“Dear PoPville,
We found a nice bicycle carefully stashed behind our trash and recycling cans in the alley this morning.
Serotta Colarado III road bike- yellow and blue, red handle bar with cruise bar, water bottle, tire pump etc. The bike has been turned over to the 4th district police at 6001 Georgia Ave. We hope it is reunited with its rightful owner.”
From an email:
“The Bike Rack is offering free hot coffee for bicycle commuters Wednesday morning, October 16th from 7:30 am until approximately 9:00 am. We will be at the corner of 14th and Q, NW handing out free cups of Peregrine coffee as you make your way into work. Look for our banner, stop by and have a cup of joe on us!”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe in DC
I thought this was very cool. From CycloMend’s website:
“We maintain a network of local, independent, mobile mechanics that work on your bike where you want, when you want. Not only do we help you find the right mechanic, we also streamline the scheduling process, handle payments, source parts and make sure you pay a fair price…all for about the same prices as a bike shop.”
“Dear PoPville,
Overnight [October 11th] my sister’s friend’s bike got its two tires stripped on the 700 block of Hamilton Street, NW. It had been on the porch for almost two weeks no problems. In hindsight it was horrible idea to have it on the front porch for so long. If anybody has seen anything we would appreciate if you guys could call (786) 247-6179. Tips for handling this situation are appreciated as well. Is it worth filing a report with the Police?”
Great news on the 15th Street Cycle Track repair work from @DDOTDC:
“Progress on the 15th St Cycletrack continues, by mid wk we’ll begin to resurface the bike lane & complete the work on or about 10/18”
From a press release:
DC Bike Party: The Riding Dead is coming! On October 9th, the party group ride which averages between 500-700 participants each month will ride through Washington, DC dressed as zombies and all things un-dead. DC Bike Party, a community organized group ride which held its first ride in July 2012, grew to over 700 riders in September of this year.
The group, departing from Dupont Circle, will set out to complete an approximately 7-mile ride, visiting some of the city’s major landmarks and attractions with a pit stop on Capitol Hill before ending with a celebration at Congressional Cemetery. DC Bike Party participants will be treated to a live show by local favorites, the Bumper Jacksons and a full beer garden set up in the cemetery!
A map of the complete route will be available at DCBikeParty.com 24 hours before the ride. Riders are welcome to join or depart the group at any point—many riders use Capital Bikeshare.
Everyone is welcome to attend or participate. Full details on the event are below:
WHAT: DC Bike Party: The Riding Dead
WHERE: Departs from the middle of Dupont Circle
WHEN: Wednesday, October 9th
Meet at 7:30 P.M.; Depart promptly at 8:00″
Ed. Note: You can see all events here and you can schedule your own event listing here.
Photo by PoPville flickr user Rich Renomeron
“Dear PoPville,
Could you please post WABA’s pocket guide of area bike laws?
For background: I’m a DC bicyclist that commutes to work by bike daily and also rides on the roads and local paths recreationally.
Yesterday I was riding on the road on my way home from Crystal City at a brisk pace when a car came up behind me. Although the driver had a very wide and empty road to pass me, he immediately sped up as fast as he could and swerved towards me, coming within inches of hitting me, all while he and a passenger screamed at me with the window rolled down. I’ve been hit by a car before and sustained minor injuries, but at the speed that this car was going, a hit would have inevitably caused me serious injury or possibly even death. It was a terrifying experience that left me in tears – I’m an experienced long-distance and city rider, so I’m pretty tough when it comes to dealing with cars, but the thought that I could have lost my life due to road rage directed only at me being a bicycle on the road put me in shock.
I saw this article by the Washington Post about the death of MD cyclist Trish Cunningham who was killed when a driver tried to pass her on a blind hill and did not abide to the “3-foot law.” The comments section included ignorant statements on both sides about traffic laws, revealing how truly clueless we all are about road safety.
I’ve found in general that the comments sections on bicycle-related posts on both PoPville and the Washington Post have been very indicative of how little the public actually knows about bike laws. Both cyclists and drivers feel like the other side is uniformed, which fosters dangerous hostility.
I’ve seen lots of posts on PoPville about bicycle-related incidents, but none on the actual laws involved. If both parties are ignorant about traffic laws, all of our lives are put in danger. I think the best solution is to educate both cyclists and drivers alike about area traffic laws – it’s the only way to help both sides understand that we have equal rights to operate safely on the road.”
From the bike racks outside The Coupe in Columbia Heights. Should scooters be allowed to lock up to bike racks too?
Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC
From an email:
“The Oktoberfest Brewery Bicycle Tour, sponsored by Bardo Brewpub and beer garden, starts at the Metropolitan Branch Trail & Brookland-Catholic University Metro station at 1pm. Then on to DC Brau, the Arboretum and New Columbia distillery for tours and tastings. Finally, the tour will head to the Bardo beer garden at 1200 Bladensburg Road for pints, Oktoberfest beers, cornhole and a food truck.
Riders are encouraged to wear their best dirndls, lederhosen, swiss alpine hunting hats and anything else they feel indicative of Oktoberfest.
The ride (including stops) will cover 6 miles plus the Arboretum section of 2 miles. Riders will make it to Bardo by 4 p.m., with “one hour of riding and two hours of stopping”, according to grand marshal Bill Stewart.
Bardo opened in July and is, for now, an entirely outdoor brew pub. A wide selection of craft brews on draft appeal to even the snobbiest of beer geeks. Bardo is 100% dog friendly every day with 15,000 square feet in our beer garden to roam off leash and a house dog who loves to play.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user quemac
“Dear PoPville,
I was hoping if you could tell me whether the DC police dept. impounds bikes that have been locked to street signs or something else that isn’t a bike rack.
I called the 2nd district office and they said that do not, but a friend of mine’s bike was nearly impounded after it was left in front of a bar for several weeks, so I suspect otherwise.
I locked a vintage red Bianchi bicycle with a silver handlebar basket in front of 1145 19th St. on Sept. 5th. I went back to find it last Friday (I know, I’m an idiot for leaving it there for so long) and it was gone. I have a solid U-lock so I doubt it was stolen. I leave it locked in front of my building on Mt. Pleasant St. all the time. I’ve lived there for years and have never had issues.
Anyway, I thought maybe the police removed it since it was locked to a street sign. I welcome any tips you might have on tracking it down.”
I believe DDOT might impound bikes – does anyone know?