[SerialCarpins]

@CPTJohnC 96797 wrote:

Adding to that: the Cohen Bldg (330 Independence Ave. SW) — VOA and HHS
Bike racks available to the public — Yes – a wheel bender in the street level parking lot, and a few loops on either side of the main entrance (on C St. SW)
Employee only racks: None that I know of.

BTW: to my knowledge, getting a permit to park a bike at HHH does not require being SES, but does require one to completely forfeit one’s Transhare benefit (which is not a very viable option for most of us who metro even occasionally.)

I am a contractor at VOA and I work in the Cohen building. We do have racks in the basement for employees only. IIRC they are a couple wheelbenders stuck in a hallway that’s meant for deliveries. I’m not sure if anyone has ever had problems with their bikes with delivery personal damaging them in any way. Only employees are allowed access, as you have to enter through the underground parking garage and show your badge. On the few occasions I have seen it, there are usually about a half dozen bikes locked up down there.

Also, technically, the racks are located in the service tunnel that runs between Switzer and Cohen, so that employees of both buildings have access to them, so Switzer does have employee only racks underground.

[SerialCarpins]

I second spotcycle. I used it a bunch and it’s always been pretty reliable.

[SerialCarpins]

I listen with one headphone in during off-street trail rides (I’m fairly slow, and stay to the right, so don’t really have to worry about being a danger on the trail) I never have them in during city street rides. I rely too much on my senses to keep me alive.

[SerialCarpins]

Just a heads up to those that haven’t seen it yet, but we have a new (to me at least) bike -centric traffic light at M and 22nd. Keep an eye out for it, because it turns red so the right lane can turn right through the bike lane onto 22 street. I almost missed it, since the other signals at that intersection stay green. It’s at the opposite side of the street, just under the automotive stoplight.

EDIT: Actually, after rewatching BobCo’s original video, I see that it’s been there for awhile, but I had never noticed it in my few journeys along the bike lane. Still, a heads-up is nice to have, since I didn’t notice it and maybe others didn’t either.

[SerialCarpins]

Me: Guy in a Silver/Green Honda Odyssey taking a rare weekday drive to work to bring my wife in to a doctor’s appt.
You: The bicyclist I came close to hitting at the CCT trail crossing in Bethesda up near the pool.

Another cyclist had just crossed in the opposite direction, and my attention was locked on them….when I checked left and right before carrying through, I didn’t see anyone approaching on the path, and you must’ve ended up in my blind spot. Somehow our movements perfectly coincided that as you moved forward towards the crossing, you stayed in my blind spot as I started moving slowly forward. My wife saw you and yelled….you saw me moving and yelled, and I stopped, looking (I’m sure) pretty terrified, and surprised as I’m usually insanely careful at this crossing, being someone who uses it on my bike fairly often…I threw up a sincere “I’m sorry” wave, and you seemed to nod in forgiveness, but if you’re out there….I’m truly sorry about that. You were dressed to the nines and nice and bright, and playing it over in my head, I still have no idea how I missed you. Sorry.

[SerialCarpins]

It doesn’t load for me either…I know at some point they were acquired by Boomerangit (http://www.boomerangit.com/whyBoomerangIt/faq.aspx) so you might want to check in there. I also have my bike registered with the NBR, and didn’t know about this. I just logged into Boomerangit with my old credentials and the login worked. I just saw the info for my bike under my account there. Hope this helps! Good luck!

[SerialCarpins]

Thanks for the video, bobco….the labels really helped paint a clear picture of the bike lane.

Like jnva, I was also disapointed that there wsn’t resurfacing done prior to the lane, but really, I feel like there is so much construction on the route, it wouldn’t have made sense to do it just yet…

My only quibble (outside of the fact that it’s not finished….the spot at CT ave is a bit hairy) is that the sidewalk feels like it juts out a bit too far at M & New Hampshire…the bike lane hugs this curb that sticks out a bit pretty tightly, (BobCo travels past this spot at 2:40) and it felt like the turn might be a bit tight if you were planning on staying right in the lane. I’m sure that once one gets used to that spot, it’d be fine, but I found it to be a bit tough to get around my first time. Just a heads-up.

