BikeDC

“it’s just a shame that the city won’t step up and conduct some traffic enforcement”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I had an unfortunate incident Saturday around 5 PM in the 1 St NE separated bike lane in NoMA. Uber and Lyft drivers blocking the lane is a constant occurrence on weekends and unfortunately there is no enforcement by the city. As a result, I try and just remind drivers in a friendly way they they’re creating a hazard by parking here. I always try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and just ask they not do it again. No one is going to feel like complying with the law if they get screamed at, even if they’re in the wrong.

Saturday, however, I encountered a stop Lyft in the lane (it was obvious based on the app the driver had mounted to the dash). When I tried to quickly remind the driver he shouldn’t be in the lane, one of the passengers became belligerent, cursing at me and then came around the vehicle, put his hands on me, and shoved me. (more…)

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of mankind.”

By Prince Of Petworth

Cycling in D.C. was written by Joel Hoard. Joel lives in Adams Morgan.

PoP-Ed. posts may be written about anything related to the District and submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line.

“Eight years ago when I had just started riding a bike in D.C., I found a slip of paper inside a candy wrapper. On it was a quote by H.G. Wells: “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of mankind.”

I’m 36 years old, and I love bikes. I ride them. I build them. I fix them. I talk about them to anyone who will listen. I ride to work. I ride to the grocery store. I ride to my friends’ houses. Sometimes I ride to nowhere in particular just because I love it.

I also love Washington, D.C. This is my home. I’ve lived here for 11 years, and I have no plans to leave. I’ve biked across all four quadrants of this city countless times. Seeing the place I love by bicycle is perhaps the simplest joy in my life.

But sometimes riding in this town sucks. For every leisurely ride around the Mall, there’s a driver speeding through a red light to shave 30 seconds off his morning commute. For every Saturday morning ride through Rock Creek Park, there’s an Uber driver swerving into a bike lane to drop somebody off or a car door flinging open. With cars clocking in at an average weight of 4,000 lbs, when one hits a cyclist, it’s clear who’s going to win. And if you open a car door or swerve in front of us, you might as well be a brick wall. We don’t stand a chance.

On September 24, Tom Hollowell was killed as he rode his bike to work when a driver sped through a red light and hit him. (more…)

“A Cyclist Died Here 9-24-18”

By Prince Of Petworth

Update from MPD:

“Detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred on Monday, September 24, 2018, in the 1200 block of Constitution Avenue, Northwest.

The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 7:31 am, an adult male riding a bicycle was traveling eastbound in the 1200 block of Constitution Avenue, Northwest, crossing over 12th Street. The operator of a dark colored sedan entered the crosswalk and proceeded through the intersection on a red traffic signal, striking the bicyclist at a high rate of speed. After the collision, the driver of the sedan continued northbound on 12th Street, Northwest without stopping.

The decedent has been identified as 64-year-old Thomas Hendricks Hollowell, of Arlington, VA.

On Friday, October 12, 2018, pursuant to a DC Superior Court warrant, 20-year-old Phillip Peoples, of Suitland, MD, was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder.”

Thanks to Tim and Joel for sending photos from the Memorial Ride for Tom Hollowell. (more…)

Memorial Bike Ride Today for Thomas Hollowell Who was Killed by a Hit and Run Driver on his way to work.

By Prince Of Petworth


Thomas Hollowell courtesy Handlebars DC

From a press release:

“Memorial Bike Ride for Thomas Hollowell
Thursday, Oct. 4, 5:15 p.m.
Farragut Square, DC

More than 300 bicyclists from across the DC region are expected gather on Thursday, October 4 at 5:15 p.m. to hold a memorial bike ride in memory of Thomas Hollowell. Dr. Hollowell was riding his bike to work on Mon., Sept. 24 when he was hit and killed by a driver running a red light at 12th & Constitution NW. Tom had been a bike commuter for more than 20 years. The ride will begin at Farragut Square and will end with a moment of silence at the crash site. Following the moment of silence, Dr. Hollowell’s family will dedicate a ghost bike in his memory. (more…)

64-year-old Cyclist Killed by Hit and Run Driver

By Prince Of Petworth


via google maps

From MPD:

“Detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred on Monday, September 24, 2018, in the 1200 block of Constitution Avenue, Northwest.

The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 7:31 am, an adult male riding a bicycle was traveling eastbound in the 1200 block of Constitution Avenue, Northwest, crossing over 12th Street. The operator of a dark colored sedan entered the crosswalk and proceeded through the intersection on a red traffic signal, striking the bicyclist at a high rate of speed. (more…)

“I heard the collision and saw the guy fall and the car speed away”

By Prince Of Petworth


via google maps

A reader reports around 7:45am:

“Apparent hit and run at 12th & Constitution- I just saw a man on a bike apparently get hit by a car that then drove away without stopping. (I say “apparently” because I did not actually see the crash – I was stopped at the light coming off the 12th St Expressway and happened to be looking down at the second of the impact – but I heard the collision and saw the guy fall and the car speed away.) (more…)

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