Wednesday Morning Commute - longtails

Good morning

• Comparison photos of the new 11th Street Bridge which includes sections of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and a much better bike/ped facility. 
• DDOT filled a lot of potholes, but many were not patched well - and not with cyclists in mind. 
• On the Fort Totten Metro "Anna Chamberlain, a DDOT transportation planner, talked about how streetscape improvements could calm traffic, making streets around the Metro station more pedestrian- and bike-friendly. DDOT is also working to improve connections to the Metro, as some areas lack clearly defined walking paths. The agency will begin designing a path connecting the Metro to the Metropolitan Branch Trail within the next few months."
• Failed to report this earlier. CaBi set new one month records in April and then again in May, with 256,968 trips in month as the new high. Ridership was up 38% from 2012 in April and 31% in May. Though mileage data hasn't been updated since March, it's likely the system had it's 5 millionth mile in June. Trips per bike per month are down only a little from 2012, despite a nearly 40% increase in bikes. 
• Bicycle related crashes in Farifax County are up 25% from 2011 to 2012. That seems like a lot even if increased cycling is considered. I wonder if it's better reporting. "As part of their study, Fairfax County police also determined about a quarter of the bicyclists were not wearing reflective clothing at the time of their crashes. Police said they're teaming up with private cycling groups to help educate folks on how to properly share the road." OK, but how many of those crashes were at night? And did the bike have reflectors or lights? I often don't wear reflective clothing, and it isn't required by law. 
• Cargo bikes are catching on, and they aren't just for cargo either. 

Comments

[ACyclistInTheSuburbs]

While its refreshign to hear the police talk about something other than helmets, I was surprised about the reflective clothing comment. Is Fairfax going to discourage the "Amsterdam" style bike culture? Do they want us all to be lycra clad lance armstrong wannabes? (yeah, I know about reflective tape, yadda yadda)

[Roy]

I wish they would have bi-directional bike traffic on 11th St near the bridge.

[Crickey7]

I don't have an issue with Farifax gathering data on facotrs that might play a role in accidents. It's all well and good to note that the onus of seeing other road users may be on the other vehicle, but we should want to know if there are patterns in cyclists not being seen, or the reverse. Cause is cause, and liability is liability. Not the same.

[ACyclistInTheSuburbs]

yes crickey, but that would be a lot more useful combined with some info on time/lighting conditions. My general sense is that relective clothing is a must towards dark, in poor visibility weather etc. But not so much in bright sunlight. We do want to encourage people to dress to be seen - but we also do not want to discourage people from casual riding - which will often be in whatever clothes they happend to be wearing.

[Crickey7]

They do collect time data. And would it not be worthwhile to know if your general sense is valid? At the least, a significant correlation might be useful information for safety advice purposes.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/traffic/bike_crashes_2012.htm

[Jonathan Krall]

From the report: "In 2012, 106 cyclists were involved in crashes, up 25 percent from the year before. The number so far this year is 45."

If that 45 is January through June, then its on track for 90 in 2013, reversing the increase in 2012.

[Crickey7]

That would be good news. This illustrates why it's tricky comparing single years.