[Zack]

Had a such nice ride this morning and such an awful one on the way home. Any regular Mt Vernon Trail folks, watch out for this guy. http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?12698-Angry-cyclist&p=169231#post169231

[Zack]

@streetsmarts 169001 wrote:

riding up 11th street. bikes ahead of me just blow past stop signs.
there was a pedestrian. waiting for someone to stop so she could cross.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Helped make up for this AM. I was slowing to yield to a person in a mid-block crosswalk but noticed the car next me did not. Luckily, I shouted a warning and the person walking stopped in time.

[Zack]

Going under the 14th St Bridge, two ebike riders passed. One rang his bell while the other did not call his pass. As the turn to the 14th St Bridge path came into view, I saw the non-pass caller ebike rider fall off, it looked like he took the corner too sharp. I asked if he was okay and he was, humbled perhaps. Karma!

[Zack]

@DrP 167733 wrote:

As my lights played on the water coming off my front tire, I thought ” I am a lighted fountain!” I thought this was cool. “I am a lighted rolling fountain!” and other such descriptions.

This was a good thought. Especially since there were four occasions that I was crossing roads, in the crosswalk, with the walk signal, and drivers somehow didn’t realize that I was there. I was lit. I was wearing a Bike Arlington reflective vest (along with other reflective items). I was headed towards them (except for the first case – they were making a left). In all cases I yelled at them and continued yelling, as I continued on my route, in the crazy person mode of “how can you not see me?! How can you not expect someone in the crosswalk?! Just because it is raining?! I am LIT!! I am Reflective!!” pause “I am a lighted fountain!” The last calmed me a bit as I chuckled. (I might still be a crazy person, but a happier one, at least).

This driver didn’t see me either despite my reflective jacket, 1000 lumen headlight, and green wheel lights. Visibility does not work if people don’t use their eyes!

[Zack]

Riding in this morning, I was very politely passed by an ebike. She waited until a pedestrian passed, then called her pass and off she went. A model cyclist and e-cyclist!

Also saw an xtracycle with pedal assist too!

[Zack]

In case anyone wants it, here is the 2010 study on the Idaho stop and safety. 14.5% drop in injuries is nothing to sneeze at. I hope we can repeat this study in Delaware!

[Zack]

When I lived off of Georgia Ave, I would ride down Aspen to Sherrill Dr and into Rock Creek Park. Traffic should not be too bad at the moment because of Beach Dr’s reconstruction. Ross Dr and Ridge Rd are closed to cars but open to people walking and biking. Ross Dr has a wicked hill but it is pretty and even when it was open to cars, hardly any used it. Try this link. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/8802-8804+Bradford+Rd,+Silver+Spring,+MD+20901/38.9863773,-77.0216808/38.978307,-77.0188226/38.9736957,-77.0227345/38.9728995,-77.0405091/38.960595,-77.0419442/38.9450451,-77.0501204/38.9047244,-77.0563494/@38.9933623,-77.0121839,1510m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m40!4m39!1m20!1m1!1s0x89b7c60160c2ee6b:0x39774cd2f34accd!2m2!1d-77.0061882!2d39.0006791!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0054988!2d38.9963333!3s0x89b7c60342c19337:0x848a199dae1a477f!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0104641!2d38.9914461!3s0x89b7c8a75762527d:0x63905542c8eadef8!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0188999!2d38.9901634!3s0x89b7c8a3a293bed7:0xfc64e2b5bdd72b6a!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0224244!2d38.9855401!3s0x89b7c89792aad33f:0xf9ed20a09aba2e88!1m0!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0267887!2d38.9736101!3s0x89b7c88e933430a7:0x8df1af00bc877208!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e1!5m1!1e3 If you don’t like Piney Branch Rd in MD, try E Wayne to Silgo Creek Trail and up Hartford. This route has a few sections with a lot of traffic but they are relatively short. For example, the DC section of Piney Branch Rd is wide for one spot and then narrow for another few blocks.

[Zack]

I have put up with it for what seems like years. The Case Bridge is nice, did that today.

I don’t understand why DDOT didn’t require the construction crew to block off the two right lanes completely. Letting the construction crews use the only remaining southbound lane for equipment moves and other shenanigans was dumb and dangerous and I had a few close calls.

