TheWashCycle

Cyclists run red lights = careless, rogue and somehow newsworthy

FOX WUSA9 CBS did some hard-nosed investigative journalism to show that cyclists are, in fact, running red lights. Yes, that must've taken them 9 minutes of undercover work. Wait for their next story about young people and their penchant for making out. 

They follow it up by asking a few cyclists why they run red light, which none of them answer well and makes me wonder what wound up on the cutting room floor. The best part was when they interviewed someone from WABA about it...oh, wait...they didn't.

Sigh. They never show any evidence that what is going on is dangerous (though the one guy who squirts in front of the Metro bus is doing it worn), never mention the real reasons why cyclists do it, never mention the Idaho Stop, never mention the low rate of crashes that result from cyclists running TCDs, never compare it to the hight rate of jaywalking or speeding or all the other types of traffic violations that would make all road users careless groups who rule road in rogue fashion...In short, terrible, terrible news story.

Wednesday Afternoon Commute - Vanity Tags

Good afternoon.

• Gov. O'Malley has budgeted nearly $69 million in state transportation funds to cover engineering costs for the Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrollton over the next two years. The money is going to come exclusively from drivers. "The funds, a part of the state's transportation trust fund, came from increases in certificate and title fees for vehicles, as well as higher fees for vanity tags and dealer processing charges." The Purple line project will transform the Georgetown Branch Trail (and future Capital Crescent Trail), paving it and adding safer crossings of major streets, but reducing the preserve-like feel of the current trail.
• Capital Bikeshare is close to putting out an Invitation for Bid on advertising for the system. Ads could go on stations, on bikes or on the name of the program. "When finalized, sign advertising will only apply to bikes and stations in the District of Columbia because, Moskowitz said, "Arlington right now doesn't have the ability to do that legally," noting restrictions on bikeshare funding in the Virginia county, which is also part of the system. The article also addresses the drop in ridership over the recent months, which noone really thinks is due to a lack of enthusiasm over the program. 
• I'm going to assume that I'm just too ugly to show photos of. 

Saturday Evening Ride - the No. 1 concern

Good evening

• Capital Bikeshare users aren't wearing helmets. There are no numbers on what percentage do and don't, but Tom Sherwood thinks most or even a "vast majority" do not. I'm not sure that's accurate. Or that it is particularly a problem, as he notes "since Capital Bikeshare launched in the fall, about 800,000 individual rides have been recorded with only 13 accidents" with no word on how many of them involve a head injury that would be mitigated by a helmet. Still, some people think it's a problem. He reports that DDOT is going to try to get out 500 helmets to users, something first reported last week. You can see the video below the fold.
• Speaking of Tom Sherwood, when he was on Kojo's show, Kojo felt the new to address criticism from cyclists. "As for the suggestion that I would seriously advocate that motorists hit bicycle riders, well, maybe you've missed every show we did with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, encouraging bicycle riding and the fact that we've never done a show encouraging more driving." Personally I thought his earlier comments were harmless ribbing of Sherwood.
• Metro locker rentals have dropped by about a third since the price increase in 2010. Revenue us up $46,000, far short of the $200,000 predicted. In fact the total revenue is still far short of that number at $103,800. So they have $46,000 more, but with potentially 300 fewer customers.
• The Greyhound depot is going to be razed and redeveloped after buses move to Union Station. As the terminal is across the street from the Met Branch Trail, it would be great if the trail could be extended over L street and then down, gradually, to K. It would be a nice thing to push for if they seek rezoning.
• DC's Living Social has a bike rack inside the office.
• New pedicabs rules have gone into effect as of Aug 1. They'll be in effect for up to 120 days. Please send me comments on these rules if you have a strong opinion. The rules have been tweaked since last posted, but I'm not sure how. And if that isn't enough, NPS is drafting it's own rules that will “probably” be based on the city’s, but not necessarily. "we are not bound and compelled by it. Safety always has been, always will be and must remain forever the No. 1 concern. Someone, frankly, could get killed.” In that case, they should issue new rules for trucks. As to when NPS will be done “When we’re ready, we’ll let you know,” he said. “It’s much more important for the Park Service to get it right than hurry through something and get it wrong.” Glad that both DC and NPS had hearings on this - oh wait...NPS really just needs one rule "No pedicabs near the Mall."
• The Examiner fails to report that most trail users support the Purple line, and instead reported that "Trail users and environmentalists have cried out over the paving and massive tree-cutting a light rail line would bring."
• A profile of the Reston Bike Club.

