TheWashCycle

Friday Morning Commute - Camaro

Good morning. Don't forget to buy your tickets for BikeFest.

• WABA Someone is collecting bikes for Bikes for the World at 9 a.m. to noon June 11 at the William Penn House, 515 East Capitol St. SE. That's the same day as BikeFest FYI.
• Other news from Froggie: multi-use paths along Old Cameron Run (connecting Eisenhower Ave to Hoofs Run) and Backlick Run (connecting Holmes Run to Van Dorn St) have slipped by two years - to 2015 and 2016 - for budget reasons. The King Street Metro redesign includes brick sidewalks (boo) and oodles of bike parking in high visibility areas (yea).
• The US Open may not be super transit friendly this year, but they have a designated bicycle parking area at the Norwood School on Bradley Blvd. Go Justin Leonard!
• If getting hit by a car isn't bad enough, what if after you tell them to get out of their car four guys get out, yell at you to "Get out of their face" and then start beating you up. And then they beat up your friend because you want he tried to take a photo of their license plate?
• Did anyone go to the Columbia Pike Bike Boulevard meeting? How did it go? Better than getting hit by a bunch of d-bags in a camaro I hope.
• WABA on the R Street bike lanes: "For many years, the train tracks and Metro’s red line presented a significant barrier to east-west travel across the District, and thus the roadway network was designed to filter people out of the local communities that bordered the railroad and onto the major east-west routes....Today, significant portions of the completed MBT are open. Consequently, there is much greater demand from pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists and others for easier access to this area–the same area that the local roads are designed to get people away from. It is clear that the existing road network will require tweaks to adjust to these new patterns of demand"
• A cyclist hit a 5-year old boy in Kensington. The boy broke his leg and the cyclist appears to have had a concussion. She was wearing a helmet.

Herndon Festival bike valet

The Herndon Bike and Pedestrian Committee is running a free Bike Valet at the Herndon Festival. We will be open from 10am to 8pm on Saturday June 4th and 11am to 6pm Sunday June 5th. More information about the festival can be found at http://www.herndonfestival.net

They are also looking for volunteers to help staff the Bike Valet. If you can spare some time to help promote biking and watch over the bikes please let Ian know your availability bikevalet@email.iwasdot.com.

 

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: DC

From Best Buddies

A great charity is bringing its signature five-star cycling event to the Washington, DC area with the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Washington DC.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: DC takes place on October 22 and will feature an amazing route on closed roads in downtown DC, starting and ending at the Washington Monument. Cyclists will get to enjoy the sights that make the Nation’s Capital one of the most beautiful cities in the country, then head out into the scenic landscape of Montgomery County. With 100K and 20 mile cycling options, and a 5K run/walk, there is an event for everyone. Upon completion of your athletic event participants will celebrate their accomplishments with a gourmet lunch at the foot of the Washington Monument and an exclusive concert to cap it all off. Best of all, your participation ensures you are supporting the Best Buddies movement and changing the lives of people with and without IDD. Click here for pictures from last year!\

For more information go to about the Audi Best Buddies Challenge please go to: www.DCchallenge2011.org. Also see below for more info about training rides, shop nights and meet-ups  with this partner – all are welcome!

May 5 – Cinco De Mayo Shop Night at Revolution Cycles Clarendon

May 21 – Kick-off Training ride and Fix a Flat Clinic at Revolution Cycles Clarendon

July 9 – Evening Tour of the Monuments out of Revolution Cycles Crystal City

RSVP to Claire Duffy at: claireduffy@bestbuddies.org

Bikes for the World will be collecting bikes at EIGHT Whole Foods Market locations in Montgomery County MD and Washington DC.

This just in....On Saturday April 16, Bikes for the World will be collecting bikes at EIGHT Whole Foods Market locations in Montgomery County MD and Washington DC.  That's eight locations in one day! 

Come out to, be a part of, and make this an amazing event.  There are many ways to get involved.  First, the obvious one, bring your old bike and bike parts for donation.  Drop them by any participating Whole Foods Market store (listed below) on April 16th from 11am - 3pm.

And because we're hoping that means tons of bikes, we need your help to do it. 

For one thing, help get the word out beforehand.  Please share with your neighborhood listserveor corporate intra-net. 

 For another, come volunteer and help us make this event a huge success.  We need people with and without mechanic experience--to  hand out flyers on this collection and future ones,issue receipts, talk to people, accept bikes, process them for shipping, and transport and off-load them at our three storage facilities in Rockville, Springfield, and Lorton. 

If you can roll a bike, you're HIRED!  Just shoot us an email and we'll get you assigned to the best location.  office(at)bikesfortheworld.org or 703.740.7856

Participating Store Locations:

       P Street - 1440 P Street NW DC
       Georgetown - 2323 Wisconsin Ave NW DC
       Tenleytown - 4530 Wisconsin Ave NW DC
       Friendship Heights - 4420 Willard Ave Chevy Chase MD
       Bethesda - 5269 River Road Bethesda MD
       Rockville - 11355 Woodglen Drive Rockville MD *NEW LOCATION*
       Kentlands - 316 Kentlands Blvd Gaithersburg MD
       Silver Spring - 833 Wayne Ave Silver Spring MD

     When:  April 16th 11am - 3pm
     Contact:  Nick:  nickolombo(at)gmail.com or 301.461.5349

Why Whole Foods Market?  Well, why Bikes for the World?!!  Whole Foods Market supports the environment through its products, through efforts such as the Whole Planet Foundation, and through support to community groups promoting environmnental values and action. Bikes for the World is one such organization and is gratified to earn the confidence of a major grocery retailer to host this multi-site event. 

