Thursday Afternoon Commute - BLU ZOOM

Good afternoon. Instead of going for a bike ride during the day yesterday, I went for a ride last night at the same time as the fireworks display at the Mall. I rode down Independence to 14th, then south on the closed freeway-like portion of 14th to the on ramp from East Basin drive, which I went down (and could because of the closure) to East Basin Drive, onto Ohio and Buckeye before heading home. It was actually a very neat way to see the fireworks, and in many cases it was like everyone else was frozen while I was the only one moving. I did have to deal with a lot of pedestrians at unpredictable places in the road, as well as cars that were just stopped in the middle of the street (much to the chagrin of the handful of drivers who appeared to be uninterested in the fireworks). Seeing all the boats in the Potomac was pretty cool - I've never seen that in person. On Buckeye I stopped at four barricades and asked the Park Police if I could go through or if I had to turn. At the first three I was told that I could go through, but at the fourth, before I could even stop, the officer got in my face before I could ask him the deal. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked accusatorialy. "I was going to ask if I could go straight or if I have to turn." "You mean go straight through the barricade. I think you know the answer." "No, I don't, that's why I was going to ask [because y'know the last three guys let me through." Whatever. I chalked it up to him being young and probably tired/dehydrated/frustrated. He was probably out of patience by that time. 

Anyway, I think a better planned bike ride for during the fireworks could be a pretty cool organized ride for future years. 

• On Tuesday, a drunk driver took his car onto the Capital Crescent Trail and made it from Georgetown to the trail closure just south of Mass Ave, where he had to turn around, but instead backed into a ditch. He reportedly drove pretty fast and dangerously and was arrested by the Park Police. This means he went through the tunnel, over the bridges etc...Some people think there are enough clues in the photos to determine that the car belongs to a senior Air Force Officer. 
• Bike Arlington's B team is in 9th place in the National Bike Challenge. 
• Is CaBi helping to end the taxi business in DC?
• A 31-year old Loudoun County cyclist was hit by a driver who fled the scene and police are looking for witnesses

Comments

[Crickey7]

CaBi is definitely going to affect taxi ridership everywhere it's successful. It's aiming at the same market.

[Jack]

I assume the driver was stopped because he was going over 15 mph on the trail.

[M.V. Jantzen]

I rode my bike to the Tidal Basin. When I got to the Mall at 15th & Const, I was told to use the right-hand lane under the crowded tent, where they swabbed my bike and made me wait for the test results (about a minute). They also made me remove the lens from my camera.

I vote for removing all the miles of fences and check points; just keep the Mall open.

[David R.]

I'm pretty sure that I encountered the same driver on the CCT last year, on 7/27. Looks like the same car. I noted the license plate as something like "BUZOOM" - this guy's is BLU ZOOM.

[SJE]

BLU ZOOM also failed to have a helmet.

[Kolohe]

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/07/independence-day-ride.html#comments

Arlington PD were canvasing all the trail users on W&OD this afternoon between Columbia Pike and Rt 50 and handing out flyers with the same info as the post (including the 'mile marker 44' - based on what the police were saying it seems to be around that junction where the little vegetable garden is.)

[oboe]

He reportedly drove pretty fast and dangerously and was arrested by the Park Police.

See, I've been wondering what it would take for a Park Police officer to actually pull an automobile driver over and ticket them. Good to know.

[washcycle]

David R, are you talking about this incident? That would be truly bizarre, and something that you should contact the Park Police about. Having him drive drunk down the CCT would be bad enough, but if the same driver did that twice - I'd have to think it would be a more serious crime.

[David R.]

I've been in touch with USPP - officer I talked to will pass info on to the arresting officer, but they didn't take my number. (On the other hand, there are a lot of reports from the incident a year ago, so the arresting officer can readily get data.)