BikeDC

Bike to Work Day is Tomorrow – Get a Free U Lock from Metro and Free Coffee from Bike Rack

By Prince Of Petworth

bike to work
Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe Flood

From WMATA:

“Bike to Work Day is tomorrow — a day when Metro joins Commuter Connections, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and more than 13,000 commuters for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work.

This year, Metro will host Bike to Work Day pit stops at Fort Totten, College Park and East Falls Church stations. Riders can stop by the pit stop during the morning at Fort Totten or East Falls Church, or during the evening commute at College Park-U of Md. for free t-shirts and other giveaways, maps, safety tips and a bus bike rack demonstration.

In addition, Metro Transit Police will be at the pitstops, along with King Street and Braddock Road stations, to distribute free U-locks to cyclists who register their bikes. To sign up, or for more information on these and other pit stops, visit biketoworkmetrodc.org.

MTPD will have free U-locks available, while supplies last, at the following locations:

Fort Totten Station – 7 a.m. until 9 a.m.
East Falls Church Station – 7 a.m. until 9 a.m.
Braddock Road Station – 7 a.m. until 9 a.m.
King Street Station – 7 a.m. until 9 a.m.
College Park Station – 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Standard bicycles are permitted on Metrorail at all times except weekdays from 7 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Folding bikes are permitted at all times.”

From The Bike Rack:

“Free Coffee for Bicycle Commuters

Friday is Bike to Work Day. Are you riding? We will be at the corner of 14th and Q Streets, NW on Friday morning starting at 7:30 a.m. for our monthly Commuter Coffee. Free coffee for all bike commuters. Stop by with your travel mug, or take break with us!”

Starting Thursday No More Getting Dock Blocked at Bikeshare! Sorta.

By Prince Of Petworth

bike share

From Capital Bikeshare:

“Have you been dreaming of a morning bikeshare ride with the option of unlimited docking in downtown DC?

Well, round up your helmet and Bikeshare fob —beginning Thursday, May 14, we’ll be providing weekday Corral Service at two downtown stations from 7am to 11am at the following locations:

21st St & Eye St NW in Foggy Bottom

13th St & New York Ave NW near Metro Center & Franklin Square

Corral Service will offer guaranteed open docks in the morning by having staff on hand to remove bikes when the station docks are full. This service is included with your membership, to make your Bikeshare experience more convenient and enjoyable.

We’ll offer Corral Service every weekday morning through the end of September, with the potential for extension depending on demand.

We’re excited to roll out Corral Service on Bike to Work Week. Be sure to join us on Thursday, May 14 for the first day of Corral Service, as we hand out Capital Bikeshare swag at both locations. If your morning ride takes you to the Wild Wild (North) West, come by and say hello!”

“he got out of his car to take photos of his car, while I lay bleeding and stunned in the road” Looking for Witnesses

By Prince Of Petworth

trader_joes_u_street

“Dear PoPville,

I was struck by a car during on Monday morning and wonder if any PoP readers witnessed it. At 9:10 a.m. I was riding south on 14th Street in the bicycle lane near Trader Joe’s. I was going about 15 miles per hour when a silver SUV drifted into the bicycle lane, side-swiped me, and threw me off my bicycle.

After the crash, the driver moved his car into the center of the road so it would appear that I was at fault; he got out of his car to take photos of his car, while I lay bleeding and stunned in the road. Someone called the police and I was taken by ambulance to the emergency room where I got a lot of stitches.

Based on the testimony of a driver who saw a group of cyclists moving from the bike lane into the right lane, a police officer gave ME a citation for changing lanes without caution. I will be contesting this citation, as I was not part of this group of cyclists changing lanes.

I hope this won’t devolve into the typical cars vs. bikes ballyhoo – I was being a safe, law-abiding, and cautious, but was wrongly cited nonetheless. If anyone witnessed this incident I would be very grateful if you would contact me at hitbycardc@gmail.”

Don’t Be This Guy

By Prince Of Petworth

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A reader writes in:

“15th street bike lane.

This picture was taken Sunday afternoon about 3pm. I know moving is not easy but blocking the bike lane seems a pretty unfair.”

Fire at MBT Entrance on L Street, NE

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader tweeted us on Monday:

“Yesterday found no more access to Metro Branch Trail @ L St bc top stairs were set on fire? Anyone know what happened?”

