Police Sting on New Hampshire Avenue

It seems that his morning (at the least) an MPD officer was pulling over and ticketing cyclists who were riding the wrong way on New Hampshire Avenue NW between 16th and V. This is the one block of New Hampshire that is one way NE. There's construction at 16th and V that backs traffic up. 15th in one way North as well. So, it seems several cyclists have been going the wrong way on NH to avoid all of this. Or as someone wrote:

The reasons that practically every bicyclist living in ward-one use that block of New Hampshire are as follows:

1. 11^th St has a partial bike lane, but after it ends the street is largely unpaved and therefore unsafe.
2. 13^th St is entirely too steep to be able to maneuver correctly, and dead ends at Logan Circle (which is a no-mans land for anyone on two wheels)
3. 14^th St and 16^th St’s are too dangerous to consider – why would anyone try and      move bicycle traffic onto traffic heavy streets where there are more buses and broken bottles than perhaps anywhere else in the city.
4. Sherman doesn’t have an adequate shoulder, and is covered in broken glass.
5. Connecticut…well…I don’t want to have the same fate as Ms. Swanson.

I've heard there may be increased enforcement "all over the city", but I can only confirm it in this one spot.

The redesign of this area won't help with this problem either. (or maybe it will - see below)

Update: Here's DCist on the same issue - with a photo (so jealous)

Update2: More from Eric Gililand:

The city transportation department recognizes the popularity of the route you describe and is taking steps to convert two one-way segments of New Hampshire Ave (one north of U, one south of U) to two way streets for cyclists only.  To avoid that section of NH there are two options: 1) get on the sidewalk for that block which, while ill-advised, is legal or 2) turning right on V, left on 17^th, right on NH.

At WABA we hope that this particular sting operation is an isolated occurrence and not part of a larger effort by MPD to “improve” bike safety by ticketing cyclists in the wake of the death of Alice Swanson. 

Photos by Melissa Esposito (Exclusive to the Washcycle)

Comments

[Tom]

I think turning right on V, left on 17th, right on NH is a reasonable approach. It may add 2 minutes to the commute but the man will be happy.

Thank god they were all wearing helmets.

[Melissa Esposito]

Good thing I didn't take a picture of myself then, as my head was bare.

Also, since it's mentioned in the comments on DCist, but not here, the stretch of V Street where it's being recommended that cyclists turn had construction going on this morning. It was safer to take the empty stretch of New Hampshire and let drivers honk it out on V rather than get into that fray.

[Pablo]

Add my name to the list. My ticket from the same alleged police officer came before 7:30am. (I asked for formal ID and the officer declined to show a photo ID- so I presumed he was not real. I called the police station and my ticket number was not logged. I used to ride on S street, but that is dangerous because the road is too small for two direction traffic and bicycles.

[Melissa Esposito]

My reading comprehension skills must need work; you did mention the construction at 16th and V, it just wasn't in the bullet points. Sorry!

I disagree about 14th & 16th being dangerous, I commute on them all the time, above U St to Silver Spring.

Also 13th is not too steep.

[think a little]

Actually Sherman/9th is a great ride-you have 2 lanes each direction plus a parking lane so people dont feel like your blocking the road and the bike lanes on 14th work quite well too

[Stan]

One of you that received one of these "DC Fundraiser" tickets, how much was it for and PLEASE write an editorial to the post or a local paper contrasting your treatment to the treatment of Novak who got hit with a $50 fine (although Novak will probably also face civil assault litigation).

I just cant get over how a girl can die weeks ago, novak can reportedly hit someone, and the stupid DC police go after bikers seeking a SAFER route!! There is a reason DC Govt does not get respect.

Wow - I couldn't disagree with this assessment more:

"13th St is entirely too steep to be able to maneuver correctly, and dead ends at Logan Circle (which is a no-mans land for anyone on two wheels)"

This is my daily commute. In the morning, the view from Cardoza High is the best. At Logan Circle, I flow smoothly around in the center lane which become the lane to pull off onto Vermont and head up to Thomas Circle and 14th Street into work. Easy and fast. In the evening, sure, there's a climb up to Cardoza, but I don't think it's that bad. After all, it's only about a block long. And it's perfect for pedaling out the frustrations of the day.

[Melissa]

Stan: The ticket is for $25. It is unclear on the ticket whether or not there can be points assessed against my license for the "moving violation".

And I am thinking about a letter to the editor, as well as a letter and pictures from that day to send to Tommy Wells. I hear he's a "militant bicyclist". =)

[washcycle]

It just struck me how much cooler this story would be if there were a comma between the first two word in the title. Lute music on New Hampshire Avenue - awesome.

[Rich]

I don't think that I would have stopped. In fact, I know that I wouldn't have stopped.

[Eric]

FWIW, MPD's seat on the Bicycle Advisory Council is empty (vacant) and it appears that they haven't participated in that forum - created by the City Council -- for some time.