Tuesday Morning Commute - We're #4

Good morning. I hope the SpaceX launch went OK.

• Bicycling magazine ranked DC #4 in the top cities for cycling. That's way up from #13 last time. You're going down next Boulder.
• New bike lanes are being installed on F Street downtown. 
• The new 11th Street Local Bridge, opening on Thursday now, will in fact have a "6' bike/ped path separated from traffic by jersey barrier, and from construction by a fence." Sadly, that temporary facility is still beter than the current 11th Street Bridge bike/ped lane.
• Next Wednesday, May 30th, at 10am the DC Council's Committee on the Judiciary will hold its third hearing on bicycle and pedestrian enforcement issues in the District. More here.
• The Post asks if our love affair with the car is over. They mention the improved biking environment as one reason why driving is down. Also, they interview Jeff Lemieux who occasionally submits videos for your enjoyment.

Comments

[Chris Eatough, BikeArlington Program Manager]

Don't forget little old Arlington! Ranked number 23 in the Bicycling Magazine article, up from 30 last year. One of the highest rankings for a small jurisdiction (the rankings seem to focus on large cities). http://www.bicycling.com/ride-maps/featured-rides/23-arlington-va

[Jonathan Krall]

Having spent time riding in some of these cities (SF, Denver, Boulder, Seattle, Austin), I don't see why Arlington isn't in the top 15. Perhaps the weaknesses in Arlington on-road network versus their excellent off-road network is confusing the judges.

[Chris Eatough, BikeArlington Program Manager]

Couldn't agree more, Jonathan! (although I admit, I might be a tiny bit biased). Bikesharing and automated counter programs are a couple more areas that Arlington is at the leading edge of. I do think the smaller size of Arlington (207,000 population) is a factor.

[I forgot]

Every morning when I cross the Roosevelt Bridge, the sun comes out and the car drivers become more friendly as I go from #23 to #4 bike friendly city.

[Arl]

Biking in space!

[oboe]

While we're on the subject of great bicycling towns, I'd like to give a shout-out to Tysons Corner, which is in the process of installing bike lanes on Gallows Road (at least north of Oak Street).

I'd like to apologize for all the times I've cursed you for being traffic-choked shit-hole. All is forgiven.

[SJE]

Oboe: That's good news, but is this a real change or just a fig leaft?

Baltimore had a wonderful bike lane along Roland Ave, but it didnt really connect to much else. It was that very same bike lane in which Nathan Krasnopoler was killed by a little old lady last year.

Do the Tyson's lanes(a) go somewhere people want to go (b) connect to other bike lanes or safe routes and (c) are the police actually going to enforce the law.

[Fred]

I do not have the same perception as "I forgot" - I have not seen the miraculous change in driver behavior (or anything else) crossing from Arlington to DC!

[oboe]

@SJE:

Since they're still repaving Gallows, I'm not sure what the end result will be, but I use Gallows as the last 2 miles between Oak (which is where I pop out from the W&OD) and International Drive.

I was pretty comfortable riding on Gallows w/o them, but the good thing about bike lanes is that it tends to validate cycling in the minds of skeptical drivers.

In other words, rather than being pissed off at me for daring to ride my bike on Gallows Road, now the few chuckleheads I encounter will be pissed off at Fairfax County for leading soft-headed individuals like myself astray.

[I forgot]

Hey Fred, my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek.

[Fred]

Absolutely!

[washcycle]

Chris, thanks. I knew Arlington would be on the list, but I didn't have time to click through every page to see where they wound up - and I couldn't find any other listings. I think that parts of Arlington are good enough to give DC a run for their money and other parts feel like suburban Dallas, but you probably won't feel much of a difference when you cross the river.

[MBT Sko Norge]

Hvis skoene kan bruke i lengre perioder av gangen, må være i samlingen samtidig på overflaten av skinn og et tynt lag av skokrem, sko tresko prop MBT joggesko oransje støttet opp for å unngå forvrengning.