bikedc

“Why would someone take the time to replace the wheel that’s being stolen? What does this mean?”

By Prince Of Petworth

stolen bike wheel
Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

“Dear PoPville,

I’m reaching out because I had a very strange situation with my bike on Thursday night.

It was locked up on Capitol Hill with both a u-lock (on the frame) and a pretty hefty cord (the cord went through the frame, the bike rack, and the front wheel). When I came out to unlock my bike something didn’t seem right. As I started to unlock it I realized that the front wheel was not the correct one. My commuter wheel had been stolen but replaced with a smaller mountain bike wheel.

Someone had tried to cut the u-lock (there were a few marks which looked like an attempt had been made), successfully cut the cord (which was no where to be found), and then after taking off my wheel, replaced it with another one. (more…)

RFP Released for MBT Extension to Fort Totten!

By Prince Of Petworth

MBT
Photo by PoPville flickr user Matt Calvert

From DDOT:

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced a Request For Proposals (RFP) for the design-build construction of the next phase of the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The Fort Totten section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail will connect from where it currently ends on John McCormack Drive in Brookland, to the Fort Totten Metro Station.

“This is the next major milestone in the District’s commitment to completing the construction of the Metropolitan Branch Trail,” said Leif Dormsjo, DDOT Director. “A design-build approach will help us engage the creativity of the construction community to bring their ideas to the final design and construction.”

The Metropolitan Branch Trail is an 8-mile multi-use trail that connects Union Station in the District of Columbia to Silver Spring Maryland. The new trail will provide a direct off-street route for bicyclists and pedestrians through the Fort Totten area.

The trail will include LED lighting, security cameras, and wayfinding signage. (more…)

“In its most recent update to its “User Agreement,” Capital Bikeshare has slipped in a forced arbitration clause and class action ban that significantly affects the rights of Bikeshare members.”

By Prince Of Petworth

bikeshare-crash
Photo by PoPville flickr user James Warner

“Dear PoPville,

Thought this was interesting. Folks should protect their rights.”

From Public Justice’s Opt Out of Capital Bikeshare’s Forced Arbitration Clause by Dani Zylberberg:

“In its most recent update to its “User Agreement,” Capital Bikeshare—the hugely popular bike program in the Washington, D.C. area—has slipped in a forced arbitration clause and class action ban that significantly affects the rights of Bikeshare members. In fact, this new “User Agreement” only benefits Capital Bikeshare, not its members. But if you are a Capital Bikeshare member there is something you can do about it: Opt Out!

Capital Bikeshare’s new “User Agreement” forces users to give up their right to go to court, and instead sends dispute that would typically be heard by a court into arbitration, which almost always favors corporations over consumers. That’s because arbitrators—who are often hired again and again by corporations to hear these disputes—unsurprisingly tend to rule in favor of the company that is bringing the arbitrator repeat business. (more…)

“I was hit by an Uber driver in the bikelane/crosswalk at 9:15am this morning”

By Prince Of Petworth

justice
Photo by PoPville flickr user LaTur

“I was hit by an Uber driver in the bikelane/crosswalk at 9:15am this morning, January 3, at the corner of 14th and V, NW. If you have a camera pointed at that intersection (say from Union Row or Langston Lofts) or witnessed the accident and got a look at the make/model of the car and/or license plate, I would really appreciate you contacting me. The Uber was a black four door car and the driver was a black male in his 50s and I was wearing a yellow and black jacket, black pants, orange helmet and a white bicycle. Luckily I am ok but I was too shaken at the time to get his license plate. Thank you.”

Anyone with info can also email me directly at [email protected] and I’ll put you in touch with OP.

You can see all forum topics and add your own here. If you are having trouble uploading your question please email me at princeofpetworth(at)gmail Please Note this is NOT an events calendar.

“this plan should slow traffic and dramatically improve safety”

By Prince Of Petworth

md-ave-ne
Photo by PoPville flickr user Kristine Marsh

“Dear PoPville,

A group of residents who live along Maryland Ave NE are gathering signatures for a Thank You letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser for her efforts to move forward a plan that will add bike lanes to the street all the way from near the Capitol to H Street / Starburst intersection. The Maryland Ave Safety Project will also narrow the road from four lanes to two lanes, add left turn lanes, and improve intersections to make them safer for pedestrians. Anyone who’s walked or driven along Maryland Ave NE probably knows how fast traffic currently travels along the street — this plan should slow traffic and dramatically improve safety.

