Thursday Morning Commute - Phobos

It's the 134th Anniversary of the discovery of Mars' Moon Phobus. Which was discovered by Asaph Hall right here in DC. As a result, I always thought Phobos would be the great name for a DC bar (you can have that one Joe Englert). 

• It seems there are no bike racks at the MLK Memorial. Now I have a dream.
• Capitol Police already made an arrest in the bike theft that John Kelly reported on yesterday. "Thomas F. Goode, 40, of Southeast Washington was charged with second-degree theft and receiving stolen property. In the end, it wasn’t a security camera that led to the man’s arrest. It was a tip."
• In the same article was something that seems to have validated a story I heard. "There was a rash of bike thefts from the employee bike racks a couple of months ago when about 7 or 8 bicycles were stolen. Apparently some people weren't locking their bikes up at all because the racks are in the garages and there are Capitol Police officers who are stationed right next to the bike racks. Capitol police investigated and caught a U.S. House employee who had an apartment full of bicycles that were apparently stolen. Sadly it's just another example that you can never be too careful when it comes to locking up your bike." I contacted Capitol Police back then, so that they could brag a bit, but they didn't contact me back. John Kelly has what I assume are the details. "In June, the Capitol Police arrested Dana J. Wright and charged him with the theft of 10 bicycles. They were recovered by the Capitol Police and returned to their owners."
• Every week the Smithsonian gives details on one of the 137 million artifacts in their possession. This week it's the Shire Velocipede. "In the late 1860s, the forerunner to the bicycle was the velocipede, which originates from the Latin words for 'swift foot.' The velocipede had pedals on the front wheel but no drive mechanism, such as a chain on a bicycle. The velocipede was a stepping stone that created a market for bicycles, which led to the development of more advanced and efficient machines."
• There was another car crash on the GW Parkway at the crossing between Memorial Bridge and the MVT. Same as usual, cars stop to let trail users pass and get rear-ended. Maybe this will encorage NPS to find the money to build a tunnel. The Lynn Street tunnel was estimated at $1.3M, and that's for a longer tunnel.
• Greater detail on the various plans for the Cafritz project that straddles the Trolley Trail. The trail is basically the same in all of them, but the older ones are better.
• The MoCo Epic is a supported mountain bike ride connecting many of the major parks in Montgomery County. More than 80% of the ride is on singletrack. All proceeds benefit MORE.
• A guide to various bike facility types, though I don't think a "road" is technically a bike facility, I get where he's going with it.
• Helmets, they aren't just for biking anymore. "Helmets while riding a bike or playing football are good, reasonable precautions to take. Wearing a helmet while learning to walk? Now that’s just ridiculous." Is it?
• A judge dismissed efforts by a group of Brooklyn residents to remove the cycletrack installed by the city on Prospect Park West, claiming that the case was filed outside the statute of limitations.
• Markets in Everything

Comments

[Jim Titus]

The GW Pkwy needs rumble strips. A bridge or tunnel would be nice, but it's years away.

In the nearer term, I'd say this stretch needs 2 more warning signs in the half mile before the crosswalk, and rumble strips accross both lanes. Too many drivers are paying no attention to what they can clearly see; the rumble strips should wake them up.

A pedestrian activated light would not be a bad idea--but there would have to be something to get the drivers to pay attention. Maybe a warning light 1/2 mile ahead to warn drivers about the red light ahead.

Or rumble strips.

[Bilsko]

Offtopic:
Circular Seat tube and seatstay structure to reduce vibrations:
http://inhabitat.com/innovative-roundtail-bike-frame-smooths-out-bumps-in-the-road/

Not sure how I feel about that one.

This, however, has jumped to the top of my weekend-projects list:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/revolights/revolights-join-the-revolution

[GMB]

Great ideas, Jim.

Can we get a coordinated effort to lobby the NPS for more signage around the Memorial Bridge? The horrible sight lines, excessive speed (usually over the speed limit), and change from the rest of the parkway all make for a dangerous situations.

[Nancy]

While I'm picking nits, it's Phobos, not Phobus.

[charlie]

Do we know which crossing the accident took place on?

"from the Mt. V to Mem bridge"

As there are two.

Again best practice: wait for the gap. Cars shouldn't stop for people waiting to cross.

There is a bad middle space, when a car slows down for you, or stops, and you you have decide quickly.

I have to blame tourists here. Regular commuters may be speeding, but they know about those intersections. Tourists don't, and I'd be curious to know percentage they make up.

[CyclingFool]

I like the velocipede. That's cool. Interestingly enough, the Cyrillic transliteration of that word, велосипед, is the word for bicycle in modern Russian.

[washcycle]

Nancy, thanks I fixed it. Phobus is better though if you ask me.

Charlie, only one crossing is of the GW Parkway. The other is Washington Blvd.

[charlie]

@washcycle; most people are not as precise as you. However, that is good terminology going forward.

The GW parkway crossing could be improved -- the hawk, road strips, etc. Changing the speed limit there would not help.

The washingon blvd one -- good luck. It's ugly, and drivers will be more focused on the merges than on the crosswalk. Luckily, I think the new 110 trail will relieve a lot of the traffic at that crosswalk.

[I forgot]

Pedals on the front wheel, but no drive mechanism? Are the pedals for decoration?

[Crickey7]

I believe that would be called "direct drive". It's still a simple machine (a "first class lever"), just a bit more simple than one with indirect drive.

[washcycle]

Yeah, I think it's more like a Big Wheel or a kid's tricycle.

[David F-H]

Best part about the Phobos/Phobus discussion? It was originally spelled Phobus. (according to the all-knowing Wikipedia)

[washcycle]

Yeah. I was just going old school...