BikeDC

Dear PoP – If You See Something, Say Something

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu

“Dear PoP,

What is wrong with people these days?!? Seriously! I am so completely disheartened with people as I write this story. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE this city, but after last week I am really disappointed in the people of this city. I met up with two friends at a tattoo shop near the corner of 14th and U streets, NW. It was a Thursday night and the streets are pretty well lit and populated. I chain my bike to a tree right in front of the shop. As we are leaving, I say to my friends jokingly “Hope no one steals my bike!” As I say this a guy walks by and says, “Oh if it isn’t chained up they totally will.” I reply with “My bike is such a POS, who would bother to take the time?” He says “Once as a test I left two really old rusty bikes, one with flat tires out front of this shop just to see. The bikes were gone in under 5 minutes. They will take the bike too if it isn’t locked up.” Well I know this, that’s why my bike is chained to the tree. So I thank the guy and assure him it is locked and we head down a couple blocks to grab some grub.

Less than 2 hours later we return to the tree and my bike is GONE! All that is left is my bike lock…still locked but sliced in two as if it were butter, mocking me on the ground. I picked it up and my two friends and I start laughing at the irony of it all. One of my friends offers to drive me home and as we walk around the corner of U to 14th, what do I see? Some asshole sitting on my bike not even half a block down 14th. Before my friends even knew what was up I am running at the kid who doesn’t see me coming. I shove him off my bike and then a tirade of swear words that would make a sailor blush burst out of my mouth. The guy is so shocked he sort of just stands there still half on my bike. I grab the handle bars and say THIS IS MY BIKE! He has the audacity to tell me it is HIS bike. Then I tell him he is a POS that stole my bike after cutting my lock. His reply of “I didn’t steal no bike.” has me so convinced of his innocence…riiiiight. So then he tries to climb back on the bike at which point I again shove him off and bombard him with more curses.

As I walk off with my bike and my friends back around the corner to U, I notice he has the nerve to start following us. So again I turned around and screamed at him. This time telling him to stop following us or I will call the cops because I have all night to waste, but does he?!? I guess he decides he does not because he crosses 14th and heads the other direction.

Now as excited that I am that this guy is an idiot who stole a bike then stuck around, and as excited as I am that I got my bike back, WTF people?!? Why did no one do a damn thing the entire time? First the bike was stolen in good light, on a busy street where tons of people were walking around. Why did no one do a thing! And then when I was screaming pretty loudly at some asshole who stole my bike, everyone just stood there?!? How come no one bothered to ask if I needed help or anything? How come a small woman who is only 5’2, was not offered any type of assistance? Yes, my friends (a guy and another small woman) would have jumped in had there been a problem, but where was everyone…anyone else?”

Dear PoP – “joined bikeshare, need advice!”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user kevnkovl

“Dear PoP,

I joined Bikeshare this week, and I’m totally excited to whiz around the city, hair aflutter (under a helmet, of course). I’m also terribly nervous! I’ve never biked in DC, and as a pedestrian and occasional driver I’m constantly frustrated with DC bikers. I want to be the good kind! Unfortunately, I’m not totally sure how to avoid pissing off everyone in the road (I suppose I do in theory, but I imagine in practice it will be completely different) and I’m hopeful your biking readers will have some suggestions. I’ll stay off major roads until I get the hang of it, but what should I know to be a good biker?”

While I’m a pretty novice rider myself, I’d say the most important thing is to follow the rules of the road. IE stop a red light, don’t swerve across lanes etc. What do experienced riders recommend in how to be a good responsible rider?

New Blog on DC Bike Culture – District Citizen Cycling

By Prince Of Petworth


‘Eric Hilton, citizen cyclist – perhaps better known as half of DC’s famed electronica duo Thievery Corporation.’ Photo by Bill Crandall

My friend, neighbor and former editor of Petworth News, Bill Crandall, has started a new blog on Citizen Cycling! He explains:

“Citizen Cycling (quickly becoming a global movement) is everyday biking for the rest of us. Bike-as-you-are, hop-on-and-go, in normal clothes (chic if that’s you), totally inclusive, no need for special gear or an alternative lifestyle.

It can mean radically re-thinking how we ride here, figuring out where we’ve gone wrong. In DC, biking tends to be speed and fear over style and joy. It doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re determined to ride in the midst of traffic, you’re setting yourself up for grief. Why not slow down, stay out of the scrum, take your time, stop for coffee. You’ll show up looking and feeling good, at the price of a few minutes.

Time for Citizen Cycling. A better biking city makes a better city.”

Be sure to check out the blog, District Citizen Cycling.

Federal Partnership with Capital Bikeshare Program. Can you get a Bike when you need one?

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the General Services Administration (GSA), and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today that they are offering corporate bike memberships to their employees in the Washington, DC metropolitan area through the District’s Capital Bikeshare Program. The District kick-started the program last Monday and by late-October it is slated to become the largest in the nation.”

