Ten for Tuesday - Back from Vacation

1. This is really just another car-hits-cyclist story, but then again, it isn't

An unidentified middle-aged male cyclist was trapped under a Girls Gone Wild full size chartered bus last night for approximately 20 minutes.

2. Will David Cameron get along with Bush as well as Tony Blair? He rides a bike, but sounds like...Al Gore.

British opposition leader David Cameron rides a bike to work, is building a windmill on his roof, wears sneakers and likes to be called "Dave" _ all of which endear him to urban yuppies but disturb many of his fellow conservatives.

3. I missed the D.C. Environmental Network's Make-Up Mayoral candidates forum as I was 3/4 of the way up Mt. Rainier at the time, but if you went and have notes, email them to me and I'll post them up. And there are three more forums for lower offices.

August 10th - WARD 3 Council Candidates FORUM
PARTICIPANTS SO FAR: Bill Rice, Jonathan Rees, Eric Goulet, Sam Brooks, Paul
Strauss, Catherine Wiss
TIME: 12 TO 1:30 PM

August 17th - Council Chair/At-Large Council Candidates FORUM
PARTICIPANTS SO FAR: Phil Mendelson, Kathy Patterson
TIME: 12 TO 1:30 PM

August 24th - WARD 1/WARD 6 Council Candidates FORUM
PARTICIPANTS SO FAR: Tommy Wells
TIME: 12 TO 1:30 PM

And while I'm talking about my vacation, I spent a day in Seattle. Everywhere I went there were bike facilities. More bike racks than you could use at once, bike lanes, sharrows, etc... Everywhere I went I saw people cycling. Every corner looked like 18th and U NW. It's impressive and something for the DC area to continue to aim for. They don't use the inverted U racks very often and instead use longer racks with a bar across the span (see photo). Does anyone have experience with these? Are they better?

One disappointment, I didn't get to ride the Burke-Gilman Trail, which I wanted to.

4. Construction on the Montrose Parkway, a 1.8 mile 4-lane highway, has begun in Montgomery County. The location is just north of the terminus of the North Bethesda Trail and includes a bike path.

Widened sidewalks and a new bike path will also enhance safety along Montrose Road, Gonzalez said.

‘‘I have seen little kids...on bicycles riding on that sidewalk immediately adjacent to traffic traveling 50 miles per hour,” he said. ‘‘That’s not very safe.”

5. David Cameron might need a license plate when he bikes to work so that the red light cameras can monitor him.

"I think, I'm now persuaded, we should actually say that bikes and their owners should be registered," London Mayor Ken Livingstone told LBC Radio. "There should be a numberplate on the back so that the ones breaking the law, we can get them off the cameras. It's the only way you can do it."

Denver is also cracking down on bicycle scofflaws.

Patrol officers use radar guns to gauge a person's speed and ticket skaters and cyclists who are breaking the speed limit, Denver television station KMGH reported. The enforcement came as a result of an increase in accidents involving pedestrians, Denver police said.

6. I missed all the heat, but I hope everyone took care of themselves,

Bicycle messenger Gravett Dhuja tried to look at the bright side as he rested near a Capitol Hill office building: "It's been hot, but rain is a lot worse for us."

because the heat can have serious implications.

An autopsy could determine whether the hot weather was a factor in the death of a Frederick man who was found dead Tuesday evening next to his bicycle.

7. Three letters came into the Post about "The Next Washington." All three were largely about transportation. Sadly, only one mentioned bikes.

More of our population consists of retirees, empty nesters, young, creative singles and families. These groups increasingly seek to live near transit and where it is possible to walk, bicycle and take shorter car trips to schools, stores and work.

8. The RFK criterium was this past Sunday. Here's a great photo from it.

9. If you're a WABA member, you can now get discounts on Zipcar and City Center Fitness Club memberships and on yoga at Flow.

I'm thinking about getting rid of my car for good, so that zipcar discount looks appealing.

10. There are plans to upgrade a foot and bike path over Route 29 to better unify Eastern and Western Columbia, Maryland.

“It could cut down on congestion and road traffic,” he said. “There are so many wonderful things that could come out of this if it is done right.”

Comments

[Chris]

The RFK Crit on Sunday was my first bicycle race, and though my final result wasn't stellar, I had a blast! A bunch of fun corners to go fast around, including two 180 degree ones! Wondering why it took me so long to try one of these....

[Juno888]

I went I saw people cycling. Every corner looked like 18th and U NW. It's impressive and something for the DC area to continue to aim for.