Photo of the Day: November 27, 2009
Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
Morning Roundup: Black Friday Edition
Devendra Banhart @ 9:30 Club
Saturday Thanks Don't End At Thanksgiving Photo: November 28, 2009
D.C. Police still do not know the identity of the woman who struck by a Metrobus at the corner of Connecticut and Florida Avenues this morning. WTOP has reported that the woman was a jogger who was wearing earbuds at the time she was hit, which would help explain why she was not carrying any identification. The woman, who is currently listed as a Jane Doe, is in critical condition at George Washington University Hospital. She is described as a white female, with brown hair, approximately 25 years of age, and 5'5" inches tall. She was wearing a white T-shirt, faded gray jogging shorts with white trim, white sneakers and white ankle socks. Anyone with information on the identity of this woman is asked to call D.C. police at (202) 727-9099.
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http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx
Comments about wearing headphones, etc. in 3 ... 2 ... 1
Especially when I'm behind you on a bicycle, repeatedly saying in as chippy and polite a tone as humanly possible, "Ahem, behind you... coughcough... excuse me... hello, ahem, nice day today... um... behind you... nice water bottle pack... behind you... coughcough... excuse me..." I'm starting to think that those things are distracting.
But yes, awful and very sad.
I did not know that Councilman Graham sponsored legislation to rename sidewalks "bike paths"...sorry but the world does not revolve around fucking bikers. If you are on a sidewalk with a bike, take a deep breath and realize that the primary function of sidewalks is...
Got to love bikes in DC..."cars until it is inconvenient"
Very very sad I hope that she recovers.
He's talking about those morons who run in the middle of the street, in the bike lane. Jeez, get a grip.
E Rich, no, I was talking about the ones on the mixed use paths (I can pass the ones in the road by taking the lane and giving them a 3 foot birth), but only the ones that have the volume so loud that they are unable to share the path with other users safely. I don't pass them until I can get their attention, and have spent as much as 5 minutes saying "excuse me" over and over again, continuously politely, withholding the desire to scream like a maniac, not because I'm angry, but because it is the only way they can hear me.
I was just highlighting this as an example of how people with headphones might be, I dunno, isolated from the environment around them, or something...
Ah, well at any rate, I'm sorry to put words in your mouth. In that case, I'll take the opportunity to call out the runners who use bike paths, run with traffic, and use headphones. I just don't understand why someone would run in the street at all, much less when they can't hear what's coming up behind them. I see it all the time on New Hampshire between Dupont Circle and U Street. And I'm sorry, but if it comes down to hitting a runner on my bike, or being run over by a taxi making a u-turn into the bike lane, I'll hit the runner any time. Take your headphones out, drivers, runners, and bikers.
Woah, bub, take a deep breath.
I'm not one of those riders. I used mixed paths as mixed paths, which is why when I'm behind someone who is going 3 mph, I go 3 mph and use a sugary sweet voice to let them know I'm kinda interested in passing them, and when I do I give a super sweet hello and tell them to have a nice day. I don't use my road bike on mixed paths. I don't scream "Left!" When I'm on mixed paths I stop and have friendly conversations with pedestrians and have a talent for squeezing out smiles friendly interaction with joggers.
You've got to check yo' self.
At the same time, I think it is super dangerous to wear headphones and cycle and am adamantly against that... oh, yeah, and that goes for joggers too.
Woah, bub, take a deep breath.
I'm not one of those riders. I used mixed paths as mixed paths, which is why when I'm behind someone who is going 3 mph, I go 3 mph and use a sugary sweet voice to let them know I'm kinda interested in passing them, and when I do I give a super sweet hello and tell them to have a nice day.
At the same time, I think it is super dangerous to wear headphones and cycle and am adamantly against that... oh, yeah, and that goes for joggers too. It's only for their safety.
Woah, bub, take a deep breath.
I'm not one of those riders. I used mixed paths as mixed paths, which is why when I'm behind someone who is going 3 mph, I go 3 mph and use a sugary sweet voice to let them know I'm kinda interested in passing them, and when I do I give a super sweet hello and tell them to have a nice day. I don't use my road bike on mixed paths. I don't scream "Left!" When I'm on mixed paths I stop and have friendly conversations with pedestrians and have a talent for squeezing out smiles friendly interaction with joggers.
You've got to check yo' self.
At the same time, I think it is super dangerous to wear headphones and cycle and am adamately against that... oh, yeah, and that goes for joggers too.
Ugh. Sad. No headphones. There, I said it.
that's just not enough information - length of hair? body type? eye color? any distinguishing features? I mean this just sounds like an average woman in DC.
i wonder if she had an ipod. if so, she probably registered it in her name.
You should be a detective.
The first one to say "keep the volume at a low level to maintain awareness" gets smack. It can't be done.
also not a bad idea to keep an "ICE" contact in your ipod.
I'm just trying to figure out why her wearing earbuds is a possible explanation for her not having ID.
