[zanna_leigh]

The Rosslyn pit stop will be the most fun! We are still in need of volunteers so if you haven’t sold yourself to Mr. Blacknell just yet, please let me know!

[zanna_leigh]

Anyone who wants to help out at Rosslyn will receive a “Special” treat…

[zanna_leigh]

Yes, this is going to be great!!

While I have you, I’m gonna make a call for volunteers to marshall for the ride. You can sign up on our Google Doc (let me know if it doesn’t work – email me at zanna.worzella@bikearlington.com)

THANKS!!!!

[zanna_leigh]

April’s TWT flew by and were a great success! Pete even ran into someone at Tri-360 who had been to the meetup and was getting her bike all geared up to start riding. That makes me so happy to hear! I want to keep this good momentum going but need your help! Again, I am looking for someone who is familiar with Arlington’s streets to lead our Routes & Directions meetup on these dates: May 14, June 25 and July 9. Consularrider helped me out in April and was excellent. The conversation wasn’t limited to just routing tools and getting around, we had questions on group rides, gearing, clothing…etc., but nothing he couldn’t answer. So if anyone can help please let me know.

And please feel free to attend, and maybe even bring a friend. If you have to handcuff them and drag them to the class, i won’t be opposed to that either :o) (just kidding of course, we only accept willing participants).

Thanks!!
Zanna

[zanna_leigh]

Yes thanks so much to Justin. He did a phenomenal job with the class. I totally dropped the ball and didn’t take any pictures, very unlike me. That’s proof it was so good because I didn’t stop to take any pictures!

Thanks again Justin!!

[zanna_leigh]

I know you’ve all been patiently awaiting further instructions for the Mardi Gras parade, and although I would like to officially open the floor for volunteers to step forward, I cannot provide exact details yet.

Some of the stuff from last year stays the same: the parade starts at 8pm and will be starting in Courthouse and ending in Clarendon; there will be a pre-parade party at Bayou Bakery (unaffiliated with us, but sounds fun)…but it sounds like you guys have plans to have your own Fat Tuesday happy hour; and of course we’ll be throwing beads and candy at…sorry, to the crowd on bikes!

Once we get the details firmed up on where we will be meeting, I will promptly inform you all.

Thanks for your patience and stay tuned…but also, let me know if you’ll be joining us!!

Email me if you plan on joining us: zanna.worzella@bikearlington.com

Merci!
Zanna

[zanna_leigh]

I can’t believe this went under the radar….

Scroll down and check out the 7th infographic featured on this list. Look familiar to anyone?

[zanna_leigh]

@Brendan von Buckingham 36932 wrote:

Filtering is allowed, but the phrasing in the VA regs says something about traveling abreast in the same lane being illegal. You can overtake in the same lane, but you can’t travel abreast. I think that’s what they’d use to write a citation about make left turns with cars like that. Either way, I’d prefer the ticket over being forced over that Grate of Peril.

Where did you get the information that riding abreast is illegal? Are you referring to riding abreast next to a car or another biker? According to VA law, you can ride abreast with another biker only if it doesn’t impede traffic. I wasn’t able to find anything about riding abreast with a car. This is a little confusing because if you’re riding on the right hand side of the roadway with slow traffic, chances are you will be riding abreast with other vehicles which is legal. In regards to overtaking a car in the same lane, this is LEGAL (see below). What you can’t do is ride between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction (i.e. split lanes). There is a thread already on splitting lanes and filtering that might be useful.

Here’s the info from VA law:

Passing

Bicyclists may overtake and pass another vehicle only when safe to do so. Bicyclists may pass another vehicle on the right or left, and they may stay in the same lane, change lanes, or ride off the road if necessary for safe passing. Please note that passing motor vehicles on the right side may be extremely dangerous if the motorist does not see the bicyclist and attempts a right turn.

A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or scooter, or moped shall not travel between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, except where one lane is a separate turn lane or a mandatory turn lane.

Motorists must approach and pass a bicyclist at a reasonable speed at least two feet to the left of the bicyclist.

Reference: §§46.2-839,46.2-907 ^TOPICS

[zanna_leigh]

@Arlingtonrider 31103 wrote:

Tim and Zanna, please join us if you can!

I have a chiropractor’s appointment and won’t be able to make it down until about 7. Will you all still be there? I could maybe move it up to try and get down earlier though!

[zanna_leigh]

@jnva 30564 wrote:

So is it legal to travel between lanes of traffic that are NOT moving?

I do this all the time, and the other day I passed a MPD car stuck in traffic. Just wondering if I can be ticketed for doing this.

I would read it as “traveling in the same direction” instead of moving. I don’t think it literally means vehicles that are moving versus not moving but I could be wrong. It doesn’t seem to be legal, but whether you will actually get ticketed for it is another question.

I would travel based on your best judgement. If you feel less safe on the right side because of dooring or the possibility of someone turning right into you (at an intersection or into a driveway or parking spot), then pass on the left. But be wary that the law states you cannot do this if it is splitting the lanes. Just as bicyclists shouldn’t run red lights, many still do at their discretion when it is safe to do so.

[zanna_leigh]

@jnva 30513 wrote:

… In DC. What is the consensus on this? Am I a douchebag for doing this on L street (one way street) right down the middle during gridlock rush hour? I think it’s safer than riding on the side where I could get doored.

