BikeDC

“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.

2nd Annual Boundary Stone Bike Ride Sept. 20th

By Prince Of Petworth

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From an email:

“2nd Annual Boundary Stone Bike Ride

Are you a history buff? Biking enthusiast? Regular old adventure seeker? Join us Saturday, September 20th for a bike ride around the oldest federal monuments, the DC boundary stones.

The 2nd annual event is bound* to be bigger and better than the first!

You can ride 1, 2, 3 or all 4 sides of the DC perimeter. Last year we started at the East stone (check out last year’s route), and many people only completed the first side, so this year we will start where they left off: the South stone, in Old Town Alexandria.

Meet at the Jones Point Lighthouse at 9am.

Boundary Stone Public House will once again be sponsoring the ride with t-shirts and beer specials after the ride.

Mark your calendars and check the Facebook event for details!

*pun intended”

Good News (mostly) Grandma’s Stolen Bike Recovered

By Prince Of Petworth

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On Friday we learned “My grandma gave me this bike last year, after keeping it for more than 3 decades”. A number of readers found the bike listed on Craigslist. The owner updates us over the weekend:

“Hi all! Bike has been retrieved and worth the $50 to get it back. Thanks to Paul who found it on Craigslist and for everyone who helped get this resolved!”

Ed. Note: In a perfect world the crooks would be arrested and/or at least the OP woulda got her bike back without paying. Having said that given the sentimentality – though an injustice occurred – I’m very happy OP got her bike back. If I had an object of similar sentimental value, I would do the same thing.

Damn it – Another one! “My grandma gave me this bike last year, after keeping it for more than 3 decades”

By Prince Of Petworth

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“My bike was stolen from in front of my condo building on Thursday sometime. It’s a maroon 3 speed, with orange letters (that look very 1970s) on the middle bar. White handlebar grips. new wire basket on the front. My grandma gave me this bike last year, after keeping it for more than 3 decades (she bought it the year I was born). It’s not a great bike and likely not worth much, but it means a lot to me and it does to them, so I’d love to get it back. Will pay reward with no questions asked.”

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Heads Up – Be Sure to Lock Bike Wheels Too, More Reports of Bike Wheels Getting Stolen

By Prince Of Petworth

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Unfortunately more reports of bike wheels (and bikes) getting stolen.

One reader writes:

“Sometime in the middle of the day yesterday [Saturday] my back wheel was stolen of my bike which was locked in the front yard [Potomac Ave part of Capitol Hill.] My fiancé was home and they tried to get the front wheel too (nuts gone) before they left. So angry.”

Another reader writes:

“On Saturday, at about 5:30 PM, I saw a man steal a bike that was locked up outside of the Shaw metro station on 7th between S and T. The bike only had the front wheel locked, so the guy was able to take the frame and back wheel. He then went up and down 7th street until he found a wheel he could take. I yelled at him a few times, but he was able to take what he needed to assemble a new bike. (I didn’t have my phone on me so I couldn’t take pictures or call the cops.) I followed him from the Shaw metro stop to the U-Street metro stop (over on 13th) until I was finally able to flag down a cop. They questioned him but had to let him go and keep the bike because there was no proof that it was stolen. They said they had his information in case anyone reported their bike stolen.”

Bike Stolen in Logan; Wheels Stolen on Sherman

By Prince Of Petworth

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“It was a blue Surly Cross-check single speed that was stolen from in front of my building at 15th and Corcoran St NW yesterday evening.”

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“I know there are tons of bike thefts in town but have lived here more than year with out it happening…until tonight, while I was out running errands this evening (between 7-9pm), some A-hole had the dignity to take my wheels off my bike…in front of a fire station. Euclid & Sherman Ave in Columbia heights.

If anyone sees two bike wheels for sale on Craigslist, let me know. Any any suggestions on where to get new dubs? (Sad face).”

Dear PoPville – I bought your stolen bike for $30, is it yours?

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

I’m trying to return a potentially stolen Specialized ‘Hard Rock’ to its owner. It’s black with Hard Rock written in silver and red, Scott hand bars, wiring for an odometer and an axle hitch mount.

Here’s the story. This last Monday around 6:00 PM, I was approached outside the Columbia Heights Metro by someone asking if I’d like to buy a bike. It was a nice bike, and the owner was asking $40, and the dropped to $30 quickly. No evidence, but seemed likely it was stolen. Knowing the police don’t have capacity to respond to a call of a ‘potentially stolen bike being sold’, I opted to buy it and try to find the original owner.

I’ve posted on craigslist and had the serial number searched in the stolen bike police database, but with no luck. So here’s my last shot. If you are the owner, please contact joshtulkin(at)gmail.com”

Reader Reports Slashing at Last Night’s DC Bike Party Ride

By Prince Of Petworth

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Last night a reader tweeted us:

“a bystander stabbed a DC Bike Party rider tonight in SW DC. Kid had a knife as we rode by.”

In an email a few more details were shared:

“We were riding up as the whole group through First St SW. Last leg of the ride as we headed back towards the Mall and Chinatown. Lots of folks in the neighborhood were cheering, waving, and saying hi as we rode by. We got to an apartment complex where some youths were standing between cars high-fiving riders. We were in front of it, but as we rode by, one of the bystanders had a knife in their other hand and slashed someone.”

On DC Bike Party’s facebook page there is no mention of this incident:

“What an awesome night! Thank you to New Belgium Brewing, Ironhorse Taproom, City Bikes, and most importantly DC Bike Party volunteers! They are the people who make it all happen.”

I’ve sent an email to the organizers to see if they’ve heard anything. Anyone else happen to witness this incident?

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