BikeDC

An Unfortunate New Series: Have You Seen My Stolen Bike?

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: It amazes and saddens me how many emails I get every month about stolen bikes. It is very rare that bikes are reunited with owners but perhaps there is some therapeutic value in posting. Also, I hope it is a good reminder to be super vigilant about always locking up your bikes. Perhaps some folks will recognize these bikes – if so please leave a note in the comments where you may have seen it.

If you’re bike has been stolen send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail with Stolen Bike in the subject line. Please include the location where it was stolen and let me know if you’d like me to include your email address with the post.

For the bike above:

“Custom made bike was stolen from outside of the Starbucks on 14th St. (Columbia Heights?) Attached to this email is a picture of the bike, since it was put together from scratch it is very distinctive”

“My wife’s wheels just got stolen, and we hope your readers can help us find them. The bike, a cream-colored Abici Donna (like the one shown in the photo, except with a wicker basket in front), was my anniversary present to her, and she uses it for her commute and all kinds of errands. Any tips will be much appreciated by us both.”

Dear PoPville – Frustrating Biking Experience

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Yesterday morning I was riding my bicycle toward the right side of the right lane headed south bound on 11th Street. This is a two lane road in both directions. I passed a stopped bus which was partially occupying the right lane however I did not have to switch lanes to do so. At the moment I passed I was in the process of positioning the bike to the right of my lane again when a tan Dodge Caravan came from behind me and came to inches of hitting me.—It was similar scenario to the biker who was hit by the pickup truck riding on Rhode Island Ave. except there was no verbal exchange and no actual contact.— I think that the minivan definitely tried to scare and intimidate me for no apparent reason.

I followed the minivan a couple blocks to the intersection of 11th and K St NW and approached the window of the car. The driver rolled down the window in anticipation and asked me if I have a problem in a very confrontational manner. I asked if he did not see me as he came inches to hitting me to which he asked if I was speeding. To me that did not seem like a logical response/question since he came from behind me and was probably speeding himself. I made him aware that I am on a mountain bike with stop lights every block which would make speeding very hard.

I decided to leave since other then to escalating the encounter there was little I could do. As I was leaving the driver had a smirk on his face, as if he was acknowledging an accomplishment.

The thing that bothers me is that we, as bicyclists are vulnerable on the road as it is, and I truly feel that this is clear provocation of a bicyclist for no apparent reason other then hate. Had this driver made contact with me I would have been truly injured and in my opinion it would have been a hate crime. There was no reason for the driver to behave as he did on the road other then the strong dislike of cyclists.

I guess my question to you and the readers would be if there is any good retaliation to this kind of behavior?”

Sometimes even when you are in the right – there are no satisfactory answers. And to a certain degree, I can see this as a somewhat rhetorical question. Nevertheless, while I know some folks will disagree with me, in my opinion there is never “any good retaliation to this kind of behavior”. The best retaliation is to smile and bike on by. Believe me, I respect the desire to want to punch somebody in the face or hit their car or scream but, as trite as it sounds, you gotta be the better person. I don’t believe a confrontation will have any positive outcome.

It is my hope that one day bike lanes will be better respected and cover more of the city. But until that time comes some shitty and unfortunately sometimes dangerous situations are going to arise. And no doubt there are some serious jerks in the world – that is just a reality that I don’t think will ever completely change. No retaliation will change their behavior. If you take the bait of instigators then they win, if you smile and bike on by with your head held high – then you win.

I believe Council Member Tommy Wells recently said that ultimately the culture needs to change to make the harassment of bikers less common (though I believe some legislation is being debated as well). And certainly there are some bike riders who instigate drivers. In fact some cyclists can be down right insufferable. But at the end of the day – we all need to respect each other whether our mode of transport has two wheels or four. It does take time for culture to change so in the meantime I’ll leave you with the words of the great Canadian jurist Barbara Hall:

“Justice does not come from the outside. It comes from inner peace.”

The 5pm Post – “The Cupcake Caper!”

