BikeDC

“Dear PoP,

I’m a big fan of the Capital Bike Share system, was one of the charter members ($50 a year instead of $75), and simply love the concept. However, I feel like Columbia Heights and Petworth tend to get the sticky end of the stick when it comes down to actually being able to ride a bike. Consider this morning, here we are again with close to zero bikes available.

I was walking to the station at 14th and Harvard and thought it might be a good idea to see if any bikes were available. Not a single bike at Petworth OR any of the CH stations. Yet again.

Rush hours happen, I get it, but this is at midday on a Monday. The other end of this problem is finding somewhere to dock a bike on the other end. On a Saturday I often have to get a 15 minute extension to try and find an open dock on Corcoran St by Safeway (17th Street restaurants) and nearby stations on 14th St. I mentioned these problems to a friend in Barcelona (they have a similar system called ‘Bicing’) and he said they’re really on the ball over there and he’s never seen this happen.

The CaBi system just offered half price memberships on Living Social and I read that somewhere in the region of 4,000+ memberships had been purchased. I’m all for funding expansion of the system but only if the members can actually use it.

Is this just my bad luck or are there other black hole stations in the system that need addressing? I’d like to suggest something to CaBi and am curious about other’s experience in the area.”

Are you guys noticing it is getting harder to find a bike at the bike share station? I’m usually able to get one at the intersection of Georgia and New Hampshire Ave, NW by Sweet Mango though I was thwarted last Sunday afternoon on H St, NE:

“Dear PoP,

I always wonder what the point of carrying a bike helmet is if you don’t wear it. When it’s on the handle bars it’s an additional hazard!”

Truly a bizarre sight.

Now I swear I’m not posting this to be a jerk – I’m genuinely curious. Have you ever seen a cyclist yield to a pedestrian? I’ve recently become addicted to the bikeshare program and I’ll be honest, personally, I don’t think I’ve ever yielded to a pedestrian. So seriously, just out of curiosity, have you ever seen a cyclist yield to a pedestrian or if you’re a cyclist have you ever yielded to a pedestrian? Do you think that behavior will become more common as the bike lane network expands?

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

From an email:

Using Doppler radar, the Farmers’ Almanac, and ancient methods of divination, we have discovered that this Saturday may very well be the coldest day of the year (or at least one of them), which can mean only one thing: group ride!

So don your mittens and balaclavas and lets get together at noon at the Washington monument for a chilly loop through DC and over the Key and 14th St. bridges into Arlington. Cue sheets will be on hand, but as a group we may abreviate or deviate from our plans for mercy of our fingers and toes.

The ride will end with ice skating at the sculpture garden if we are enjoying the chilly air, followed by mulled cider on Capital Hill for anyone who wants to join.

WHAT: Group ride on (what may be) the coldest day of the year.
WHERE: Meet at the Washington Monument
WHEN: Saturday, 1/22, Noon on the dot.
RSVP for the Coldest Day of the Year Ride on Facebook, and Keep an eye on our website for more details as they arise.

Photo by PoPville flickr user [F]oxymoron

“Dear PoP,

The short version of the question – Does anyone have experience fighting a drivers’ license suspension based on a cycling accident?

The longer version – A few months ago, I was cycling in DC and was struck by a car. Damage to myself, my bike, and the involved vehicle were fairly minimal (thankfully), and the driver admitted fault to both me and the MPD officer that arrived at the scene. In spite of the admission of fault by the driver, the officer wrote me a citation “because you don’t have an insurance company to fight.” I was flabbergasted, to say the least, and decided to contest the ticket via a letter by mail. I screwed up in that I misread the ticket and thought the letter needed to be postmarked within 60 days when in fact it needed to be received within 60 days. I have now received notice that my drivers license has been suspended and not only do I have to pay the ticket, I also have to pay twice that amount to have my license reinstated. The notice has no mention of any form of recourse, just payment methods.

My questions are: How can DC suspend my license to drive when I was cycling? Those without drivers’ licenses (minors and others) can cycle on DC streets and get into accidents, so how does it make sense that some folks can face stiffer penalties than others? Does anyone have helpful insight into how to fight the suspension and not pay to have it reinstated? At this point, I’m willing to pay the ticket just for it to go away (should have done that in the first place), but I am worried that sometime in the future, if I’m in a cycling accident again, the “admission of guilt” could come back to haunt me if i have to go to court over damages/injury.”

Wow. I fear it may be too late to remedy but is there any chance you got the driver’s contact info? If not I think you may be out of luck. What do you guys think about this specific situation?

To the larger question – Anyone know why you can get your driver’s license suspended for biking citations?

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

Thanks to all who forwarded the email. From Capital Bikeshare:

On January 1, the hunt is on to find Capital Bikeshare’s Winter Weather Warrior. The Capital Bikeshare annual or monthly member with the most trips taken from January 1- February 28 will be awarded the title of Winter Weather Warrior, a three-year extension of their membership, two annual memberships for friends, a $100 Hudson Trail gift card and a $25 Starbucks gift card.

In addition to the grand prize contest, Capital Bikeshare members can look forward to two full months of other contests and random giveaways. To participate in the Winter Weather Warrior contests and random drawings, you must opt in.

You can opt in here.