If you weren’t sure on the law here, which is understandable because I get questions on this all the time…..You can pass on the left or right in the same lane, but you cannot travel between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. So if you’re basing being a douchebag on being unlawful, than drivers might think that’s the case. I think riding on the right side has it’s pros and cons – you don’t have to be extra cautious about cars changing lanes as DismalScientist brings up, nor do you have the issue of being stuck between two lanes of traffic when it starts to move again (as baiskeli said), but the dooring is an issue as is pedestrians walking between two parked cars into the gridlock to cross the street. This happens more often on M street in Georgetown. Either way, you’ll have to be extra cautious. You’re your best judge – every situation is different.

See below for more info, it’s taken from VDOT (according to WABA’s website, the law is the same in DC). You can read more on DC’s laws on overtaking and passing here.

Passing

Bicyclists may overtake and pass another vehicle only when safe to do so. Bicyclists may pass another vehicle on the right or left, and they may stay in the same lane, change lanes, or ride off the road if necessary for safe passing. Please note that passing motor vehicles on the right side may be extremely dangerous if the motorist does not see the bicyclist and attempts a right turn.

A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or scooter, or moped shall not travel between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, except where one lane is a separate turn lane or a mandatory turn lane.

Motorists must approach and pass a bicyclist at a reasonable speed at least two feet to the left of the bicyclist.

Reference: §§46.2-839,46.2-907 ^TOPICS

[zanna_leigh]

Thanks so much! See ya then!

[zanna_leigh]

@eminva 27413 wrote:

Do you still need people? For which shifts?

Liz

Yes one last shift needed! From 11am – 2pm on Sunday. Does that work for you Liz?

Thanks!!! :o)

[zanna_leigh]

I think this is a really great idea and I think it might even be worth setting up a new category for beginner bicyclists. I’ll discuss with les bosses.

I also think it is important to direct them to resources that are not just online. For example the BikeArlington Two Wheel Tuesday get togethers and the WABA educational classes. Some people learn better when they are instructed face to face, or they just prefer and trust real people as opposed to the internet.

Even though most of the people on this forum commute to work, not everyone does, nor will everyone. So the word “bike commuter” implies that the thread is strictly for people riding their bike to and from work. I think the thread/category should be dedicated to utilitarian bike riding – riding your bike to run errands, to go to a friend’s house, to go out, as well as to go to work. We don’t want to lose interested beginner bicyclists because they think the thread has to do with just riding their bike to work. Obviously it can still be applicable no matter what the trip is for, but word choice can be pretty important.

I will find out if we can make a new category for this conversation. It’s a great idea and think it will be very helpful to people getting ready to start riding their bikes more! Thanks!

[zanna_leigh]

@acl 25471 wrote:

Is anyone familiar with this? http://www.rei.com/class/122/session/52676 I’m wondering just how “beginning cyclist” it’s oriented towards. I’m not really a beginner– I ride about 100 miles a week– but I’m entirely self-taught, so there are probably things I don’t know or tips I could use to feel more comfortable and I just bought my first road bike and am not quite sure how to ride it yet (it’s at the bike shop getting a tune-up right now; hopefully when it will actually shift properly I can make some progress with it). Traffic still scares me, and riding down hills *terrifies* me. (riding down hills in traffic- oh, joy) I’m wondering if I would find a class like this helpful.

I’m not familiar with the REI class but there are some other options you have that would be just as helpful (and not as pricey). FIRST, BikeArlington hosts informative and interactive sessions every Tuesday night on pretty much everything you need to know about biking in Arlington, or elsewhere. We cover 3 main topics: bike safety in traffic; equipment, clothing & gear (including how to fix a flat and maintain your bike); and route selection to get around by bike. So we basically cover the same skills that REI teaches with a focus on “the proper techniques for ‘sharing the road’, riding etiquette/traffic law, and basic bike maintenance”.

We welcome questions and aren’t glued to any specific topic so if you have questions about gears/cadence especially going up/down hills, we would be happy to answer them. The sessions this month are being held at the Arlington Central Library from 7pm – 830pm. Tonight’s discussion is on safety and riding in traffic! You can check our website for a detailed schedule. I should also mention we always have refreshments and a door prize – so you can join us for the free food and prizes if nothing else :p

BUT I’d also like to point out that as DaveK mentioned:

@DaveK 25503 wrote:

it sounds like WABA’s Confident City Cycling classes are just the thing for you. They will take you riding on different roads with different traffic conditions to help you get more accustomed to riding in traffic. Check it out here – http://www.waba.org/education/adult.php

We partner with WABA to hold these CCC classes in Arlington – these are on-bike instructional classes that cover “simple bike handling skills and using trails, to learning avoidance maneuvers and riding with traffic.” So if you want to supplement what you learned at a TWT, the CCC class is the way to go.

And in response to KLizotte: @KLizotte 25520 wrote:

Unfortunately (or strangely), their calendar doesn’t show a single class for the next three months. Not sure if that is a programming blip or if they have suspended them due to the heat.

They are still working on scheduling their classes for the fall. I don’t think they’ll have any classes in August due to the summer holiday. But you should expect to see the classes for the fall scheduled soon.

Good luck!

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