Tour de Links - Bronx Velodrome

AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani

Pennsylvania - A cyclist sustained serious brain injuries when he was struck by a car while bicycling to work in 2007. He's now so disabled that his parents now have to take care of him. They sued Bell, the manufacturer of his bike helmet, arguing that it was defective. Bell testified that the helmet met the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission's Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets and won.

North Plainfield, NJ - 10 bystanders lifted a truck off a woman after she was hit on her bike riding through an IHOP parking lot.

New York City - A 57 year-old NYTimes obituary writer will be reliving his cross-country bike ride of 18 years ago. I suspect he'll find the route a little more friendly. And, cyclists in the Bronx are making plans to turn the Kingsbury Armory into New York's only indoor velodrome and to stage Six Day races there. Would the same idea work at Uline?

Also, NYC is expected to pick a bike share vendor by next month. Once it comes on line it will North America's largest. Montreal and Mexico City also both plan to be larger than DC's.

And, check out the Queens Plaza Protected Cycletrack

Queens Plaza Protected Cycletrack is Open For Business from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Bristol, CT - ESPN's Michael Smith thinks that the crash between a TV car and a Tour de France cyclist that sent one cyclist to the pavement and one into a barbed-wire fence was funny. He doesn't sound too apolgetice about it either. "Today I've managed offend cyclists everywhere. Guess what? It's still funny." But then I guess it wasn't, because he issued a real apology.

Panama City, FL - A cyclist crashed into a black bear. No one mentions if the bear was in the crosswalk but he left the scene (hit and run). Both were wearing helmets. I'm in Panama City right now, I'll try not to crash into any wildlife.

Chicago - Chicago's new commissioner of the Department of Transportation, a young man by the name of Gabe Klein, wants to promote more biking in the city.

Kenosha, Wi - want to own a decommissioned ligthhouse along a bike trail? The fes are auctioning one off.

Little Rock, AR - Secretray LaHood was in Arkansas to help cut the ribbon on a new trail bridge. "The Two Rivers Park Bridge is a beautiful, 1,300 foot pedestrian and bike bridge that is the last link in a bike and pedestrian trail system connecting 20 parks and 18 miles of trails in downtown Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pulaski County"

Los Angeles - You've probably heard about carmaggedon - LA is closing 10 miles of the 405 freeway all weekend. Some cyclists wanted to arrange a cyclovia on the closed road, but police said no. I didn't realize National Park Police managed the 405.

Also, a retired police officer on a bike riede was killed after colliding with a county owned maintenance vehicle in a park. The County was found to not be liable .

Washington State - Someone who hit a cyclists from beheind while driving under the influence tries to get off on technicalities.

London - In one year, London's bike sharing scheme has accounted for 6 million trips. Which is about 6 times as many as DC/Arl will likely hit. Makes sense, since they have 6 times as many bikes. Dockblocking is an issue there too. "The largest terminal, at Waterloo station, can house 126 bikes, but TFL admits it could have five times as many and still not satisfy demand." There have been fewer than 100 crashes and none of them serious.

Copenhagen - National Geographic takes a far different tack to covering the way Europe has changed it's transportation policy from the one the NYT took. Instead it is more about reducing parking than trying to make driving difficult.

Wednesday Morning Commute - Quasi-War

Good morning. FYI Women's World Cup semifinals today featuring USA vs. France. A rematch of the Quasi-War. Remember the Retaliation!

• The Virginia Department of Transportation has named John Bolocek as the long awaited Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner.  He officially begins July 11.
• The Oregon Avenue EA comment period has been extended to July 29. At a recent meeting on this, one speaker in favor of option 4 (bike lanes) was booed. Much of the complaining appears to be about sidewalks - with one person calling them ugly. [That's just rude. Sidewalks are very sensitive, and they haven't grown into their height yet. In college, they are really going to blossom, and you'll wish you'd been nicer to them.] But widening the road for bike lanes isn't popular either.
• If you want to go to a meeting and insult street elements [Tree boxes are lazy!] You can go to the public scoping for Broad Branch Road Environmental Assessment. This is the road with the damaged bridge that was replaced with a one lane bridge, where cyclists were then discouraged by being banned, but now they aren't banned anymore. "The project involves the rehabilitation of Broad Branch Road between Linnean Avenue and Beach Drive, NW. The proposed improvements are to address current infrastructure deficiencies as well as community and safety concerns." If you'd like to see more consideration for cyclists in this corridor, you can show up tonight from 6:30-8:30pm at Chevy Chase Community Center.
• DDOT has signed off on the Walmart site at New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road. But not after insisting on '"a complete overhaul of all streetscape facilities" including sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and bike lanes around the site.' and moving the Capital Bikeshare station from the north end to the center for better access.
• The Marvin Gaye Park Trail will not run right through the middle of Peanut Park (pictured)."the bike path that cuts through the park is lined with white, reclaimed wooden porch columns, which highlights the community’s front porch culture."
• More coverage of WABA's proposed legislation against aggressive driver behavior directed toward cyclists. AAA's John Townsend is interviewed, but plays it safe.
• From the Post "a woman on a bicycle was seriously injured about 4:30 p.m. in a collision on Georgia Avenue that involved three cars. The woman was taken to a hospital after the incident near Otis Street NW."
• A letter to the editor on trail safety, written by a cyclist.
• One jurist on Roger Clemens' perjury jury is an avid cyclist. 
• Patch blogger who "hates" cyclists says she was kidding. She never revs her engine to scare cyclists. But she isn't sorry about what she wrote.

