Thanks to Mike for sending:
“Carbeque on north cap and Michigan ave.”
Transit
Photo by PoPville flickr user Erinn Shirley
“Dear PoPville,
I’ve got a crowd source question. There’s an older black gentlemen that I’ve seen a half dozen times sitting in the middle of the lower level of the l’enfant plaza metro station. He’s always working away creating absolutley incredible black and white scetches on a large surface (please forgive my complete lack of knowledge about art related terminology). I have seen small photos of the subject (usually pets or people) in the corner that he uses to create the beautiful sketch. I can only assume he’s down there soliciting from metro riders and creating a custom works of art for a fee.
I’ve been looking for him for a while and found him in his usual spot today, but he had drawn a large crowd and I was in a rush to get home and walk the dog. I did see him hand a business card to a kid so I’m hoping someone out there has his contact information. I’d love to commission a picture or two so if anyone knows how to make that happen without spending all day scouring metro stations I’d really appreciate it! His stuff looks so good I’ve gotten goosebumps looking at somebody else’s dog!”
Thanks to all who messaged us via email, twitter and facebook starting around 5pm yesterday:
Video from Navy Yard, sent by Nick
“They ran over a woman’s dog at 14/P. Just kept driving and disobeying traffic laws. What’s up with this legally? Does the city just shrug their shoulders over it? Highly dangerous. I saw two cop cars trailing them but it’s not like that would stop much.”
Video from Bloomingdale, sent by Matt
“Rhode Island Ave NW at North Capitol Street heading towards Logan Circle. There were at least 100 quads and dirt bikes shooting all around traffic, driving on the wrong side of the street and cutting people off, weaving in and out. Most wearing masks.” (more…)
djwinterman reports:
“Uber drivers making illegal U-Turns causing accidents more & more. DC gov needs to do something about this ASAP.”
Are folks noticing an increase with ridesharing or same as it ever was?
“Dear PoPville,
Last night [Sunday] I had a reservation from 5:00-7:00p that I made a month in advance knowing about the metro service interruption and the racist march downtown, having to transport my 5 year old daughter pursuant to a custody agreement requiring my daughter to be dropped off at 6p in Virginia. As the thunderstorm hit, our car was not available (parking lot above Columbia Heights Giant). The ZipCar representative said we could wait for 45-50 minutes or walk a mile in the storm to a car in another location, carrying a car seat, my daughter, and her bag. (more…)
Photo by Carl
“Dear PoPville,
I want to tell you about a near death experience I had while riding one of those electronic scooters.
I was riding up 14th in the bike lane with a green light ahead. As I was passing by Girard St, a mid sized car traveling the opposite direction came barreling down 14th St and without stopping took a left on Girard cutting me off. Just a second from a direct impact, I jumped off the scooter and fell to the ground, narrowly missing what could have been a fatal encounter. I’m scuffed up but the situation has me pretty shaken up.
Wondering if any your readers have had similar terrifying situations on these scooters? My hunch is that the driver never saw me due to the lack of light/size of me on a scooter vs the size of a bike.
Would you ride a scooter again if you were me? (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I was on a BestBus that caught on fire yesterday from NYC to DC (4 pm bus out of Penn station). The fire occurred just outside on Trenton. Thanks goodness everyone was OK, but there was at least one person with a non-life threatening injury. but we think that it blew a tire and by the time the drive got pulled over there was smoke and flames pouring out from under the bus. Everything under the bus and left up top was a total loss.
Response from Best Bus below. (more…)
Victim’s photo via Lee Merritt/Facebook
Thanks to all who sent the Washington Post report:
“According to charging documents filed in D.C. Superior Court, Smith was riding his bike westbound in the center lane in the 3100 block of M Street.
The driver was in his car behind Smith and became angry that Smith was riding slowly, according to police. As the driver went past Smith, police said, Smith reached out and hit his car trunk with an object.
The driver then stopped his car and threatened to call police to report the damage. As Smith tried to pedal away, the driver grabbed Smith’s bike, police said. Smith then repeatedly called the driver the racial slur, police said, and struck him in the head with the bicycle U-lock.”
There are much more detailed allegations posted on attorney Lee Merritt’s Facebook [warning, there is a graphic photo of the head injury]: (more…)
From WMATA:
“Metro customers on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines are being reminded that a major track improvement project will significantly affect train service for 16 days, starting this weekend. Metro will work around the clock to rebuild track and tunnel infrastructure in the tightest curve in the system, located between McPherson Square and Smithsonian stations. On weekdays, trains will single track through the work zone at all times.
Customers who use these lines are strongly encouraged to use alternate transportation during the two work-weeks of the project. Orange and Silver lines will only run every 20 minutes–even at rush hour–and may not have room for all riders. Meanwhile, the Blue Line will operate in Virginia only, between Franconia-Springfield and Arlington Cemetery. Virginia customers traveling to DC should take the Yellow Line to Downtown stations.
On Saturday, August 11, and Sunday, August 12, Farragut West, McPherson Square, and Metro Center’s lower level will be closed. Limited shuttle bus service will replace trains between Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle stations. Orange and Silver Line trains will operate every 12-15 minutes outside the shutdown area. (From Virginia, all Orange and Silver line trains will terminate at Foggy Bottom.) Blue Line trains will run between Franconia-Springfield and Arlington Cemetery only. All other stations (except for previously announced Red Line stations between NoMa-Gallaudet and Fort Totten) will be open.
During this period, Metro is also preparing for a planned “Unite the Right” rally and counter-demonstrations on Sunday afternoon near the White House, and is aware that many participants may be planning to take rail to the events. (more…)