I think this is a great idea. But I have a question about Capital Bike distribution. I notice that some stations (like the one above at 16th and Harvard) are packed with bikes and other are empty or nearly empty (like the one below at 18th and Columbia Rd, NW). So my questions is – and I know the system is still relatively new – are the bikes there when you need them? I just got my packet in the mail today and I’m a bit nervous because over half the time I pass the Petworth station it is empty. What have you guys noticed around town?

Disturbing Incidents on the Met Branch Trail

By Prince Of Petworth

We just spoke about how great the trail looks back in mid-Sept. A reader writes:

“There’s been a rash of assaults on the newly-opened Met Branch [bike] Trail. I’ve enclosed one message below. [From the Brookland listserv]:

This evening at about 7:50 I was heading South on my bike, going from Brookland to Capitol Hill to visit a friend. I was approaching the section just North of Rhode Island Ave. where there’s a parking lot and shopping plaza. About four black youths (junior-high age) were at the bench along the trail, when one of them (the smallest kid, no more than 4 feet tall) came out with a large plastic drink cup and doused liquid at me, hitting my chest. It was not water. It was bodily fluids. I stopped and got off my bike, and tried to catch the perpetrator but they all dispersed (laughing), and I realized it was futile, so I got back on the bike and continued. I made it to my friend’s house, promptly took a shower and threw away the clothes I had on, and then called 911 to report the crime. The dispatcher said that since I was no longer at the scene, they couldn’t file a report, but that they would send an officer to check out the area.”

And another:

“I was riding my bike home from work on the Metro Branch Trail about 3:45 pm this afternoon (Saturday) when a female member of a group of 6 young teenagers stood up from a bench and pushed me off my bike as I rode by. I slammed into the fence along the trail. She then proceeded to sit back down on the bench as I struggled with my bike. They did not attempt to take anything from me. This happened a few hundred feet from the entrance onto the trail at 8th and Edgewood, right by DC Prep. I rode my bike(which was all bent out of alignment) to the trail head and called police. The police responded quickly and were very helpful, but the kids were gone.

I am bruised and shaken, but basically okay.”

Dear PoP – Bike Dangers at Thomas Circle

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

In my mind, this is a pretty clear cut case of cars being dangerous, bikes being vulnerable, and infrastructure failing to mediate the situation, but the first comment on YouTube was a bike hater saying I should ride on the sidewalk. I’m hoping this video will draw attention to the danger at this intersection, but am also curious how your readers will respond.”

For folks who use the bike lanes – do you share these experiences? If so do you think they require barriers like 15th St, NW. Are there other barriers that can be put in place. Or is this just the reality?

The 5pm Post – WABA 50 States and 13 Colonies Ride this Saturday

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user JRoseC

“Saturday, September 25– The legendary 50 States and 13 Colonies Ride is back in 2010. Are you ready to try one of the hardest rides in DC? We provide the Start/Finish area and 3 pit stops fully stocked with water, food, and a bike mechanic.

The most unique and challenging bike ride in DC! This 60+ mile ride is for cyclists experienced and comfortable with riding through the city streets with traffic. The 50 States ride covers all 50 state streets in all 8 Wards in search of the District of Columbia’s statehood. Often been referred to as “brutal,” “insane,” and “engrossing.” You have not seen the city of Washington by bike until you have done the 50 States Ride.

*Cue sheets will be available the day of the ride. Because some of the cues may change last minute due to construction projects and road closures, WABA will not provide cue sheets in advance.

13 Colonies

Not quite as challenging as the 50 States Ride, but equally as enjoyable. Ride on all the streets named for every one of the 13 original colonies. This ride is a little under 15 miles and is also for cyclists who are comfortable with riding on city streets with traffic.

*Cue sheets will be available the day of the ride

Register Now>>

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Bikeshare Goes Live Today!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user kevnkovl

A couple of weeks ago we talked about Capital Bikeshare but today (and this weekend) you can see the stations all over town. Even though I saw a map, I was still surprised about how many stations I passed on my walkabout. I was particularly happy to see one nearly outside the Red Derby at 14th at Spring St, NW. You can learn all about the program and sign up here.


Right near Red Derby


Bike across the street from Petworth metro by Sweet Mango

Nice Brookland/Edgwood Mural and Metropolitan Branch Trail

By Prince Of Petworth

These murals are located near Franklin St, NE and a new section of the MBT trail.

The Metropolitan Branch Trail is looking great:

Their Web site says:

“The Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) is an 8-mile trail that runs from Union Station in the District of Columbia to Silver Spring in Maryland. Following the Metropolitan Branch Line of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, the trail passes through numerous vibrant and historic neighborhoods as well as connecting to the National Mall. The MBT is an important transportation route providing connections to homes, work and play as well as access to seven Metro stations. Current plans include connections to the area’s trail network such as the Capital Crescent Trail, Anacostia Trails System, and integration into the East Coast Greenway.”

You can see a full map of the trail here.

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