I am glad it is almost over and look forward to the cycletrack. I hope it does not become a sidewalk extension though.

[Zack]

Headed home on Monday, I was pleased that I spit out a bug that only partially made it into my mouth instead of swallowing it. Bike commuting certainly changes one’s perspective on winning!

[Zack]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]15506[/ATTACH]
My old Trek 7500 finally gave out on Tuesday. The frame cracked after about 16,000 miles. Since I replaced the chain and cassette every 4-6 months, I wanted a belt drive bike. The 11 speed ones were too expensive, about $2k, so I bought a Priority Continuum Onyx. It has been interesting so far, very quiet and shifting is silky smooth thanks to the gearless Nuvinci hub. Anyone else ride with a belt instead of a chain?

[Zack]

@Steve O 162969 wrote:

Try 40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac-sSS892V8

I have done about 8.5 from Alexandria to Navy Yard on CaBi when my regular bike is the shop or I need to go one-way. It is slower for sure, about 5-8 minutes, but the real difference is the backpack. I use a basket on my regular bike. But I do like riding the CaBi without a helmet!

[Zack]

@GovernorSilver 161347 wrote:

I was just told by a colleague that he takes the lane, until he can get to the start of the bike lane on Potomac Ave.

Take the lane! Made a YHUGE different in how closely drivers pass. Even the most aggressive gas pedal revers will fly by but at a safe distance in the other lane.

I started calling my all of passes a few years ago, thanks to some insight from cyclist friend. Before, I would only call if I could not get by safely. Calling them all (bell with a good morning or evening or bike on your left) is a lot of fun and has generated some thank you’s and/or waves from more than a few people walking and other cyclists.

Riding year round, I have noticed that the most frequent users of the trail will usually call their passes, whether they are Lycranauts or not. The folks who don’t seem to be less frequent users, sometimes sporting Lycra or newer and/or infrequent commuters. Not sure how to educate these folks though…

[Zack]

@OneEighth 161285 wrote:

DC isn’t even willing to get the vendor trucks out of there to ease motor vehicular congestion and improve emergency response. Especially not when the commuters being impacted are (for the most part) not DC residents.
Stupid AND spiteful.

Wow, I thought that was the plan as of last year and has been for several years.
http://www.thewashcycle.com/15th-street-cycletrack/

Certainly way too ambitious for government but the traffic patterns and street configuration on the Mall is stupidly inefficient and makes walking and biking unpleasant and second class. Reconfiguring some of those streets could improve traffic flow, ease congestion a bit and make walking and biking first class.
But government is anchored to the status quo!

Apologies for the rant…

[Zack]

Made a map of bike to work rates using 2013 American Community Survey data by census tract. There are only two census tracts in upper Northwest with no cyclists riding work but south/east of the Anacostia there are only 133 and 30+ tracts without any BTW. In contrast, there only 8 tracts without any BTW east of Rock Creek Park and west of the Anacostia.

I think a lot of the low BTW is due to poor connections thanks to 295 and the railroad tracks. While folks south and east of the river have three trails, including the fantastic Anacostia Riverwalk and Marvin Gaye, none connect east/west. What connections do exist are not low less. Eleven streets cross the 295/railroad corridor but only 2 are low stress streets. While the 11th St Bridge has a nice path, there are few low stress connections on the Anacostia side. While there are four pedestrian bridges, two do not cross the railroad tracks and one relies on the Metro being open. While the pedestrian bridge near Anacostia High School has low stress streets on one side, the river side still requires an indirect and time-consuming pedal to the nearest bridge. Fixing and expanding these connections would be immensely popular among residents, regardless of gentrification outcomes.

[Zack]

@AFHokie 160318 wrote:

Was it a red frame and possibly look like a full suspension mountain bike? On May 7th a around 5pm I passed someone headed north on the MVT under the rail bridge riding a bike with what clearly sounded and smelled like a 2 stroke engine

I have seen this guy too but just once. Odd for sure but good luck getting this enforced. I have seen Park Police drive their motorcycles across the 14th St Bridge Path which is also a definite no-no.

[Author]

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