DCist: D.C. Named Most Improved Bicycling City

monkeyrotica

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:17:03 -0500

This attitude does not exist in Europe, and they are all the healthier and happier for it. Well, yeah, but they all smell french down there.

ward4resident

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:18:41 -0500

dc4life wrote, "Being sweaty at 7:30 in the morning is gross." It is such comments/statements that make Americans look like the completely lazy, fat, spoiled people that we (the collective "we") are. A little sweat never scared anyone away, trust me. We are a nation of obese, lazy people who act as though driving a vehicle is some sort of right granted to us by the Constitution. This attitude does not exist in Europe, and they are all the healthier and happier for it. We should be embracing all forms of transportation that do NOT involve getting in a personal automobile. Finally, I am not disagreeing that some cyclists blatantly disregard the law. I know in the instances that I have disregarded the law, it has only been in the interest of my personal safety. As DC becomes more "bike accessible," there will be fewer instances where cyclists are basically forced to disregard the law for safety reasons.

washcycle

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:34:05 -0500

dc4life I bet you're all talk. I bet when you see that cyclists you'll slam on your breaks and come up short. And then as she pedals away you'll be so angry for wimping out and you'll think to yourself, "man, this is just like that time I said I was going to ask out Nancy Pardinski but at the last minute I chickened out, and then Tommy Wilkerson asked her to prom and he said he got to third base with her and that it was even better than he'd imagined and then they dated for like 6 years and I never got another chance with her and I wound up not kissing a girl until I was 22. Why Nancy, Why?" But that's just a gut feeling.

cminus

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:03 -0500

ksamm15, the best estimate is that over the course of a week, three out of every four cars driven in the District are from out-of-town. While that does leave a fair number of District drivers -- me among them every once in a while -- it's pretty clear that the District's roadways are primarily for the use of non-locals. (It may also be worth noting that the average suburban vehicle is significantly larger than the average District vehicle, so suburbanites do proportionally even more damage to the pavement. But, hey, they pay sales tax when they get a Vegi Muffaletta at Cosi, which ought to pay for a new roadway system in no time flat.)

ksamm15

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:27:45 -0500

there are lots more bike lanes on capital hill. and, no disrespect ksamm15, but i'm not too concerned about making it harder for suburbanites to speed through our neighborhoods... Im more offended by the stupidity of assuming all DC residents ride bikes and all suburbanites drive cars. Why do you think its impossible to find parking? PEOPLE DRIVE HERE TOO.

dc4life

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:02:05 -0500

I'm just waiting for that one biker to run a redlight when I have the greenlight so when I hit them I'll sue the Hell out of them for damaging my vehicle and for causing so much emotional distress that I have to go to therapy for years. I just hope they're wearing a helmet so they survive to go to trial so I can hear them explain why it's OK for bikers to run redlights. Also, I want to see their jaw drop when the judge reads my award. Take that douchbags.

cminus

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:57:18 -0500

Fluxgirl, Bicyclists must typically obey the same traffic rules as motorists. The cite is 18 DCMR 1201.01, which reads: "Every person who propels a vehicle by human power or who rides a bicycle on a highway shall have the same duties as any other vehicle operator under this title, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, and except for those duties imposed by this title which, by their nature or wording, can have no reasonable application to a bicycle operator." The expressly-provided exceptions allow bicyclists to: (1) pass on either side of a vehicle, (2) use the shoulder or sidewalk when passing, (3) ride two abreast in one lane, and (4) ride on sidewalks outside the central business district, unless posted otherwise.

cminus

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:50:41 -0500

I take it everyone here has already seen the Hungarian government's "bike to work" ad campaign? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM_HTdpgcRE (NSFW, unless you have headphones.)