Oh, wait... that's not what you meant?
Honestly, I have traveled around DC on foot with an iPod on (though not really while running) and don't have the slightest problem staying aware of my environment. I keep extra vigilant with my vision instead, and keep the volume down to a reasonable level depending on whether it's music or talk radio. The more important warning here is to avoid running/jogging in heavy traffic areas (Conn. Ave is a MONSTER here) or at least at a time of day when there is not any serious traffic...though I suppose buses are always around.
Having competed at long distance in HS/college, I run at a much quicker pace than your average jogger on the street and it's hard to stop on a dime when you're going faster than walking pace and tired. In addition, people driving cars in heavy traffic areas are not to be trusted to yield right of way...they're attention is elsewhere and runners/joggers come out of nowhere too suddenly.
Oh man. This story just gets sadder. When I was in high school a alum came to talk to the students about his career. He worked at the DC morgue and I'll never forget him saying that you should always carry ID just so authorities can "identify the body." He said you'd be amazed how many bodies come in as Jane and John Does.
Seriously, what Smithie07 said. I have a RoadID on my running shoes just for this reason. Very sad and scary that her friends/family don't know.
http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx
I believe that there is a law in D.C. that says you always have to carry ID on you...not that most folks running follow that rule (I know I don't). But this story does highlight why I don't wear headphones when I run (or walk around for that matter). To each his own but I do think there is a lesson here...
Wonder if there was anything on the t-shirt? That would help.
There is no state or city in the country that requires citizens to carry ID at all times.
This is America, and we don't need no steenkin papers. It's troubling that some Americans don't realize that.
As a female runner, one of my biggest bitches about most women's running shorts is that they don't have pockets to put id in -- only keys. I always carry my DL but have to comb running stores to find shorts I prefer.
go to http://raceready.com/
These shorts are awesome. I own a zillion pair.
As a female jogger, one of my biggest gripes with women's running wear is that it rarely includes pockets big enough to carry ID. I make an effort to find running shorts with pockets but it can be difficult.
sorry about the double post.
as a guy, there's no shortage of shorts with pockets, but none of them hold alot of stuff. i finally got one of these:
http://www.tworoadsfitness.com/landsport.html
best $13 i've ever spent. ladies, i think could work for you as well. if it's the difference between life or death, get one of these and keep some cash, a business card, and an extra SmarTrip in it.
see my link above about raceready. Ton's of pocket space.
no those are great shorts indeed. but i like the clip-on pouch because I just keep everything in there and grab it on the way out the door. I don't have to empty my pockets after every run. makes is at least a bit more likely that I've got ICE info and cash with me when i head out. just my $.02
I gotcha. I run marathons so the RaceReadies are perfect (gel packs, money, keys, etc). Since I like to train in the same togs I race in, I wear them all the time.
I can't believe there doesn't appear to be one post about how aggressive Metrobus drivers are. I bike, jog, and walk in the District nearly every day, and in my opinion there is no driver more dangerous or aggressive than a Metrobus driver. They are bullies and flagrantly disregard lights, stop signs, etc.
It seems that commenters wish to find a way to blame the jogger, when it is just as likely that she was being mindful, listening to her headphones at a reasonable level (that would allow her to hear oncoming traffic, it is possible), and got plowed down by a bus driver that didn't give a shyt because he/she had just gotten done with their shift.
Seriously, I can't be the only one that has routinely witnessed horrible driving practices by Metrobus drivers. Does anyone recall why many Metrobuses now have those Knightrider-type lights? It is because the drivers KEPT HITTING PEDESTRIANS. They need to be held accountable.
there doesn't appear to be one post about how aggressive Metrobus drivers are.
You must've missed the original post on this. We got that out of the way already. If people aren't jumping to conclusions, it's not the DCist comment section! (Or any comment section anywhere on the Internet).
Saw a report she was wearing a Carleton t-shirt. Called the PD number to let them know about the Carleton College DC Alumni group and found she was identified within the last 10 minutes.
Nice of you to do that. +1
Just sad. I recently started running again, and before my first time back out, I made sure to put my ID in my iPod pouch...just in case. I have my ICE contact taped on the back at all times; again, just in case.
I hope she is okay.
This is definitely an eye opener for me since I never take my ID with me when going for a run. Now I will...
It's a good idea to always carry ID wrapped in a $20- you never know when you'll get injured- even just a twisted ankle means a cab ride home.
When I first came to DC, I quickly learned that pedestrians need to be especially aware around Metrobuses, because they WILL run you over.
Any news on her condition?
I jog only with my house keys (which includes one of those little Vic cards and my gym card) safety pinned to my shorts, no ID. I always figured that if anything happened, the cops could go to Harris Teeter or my gym and figure out who I was. I guess that it would also be easy enough to get a little keytag (http://www.mrlock.com/eshop/locks/35112.html) and put my emergency contacts on it.
Also, lots of bike jerseys have pockets in the back and are just fine for jogging.