@SawatdeeRuck tweets us the photo above and writes:
“Zebra stripes filling in between flexible bollards on First Street cycle track.”
And props to the guys who’ve been painting the lanes green. I just noticed over the weekend they were doing it by hand:
And thanks to another reader for emailing an update on the M Street Cycle Track:
“The M Street cycle track is nearly ready! Flowers courtesy of Caruso Florist on the 1700 block of M.”
Thanks to @vplus for tweeting us:
“Fresh paint on the new bike lane on 1st st NE across from CNN DC.”
I love when they paint the whole lane! Which do you guys prefer – painted or plain?
From an email:
“I am an officer of the Mountain Bike Tac Team of the second district of the metropolitan police department in Washington, D.C. We are starting a new initiative on the first Saturday of every month called the “Orange Helmet Patrol” in which we incorporate a community bike ride with our team and anyone interested to ride with us. I would like to extend a personal invitation to join us this Saturday May 3rd from 12-1 at 3320 Idaho Ave NW. All skill levels and age ranges are welcome to join.”
Last night at 10:17pm a reader wrote:
“Just saw a biker being loaded into an ambulance on H St bridge. Is he okay? They’d cut off clothes and he wasn’t moving. There was a bikeshare next to him. Hope he’s okay.”
@DCPoliceDept tweeted:
“Street closer for pedestrian struck on 3rd and H St. NE. H St. from North capital to 3rd St/ both East and West Bound.”
Now NBC Washington reports it was a hit and run and police are looking for a gray Honda SUV:
“The bicyclist was taken to an area hospital with serious to life-threatening injuries.”
UPDATE from MPD:
“The Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a vehicle of interest in connection with a hit and run involving a bicyclist which occurred in the 200 block of H Street, Northeast.
On Thursday, May 1, 2014, at approximately 9:48 pm, an adult male operating a bicycle was travelling eastbound within the 200 block of H Street, Northeast, near Union Station, when he was struck by a dark grey, four-door, Honda Accord with unknown tags. The vehicle continued eastbound on H Street, NE, failing to stop.
Anyone with information about this vehicle or its driver is asked 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.”
Photo of previous storm damage on the trail back in 2012 by PoPville flickr user quemac
From a press release:
“Late in the day on Wednesday, April 30, a break occurred in the Upper Potomac Interceptor, a large interceptor sewer carrying sewage to be treated at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. DC Water dispatched a contractor crew to complete a bypass of the sewer line. This entailed installing a temporary sewer line that DC Water used to bypass the damaged pipe while repairs are made. The Capital Crescent Trail will remain closed while DC Water makes repairs, which are expected to take up to a week or more. The break caused an estimated 5 million gallons of combined sewage to overflow into the Potomac River. This spill ran overland and over the trail before reaching the river.
The area — the Capital Crescent Trail between Fletchers Cove and the end of the trail at Water Street in Georgetown– has been closed to the public while repairs take place and everyone is asked to avoid contact with the area. Please do not walk or bike through the portion of the trail that is closed. The tunnel below Canal Road near Foxhall is also closed.
DC Water is formalizing a clean up plan as well as a repair plan for the break.
In addition to avoiding contact with the affected land area, the public is cautioned to avoid contact with the Potomac River for 72 hours, just as is the case after any heavy rains, due to combined sewer overflows. An average of 638 million gallons per year of combined sewage flows into the Potomac River during intense rainstorms. This will be addressed in the long term by the Clean Rivers Project, the $2.6 billion program to significantly reduce combined sewer overflows to the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and Rock Creek.”
@kebursaw tweets us yesterday:
“Driver got out w/ stool & tried to attack me twice after I took pic & asked him to move.
I knocked on window & asked him to please not block lane. His answer: “I’ll beat you. White boy”
A reader sends word last night:
“7:00 witnessed a young man fall from the stone arch at the beginning of the Capital Crescent Trail in Georgetown. There were a bunch of kids hanging out on top of the arch, and someone fell near the water, and hit a big metal pipe.”
Horrible. Hope the young man is ok.
Photo from previous bike ticketing on 11th Street, NW
For the folks who were upset about word of stepped up enforcement with drivers getting ticketed. A reader reports:
“Saw bike ticketing in Foggy Bottom this morning. 23rd & H St. NW. Strict enforcement! Don’t start before light turns green and apparently don’t stop too far over the crosswalk box. As usual $25 tickets. Cops said they will be ticketing all summer, both bikes as well as vehicles for driving recklessly due to high accident rates.”
Thanks to a reader for sending this cool shot from First Street NE just south of M Street.
From DDOT:
“Why bike lanes on G and I Streets?
G and I Streets are one-way, low traffic volume roads popular with cyclists. They provide a safe and attractive alternative to cycling on the much busier H Street commercial corridor, and were recommended in the city’s 2005 Bicycle Master Plan. Up to 60 bicyclists per hour have been counted on these streets.* The soon-to-open streetcar line on H Street increases the need for these lanes due to the danger to cyclists of getting their bicycle wheels caught between the streetcar track and roadway.
What will the lanes look like?
The new bike lanes will look different than most of the lanes you see around the city. Placed outside the parking lane, the outer bike lane line will be a solid double yellow line separating the adjacent travel lane. This will provide a dedicated space for bicyclists to travel against traffic (contra-flow). Within this lane will be bike symbols and arrows indicating the contra-flow direction. Shared lane markings, or sharrows, will be placed in the adjacent travel lane indicating that cars and bikes must share this lane. In essence, each street will remain one-way for motor vehicles, while bikes can now travel in both directions.
What are the benefits of contra-flow lanes?
The contra-flow lanes provide better connectivity for bikes, reduce dangerous wrong-way riding, and decrease trip distance, making cycling a more attractive travel option. New Hampshire Avenue, NW has a similar design.
What about traffic?
Traffic flow will remain the same for motor vehicles – one-way westbound on G St, and one-way eastbound on I St. Bikes are the only vehicles allowed to travel both ways. There should be no negative effect on traffic flow.
Will parking be affected?
The amount of parking will remain the same. The only difference is that, on the bike lane (left) side of the road, drivers must cross the double yellow line to park. They should first look for oncoming bikes, then, when clear, cross the bike lane and park against the curb, facing in the direction of motor vehicle travel.
When will the work be done?
DDOT will install these lanes in April 2014.”