IMGoph

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:08:17 -0500

'tis ok, tfish77, we can't all be perfect. (though we can aspire to be cyclists) i keed, i keed! :)

tfish77

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:55:24 -0500

Wow, my 2 comments were both full of typos. Sorry about that. My mind must be elsewhere. Shouldn't be commenting while riding my bike, anyway.

tfish77

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:54:41 -0500

Oh, and cabs rank slightly between pond scum and people who stand to on the left on escalators.

tfish77

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:53:39 -0500

@monkeyrotica, I appreciate your attempts to inject some humor into this discussion. Especially the "cock of nothing" bit - I can still hear Mr. Burns saying it. @washcycle, @IMGoph, thank you for doing such a good job articulating the biker's POV here. Yes, we break the law, just as driver and pedestrians and almost everyone else in the world does. But we do so within certain mores that make sense for us. People might be surprised to learn that there is honor among bikers, and certain things are taboo even amongst our own (for me, it's biking down a bike path the wrong direction - that drives me nuts and it's unsafe). We're no different than you, drivers of the world (well, we're in slightly better shape and we don't pollute as much, but whatever). If you run us over, do we not bleed? Please stop honking at us from 2 ft. behind - your horn is really loud. And we will try to stay as far to the right as we can. I guess what I'm trying to say is: can't we all just get along? (I know we can't, but it's nice to ask once in a while).

IMGoph

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:42:04 -0500

cabs are one step above whatever science has been able to define as the lowest form of life ever discovered... wow, that came out mean, didn't it?

monkeyrotica

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:53:05 -0500

They're a notch beneath child molesters. And guys in jetpacks with ass chaps.

Vaughan

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:48:35 -0500

Where do cabs rank in this hierarchy?

washcycle

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:47:12 -0500

melbell, I'm sure you do follow the law. There are many drivers who do. And there are a lot of footdroppers on bikes too. I'm talking about pedestrians, cyclists and drivers as classes and I suspect that each breaks the law less often then the next in that list. Where is your double standard? Cyclist who run red lights risk a collision or a ticket - same as drivers. The only argument you could make is that cyclists are immune to red light cameras, but that's a pretty weak point. Cyclists don't have anything close to a monopoly on breaking the law. Yet, as a class they're held up as scofflaws and douchbags. If there is a double standard, that's it. Drivers break the law and that's just how it is, but cyclists do it and they're selfish, self-righteous anarchists. I really think what we're dealing with is a taboo. Red light running of the second variety is viewed as so dangerous by drivers that a cultural norm against it has been formed. When cyclists "blow through" a red light they're doing more than breaking the law, they're breaking a taboo - even though the safety argument isn't applicable to them in the same way - and my anthropologist friend is always saying that breaking the law people can accept but breaking a taboo makes them batsh*t crazy (although he has technical term for it).

monkeyrotica

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:23:02 -0500

You're both wrong. Pedestrians are the douchiest bunch of all. Look at that pedestrian fellow, walking around, calmly eating candy like a Spaniard! Look at him strutting around like he's cock of the walk. Well, let me tell you. Pedestrians are cock of nothing!

IMGoph

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:16:20 -0500

i'm calling bullshit on that. most of the douchebags in DC drive overpriced automobiles. most of the bikers you'll meet are pretty damn down-to-earth people who've made the decision to save money on that aspect of their life in order to have money for other things they find more important. we're not all tour de france wannabes.

HCE

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:03:25 -0500

I'm tired of this douche attitude from bikers. Get used to it; it's a pretty typical attitude in D.C., unfortunately. While it would be an unfair overgeneralization to say that all bikers in D.C. are douchebags, I do think that saying most of the douchebags in D.C. happen to ride bikes, would be pretty accurate.

monkeyrotica

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:34:17 -0500

I have a difficult time using the words "reasonable" and "DC" in the same breath. Now, "ninjas" and "bus surfing" I have no problem with.

The New Guy

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:08:37 -0500

Yeah. When it comes down to it, I really don't want anyone to die and try to prevent that from happening at all costs. As much as I want to scream at bus drivers for their life-threatening road technique, chances are, I would help them out of a wood chipper. Or that rock-crusher in Temple of Doom.

mellbell

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:03:17 -0500

washcycle: On the extremely rare occasions when I do drive, I do follow the law, not so much out of respect for it, but rather as a matter of safety. So, again, why don't others? This is tangential to the red light issue, but I've had many close calls in crosswalks with cyclists zipping out in front of me when I have the right of way. I don't like it when cars do it, and I don't like it when cyclists do it. I'm ok with people admitting that there's a double standard and that they're ok with it -- just don't pretend that it doesn't exist.

