Sunday Morning Ride - Powhatan

I did the Arlington Loop for the first time in a long time. I love the new bike signage along the Custis Trail and all the bike-specific lights. It really is harder to run one of those than a regular light. But the first ramp on the MVT at the airport (going south) is looking pretty bad in the south direction. Also, one of the crosswalks on the Bluemont trail isn't marked on the road, but probably should be. 

• On being a WABA Trail Ranger.
• "Now a primary offense, the fine for texting while driving is $125 for first-time violators. The penalty increases to $250 with each subsequent offense."
• New commuter lot in Gainsville includes bike racks. I wonder how easy it is to bike to.
• Washington Times is in favor of Congress intervening to end DC's use of speed cameras, although they don't really give a reason to oppose them other than that the tickets go to the owner of the car instead of the drive and some sense of 'greed'. "An apoplectic Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.’s delegate in Congress, rallied the usual crowd of the green bicycle-riding elites, who hate every car but their own, with an unusual personal attack on her colleague, which hardly befits a congresswoman with neither a vote nor a sense of congressional collegiality. “If either Representative Bentivolio or his staff has received such a ticket, then they should pay it, unless he thinks that members of Congress who by law are already exempt from most ticket violations here should be excused,” she says." 
• Gov. Bob McDonnell announced funding of $50,000 to serve as seed money in developing an International Mountain Biking Association ride center at newly christened Powhatan State Park in Powhatan, VA. The park was originally part of the Beaumont Correctional Center.
• New pedicab rules take effect next week in NYC. In a sense this is a sign of success. Pedicabs have been prevalent enough and in operation long enough to catch the eye of the government. And there are probably some good, common-sense regulations that can help make the business stronger in the long run.
• Local man trains for the NYC-to-DC climate ride

Comments

[david johnson]

Asboultly disgusting, a city , Wash. D.C., with one of the highest child poverty where many children are at risk food wize , can give money to WABA to spend on a bike ranger, a college kid at that not even someone from the neighborhood to ride up and down the trail. Fact is she is just a vulnerable as anyone else.
Had they hired someone from the neighborhood then some progress could be made. But WABA does not know anyone in that area .
To whom it may concern I would not work for or with WABA on anything.

[Will]

Did you see this comment from the streets blog article? It's from one of the injured citibike riders. Hit along with a dozen pedis by a drunk who plowed through a crosswalk:

Yeah, that was me. I spent four days in the hospital with an infected shrapnel wound, a broken ankle, and bruising and lacerations to my lower-body. Grateful to be alive because it obviously could have been A LOT worse (and was worse for some of those involved). Feels a little morbid to be reading about yourself and your "minor" injuries, certainly gives me a new perspective on these debates. I guess I'm not more qualified to lend an opinion on this topic than anyone else, but in general I still feel that CitiBike is safe. A couple of interesting takeaways from my accident: The only reason I was at the 4th St station was because the bike I picked up at 11th St had a slipping 3rd gear, so I stopped at 4th to swap out the bike -- not really relevant to the discussion but adds a little extra sting for me to the narrative about faulty Citibike docks, bikes, etc. I was basically struck in or near the crosswalk, and the others injured in my accident were on their feet (I think). I bike to work every day, normally using my own (crappy) 10 speed, but rode Citibike that day b/c I had left my bike and helmet at work. Oh yeah, I was not wearing a helmet, and was very lucky to avoid a head injury. In general, I consider myself to be a very cautious rider, good with handling my bike, pay attention to my surroundings, expect others to make mistakes, etc., but obviously we are all subject to risks that are beyond our control. Oh, and finally, I have yet to be charged for the bike!

[SJE]

David: the same logic could be applied to anyone on the city budget. We don't close libraries because some kids are at food risk.

The WABA contract is basically cheap security (cheaper than MPD) to ensure safety for everyone who uses the trail: and that includes the kids from the neighborhood. If a kid from the neighborhood wants the job, he or she could apply to WABA.

[dynaryder]

A friend of mine said I should put in for one of the Trail Ranger jobs. In Apr or Oct it would be a nice job. In July,not so much.