Tuesday Afternoon Commute - Listless

Good afternoon

• A husband and wife riding west on Four Mile Run Drive were hit by a truck when its driver lost control, went over the median and struck the cyclists. "The male victim, 63, suffered multiple broken ribs and a punctured lung on his left side....His wife, 61, suffered head trauma and a broken pelvis and remained in critical condition as of 1:45 p.m. Monday at George Washington University Hospital."
• Frequent commenter Oboe gets a shout out in a cranky old man article that complains, among other things, that our "Gracious streets have become clogged with bike lanes". Anyone who reads GGW's comments know that Hogwash and goldfish almost always disagree with Alpert.
• "Upgrades to the Crystal City Metro station, ranging from signage and bike racks to an expanded pedestrian plaza" will be funded by state transportation dollars that come directly from the state rather than from the NVTC. 
• WABA asks members to refer a friend. 
• On Saturday, Oct. 20, join in on the largest clean-up and beautification effort in the 45-mile W&OD trail's history. "American Idol" alum Lauren Alaina will be performing. 
• At a Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board meeting, citizens were skeptical of Capital Bikeshare's safety. They "questioned whether Montgomery County would be held liable for accidents, why many Bikeshare users in Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va., don’t use helmets, if there would be enough room on sidewalks for pedestrians and if drunk bar patrons might steal the bikes from docking stations after a night on the town." There are legitimate questions about where the county will find the space needed for the stations - since their sidewalks are more narrow than DC's. "Planned locations now include the Bethesda and Medical Center Metro stations, a number of Woodmont Triangle sidewalks, Bethesda Row posts, a NIH/Suburban Hospital docking station and a stop at Woodmont Avenue and Bethesda Avenue for Capital Crescent Trail access."
• After 16 years of closure, the Big Slackwater section of the C&O Canal Trail is finally open. Paid for in large part by Obama's Stimulus bill. 
• Dr Gridlock on Dream Projects for the region "I’d also like to see politicians back new incentives for commuters to use transit or bike. Again, not many ribbons here — unless they’re opening bike lanes, and those can be very controversial if taking space from drivers, so they require some political courage, if not clout."
• The Heritage Foundation blames "Costly transit projects and low-value transportation enhancement programs for bicycle and horse trails and roadside transportation museums" for the 33% increase in transportation outlays over the last 10 years. If that were true, there would be a lot more bike parking. They also say these programs "do not improve mobility or relieve traffic congestion" which is demonstrably false. 
• Chips start to fall from USADA report. Levi Leipheimer was fired. The IOC may strip Armstrong and Leipheimer of their Olympic medals. And how will WaPo columnist and BCS-hater Sally Jenkins handle Lance Armstrong's downfall. Meanwhile, Michael Barry argues that the sport needs to be completely reformed (cyclists should form their own organization similar to the PGA with their own races). 

Comments

[DaveS]

"and national parkland is threatened with children’s play equipment" said someone who either never had children or never was a child.

[Earl H.]

please dont ruin bikeshare by placing any of it Montgomery County...they dont want it, they dont understand it...let them build a bigger 270, and dozens of rockville pikes!! theyre morons in MoCo...let them be...

[contrarian]

"and national parkland is threatened with children’s play equipment" said someone who either never had children or never was a child.

I caught that too. I'm very active in working to provide recreational opportunities for kids -- there aren't many in DC -- and I have no idea what he is talking about. NPS tends to be incredibly resistant to people actually using and enjoying their land.

[Will]

So the 61 year old woman with head trauma, was she wearing a helmet? Let's all assume not, and ergo she must be to blame for all this.

Since it's not the WaPo comments section, somebody had to bring it up.

[JeffB]

Re: Montgomery Bikeshare.
Why can't the stations be placed on the street? Just remove a parking spot or 2. I agree that many of the sidewalks in Bethesda are too narrow as it is.

Interesting how everybody is assuming that bikeshare will lead to more sidewalk cycling. I think this will be the case as well UNLESS MCDOT changes its approach of favoring high speed arterial roads and starts providing some balanced transportation infrastructure.

[@will]

Was the driver wearing a seatbelt? ;)

[Jonathan Krall]

"and national parkland is threatened with children’s play equipment"

I'm pretty sure that's a reference to Capital Bikeshare. Some blog postings only make sense to people who read too many blog postings.

[Jim T]

Martin is still on WABA's board and was re-elected Vice President on Monday night.