IMGoph

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:00:39 -0500

reid, the new guy, & washcycle: thanks for helping me articulate my thoughts here. and dc4life, i'm not trying to pile on you, but since you're my designated debating foil in this thread, that's how it's working out. the big thing is that everyone on the street stretches the law to fit their needs at any given time. i live on a corner with a 4-way stop sign, and if 1% of the cars actually come to a full stop, and not a rolling stop, i'll eat my bike one crunchy piece at a time. i'm not trying to argue the equivalence of one rule with another, but the fact is that bikers do the "traffic light as a stop sign" because it's easier for us, just like going really fast is easier for cars, and jaywalking is easier for pedestrians. as long as everyone is reasonably safe, and reasonably courteous, i don't get bent out of shape. live and let live...

monkeyrotica

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:52:46 -0500

Whenever I drive downtown, I always have an ecrimina stick ready to shove in bike spokes. And when I bike downtwon, I always have some caltrops ready for errant drivers' tires. Finally, ninja foot spikes are de regeure for anyone who commutes by hopping from bus roof to bus roof. The more commuting in DC resembles Death Race 2000 and Rollerball, the more we need to make it a kickass adventure.

The New Guy

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:39:00 -0500

Guess I lucked out. My co-workers also bike. But at the same time, there are ways to get rid of the sweat when you get to work. Amazing inventions called towels and dry changes of clothes. Have fun parking!

hmcd128

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:19:40 -0500

today around noon, a motorist was screaming at a bicyclist (also screaming back), until the motorist (in business casual clothing) stopped the car at a corner, ran out, and knocked the bicyclist off his bike. the biker fought back. i don't know what the eff the backstory was there because who knows... however, i'm a pretty conscientious bicyclist (and motorist, when i have access to a car), and shit like that terrifies me. i've had cars not see me, motorists scream at me when i'm clearly and safely in the bike lane, and i've seen bicyclist take sharp lefts through traffic with no signals. both are bad, but clearly the fist/loaded revolver analogy is apt.

kasainc51

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:19:26 -0500

I just wanted to give everyone some details about Bike to Work Day 2008. It happens next Friday! Bike to Work Day 2008 Free Regional Event to Help Improve Air Quality WHAT Bike to Work Day 2008––at least 7,000 cyclists expected! WHEN Friday, May 16, starting at various early morning times depending on location WHERE 26 pit-stops in Washington, D.C., and surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia WHY Be a spoke for change. Join Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association on Friday, May 16, for Bike to Work Day 2008. Ride with thousands of cyclists, novice and experienced, from the Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia as they spin their wheels to help reduce traffic congestion, get healthy and improve air quality in the Washington metropolitan region. There will be free food, beverages, fun and prizes. Free T-shirts for the first 7,000 who register and attend. MORE INFORMATION For registration information and event details, visit www.waba.org today.

Reid

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:02:22 -0500

"but what's the rationale for a cyclist being able to do it and a motorist not being able to?" As IMGoph said, there's no "being able to". It's still illegal; but then again, so is driving 30 mph in a 25 mph zone. But to the extent that there is a disparite societal view with regards to the two, I would suggest that it has something to do with the 2 tons of steel and glass that the motorist is hurling through our streets. It's like the difference between threatening someone with a fist and threatening someone with a loaded revolver.

dc4life

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:51:11 -0500

I respect bikers. I'm just saying that the law isn't a two way street that some can decide to ignore while others obey. I'm tired of this douche attitude from bikers. I decide not to bike in this city because it SUCKS. Being sweaty at 7:30 in the morning is gross and I'm sure my coworkers wouldn't appreciate it. Also, I don't drive to work. I take the bus and metro. And I drive plenty on the weekends. I live in Eckington and my car gets to Columbia Heights or Dupont faster than someone riding a bike from Shaw.

