Monday Morning Commute - Golden Temple Restaurant

Good morning

• Before there was Tommy Wells, there was Tedsun Meyers. "While I was on the City Council I tried to find ways to affect the legislation of the city to ensure more bike paths and pedestrian safety....My term ended in ’75 on the City Council, and home rule came. David Clark beat me in the election for my seat...The unfinished business of bikes and safety and the streets got me thinking, and I called together the crew that was helping me before—Katie Moran, Bill Wilkinson, Noel Grove—and said I’m ready to back this but we need an Executive Director, and they suggested Dan Burden, who’d just lead the Bike Centennial ride from the Pacific to the Atlantic. We met at the Golden Temple Restaurant on Connecticut Avenue in DC, and there was born the Bicycle Federation of America." Though Meyers has the more impressive resume. 
• Several US Government agencies are already CaBi partners, but I'm actually surprised it's not more. I'd probably put Earl Blumenauer's office on this list too - as that is government funding. 
• There are some things to quibble with here, but in general it has a lot of good advice and, at the very least, brings up things one should think about (quibbles below). I couldn't get to the comments, but that's probably a good thing.
  
  • I wish he'd mentioned that drivers turning right need to turn from the bike lane.
  • It's rare that a driver who brushes a cyclist gets a ticket, let alone loses their license.
  • No one gets charged with a three-foot violation - even when they crash.
  • I find this claim "But inconsistent risk-taking as you zip through traffic puts more-mortal riders at peril, because it makes drivers jittery and annoyed whenever they see someone on two wheels." hard to believe. But you should ride in a safe manner. I don't know why he didn't just say that. [And isn't consistent risk-taking worse than inconsistent risk-taking?]
  • I do think sidewalk cycling is occasionally appropriate.
  • I don't think you're foolish if you don't wear a helmet - but you are probably making yourself safer if you do. Wearing a motorcycle helmet to walk to the Metro probably makes you safer too, but I don't think you're foolish if you don't.
• Jones Point Park is nice. And we now know more about the parking situation "Security considerations also prohibit parking directly under the bridge. The parking lot there is strictly for employees of VDOT, the National Park Service, local law enforcement and the like."
• PG County police are trying to solve a cold case from 11 years ago. It involves a 16-year old who was shot on his bicycle near the intersection of Audrey Lane and Maury Avenue in Oxon Hill
• This video doesn't change my mind about the Purple Line, but it's pretty cool in parts.
• B-cycle is getting more recipricocity between city systems. "Annual subscribers to the Madison, Wisconsin, Boulder, Colorado and Denver, Colorado can use their membership card to take bikes in each other cities. The overage time charges, if any, are at the renting location rates." Rather than regret the choice of Bixi - which I so far give a solid A - I hope that bike share systems that use Bixi can do the same. And add GPS devices.

Comments

[Richard Layman]

I met Mr. Meyers a couple years ago and he recounted the same conversation.

HOWEVER, the point he made is the original idea was to do the organization/ initiative for DC, with Dan Burden, but when they met, they figured it would have more impact if it was focused nationally.

[charlie]

I though the list was OK. Helmets, meh.

The biggest pet peeve right now is why bikers go into the crosswalk to cross a road, instead of going straight. I'm seeing that behavior with bike lanes. very very annoying, but doesn't apply to car-bikes.

And of course the biggest problem with cars: timid drivers who don't want to pass you and hover 5 feet behind you.

[Crikey7]

I found the video of the Georgetown Branch of the CCT peaceful, too. Kind of illustrates how lightly it's used, or, rather, unused. I'd be the last to argue that the current configuration has no value. But when the need is so great, the alternatives so unpalatable and the number of people the current configuration benefits is so small it's really passed the point of being responsible to oppose it on these grounds. I'd also note that the beautiful shots from thetrail down the Rock Creek Valley will be identical after the Purple Line goes in.

[rootchopper]

Seems like the parking under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is overkill. There are scores of parking spaces that are rarely used. The good news is that this makes an excellent place to learn how to ride a bike, even when it rains. I have already seen several parents hanging out while their little one rides in circles.

[Will]

The big question for Bcycle systems, can I ride from Boulder to Denver and have the system accept or otherwise handle a bike from another system? Part of me thinks "YES! That would be an awesome challenge", but then I think about how the operations guys would handle it, and it would be a giant mess.

[SJE]

Crikey7:
The G'town Branch trail is very lightly used compared with the section on the other side of Bethesda. That said, the other side of Bethesda is one of the(the most?) most heavily used trails in Maryland, so its not a fair comparison.

Also, the G'town branch trail also suffers from very poor maintenance, lack of connection to Silver Spring, poor marking, and occasional crime. Even so, I see more and more use of the trail these days.

[Crikey7]

True, the Lyttonsville end of the trail is a disgrace. And the crossing at Connecticut is a real impediment to users.

With more money (which isn't coming), one could make the trail surface better. I suspect you'd never get the funds for either really connecting to Silver Spring or to a separated-grade crossing at Connecticut in the absence of the Purple Line. Even the separated-grade crossing of Colesville needs the Purple Line, and without that you can't get real trail connectivity between SS, Chevy Chase and Bethesda.

[Jim T]

Arguing that we need to save a railbanked trail from the prospect of light rail is like arguing to save kudzu from some oak trees.

[Kolohe]

[And isn't consistent risk-taking worse than inconsistent risk-taking?]

Semi-serious answer, no. If I know someone is always going to push the limits when I see them (in whatever conveyance they or I are using) I can and will adjust accordingly. That's harder when behavior is totally random and unpredictable.

[Martha]

Fed Agencies & CABI - unfortunately, one barrier to CABI membership is station placement. When a station is multiple blocks from a 1000 employee office building, its hard to get the membership too interested. Maybe CABI could be willing to tie station placement considerations with corporate membership.