stay toward the left side of the right lane of the Pike down the hill before the other busier Wash Blvd interchange also, unless it is rush hour when the arrows (that are frequently violated) make it an exit-only lane.

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@KLizotte 148780 wrote:

I just take Columbia Pike the entire way (I do not salmon) from S Joyce St.

I also take the lane on the Pike all the way when riding this route. It is a bit exposed, as you are riding on what feels like a limited-access highway through the interchange, but:

1. There’s really not much traffic using the Pike between S Joyce and the Pentagon, or coming on/off Washington Blvd at this interchange. The road is very overbuilt.
2. It’s a big open field with no trees, so sightlines are great for the interchange.
3. In spite of the above two points, drivers tend to be considerate and to keep their speeds down here, probably because they’re right at the edge of the Pentagon reservation.

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@tnelson 148546 wrote:

@notinthe18 148544 wrote:

And I also saw a guy take the lane on Washington Blvd north of the Pentagon heading towards Memorial Bridge, which I’ve never seen before (and frankly never even contemplated).

I would see that once every couple of months back when Washington Boulevard was my commute. Never understood it, either, especially during rush hour.

Having ridden that “trail” a few times, it’s very understandable IMO, even though I would likely never do it. Thankfully there are other routes into DC.

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@annoyedindc 148416 wrote:

This guy cut it pretty close to me with an oncoming vehicle.

I don’t see an oncoming vehicle.

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@huskerdont 148270 wrote:

Are people no longer taught while learning to drive not to look directly at an oncoming car’s high-beams but to look slightly off to the side?

This lesson is no longer necessary. Those oncoming headlights aren’t that much brighter than your smartphone screen.

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@EasyRider 148011 wrote:

Going down the Pike from S. Courthouse to Orme is actually not too bad, I ride it every morning around 8:15. The key is to wait at the South Courthouse Rd. intersection until east bound Pike traffic gets the red light. Only then should you go. Stay in the left lane. I can usually get to the bottom of the hill before any cars overtake me, and I’m not very fast.

I also wait for the Courthouse light change when riding this stretch. Works great! I usually take the right lane and merge over further down the hill, as I do get passed by a few cars who have turned from Courthouse onto the Pike. but I get to the bottom before the herd coming straight through on Columbia Pike arrives.

Obviously this doesn’t work westbound. There I’ll either take the center of the right lane, or bail to a slow ride on the sidewalk. Depends on time of day, traffic level, visibility, etc.

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@huskerdont 147997 wrote:

Yeah, I’ve found Irving less stressful for x-ing Route 50 than Fillmore. Always go that way now, though it would add a bit to your route.

A lot less traffic at Irving. I find it worth going a few blocks out of my way in the mornings for a much more comfortable crossing.

The evening is a different story though, possibly because I often ride after rush hour has passed. At that hour, I find that the paucity of traffic on Irving is actually a deterrent, because I have to push the beg button to get across. I never have to do that at Fillmore. Southbound is downhill, so I’m not much slower than the cars are for the narrow part of Fillmore south of 50. Plus at Fillmore you always get a full 30 seconds because the crosswalk activates every cycle, so I can often time the light and build up momentum from the descent north of 50. Watch out for the pavement condition south of 50 though!

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The Arlington part of your commute matches up well with mine (except that I’m riding much later, both morning and evening). Here’s what I like:

Mornings: Irving – Pershing – Highland – Clarendon – Lynn – Key Bridge – M
Evenings: Key Bridge – Fort Myer Dr – Nash – Wilson – Garfield – Washington – Fillmore (use sidewalk to bypass the immediate roadblock, then stay on Fillmore all the way down to Walter Reed)

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@Steve O 147831 wrote:

I didn’t count as blocked when cars were clearly passing over the lane to park or unpark. I think that’s just how it is for an unprotected bike lane. I also did not count it blocked when the bus was stopped to board or de-board passengers, since it was doing exactly what buses are supposed to do.

That said, the bus was “blocking” the lane, so which is it? :confused:

Parked cars that were a little on the line I was generously lenient on. Clearly encroaching on the lane, not.

I haven’t participated yet, but I would count all of those cases as blocked.

The point is to calculate what fraction of the day would compel a cyclist to merge into the general travel lane in order to traverse the area. The in-process parkers and stopped buses may each have a small effect individually, but they do add up. Also, these lanes are both narrow enough that even the slightest encroachment over the line by a parked or idling vehicle effectively blocks them: I always end up merging into traffic to get around such vehicles because the alternative is the door zone.

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That bridge feels like a disaster waiting to happen. I sometimes ride it to get to/from Kennedy Center, but I’ll choose another bridge if my DC destination is anywhere else.

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Inhale slowly and exhale rapidly.

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