As the reconstruction of First Street NE continues, cyclists can already enjoy the new bike lanes near Union Station.

Drivers certainly are, with one reportedly threatening a cyclist who pointed out that cars don’t belong in bike lanes.

An email to DDOT on this issue and the placement of the existing flex-posts has yet to be returned.

Greg Billing from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association says many protected bike lanes begin as pilot projects to find out if people will use these dedicated lanes. “I think the answer is unequivocally ‘yes,'” Billing said.

“We’re at a point where we should start building more curb-protected bike lanes,” Billing said. Indeed, there’s now a curb-protected lane on First Street NE from K to M streets. When there isn’t room for a curb, Billing said DDOT “needs to find a material that fits that space but also provides that protection, because that’s why people want to bike on those streets.”

But in the meantime, cyclists have to deal with being unexpectedly sent into traffic. (See: Who’s Blocking the L Street Bike Lane Today?)

“There is growing frustration among cyclists who go out of their way to ride on these facilities, and then have drivers parked in bike lanes, to have these negative or even scary interactions with drivers,” Billing said. He urged cyclists to report these situations the police (yes, 911), rather than put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation. “Use some caution and common sense,” he said.

“But do report it.”

Filed Under: bike lanes, first street ne,