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

”
Thursday, October 27 · 7:30pm – 11:00pm
BicycleSPACE
459 I Street, NW

We have planned a special event for the season finale of our I Street Social Group Ride which has consistently drawn large numbers of participants over the course of the summer. This Thursday, come prepared for “The Cupcake Caper!” Foul play will be afoot, and we will need your help to solve a mystery. Whoever can solve the crime will win a beautiful Brooks saddle and matching handlebar grips. But this won’t be easy– you’ll have to closely follow the clues and piece together the evidence.

Participants are encouraged to come in costume and dress up their bikes– prizes will be awarded to the most creative. It’s Halloween, people!

As always, expect to ride a unique route through the city accompanied by tunes from our “music bike.” Bring plenty of cheer to animate passers by.

If you would like to attend this Murder Mystery Party On Wheels, kindly RSVP on Facebook.”

5th Annual DCCX Cyclocross Bike Race To Be Held At Old Soldier’s Home Sunday

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“DCCX, presented by Dogfish Head Alehouse and Family Bike Shop, is offering a day of bicycle racing, refreshments, kids’ fun and Civil War history this Sunday, Oct. 23.

The course is on the historic grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, located at the corner of Upshur St and Rock Creek Church Rd, NW. More than 700 competitors in the cyclocross races will compete in different events running from 8:30 am until 5 pm — with the elite racers taking off at noon (for women) and 3 pm (for men).

DCCX, part of the Bikereg.com MABRAcross Super 8 race series, is a great place to check out high-level bike racing in a relaxed environment — or to strap on a helmet and try racing for the first time. Registration is still open, and while some categories are full, slots are still available in the 4:15 pm Rookies’ Race.

And come out on Saturday afternoon from 1:30 pm until 4 pm for a chance to pre-ride the course.”

More info from DCCX here. A reader gave a good run down of a previous year’s event for competitors and spectators here.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for a Felt F95 Team Edition Stolen Bike

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoPville,

My boyfriend and I are new to the DC area – we moved to 12th and U about 2 months ago from Miami. On Friday, my boyfriend’s bike got stolen between 11am and 5pm from the bike rack in front of the Dupont metro station on Q Street. We are so bummed! People had warned us about bike theft in DC so we bought a crazy Kryptonite lock. The thief still got it :(

If anyone happens to spot the bike please send me an email (princeofpetworth at gmail) with the location and I’ll forward it to the reader.

Construction begins on Metro’s first Bike & Ride facility at College Park + Reminder of Station Closings this 3 day Weekend

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo of construction via WMATA

From a WMATA press release:

“Bike commuters looking for a more secure way of protecting their ride will soon have a new option at the College Park Metrorail station, with the addition of Metro’s first “Bike & Ride” facility.

Once completed, the new Bike & Ride—essentially a 2,400-square-foot room with steel mesh walls—will provide a bright, access-controlled area for locking bikes up to 120 bikes. If successful, the facility’s capacity can be expanded in a future phase.

Currently, about one-third of customers who park at College Park Station travel short distances (less than three miles) by car. Only about one percent travel to the station by bike, a percentage Metro hopes to increase once the new facility is completed.

“We want to do everything we can to encourage bike access to the Metro system,” said Nat Bottigheimer, Metro’s Assistant General Manager of Planning. “By providing customers with enhanced security and convenience, our hope is that more College Park customers will consider bike access.”

“The cycling community is extremely pleased to see Metro taking its planning efforts to improve bicycle access to the next stage by starting work on a new type of bike parking solution,” said Shane Farthing, Executive Director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. “We look forward to seeing this facility open and well-used in the near future, and we hope that the lessons learned in College Park can be used to provide better, safer bicycle parking options throughout the system.”

Constructed using see-through steel mesh walls, the facility will feature bright lighting, multiple cameras and card-controlled access. Customers who sign up for bike parking will receive an access card or fob that allows them to enter. Customers using the new Bike & Ride will be charged a nominal fee (about 3-5 cents per hour). Free racks will continue to be available at the station.

The facility is being constructed within the existing College Park parking garage, using a space on the southeast corner of the building that was originally programmed for retail use.

