May 16, 2008
Morning Roundup: Bike to Work Day Edition
Good morning, Washington, and a happy, if wet, Bike to Work Day. Luckily for those of you who still braved the weather on two wheels this morning, this rainfall has not turned out to be as heavy as the powerful storms that hit us last weekend, and the National Weather Service has even canceled flood watches for the region this morning. The big Bike to Work Day ceremony, planned for 8 a.m. at Freedom Plaza, is still scheduled to go on, so hopefully we'll see some of you out there on your bikes this morning.
Fired Principals Total 24: School officials confirmed yesterday that the final number of fired DCPS principals is 24, reports the Post. Thirteen of those fired were in charge of schools set to be restructured under federal "No Child Left Behind" guidelines. As has been noted, the firings aren't actually all that unusual, since 15 to 20 principals are typically let go on a yearly basis. But the Council of School Officers union are still calling the firings "random and arbitrary," reports the Examiner. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s office has not released a complete list of the principals who were not asked back for next year.
City Officials Downplay Arsenic Concerns: Yesterday the Park Service was saying Fort Reno would likely not reopen any time soon, but today Mayor Adrian Fenty and Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh are both saying that the park is not a serious health risk. Fenty said results from more extensive soil samples should be available within the next 24 to 48 hours, so we won't know more about the fate of the park until then.
Briefly Noted: Firefighters rescued three people from a fire on the 3800 block of Newark Street NW ... New assault category considered for attacking D.C. Jail guards with bodily fluids ... Elderly murder-suicide involved a former U.S. Ambassador.
This Day in DCist: In 2007 we got excited about a potential dominatrix scandal in the Virginia suburbs, and in 2006 we wondered when Comcast would add MASN.
Photo by furcafe
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Arlington, Va. resident Edgar Gil is now riding from Arlington to Washington, DC on Bike to Work Day.
And he's doing something that's getting a lot of attention, he's riding with mobile pollution monitoring devices to raise awareness about the Health and Environment Action Network, a project of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.
Your readers might be interested in this YouTube video about his ride:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKk3gw5Qjzc
I read there is a Fort Reno community garden and the locals are pretty concerned about the vegetables they've been feeding their kids for years. I'm sure they have nothing to worry about, particularly from the carrots.
Hmm, I have no problem with reopening the park, but they may want to nix the community garden if arsenic is present in the soil there.
And is it just me, or does it rain every year on Bike-to-Work day? Aargh.
Today I was nearly hit by a cyclist in the crosswalk instead of my usual bus, car, or taxi, so that was an exciting change of pace. Happy Bike-to-Work day!
God hates bicycle commuters.
And yeah, if I had eaten veggies from that Ft Reno community garden, I would be a little worried. But then I would just drink to forget.
Yep - rainy again. But the Rosslyn pit stop was well attended nonetheless. I had some Starbucks and two 'nanners. AND... I won a gift certificate from REI. Sweet.
Yep, I just hit a cyclist on my way to work this morning. That was different from my usual pedestrian or bum begging for change.
re: Rain Perhaps its time to do celebrate Bike to Work Month as the whole month that it is. That way rain is accounted for.
I drove to work today, not because of weather, or the fact that I don't even own a bike, but to show that Bike to Work day is useless for anyone who works in the suburbs.
That's right, there's handfuls of us who work past the end of a metro line, and have to drive to work. I can't take the metro to Shady Grove and then bike the last five miles to work, because metro won't allow bikes until after 10. I could take the bus, but suburban bus systems suck harder than Jenna Jameson, and with far less sexy results.
So, I drove, as I drive every day, and will do until I can either bring a bike onto metro or the RideOn bus stops sucking. Or until I get a job in the city, ending my reverse commute.
I'm burning fossil fuels in protest of those who can bike commute. I will have my day!
~EEE~
EEE - Jenna Jameson? Sexy? Ew.
Now what was it you were saying?
I love people who plug their initatives in the comment forum on DCist. So transparent.
I wouldn't mind bicycle commuters if they all seemed to follow the rules of the road. They constantly disregard red lights, they almost mow you down on the sidewalks in Adams Morgan (even though there is a dedicated bike lane that they're supposed to be using), they love riding up Beach Drive/Broad Branch Rd in Rock Creek Park, knowing that they go slower than traffic, yet don't allow people to pass them.
So frustrating.
. . . they love riding up Beach Drive/Broad Branch Rd in Rock Creek Park, knowing that they go slower than traffic, yet don't allow people to pass them.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pray, good sir, would that section of road (viz., Beach Road) be the Rock Creek Park which is a National Park and whose mission statement indicates it "offers visitors an opportunity to reflect and soothe their spirits through the beauty of nature" and also states that "Fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals, and the ebb and flow of Rock Creek emanate the delicate aura of the forest."
Or are you thinking of Rock Creek Park: autobahn for the landed gentry of Maryland or the wealthier sections of DC?
Just wanted to know, for the sake of . . . perspective.
Gotta agree with Bob. Jenna Jameson? DO NOT WANT. Jeanna Fine? Milfiest MILF this side of Milf Lake in Milford. She can lube my derailures any day.
"Pray, good sir, would that section of road (viz., Beach Road) be the Rock Creek Park which is a National Park and whose mission statement indicates it "offers visitors an opportunity to reflect and soothe their spirits through the beauty of nature" and also states that "Fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals, and the ebb and flow of Rock Creek emanate the delicate aura of the forest."
The very one that has a bicycle path that hardcore bicyclists refrain from using. And I am referring to driving North in the morning, not South. From Adams Morgan to Friendship Heights, it is the fastest route. But you can slowed to a little as 10 MPH in the morning on Broad Branch in the middle of the morning commute for quite a stretch, with no means of passing.
I commend their ambition. I dislike being late for work.
On Jenna. . .
My point exactly. That's how bad RideOn buses are, even when the bar is set so low.
~EEE~
Ok, really, I needed a pr0n star who loves her some wang, and I'm at work, so I couldn't get to "that" folder on my home PC.
"The very one that has a bicycle path that hardcore bicyclists refrain from using."
Have you ever looked at the condition of the MUP in rock Creek Park? It's not pretty: lots of frost heaves and root displacement of the tarmac, rarely free of debris, and often chock-a-block full of walkers and joggers whose iPods drown out the sounds around them. In almost all cases, it's safer to ride on Beach Drive/Rock Creek Parkway than to ride on the MUP - at any speed.
So I'll stick to the roadway. I'll try to stick to my average pace on that road (20-22 mph) so you won't feel too out-of-sorts.
Or you could just ride a bike and make better time from AdMo to FH, anyway.