Seeing Washington from a different angle

Photo by JeffB

Saturday Morning Ride - CMAQ

Heading to the National Archives today to watch Oscar nominees

• There will be several items of interest to cyclists at Alexandria's Transportation Committee meeting on March 2nd.
  
  • They'll be discussing changes to the proposed Complete Streets policy "Revisions include modifications to the resolution language to add clarity and to strengthen the document by replacing “should” with “shall.” Other key revisions include the addition of annual reporting requirements to the Transportation Commission on instances where discretion was exercised in applying the Complete Streets policy for capital improvement projects, maintenance projects, Small Area Plans, and development cases with supporting data that indicates the basis for the decision. It was also specified that Small Area Plan and development case staff reports contain a section discussing the Complete Streets review;"
  • the bicycle sharing initiative "A Bicycle Sharing Pilot Initiative would seek to identify an appropriate bike sharing technology and up to 10 locations in Old Town, Carlyle, and Del Ray for bike sharing stations. While the pilot initiative would primarily provide feasibility information and make key recommendations about future development, it should provide the option of implementing a pilot project in Old Town, Carlyle and Del Ray;"
  • bike parking at Metro "To address high demand and current use levels that meet or exceed capacity, the City is seeking funds for modular, enclosed, unattended bicycle parking “stations” at Metro stops.  These shelters range in size from 10’x20’ to 10’x40’ and are designed to provide a low-cost, high-capacity solution that will also encourage short bicycle trips to complement public transit usage;"
  • rebuilding part of the Mt. Vernon Trail "Currently, the Mt. Vernon multi-use trail is badly constricted in the section parallel to East Abingdon Drive, south of Slater’s Lane. Methods for widening this portion of the trail will be studied, a method chosen, and the path widened;"
  • and a pedestrian-bike connection between the Braddock Road metro and the northern gateway

The last four items are part of their CMAQ/RSTP funding requests. VDOT has asked that these requests be projected for the next 6 years. The MVT project would be funded ($500k) in 2013, the Metro parking ($250k) in 2016 and the Braddock Road project (part of a $1.25M project) in 2014-2015. Bike sharing was to get $400k in 2013 and 2014, $250k in 2015 and $300k in 2017. The council cut the funding in later years to buy more buses, but will find more funding for bike sharing if the pilot is successful. Of course all of this assumes that CMAQ doesn't die in the next transportation bill.

• Details on the South Capitol Street Trail from WABA "In meetings with GSA and the project team, WABA has been told that the only potential impact to the trail is a single pinch point.  And that pinch point will not be narrower than 7.5 feet."
• I don't want to be knee-jerk, but I have to admit that when I first read the WaPo Editorial "The Roads are for Driving" in the print edition I was dismayed. I was glad to see they chose a different title online.

Thursday Morning Ride - Discovery

The last launch of Discovery is scheduled for today. This is the only shuttle I saw launch in person [I used to work on the shuttle program, and this was also the first shuttle who's software I checked. It was OK as I recall.]

