TheWashCycle

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

Special Election candidates on reallocating road space

Silverman, for the bike vote

Would you support a new bicycle lane on Connecticut Avenue NW, even if it resulted in fewer on-street parking spots or altered traffic patterns?

Frumin and Zukerberg would need more information about the lane’s design before giving an opinion. Bonds, Redd and Mara are inclined to oppose it, worried about a loss of on-street parking. Silverman is inclined to support it. “If we are to promote cycling, we need to promote cycling on our major thoroughfares,” she said.

Also, Zuckerburg apparantly used pedicabs to get voters to the polls.

Tuesday Morning Commute - SXSW

Good morning

• DC Bike party - tomorrow night. 
• Mayor Gray rides one of Austin's 2nd Class trailer-style pedicabs. I prefer DC's, but I'm a snob.
• Maryland has agreed to take responsibility for the portion of Maryland Route 410 in Takoma Park. "Before the council’s Feb. 19 vote to authorize the agreement, public comments included both support from residents who were glad to see responsibility for the road clarified, as well as concerns that if bike lanes were added — as allowed by the agreement — they could turn into a different type of lane, Acting City Manager Suzanne Ludlow said."

Yo Yo and DeAndre Windom see DC by Pedicab

She's a rapper and he's the Mayor of Highland Park, Michigan. I smell a wacky sitcom.

Monday Morning Commute - Argo

Good morning

• WABA's annual meeting is tomorrow night.
• The last of the Silver Spring Transit Center's section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail opened. So now I can stop following the whole weak concrete/transit center delay drama. The Metropolitan Branch Trail now extends from the Silver Spring Metro station to Ripley Street.
• "During the 2013 National Bike Summit, March 4-6, Capital Bikeshare will have additional corrals at its regular station at H and 8th  Streets (just two blocks from the Summit hotel). That means you can pick up a CaBi at any location in the city and ride it to the Summit — without having to worry about the bike docks being full. Capitol Bikeshare will have valets there ready to take your bike and point you in the right direction."
• There were some losses in the Virginia legislature this year, including a bill that allows localities to put stop signs or lights on trails where the intersect roads, but there was one win with a bill that will make texting while driving a primary offense and raise the penalty. Both those bills now go before the Governor.  
• A letter writer to Dr. Gridlock warns other pedestrians about speeding cyclists on the sidewalk. Dr. G adds "Conditions aren’t as bad for pedestrians as they were in the heyday of the bicycle messenger, but walkers still need to be very aware of their surroundings. As Wahl points out, it’s not paranoid to look behind you."
• Bicycling advocate and Montgomery County Planning Board member Casey Anderson is also the spokesman for Marylanders Against Gun Violence. But has he watched every episode of Smallville?
• "In fact, Marylanders enjoy bicycling for many reasons and at many levels of expertise, and some, including me, even do so on occasion simply to feel the joy of the wind in their hair."
• DDOT is rolling out more Leading Pedestrian Interval intersections. "Leading pedestrian intervals are already in place at 14th Street and U Street N.W., which had nine crashes involving a cyclist and seven more involving pedestrians between 2010 and March 2012, " If the Bicycle Safety Amendment Act of 2013 passes, they would become Leading Pedestrian (and Bicyclist) Intervals.  
• Do you like drinking wine while riding around in a pedicab? Well, not only is it a new Olympic sport but also a groupon.
• "The Catonsville Short Line Trail between Maiden Choice Lane and Paradise Ave. will be resurfaced with a crush and run (CR6) gravel surface beginning on February 25, 2013."

Is that JT?

Pedicab Ride by M.V. Jantzen

From Inauguration Day.

Pedicab on a closed road

2013 01 21 - 2026 - DC - Penn Ave from 21st St NW by thisisbossi

Thursday Afternoon Commute - Coldest Day

Good afternoon

• MTA has begun more public input meetings on the Purple Line/CCT (image at right shows latest Rock Creek Bridge design). The new design has several changes since last presented. But still, all this will be in vain if money isn't found for the Purple Line. There will almost surely be no CCT extension without the Purple Line.
• The Coldest Day of the Year Ride is coming up. 
• Pedicabs were ready to clean up at the inauguration.

Pedicab driver getting a ticket

Photo by by M.V. Jantzen

Wednesday Afternoon Commute - 30 Rock

Good afternoon. I saw one of my coworkers who is hearing impaired using his iPhone to have a sign language conversation with someone today. Not bike related, but I found that to be a pretty cool use of that feature. Ah, the future.

• Others are criticizing the Reason piece on CaBi including Mike DeBonis [Who notes that CaBi users aren't actually rich and that all transportation is subsidized] and Will Sommer [Who includes a quote from Reason editor-in-chief Nick Gillespie about the JARC grant that makes up the heart of the criticism even though it hasn't kicked in yet  "You may think it's dissembling to include that grant,"]
• Washington Life on Bike the Sites. 
• Biking is a great way to get around during the London Olympics. But because the road race is only a week after the end of the Tour, some worry that it will distort the final results.  The same article discusses the changes in cycling in this Olympics and gives medal projections. 
• Alec Baldwin has a tough bike ride, but at least no one is attacking him with sausages.