[SerialCarpins]

ME (us): The last in a line of 3 cyclists travelling southbound together at a steady clip on the 15th street cycletrack.

YOU: The genius who watched us approach from the sidewalk, and then lifted his bike up off the curb to put it directly into our path in the cycletrack as we got within twenty feet or so, forcing us over to the other lane. You then slowly lifted your leg to get on the bike…and never caught up to us since you were creeping down the lane.

What was that about, man? Did you maybe not see all three of us? Not cool…

[SerialCarpins]

Towpath detour is pretty muddy this morning (Tuesday 05.06.14) after last night’s rain…a lot of puddles, most of which have spots you can get around them, but there is some zig zagging involved. Definitely smells like a sewage spill over by the spill point….you can see the crew on the trail in the white plastic suits working down there. Talked to one of the workers, and they said they don’t have a definite timeline yet. I wished him well, and carried on….slow going in the mud, added about 15 minutes to my commute. Saw a lot of cyclists with all manner of bikes, and no one seemed to be having any trouble. I went ahead and jumped on the towpath right at Fletcher’s so I didn’t have to use the stairs.

[SerialCarpins]

I’ve been off the bike since the shutdown started for various reasons, but I’m hopping back on this week…has anyone been having any trouble with park police while taking the Capital Crescent Trail? (I’m going from Bethesda down to the Georgetown Trail head) Do you think I’ll have any enforcement problems if I use the trail?

[SerialCarpins]

@PotomacCyclist 65213 wrote:

The first Maryland bike stations are now operational! The CaBi and Spotcycle maps now include stations in Rockville, Bethesda and Silver Spring.

I saw a sign on Woodmont Avenue for “Bike Sharing” with an arrow pointing towards the Metro “Kiss and Ride” area, but didn’t see the actual station. How exciting! I have been craving some sharing in Bethesda….it was always the missing link for getting me home/getting me started.

[SerialCarpins]

In Bethesda today just outside of the Starbucks on East West Highway:

ME: Walking to work today in anticipation (read: fear) of impending thunderstorms.
YOU: Riding on the sidewalk, earbuds in, venti iced coffee drink in one hand, failing to control your bike with the other. You slowly rolled off the sidewalk (a few feet from the curbcut, which was clear of people) into the street outside of the crosswalk, and almost plowed into the car that had already been stopped there, behind the white line where they belonged. You did wave your hand sheepishly at them, then proceeded to meander along the sidewalk, now trying to hold your coffee and the handlebar at the same time.

You are my hero.:rolleyes:

[SerialCarpins]

@KelOnWheels 56048 wrote:

I did the Arlington Loop today and got to see all the things you guys talk about like the troll bridges and the S-curve of death!
[ATTACH]3156[/ATTACH]

I actually had the same experience a few weeks ago when I rode out to Mt. Vernon (I got super stoked when I passed the sign your bike is parked in front of)

As a “Northern Commuter” (Bethesda into DC, sometimes into the very Northern tip of VA) I had no idea what any of this stuff was, but doing that ride, and seeing all the signs for things I’ve read about on the forums for the first time, it was almost like seeing famous locales. Definitely gave me a better appreciation for A) The biking in this area and The descriptive talents of those on the forums, because everything was very well-described.

[SerialCarpins]

ME: The guy slowly easing back into commuting, slowly huffing and puffing his way under the Whitehurst Freeway in Georgetown.

YOU: The guy wearing an air cast on his foot STILL passing people (not just slow old me) like a champ. You, sir, are a machine.

[SerialCarpins]

ME: Riding from Bethesda to Mt. Vernon on CCT, then the Mt. Vernon trail….longest ride of my life, thus far….

YOU: The guy heading towards me on the Mt. Vernon Trail about 1.5 miles before the end of the trail who saw that I looked beat after my 28 mile bike ride…you looked at me, smiled, and yelled, “Don’t worry! The end is near”

You helped me ride that last 1.5 miles with a smile on my face, and hope in my heart. THANK YOU.

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