Should DC limit sidewalk cycling in commercial areas?

By David Alpert

At this morning's oversight hearing for the bicycle and pedestrian advisory councils, Councilmember Jack Evans chastised cyclists who speed on jogging trails, and Tommy Wells expressed interest in exploring restrictions on sidewalk cycling in commercial areas of DC.

Photo by M.V. Jantzen on Flickr.

At the start of the meeting, Evans said that he jogs regularly, and cyclists have almost hit him 3 or 4 times. He also said he's seen cyclists run stop signs once a week, and travel too fast regularly.

Let's put aside the obvious point that Evans probably also sees drivers run stop signs more like once a day, and travel at excessive speed almost constantly, if he doesn't do so himself. Evans is mostly talking about walking and biking paths, like the Capital Crescent Trail near his house, and some people do travel very fast on bikes in ways that intimidates walkers and runners.

Wells said, "If I get a call from Jack around dusk, I know what it's going to be. It is an issue that we have to keep bicycles separated from pedestrians, especially around sidewalks. We do want people walking and jogging. ... In his own way, Jack is a representative for the jogging advisory council, and we do have work to do."

That work might include looking at whether to restrict cycling on sidewalks in some cases. Currently, DC law allows biking on sidewalks except in a central area. Sean Wieland of the Pedestrian Advisory Council testified that in areas like Georgia Avenue in Ward 4, sidewalks are often somewhat narrow and crowded with pedestrians, and cycling there can create problematic conflicts.

TheWashCycle blogger David C. pointed out that the Mayor already has the power to restrict sidewalk cycling in specific areas as desired. He doesn't think DC should ban it outright, as there are times it's the best move, such as climbing up hills when cars drive fast and there are few pedestrians.

People also start and end their rides on sidewalks, or use them for short distances when one-way streets would otherwise force a long detour. If I ride to U Street, my trip home involves a short segment on a one-way street to get to my alley. I ride on the sidewalk for that short stretch, which is by far the most efficient route.

If I ride on the sidewalk, I always make sure to defer to pedestrians. People on bikes must recognize that people on foot have the right of way, and that while the law might allow using sidewalks, anyone riding a bike on one has to be respectful and stay out of the way of people walking. If that means riding no faster than a slow walk, so be it.

Not everyone does this, however. For this reason, Wells expressed interest in considering restrictions on sidewalk cycling in commercial districts. This could make sense when the commercial district has two-way roads, so people can always bike in the street, and the road is not overcrowded. There seems to be little reason to ride on the sidewalk on Barracks Row, for instance, except between one corner and a bicycle rack on that block.

But what about 17th Street in Dupont? BeyondDC often bikes northbound on this street, which is one way north of Massachusetts Avenue. Going to 18th could represent a fairly long detour. 16th is harrowing. 15th is fairly far away.

A lot of people bike the wrong way in the 17th Street bike lane. Generally, they are able to do that without problems, since 17th is a low-traffic road and cars move slowly. That's illegal, however. Riding on the sidewalk is legal, but those sidewalks are very narrow.

It's too bad DDOT and the neighborhood didn't devise a legal and safe way to ride northbound when recently reconstructing the road. There's now a popular Capital Bikeshare station at 17th and Corcoran. If someone wants to ride there from, say, the station at 17th and L, there's no legal, direct way to do so. As we are seeing in practice, many people are not willing to detour to 16th or 18th for this type of trip.

Crossposted from GreaterGreaterWashington

Comments

[antibozo]

Yeah, well I also see joggers make abrupt U-turns without looking behind them. One did so on Sunday on the W&OD just a dozen yards ahead of me. And I see them obliviously weaving on the CCT with earbuds on and music so loud they can't hear my very loud bell or my vocal passing warning. Who knows--maybe one of them is Jack Evans? ;^P

But no hard feelings, joggers. We're all trying to use the trail together. But do take out the damned earbuds, or at least turn the music down. It's dangerous.

[Boelle10]

As a biker and a pedestrian, usually in the restricted section downtown, I see both the advantages and disadvantages of restricting cycling from sidewalks. That said, I can't tell you how many disrespectful cyclists have nearly run me over while walking down L Street. When I do bike in that area, I'll use the sidewalk only to start or finish my journey, and I'm usually going slow and give pedestrians the right of way. I wish more cyclists would do the same, and it wouldn't be a problem if the rules were actually enforced.

On bike trails, perhaps they could start checking for speeders like in VA, but I really hope they don't restrict bikes from "jogging" trails because they are what make this city a joy to bike in.

[Joe]

Maybe they should ban walkers and jaoggers from bike trails? Not at all for the idea but sick of constantly being told to get off the trails and get off the roads.

Seems like cyclists are currently the "in" and an acceptable group to bully and discriminate against.

[Jonathan Krall]

@Joe I agree. Perhaps someone should have asked Evans and Wells if they were aware of the discrimination that is so often experienced by cyclists in DC.

[Eric_W.]

Let's just make biking illegal and we can then convert the bike lanes to jogging/ Segway/ strolling lanes. And while doing that, also outlaw bikes from regional trails like MVT, CCT etc. unless they are being pushed no faster than walking speed of a toddler.

And, by all means, come down with the full force of the law to punish cyclists for all their infractions. They are many and serious and a singular and direct threat to life and limb of all kinds of traffic participants.

*sarcasm off*

[Richard Layman]

Like David Alpert, when I ride on the sidewalk I always do so at a speed that is subservient to and defers to pedestrians.

Why is it that so many cyclists do not do this?

How can this behavior be changed?

[oboe]

@Richard:

Not to be snarky, but to paraphrase Larry Summers: "There are assholes. Look around."

:)