BikeDC

DCCX Cyclocross this weekend at the Old Soldiers Home in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

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From an email:

“The DCCX cyclocross bike race takes place this Saturday and Sunday, October 18th and 19th at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (Rock Creek Church Road at Upshur St, NW). With over 700 racers already registered for each day of racing, DCCX will once again be one of the biggest cyclocross races in the country. Entry is free.

If you don’t know what cyclocross is, think road bike racing, meets mountain bike racing, meets trail running.

Both days of racing begins at 8:15am and concludes with a “Rookie” race at 5:15pm. The course is centered around the fish pond on the lower grounds of the Soldier’s Home. It is a great course for spectators as racers are visible from almost any point on the course. There will also be a kids race course available throughout the day.

This year Oskar Blues will be on hand with a variety of their craft beer offerings including Dale’s Pale Ale, Mama’s Lil’ Pils, Old Chub and others.  Come enjoy their “can-in-hand” culture as well as some of their special kegs.  The beer garden will be the place to be in 2014. Staples Corner Liquorswill be working with Oskar Blues to once again ensure that your refreshment needs are satisfied.  Come out and pair an Oskar Blues with food from DC Slices, Baja Fresh, the DC Dutch club and Captain cookie & the milkman to help keep the party going.  (more…)

Cyclist Struck and Killed by Hit and Run Driver in Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

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A reader reports:

“We didn’t see it happen but we heard tire squeals and screams and saw them load the victim’s body in the ambulance. Not 100% on the happenings but from what we were told by police a bicyclist was killed by a hit and run driver last night at the intersection of 8 and s st nw at 2:20am.”

Update from MPD:

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Unit are investigating a hit and run that resulted in a traffic fatality which occurred at the intersection of 8th and S Streets, NW.

On Saturday, September 20, 2014, at approximately 2:33 am, a bicyclist was on 8th Street, NW when she was struck by a light colored SUV that was traveling southbound on 8th Street, NW. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. The striking vehicle was last seen fleeing southbound on 8th Street towards Rhode Island Avenue, NW. The SUV may have damage to the right front bumper.

The decedent has been identified as 53 year-old Tonya Reaves of Northeast, Washington, DC.

This crash is currently under investigation.

The Metropolitan Police Department is asking anyone with information about this case to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.”

Scarcity of Capital Bikeshare Bikes during the Morning Commute?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

“Dear PoPville,

I’m relatively new to Capital Bikeshare (within the last year) and have really loved it’s convenience when getting around on the weekends. During the week though, not so much.

My office recently moved to Shaw from Takoma Park. Since I live in Columbia Heights, Shaw is a very easy commute, so I’ve been trying to bike as often as possible. However, I’m a late starter in the morning and usually go to work later than the conventional rush hour. By the time I’m out the door (usually between 9am and 10am), all the bike stations nearby never seem to have a bike available. I’ve emailed the Capital Bikeshare customer support five times since June about their bike balancing and availability after the main rush hour is over. Each time they have either not responded or responded saying that they are “working on it.” While I appreciate them getting back to me, I’ve grown pretty frustrated by the fact that I haven’t seen any progress.

Has anyone else experienced the same issue? Am I the only one reaching out to Capital Bikeshare? Capital Bikeshare is such a great concept but it sucks that my morning bike commute has been so unreliable.”

Ed. Note: We once talked about the scarcity of bikeshare bikes back in 2011. Anyone else notice an improvement since then? Anyone successfully commute using bikeshare? If so, what time do you usually get a bike?

Free coffee time for bicycle commuters going through Logan Circle tomorrow 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 ICED and HOT coffee for bicycle commuters Wednesday morning, September 17th 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!”

“An old gold/beige car with New Mexico plates blew through a stop sign and nailed a biker” Sunday 3pm in Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Just wanted to let you know about a hit and run that happened around 3pm on Sunday outside of Satellite Room at the corner of Vermont and 9th.