Bike & Ride Features

24-hour card controlled access
Capacity for up to 120 bikes
Docking space for oversized bikes
Enclosed space provides protection from weather
Security features, including steel mesh walls, cameras, lighting
Emergency egress door and intercom

Construction is expected to be completed by early 2012.”

This sounds pretty sweet.

And in other metro news – just a reminder that the Shaw, U Street, and Columbia Heights stations be closed from 10 p.m. Friday through system opening Tuesday.

Stolen Bike and Related Question – Should New Bikes Be Painted in Dull Colors?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

My brand new bike, “robin egg” blue Surly Cross Check stolen from outside Busboys and Poets at 14 and V last night between 8 and 11 pm.”

If anyone spots this bike please email me at princeofpetworth(at)gmail and I’ll put you in touch with the reader.

But it also leads me to a question I’ve been meaning to ask – and I admit it’s disappointing that I have to think this way – do you think new bikes should be painted dull colors to make them less tempting for thieves? A friend of mine who had a couple of bikes stolen did that to his third bike and never had a problem after that. Do you guys think that is an effective tactic? Again admittedly it sucks to have to do so but if it works…?

MPD 1D Listserv: Reports of a Biker Assaulting Elementary School Child

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

From the MPD 1D listserv late last week:

“Hello Neighbors:

I received the below email from my very Dear friend who drove thru our neighborhood/community early this evening. The assault happened at the corner of 12th & D Street NE (near the abandoned red brick building).

Of course I asked the obvious, “did she call the police” and she stated that she would make her complaint but at that moment alarmed, shocked and appalled at what she witnessed, she immediately went into mother mode and addressed the assailant. She recalled there was a woman standing across the street with a baby stroller watching as well, but said or did nothing to offer any assistance. (please see her complaint below):

Submitted by Witness:

Elementary age boy assaulted by adult male biker this evening around 6pm

Today, while driving, I witnessed an adult male biker dressed in a yellow and black bike outfit jump off of his bike and viciously attack an elementary aged boy. The man, a white male with dark hair and glasses, chased the boy, pushing him up against a wall and proceeding to hit and choke him. Once he released the boy, he grabbed the boy’s school books and proceeded to throw and kick them around. He then picked up the child’s notebook and throw it into the water.

The boy was walking with a schoolmate, both dressed in uniform attire, a burgundy shirt and tan pants.

I pulled over, confronting the man by repeatedly asking “Are you an adult?!” Eventually, as he seemed to register my presence and what I was saying, he agreed, saying “You’re right,” and then he picked up his bike and rode off.

The attacker was a white male, between the ages of 30 and 45 years old, 5’7” to 6’ tall, dark hair, with facial hair and glasses.”

The following note was also submitted but I have not seen any further updates:

“My kids and au pair witnessed the event as well. Apparently the children threw something at the biker which they said appeared not to do any harm to the biker, but that was what triggered the biker to stop and assault the child. When I returned home a couple of hours afterward, I collected some of the school papers that had been scattered with the idea that if I could identify the school, I would return the papers to the child. The child’s name was on them, but nothing to indicate what school he attended.”

MPD Looking To Combat Uptick in Crime by Perpetrators on Bikes in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

Very interesting story from NBC Washington about crimes and bikes in Columbia Heights (via Mike DeBonis).

Is this a good way to combat an increase in cell phone snatchings by perpetrators on bikes?

MPD Commander Jacob Kishter comments on the story in the Shaw listserv:

“Its not a new policy or initiative but a misrepresented news story. Rest assured we will not be harassing bike riders.

We have noticed an increase in robberies where bicycles are being used and I want my officers to pay more attention to our known violent offenders who are committing these cases.

In fact we made a great robbery arrest last night involving one of our known offenders who was riding a bicycle which he did not own.”

Ed. Note: MPD also sends me an email asking folks to be careful using their smart phones at night – please remember to be alert. Also another reminder to not leave your purses on the backs of chairs while dining or leave electronic equipment like laptops unattended. I don’t mean to blame the victim in anyway here but there are preventative steps we can take to make us less of a target.

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