The changes could be implemented as early as next spring. To learn more and help keep the project moving forward, sign on here.”

Georgia and Kansas Intersection Remains Troubled – Another Car-Bicycle Collision this Morning

By Prince Of Petworth

kansas-georgia
via google maps

A reader reports:

“Looked like a bike-car collision on southbound Kansas Avenue at the Kansas-Georgia ave intersection (there are bike lanes on Kansas in that area). Couldn’t see how bad the situation was, several police cars and a fire truck on the scene around 9AM. Not sure what happened in this situation, but from experience:

1) cars coming from Varnum St (either crossing Kansas to continue on Varnum, or turning onto Georgia) when cars on Kansas are bumper-to-bumper fail to notice that the bike lanes keep moving, and

2) cars heading south on Kansas and planning to make a right onto Upshur after they cross Georgia will often encroach onto the bike lanes in anticipation of the upcoming turn.”

“just moved to DC for an unpaid internship as a graduate student and can’t afford to replace it”

By Prince Of Petworth

stolen-bike-2

“Hi, my friend’s bike was stolen today [Thursday] outside of her office on M and 20th downtown. She just moved to DC for an unpaid internship as a graduate student and can’t afford to replace it, so I was hoping the PoP community might help and keep an eye out for it–especially if it shows up online.

Frankly, I’m shocked that someone could have gotten away with clipping a bike lock in such a high traffic area … the Golden Triangle BID should be concerned about this.”

You can see all forum topics and add your own here. If you are having trouble uploading your question please email me at princeofpetworth(at)gmail Please Note this is NOT an events calendar.

“DDOT did a beautiful job redoing the intersection of Florida/15th/W Sts”

By Prince Of Petworth

island

“Dear PoPville,

So DDOT did a beautiful job redoing the intersection of Florida/15th/W Sts. There is better traffic flow and a really nice protected (2-way!) stretch of the bike lane, and it looks great. But is anyone ever going to use these bike racks that are isolated on the traffic island? They’re not next to businesses, houses, or the park. Not clear why anyone would park a bike there except to get it stolen…”

Ed. Note: I’ll also echo kudos for the protected bike lane. And I don’t see why folks wouldn’t use the bike racks – it’s not far from Meridian Hill, houses on 15th and businesses on 14th and U. As to whether or not bikes will get stolen there, that I don’t know.

Disturbing Report on the Metropolitan Bike Trail and More Disturbing 911 Response

By Prince Of Petworth

mbt

Yesterday a resident reported, on theBrookland listserv, encountering a man masturbating on the MBT around 11:30am. The following description of the 911 call could be even more disturbing:

“Where are you?”
“RHI metro bridge on the Metropolitan Branch Trail.”
“Oh are you in the metro?”
“No.”
“By Foreman Mills.”
“What’s the cross street?”
“Rhode Island Ave. I am on the MBT.”
“But where on the MBT.”
“Just south of the 2.1 mile marker.”
“Mam, that doesn’t help me.”
“I thought the whole point of the mile markers was to help us tell you where we are?”
“Where are you again?”
“On the Metropolitan Branch Trail, just by the RHI Bridge Steps across from Foreman Mills.”
“What is the cross street?”
I lost it then. This is redic.
“WHAT IF I WAS BEING RAPED? Could you find me then?”
“I will send someone out there now.”

I am so frustrated, and I feel unsafe.”

I emailed OP this morning who said she heard from the 911 office today and “They are re-training everyone about the MBT.” Given the number of incidents reported on the MBT let’s hope this training is done post haste. And is thorough.

BicycleSpace Robbed on K Street but MPD officers “recovered and returned a number of bikes”

By Prince Of Petworth

bicycle space robbed

Eileen reports:

“Break in at BicycleSPACE in Mt Vernon Square. Police on scene. Tape around area & A Baked Joint next door.”

MPD reports:

“The First Police District reports the Burglary of an Establishment this morning in the 400 block of K Street, NW at approximately 6:30 AM. The established was entered by person(s) who broke out the glass in the front door and took a number of bikes that were recovered by our officers and returned to the owner of the establishment.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s First Police District are investigating this Burglary and should you have witnessed this break in or have knowledge of it, we urge you to contact the departments Command Information Center immediately on 202-727-9099 and reference CCN# 16-140-304.

Persons with information may also anonymously text via cell phone to 50411.”

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