This morning a reader sends details via email:

“I called in the fire on the MBT steps on this past Friday night at around 10:30-10:45. From experience, it looked as though an accelerant was used, as, even though the steps are wooden, they went up in flames very quickly and were flaming in a way that indicates an accelerant. The Fire Department came in less than 2-3 minutes and worked on the fire for about five minutes before putting it out completely. I didn’t see anyone check out the scene or any DCPD/EMS arrive after.

The next morning, the stairs had been roped off with yellow caution tape, but no police or otherwise presence. The fire spread very close to the metro tracks (the grass at the top of the steps), so I was surprised to see that no one was out there checking it out. I know that some of the homeless people who sleep underneath the street bridge below sometimes sleep on the MBT bridge at night, so I’m hopeful there were no injuries.”

Free coffee time for bicycle commuters going through Logan Circle Wed. morning

By Prince Of Petworth

free_coffee_logan
Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe in DC

From an email:

“The Bike Rack in partnership with Peregerine Espresso is offering Free HOT coffee for bicycle commuters Wednesday morning, April 15th from 7:30 am until approximately 9:30 am. We will be at the corner of 14th and Q, NW handing out free cups of coffee as you make your way into work or wherever you are headed. Bring your own travel mug or grab one of our cups. Look for our banner, stop by and have a cup of joe on us!”

The Bike Rack/Filter Coffeehouse Opening in Brookland April 18th!

By Prince Of Petworth

bike_rack_Filter_coffee_Brookland
8th and Monroe Street, NE

“Two of D.C.’s favorite pastimes, coffee and bicycles, are coming together in the historic Brookland neighborhood under one roof on April 18. The Bike Rack and Filter Coffeehouse are excited to be part of the growing community at the Monroe Street Market.

The April 18 Grand Opening will be held in conjunction with the first Brookland Farmer’s Market of 2015.

The concept of the bike/coffee shop began in bike-centric cities such as Portland and San Francisco, and The Bike Rack and Filter Coffeehouse owners Chuck Harney and Rasheed Jabr knew it was a concept that both DC and the Brookland neighborhood would embrace.

“Bikes and coffee just go together, ask any cyclist,” said Harney. “ We feel that a bike shop
should be a community gathering spot for the local community and for cyclists. A coffee bar
helps to create that feel year round.”

The two businesses will share space under one roof within the Brookland Works building at 716 Monroe St. NE. The Bike Rack will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Filter Coffeehouse will be open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“It’s location is perfect because it is directly on the Metropolitan Branch Trail and next to the Brookland Metro. It’s easily accessible to everyone, cyclists and non-cyclists,” Jabr said.

Filter Coffeehouse will offer the range of Ceremony Coffee brews popular at its current Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom locations. There will be indoor seating as well as outdoor seating adjacent to the Monroe Street Market Arts Walk.

The Bike Rack will offer the same award-winning services offered at its current Logan Circle location including:
• Bicycle, accessories and apparel sales
• Maintenance and bike fits
• Classes and events

The April 18 Grand Opening will be held in conjunction with the first Brookland Farmers Market of the 2015 season, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, 716 Monroe St. NE. In addition to welcoming neighbors and biking/coffee enthusiasts in for the first time, The Bike Rack will offer free basic bike maintenance on the Arts Walk.”

City Bikes Employees Help Recover Bicycle Stolen at Gun Point

By Prince Of Petworth

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Edin the customer and John the store manager courtesy City Bikes

From an email:

“The managers of City Bikes in Adams Morgan helped to recover a loyal customer’s bike that was taken from him at gun point on Sunday night. He had brought it in for service on Sunday afternoon but elected to wait to get it performed until later in the week, letting us know it was stolen on Monday.

Our store manager recognized the stolen bike this afternoon when a man brought it in to fix the same problem from Sunday and promptly contacted the customer who had informed us of the theft, along with the police. Our general manager, yours truly not in uniform, followed a block behind the man in possession of the bike when he left the shop after being unable to avoid the necessary repair.

When the cops showed at the shop, they were directed to the Starbucks at 18th and Adams Mill, where the man was hanging out with some friends.

About an hour later a detective came to interview the store manager about the damage to the bike, and was able to identify the original owner because the bike came in twice for the same mechanical issue.

Another hour later, our loyal customers returned to the shop with the bike covered in finger print dust, telling us that he had identified the man in possession of the bike as the same one who had held him up at gun point! He was so excited to have it back that he’s going to get the repair after all.

Saul Leiken
City Bikes Inc.
General Manager”

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