• The ICC trail is not built yet, but in the photo to the right, you can see where the bridges include the ICC trail sections.
• There will be a design workshop on Chevy Chase Lake Sector plan on March 12th. Register here by the 6th to participate.
• Richard Layman has several posts from the Maryland Bike Symposium. On setting an agenda, dealing with aggressive driving, and tourism.
• Mayor Gray's transition team has issued an Economic Development report. The transportation section focuses on "making it easier for people to drive in and out of the District." It doesn't mention bicycles.
• With TBD experiencing massive cuts, will that mean a loss of TBD on Foot, which did a great job of covering cycling issues?
• Jacque Patterson, candidate for District Council, was in a live chat on GGW. He has his appointment to the Bicycle Advisory Council on his resume, but I never remember seeing him at a single meeting. Nonetheless, on the design of the Giant in ward 8 he says "We could have done a much better job in the design of the Giant to make it more pedestrian and bike friendly. In the future, we need to ensure that we take those thoughts into consideration." And on bicycling in general he talks about "Connecting Anacostia Park with bike lanes along Suitland Parkway" and "The putting in of bike lanes to this point haven't had great community outreach. To that point, I don't believe residents and businesses don't want bike lanes, they want to be included in the discussions of where and how they will be put in. I think that's true East of the River and anywhere that bike lanes are planned....We move forward by having DDOT reach out to ANC's during the planning phase and take into considerations the "great weight" that is afforded to ANC Commissions to set the tone of the conversations."
• Last Friday, CaBi set a new one-day ridership record of 2927 trips, half of them 1-day riders. So much for the Stewart/Colbert Rally record (2343 trips) never being broken.
• A profile of one member of Frederick, MD's Bicycle Ad Hoc Committee.

Saturday Afternoon Ride

So many links, so little time

• Ride the City proposes replacing the NYT automobiles section with a bicyles section - at least once a year. Which is significantly more serious than this post.
• A driver who chased down a cyclist after the cyclist flipped him the bird, and then punched him in the face was convicted of recklesly causing serious injury. This was in Australia.
• This proposed shopping center might be hard to get to by bike now, but with it's proximity to the future Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, and some improved cycling facilities elsewhere it needn't be. They should have ample bike parking and a CaBi station. Perhaps they can contribute to bike lanes on South Dakota Ave, V St NE and Fort Lincoln Drive. You can learn more about the project here.
• A bike being stripped of parts = dog bites man. In front of a police station = man bites dog.
• Separated bike lanes may help protect cyclists from more than cars. Like concentrations of ultrafine particles. "understanding roadway and traffic effects on exposure levels can help guide bicycle facility design and pinpoint locations in which mitigation of exposure levels by placement of facilities such as cycle tracks may be most important."
• In light of the likely GOP wave, bicycle friendly funding sources like Transportation Enhancement and TIGER grants may be on the chopping block in the next Transporation bill.
• Another bike friendly GGW endorsement: "We support Brittany Kademian in her challenge to Juan Lopez for 1B07...Kademian herself wants to raise the accessibility of the ANC in the area, tutors local students, bicycles and supports a bike lane on 14th north of U."
• A Post reader looks for advice on where to go in Arlington for an easy, safe bike ride with a meal on one end. Readers reply with the W&OD and Mt.Vernon trail. I would've recommended Ballston Metro to Bluemont Junction trail to W&OD to Shirlington.
• FABB will host a reception to celebrate their Bicycle Advocates Guide - The event will be held from 9 – 10:30 am at the Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA 22180.
•  A second section of the Tobacco Heritage Trail has opened in Lawrenceville, VA. (thanks in part to the stimulus bill). When done, the trail network will have 160 miles of trail. 
• Yes, a four year old is being sued for racing her bike on the sidewalk in NYC and hitting and injuring a woman. Most Above the law readers blame the parents. But some kids are just bad.

New Hampshire-Contra Affair

Everyone had stories about the new Contra-flow bike lanes on New Hampshire. And they all had this ubiquitous and cool video from Left for LeDroit (which catches some cyclists running the all-traffic stoplight at the end, followed by a taxi illegally moving into the bike box). And they were all followed by a cyclists-suck/no-they-don't argument in the comments.

Left for LeDroit had some criticism for the design. Namely that the bike signals were not in a good location and one has to know to look for them; and that the signals are started by induction loops, but again one must know where to stop to trigger them. While Froggie thinks the bike lane is on the wrong side of parked cars.

I disagree with the bike lane placement. I'd rather be on the passenger side (where doors open less) with some room to my left than on the driver's side with the curb to my right. I'd be more trapped. True, if a car were coming just as a door opened in front of me, I'd be trapped as well (and a far worse trap, I suppose), but that would take some worse luck. Stay out of the door zone, I suppose.

WUSA9 has a normal article with a very confrontational title. "Bicycles Must Stop at Signals; Just Like Motorists". [OMG, someone (probably the Japanese with their crazy love of robots) invented self-propelling bicycles. I, for one, welcome our new robot bicycle overlords.] Wait, motorists stop at signals?

If this experimental configuration proves to be successful, DDOT may incorporate it into the planned reconstruction of U Street, NW.