The New Guy

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:39:20 -0500

Yeah. If motorists could run reds knowing they won't get hit or caught, they would. No question. Running reds isn't even the best part about biking in the city. Saving $ by not buying gas and getting exercise is pretty cool, too. Oh yeah... you can get to places in the city faster than most cars can anyway. It's hilarious. Hooray for more bike lanes. "Please stop making the inane "I'll respect cyclists when they respect the law" argument. That only works if drivers respect the law - which they do not." - IMGoph

IMGoph

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:17:42 -0500

hey, i said i'm breaking the law. there is no rationale, other than it gets me to where i'm going more quickly. if it makes y'all mad, i'm sorry, but i intend to continue. that said, dc4life, i don't think i'm in danger of some car flying over a hill and surprising me. i'm not about to do what i do in places without LONG sightlines, and this ain't san francisco (despite what dc1974 might want). there are no big hills in shaw where i'm going to get caught by steve mcqueen careening over the hill being chased by a black dodge...

washcycle

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:16:13 -0500

So here's the thing about red-light running. Everyone does it. There are two kinds of red-light running. There's "catching an orange light" - zipping through the tail end of a yellow or the very first second of a red, which everyone - pedestrians, cyclists and drivers - does. Then there's jaywalking (or jaybiking) - going through a red light after the traffic clears - which only pedestrians and cyclists do. So why don't drivers do the second kind? Is is because they love the law so much? Is it because they are so concerned with public safety? That has not been my experience. They don't jaydrive it because it is significantly more dangerous for them. They can't see as well as a cyclist or pedestrian. They can't hear as well either. They can't back up, or turn quickly if they make a mistake. So drivers choose not to run red lights because its far too scary for them. That's it. No moral superiority and no greater love of the law. Drivers speed much more often then pedestrians or cyclists. Does that mean we should not respect their right to the road? Please stop making the inane "I'll respect cyclists when they respect the law" argument. That only works if drivers respect the law - which they do not.

mellbell

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:52:03 -0500

I agree with dc4life. I get that it's easy and, with the right amount of caution, safe to zip through the intersection when there are no oncoming cars, but what's the rationale for a cyclist being able to do it and a motorist not being able to?

dc4life

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:30:18 -0500

If a biker can't make a full and complete stop at a redlight then don't expect motorists to respect your right to use the road. Everyone should follow the rules of the road without exception. All it takes is one fast car coming over a hill and going through the green light to kill a biker that thought there was no traffic.

bsquared

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:21:30 -0500

@IMGoph: Amen! I might not do full stop at a red light, but I don't cross intersections when cars are coming. That's a death wish. Although I might "blow through red lights" when there's gridlock, but traffic isn't moving otherwise. Hey, at least i'm not causing the gridlock. @skakeboy: According to my handy ddot wdc bicycle map, there is a signed sidewalk bike route on heading east on Irving at Sherman NW, and then onto Michigan until Monroe St. NE. I've used it; it has signs. These maps are amazing and free, by the way, and even come with biking rules for the road, trail, and Metro. I suggest everyone get one.

IMGoph

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:38:14 -0500

i have to say that every time i see someone talking about bikers 'blowing through' red lights, i have to wonder about what they're talking about. it seems to me that it would be suicide for a biker to go flying through a red light at full speed. a car legally driving through their green light would kill you instantly. here's what i do at red lights on my bike (it's about the only law i openly break while biking): i treat it as a stop sign. i'll stop at a red light, and if there's no cross traffic, i proceed through the light. i know that the cars behind me probably get pissed, but it's (i feel) a safe way to make sure that i get out into the open lane and lets the drivers behind me know that i intend to be using the lane and that i won't be a pushover...

Fluxgirl

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:21:17 -0500

Are there any rules of the road for cyclists? All I see through the binoculars as I stand on the bridge of my SUV (remember, DC streets are considered off-roading!)are cyclists riding the other way up one-way streets , blowing through red lights and stop signs, etc. Just wondering.

IMGoph

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:06:50 -0500

internbrian: amen, there ought to be stops at all the circles (thomas, logan, dupont, washington) for those coming in to the job core from the neighborhoods to the north and west. then maybe something on the hill...

