[skins_brew]

@dbb 83724 wrote:

Not really a missed connection but here goes.

You: Cyclist that went down at MM 14 (just north of CC Connector) on the MVT last Friday morning.

Me: Stopping to help. Waiting for the medics and seeing you transported to the hospital. Taking charge of your bike. I failed to get your name (rookie mistake) but did give you one of my business cards.

Bike: Safe and sound in my garage. A bit scuffed but OK.

You: Made contact with me yesterday and arranged for the bike.

Lesson to all – Put a business card in your seat bag. The medics didn’t seem interested (allowed?) in scooping up the bike, the PP never showed and I was damned if I would leave it along side the trail. The business card may be the key to success.

This is a really good story! Were you riding a bike? If so, how did you transport both bikes home?

[skins_brew]

I cannot say I am surprised at all. Drivers around here are complete morons.

[skins_brew]

@Greenbelt 83639 wrote:

It was blocked near Union station by lane painting crew this morning. Up by L where was just construction equipment blocking, but no work that I could see happening. It appears to be done.

yea, when I rode down 1st today i did note that the cross walks still needed to be painted at 1st and K.

Do you know if they are going to put the flexible barrier poles on the little median separating the bike lane from the main road? They may also be doing clean up, as there is still construction spray paint markings on various curbs and stuff, but as you mentioned, I have not really seen anyone out there doing anyway. I suppose the contractors may have finished early too or maybe they are waiting in DC to accept the work?

I am like a kid on Christmas morning when it comes to putting my tires on these freshly paved tracks. Man, it just looks so smooth.

[skins_brew]

When the heck is the M to L portion going to open up? It just seems to have stalled out. My guess is they are possibly doing QA but I have no idea.

[skins_brew]

I hear ya on Louisiana Ave. I forget to mention in my post that the transition from Louisiana to Penn is tricky, because you have to get into the left lane to merge into the Penn cycle track. When I first started out, I use to just get on the sidewalk at the bottom of Louisiana, ride it until I get to Penn, and jump the curb to the cycle track. On my return trip, before I started biking up 6th to E, I use to ride the sidewalk up Louisiana, which wasn’t bad.

Yea, E Street is pretty slow. Tons of red lights.

Yea, shit canning the parking on the east side of Louisiana and turning it into a contra-flow bike lane would be sweet. Have it terminate at First st and put up some signage directing people to ride on First St. to the reflecting pool.

Ah, politics. This would only really require re-striping the pavement and maybe putting in some of those flexible road barriers. It’s a damn shame something like this would take years to get accomplished.

[skins_brew]

I am really looking forward to the M to L track opening, which should be VERY soon.

When I am coming into DC, I usually take a lane on Louisiana Ave to get to the Penn cycle track. I can get enough speed where I feel pretty good. If you didn’t want to mess with Louisiana, you could take E St to 9th St. That would let you stay in a bike lane all the way to Penn. Coming home on the other hand, I usually Take 6th street up to E St. E St has a bike lane, but 6th does not. You are only on 6th for three or so blocks and traffic is light.

That little section next to Union Station between G St. and Mass Ave. is fairly dangerous. I came very close to t-boning one of those golf carts that carries disabled/fat train passengers due to the fact that the moron came flying out of that little tunnel without looking. Trucks and shuttles are constantly congesting that small little road too. Mix in some jay walking passengers and it gets interesting.

[skins_brew]

@Greenbelt 82737 wrote:

I heard it was closed yesterday because of flooding. Maybe they put up tape to warn of the flooding, but neglected to remove it when the water went down?

I’m going through there tonight on my way to potluck — I’ll check it out. -Jeff

Good deal. I will probably attempt to go through from the other side on my way home this afternoon. If it is closed, I will give that funky looking pedestrian bridge on Berwyn Rd. a try. I have seen it a million times but have never gone across.

[skins_brew]

If anyone is interested in going earlier, I can help you out. I take a very similar route but usually try and leave my house at around 6am with a 7:30 arrival time. I work near Penn Ave and 13th St.

My route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3231705

[skins_brew]

Hi everyone. This is my first post

I have been bike commuting in a few different ways for a few years. I use to drive to Muirkirk MARC station and take the train to Union Station, where I would ride a junker bike to Rosslyn. Then, I started working downtown, and would ride the short distance to the office. Then I figured, hell, the train station is only five miles from my house, so I will bike there. I did that for a while but last August, things changed.

I had been going on longer weekend rides and one day I finally decided to bike ALL the way to work. It is 20 miles exactly. It took me a while the first time due to getting lost a few times, but I made it (first time was in the early morning before the sun was out, probably not smart ). Subsequent trips were much better.

So, why do I do it? At first, mainly for the exercise. I am able to use otherwise “dead” commuting time to get a good workout in. Yea, my commute takes an extra 20-30 minutes each each way, but it is well worth it. I then realized I was saving a decent chunk of change on train tickets and gas.

I got a new bike last labor day (i had been riding a vintage Fuji, which was nice, but newer bikes sure are easier to maintain), and since I have been usually riding the 40 mile round trip commute 3-5 days a week. I took a roughly 2 month break from the middle of Jan- middle of march due to the weather, but am back at it full swing.

I even analyzed my commuting options, and bike is one of the best ways to go. My options are-
-Drive 5 miles to MARC station, free parking. $125/month OR $10/day OR $37/week + Metro fare (Travel Time: 1 hour door to door)
-Drive 5 miels to Greenbelt Metro. ~$8.50 roundtrip + $4.85 for parking (TT: 1 hour)
-Bike to Greenbelt, ~$8.50 roundtrip (TT: 1:15)
-Bike to work (TT: 1:20-1:30)
-Drive to work, $25/day to park (TT: Who the hell knows! 1 hour at the least).

So, given the options, biking is pretty legit. I had my wife drop me at the Greenbelt Metro today because I have to stay late. Usually when I know I am going to have a long day, I do not bike for the sole reason that I want to get home asap and see my kids before they go to bed

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