An old gold/beige car with New Mexico plates blew through a stop sign and nailed a biker. Both the bike and the biker flipped over the hood of the car. The biker got up- shook himself off and moved to the curb. The driver rolled down her window– looked at him and then drove away. By the time I tried to get the license plate she was too far up 9th street.

I went over to the biker and he seemed to be ok- didn’t want me to call 911 but clearly visibly shaken. He wheeled his bike away shortly thereafter.

Im appalled by the way the driver handled this. For such a biking friendly city— I cannot tell you the number of times I have almost been hit by drivers not paying attention– and to then run……just despicable.”

“Twelve potential locations for future Capital Bikeshare stations”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Twelve potential locations for future Capital Bikeshare stations via DDOT.dish

From a press release:

“The District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) Capital Bikeshare system has experienced a record-breaking year of ridership, with over 1 million rides taken since June 1. With so much demand for bikesharing, we’ve received many questions about when we will be able to add more Capital Bikeshare stations and bikes in the District.

Recently Installed Bikeshare Stations

In June, our Capital Bikeshare operations contractor was able to obtain some much-needed hardware to address our immediate expansion needs. We have installed three new stations in the past few months (at 24th Street and New Hampshire Avenue NW; 34th Street and Water Street NW and at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library). We have also added docks to several existing downtown stations to accommodate rush-hour demand. Our Capital Bikeshare partners in Arlington County, Montgomery County and the City of Alexandria have added new stations as well.

In The Queue

We still have approximately 10 more new stations to install in the District this year and we are working through our placement list to identify 10 of 12 potential locations, which we developed based on member input, user demand and other demographic criteria such as population and employment density.”

Future locations being considered next include:

“1st Street and K Street NE
5th Street and Florida Avenue NE
Division Avenue and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE
11th Street and S Street NW
14th Street and Irving Street NW
15th Street and L Street NW
17th Street and G Street NW
18th Street and R Street NW
19th Street and G Street NW
Connecticut Avenue and McKinley Street NW
Georgia Avenue and Missouri Avenue NW
Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue (at St. Elizabeths Campus)”

“Should I have called the police and is it illegal to ride bikes on the sidewalks in DC, or just certain parts?”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user kevnkovl

“Dear PoPville,

Yesterday, around 6pm I was almost finished with my run (on New Jersey Ave SE a little past the Capitol when I encountered about 7-8 adults on Capital Bikeshare. We went through an intersection together and then they started riding on the narrow sidewalk. They were struggling to get going, riding slowly and wobbling. I was running at their pace, if not faster so I went to the left of them to go around and next thing I knew I was flying through the air! One of them hit me.

I ended up on the ground and crashed into dirt/tree. I got up in shock and the first thing the forty-something year old man said to me was “You have to let me through!” First of all, he was riding so slowly and almost like he didn’t know how to ride a bike. Secondly, I said to him “It’s illegal to ride bikes on the sidewalk!” He just shook his head acting like it was my fault and never even asked if I was okay. Lastly, even if they are on the sidewalk don’t they have to yield to pedestrians?

After I looked at myself I realized my knee was cut up, bleeding, and swollen. Then I looked at my iPhone and the screen was completely shattered. I thought to myself what should I do, but I was so shaken up I just went home. I ended up having to replace my iPhone for $285 because a small part of the frame was bent.

Long story short, I kind of regretted not calling the police. But then I thought they have better things to do and I am not sure if they could have even done anything. Should I have called the police and is it illegal to ride bikes on the sidewalks in DC, or just certain parts?”

Bicycling Magazine names America’s Top 50 Best Bike Cities – DC #5

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe in DC

From Bicycling Magazine:

“In the last two years across DC, pilot bike-lane projects switched to full-scale implementation. A protected lane on M Street recently went in with sturdy concrete curbs instead of plastic bollards. In 2013, DC unveiled a new transportation master plan featuring 70 more miles of similar fully protected bike lanes. By increasing ridership in underserved communities and making cycling safe and comfortable for all, a city known for its gridlock—both vehicular and political—strives to lead the nation.”

Also in the region – Arlingon ranked 19 and Alexandria ranked 31.

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