Stockard Channing

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:48:46 -0500

Biking here is terrrrrrrrifying.

guest33

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:44:41 -0500

I don't ride a bike at all (as you can tell by the words I use to describe it) but I felt really bad yesterday for this guy riding down 14th Street in the morning. He was between Thomas Circle and K Street being totally terrorized by a car. The car was almost running into him over and over, all the while honking his horn like a mad man. The only thing nice about the situation is that in the end, the cyclist won out, speeding by traffic that was backed up around K Street. I could not believe this guy in the car almost smashing into the cyclist over and over.

internbrian

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:37:45 -0500

I think it is pretty lame that all the bike to work day locations are outside of the district except for Freedom Plaza. They should have at least one or two more stops inside of DC where biking to work makes even more sense.

tvc15

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:24:52 -0500

In Tokyo, you can be walking on the sidewalk completely oblivious to the the fact some bicyclist is behind you, cycling impossibly slow. When you are somehow miraculously cognizant, the cyclist gives you a glare as he goes on his way. I'm very thankful when folks use a bell to signal - get one and friggin' use it.. There are definitely many DC roads where I think cyclists should use the sidewalk. Wisconsin, Mass and Connecticut Aves can be dangerous and the sidewalks are quite wide.

skaterboy

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:32 -0500

this is something to celebrate! @ bsquared: where is this bike route on irving you're talking about? i have to bike by Children's Hospital everyday and that section of Michigan Ave. is insanely dangerous for bikers

Joclyn

Thu, 08 May 2008 06:42:44 -0500

I am constantly appalled at the number of bicyclists riding on the sidewalk in DC, dowtown, clean, filthy, whatever. I don't think riding a bicycle on a sidewalk past the age of 9 should be acceptable. I've actually been cursed at in Columbia Heights for walking my dog... "Didn't you effing see me coming?" Yeah, and I was frozen in disbelief that you were pedaling full speed on a sidewalk, as though you were a child just free of his training wheels. I guess we could allow bicyclists full reign of the sidewalks, along with motor vehicles, and open up the streets to pedestrians and people just learning to ride bikes.

The Anti DC

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:01:33 -0500

Ooo! More places for DC's motorists to double park! Brilliant!

bsquared

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:51:26 -0500

Good news!! Bikers can already ride on sidewalks everywhere in DC except right downtown. Actually, some bike routes encourage folks to bike on the sidewalk; a signed route towards Catholic U and Mt. Rainier along Irving Street past the giant hospital complex has signs at the on and off ramps indicating both pedestrians and cyclists crossing, for instance.

monkeyrotica

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:10:10 -0500

DC really needs to explore offering permits so that bikers can ride on the sidewalk. I'd pay a premium for that, if only to knock down fatties in flipflops.

indiecognition

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:45:30 -0500

The new Q St. vert ramp is the shit!

Lionel M Hutz

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:32:45 -0500

The article is online here: http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-1-14-17083-1,00.html

somegirl

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:22:09 -0500

Unfortunately, there's not much anyone can do about the roads layout. The diagonal arteries mean it's impossible to avoid traffic by riding on a side street for any length.

gerhardj

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:07:02 -0500

the dc city website has a map of the bike lanes here (if the url doesn't work it's not too hard to find.): http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1245,q,629849,ddotNav_GID,1761,ddotNav,|34416|.asp the map is not just lanes -- it also has things like "bike routes" which i think is just code for "a regular street that goes in a useful direction". i think dc needs a lot more lanes. i rarely find any bike lanes anywhere, but i admit that they have slowly increased over time.

Reid

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:04:23 -0500

"almost all of Q Street NW now has a dedicated lane" Umm, doesn't Q St. go all the way to Georgetown University? Is it fair to say "almost all" of it when you really mean, a little more than half?

8th Street

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:58:19 -0500

couldn't say it better Goph!

IMGoph

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:52:53 -0500

there are lots more bike lanes on capital hill. and, no disrespect ksamm15, but i'm not too concerned about making it harder for suburbanites to speed through our neighborhoods...

MikeB

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:40:43 -0500

So I guess the new ones mean we have double the bike lanes as before?

MikeB

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:39:53 -0500

There are bike lanes in DC? Seriously, not counting Rock Creek Park, the only bike lanes I can think of are on Calvert St in Woodley Park/Adams Morga, which only last for a few blocks.

ksamm15

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:38:05 -0500

Making DC now exponentially harder to drive.

IMGoph

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:35:37 -0500

now, the fun part, and that's making sure that the cars stay in their own damn lane. when i'm taking q street from dupont heading eastbound on my way home, i will invariably be crowded towards the parked cars by driving cars that refuse to stay to the left out of the bike lane. it's like they think that's a "groove" that they can put their right wheels in...