BikeDC

New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat Bike Festival is Saturday at Yards Park

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo courtesy New Belgium Brewing

From a press release:

“The Washington, D.C. stop kicks off the 2015 season of Tour de Fat and will feature eclectic entertainment, yo-yo performances and even vaudeville acts. Everyone 21 and older is invited to sample new and classic favorites from New Belgium including the brewery’s flagship brew, Fat Tire, New Belgium’s latest year-round offering, Slow Ride Session IPA, and selections from the acclaimed Lips of Faith series.

Tour de Fat is free to participants, but beer and merchandise proceeds from the Washington, D.C. stop will go to:
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Black Women Bike DC
Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts
Phoenix Bikes

Last year, the Washington, D.C. Tour de Fat stop had approximately 7,000 attendees and raised more than $57,000 for local non-profits.

Tour de Fat – Washington, D.C. Details
Date:
Saturday, May 30

Location:
Yards Park

Main Stage: (more…)

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

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“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

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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!”

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