BikeDC

How’s the 15th Street, NW Bike Lane Working Out?

By Prince Of Petworth

Street Films writes:

“The district DOT has redesigned 15th Street NW between U Street and Massachusetts Avenue to accommodate two-way bike traffic on a one-way street. Northbound cyclists get a shared lane moving in the same direction as car traffic, and southbound cyclists ride in a parking-protected lane. The treatment has also slimmed down the street, removing a vehicle lane and calming traffic.”

However, I have noticed that many bikers are actually going the wrong way on the one-way lane.

So how for those who use this lane – how’s it working it out? What do you do when a biker is coming at you in the wrong direction? Is there enough room to pass each other or does somebody have to yield?

Dear PoP – Stolen Bike

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

My boyfriend’s bike was stolen out of our “secure” underground parking garage some time this week at 14th and Kenyon.

He put up a Craigslist post:

Someone stole my 2005 Specialized Allez Elite road bike from the (supposedly secure) garage of my apartment building. It has a very distinctive gray to black fade powdercoat on in it. I’ve posted a picture of the frame. If you see or hear ANYTHING about this bike, please get in touch with me as soon as possible. I don’t have a lot of money, but I can afford up to a $100 reward for the safe return of my bike.

Please call 304-280-6548 to call if anyone spots it.”

DDOT to Unveil Plans for Innovative Bike Lanes for Downtown

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ddoubleud

From a press release:

Public Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, March 18

(Washington, D.C.) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is developing innovative new bike infrastructure in the greater downtown area, to accommodate increased bicycling in the city, and to prepare for the expansion of the bikesharing program. To see the latest plans, DDOT and the Downtown and Golden Triangle Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) invite the public to attend a meeting on Thursday, March 18, at the Heritage Center of the United States Navy Memorial.

Because of the high demand for curb space, including a large number of buses and delivery trucks, DDOT has looked to other cities such as New York and Montreal for designs which both protect cyclists and accommodate other downtown activity. Based on what we found, DDOT has developed creative proposals for new bike lanes on the following streets:

· Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

· I Street, NW

· L Street, NW

· 15th Street, NW

· 9th Street, NW

More detailed plans for each street will be discussed at the meeting.

Meeting Information:

What: Public Meeting on Innovative Bike Lanes

When: Thursday, March 18, 6 pm – 8 pm

Where: The Heritage Center of the United States Navy Memorial

701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

The Heritage Center is located above the Archives/Navy Memorial Metrorail Station on the Green and Yellow lines. Also, bicycle parking will be provided for the meeting.

Sweet Bike Rack

By Prince Of Petworth

This sweet bike rack is from outside the Dupont South metro station. I’m sure it’s been there for a bit but this weekend was the first time I spotted it.

Dear PoP – Witnessing Bikes Being Stolen

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I just saw (last week) four kids ages maybe 12-14 at the Columbia Heights metro station in front of Potbelly’s with bolt cutters stealing one bike and trying to cut another one lose. There were plenty of people around which did not seem to disturb them. I just happened to walk by and they definitely realized I was noticing their ‘work’, but I was totally unsure how to react; whether to confront them or call the police. In the end I realized calling 911 would not get the cops there in time, and I was afraid of consequences directly approaching them. Where is the police when you need them? In the end I saw a police car in front of the target and ran over there, but there was no officer around. Maybe that threatened the kids as they were taking off once I got to the police car and left the attempt on the second bike unfinished (I got to meet the owner later on coincidentally, as she just came back and told her about her luck), but the other bike got taken. How would you react in such a situation and I am curious to hear other peoples suggestions on what could have been done maybe also to keep the other bike from being taken away?

I guess I will keep storing my different bikes with me in my flat.”

This is a very tough question. I think if it is daytime and there are many people around, it would be ok to confront them and say something like, “hey what are you doing? What’s going on?” or something like that. The video up top was done by two brothers in NYC who show exactly how easy it is to steal a bike without anyone saying anything in broad daylight. What do you guys recommend in this situation?

View More Stories