Photo by philliefan99.

H Street NE is two things: a destination for many people riding bikes and the first place in the city that will get a streetcar next year. Sometimes the two don’t mix well, as many a cyclist have had the unfortunate luck of steering their wheels into the streetcar tracks—and ending up on the ground as a result.

Now Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) wants the city city to do something about it. As part of her committee report on Mayor Vince Gray’s proposed 2013 budget, Cheh has directed the D.C. Department of Transportation to study ways to make cycling along roads with streetcar tracks safer:

Bicycle Safety Along Streetcar Lines. The Committee directs that DDOT commence a public education campaign to help District cyclists understand and manage the hazards of bicycling along streetcar tracks. During the Committee’s oversight process, several members of the public commented on the District’s failure to install signage along the already existing streetcar tracks. The Committee further recommends that DDOT continue to explore ways to reduce the risks to cyclists riding along streetcar tracks and examine bicycle safety enhancements on routes parallel to streetcar corridors. The Committee directs DDOT to provide an update on this request by October 1, 2012.

I’ve managed to avoid the indignity—or pain—or having a wheel fall into a streetcar track, but I will say this: unless you’re riding a mountain bike or a Capital Bikeshare bike, it’s bound to happen to everyone.