In turn, Bikes for the World respects Whole Foods Market's approach and scale.  In celebration of Earth Month, the two organizations have come together to raise the profile of Bikes for the World's program among Whole Foods Market's clientele and the public at large, joining forces to give our community a close, convenient location to recycle a bicycle.  

Happy Earth Day and Earth Month to you!

Bicyclists: Celebrate Earth Day on the Met Branch Trail

Bicyclists, celebrate Earth Day and show your support of D.C.’s newest biking and walking trail by participating in a Community Tree Planting on the Metropolitan Branch Trail. Casey Trees and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy will host the event on Thursday, April 21 from 3pm to 6pm. Volunteers are needed to plant 25 trees along the trail in the Eckington and NoMa neighborhoods. Trees planted will provide much needed shade on the trail, making it more inviting and enjoyable for all trail users. Whether commuting home from work or enjoying a springtime ride, bicyclists are encouraged to participate. Riding your bike and planting trees – a great way to double your Earth Day impact!

For more information and to register as a volunteer, visit Casey Trees’ website. Snacks and drinks will be provided and all volunteers must wear close toed shoes.

This Community Tree Planting Day is made possible by leadership funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation, in partnership with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy as part of the Metropolitan Grants Program.

Wednesday Morning Commute - delay

Good morning

• WABA is making progress on the EOTR campaign, but they still need help.
• Kate Ryan catches up with the Kohl's who campaigned vigorously for the Negligent Homicide bill that passed both the MD house and senate this week. Though they're glad the bill passed, it isn't a win to them. Since losing their son Conner because of a speeding driver, they've been living a life sentence, even if the driver hasn't.
• GGW debates the merits of the Living Social membership sale. Most people think it was a good move. Speaking of moving, they've been moving docks (20 in all) to high use areas to address need. That's docks, not stations. The bad news though, the Rosslyn stations won't be going in this week as previously promised. I blame Charlie Sheen. 
• Lorenzo Alexander, a Redskin outside linebacker, is hosting his second annual charity bicycle ride on the W&OD trail in Reston. Last year's Ride to Provide raised $10,000 for impoverished women and orphans in Africa. Several other Redskins will be there as will some media personalities.

Friday Morning Commute - Shut it down

I hope the government doesn't shut down, I'm trying to get my passport renewed.

• But fear not, Capital Bikeshare will open tomorrow regardless of what happens (or doesn't happen) by midnight.
• More coverage of the criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle bill. Frosh keeps pushing this "going to jail for changing the radio station" story. But no one else is saying that is how it will be used, and there is no precedent for that. There isn't even a case like that out there that I know of. Why is it better to kill someone because you heard a Phil Collins song and you hate Phil Collins - except for the cover of You Can't Hurry Love, which you grudgingly like - than it is to have been texting? The only think I can come up with is, it's a little bit illegal to text, but not to tune the radio. Still, If everyone would just put it on NPR and leave it the problem would be solved. Honestly, I almost never tune the radio unless the car is stopped (I don't really tune it anymore, I just push buttons now).
• Other troubled legislation: House Bill 948, which would have created walkable, bikeable communities around Maryland's rail stations died in the Environmental Matters Committee. "By encouraging development geared to mass transit and pedestrians, it promises to begin a long-overdue move away from the rule of the automobile over the planning of America's townscapes."
• DC's plan to put advertising on CaBi stations could be in trouble for the same reasons the plan to put ads on parking meters was. The FHWA may not allow it. "If the Mayor, or the Director of DDOT, receives notice from the United States Secretary of Transportation that the future operation of the advertisement agreement may result in a reduction of the District's share of federal highway funds … the advertiser or advertiser agency will remove the advertisement within 30 days from the date of receipt of the notice by the District." Of course, since that money won't be dedicated to bike sharing, it isn't that much of a loss for cyclists.
• WABA needs Volunteers
• Something I missed with the Bike DC announcement (today is the last day to get the reduced rate). Somehow they got a permit from NPS to use the GW parkway, even though it was earlier denied. It's at times like these that I'm reminded about how much I'll miss the federal government when it's gone. [And when my flight leaves without me on it because I have no passport].

Tuesday Morning Commute - Pick up America

Picking up America is easy. Just tell her what she wants to hear ("You don't look a day over 189. You look so young I thought you and Eritrea were sisters.").

• On NPR yesterday, I heard about an art exhibit featuring the work of Constance Holden, the writer who died before her bike commute home last year. I can't find any information about it online, so if you know more, please leave it in the comments.
• Reminder: The Rock Creek Trail Meeting is tomorrow night.
• There's going to be a clean-up of the NW Branch stream & trail this Sunday. Show up and help out. The Mount Rainier Bike Co-op will focus on... cleaning up the hiker-biker trail itself (mile 0 on the NW Branch Trail). Please dress appropriately (plastic bags and gloves will be provided upon request)

Saturday Morning Ride - Tysons Bike Plan

Hope everyone enjoyed yesterday's stellar weather.

• Maryland bike advocates, including Natasha Pettigrew's mother, are pushing for tougher vehicular manslaughter laws. Delegate Luiz Simmons has offered a new bill, HB 363, that would help achieve this goal. "HB 363 “Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel – Criminal Negligence: provides a misdemeanor option for those who cause fatalities by driving in a criminally negligent manner. If found guilty, motorists will be subject to imprisonment not to exceed 3 years and/or a fine not to exceed $5000."
• Patapsco Valley State Park allows for bike commuters after dark, if they sign a waiver. Seems like a reasonable solution.
• Bike theft is up at Georgetown University. Cable locks are being targeted. There were 30 bike thefts in 2009 and 44 bike thefts in 2010, according to DPS crime log archives. Campus police are taking measures to address the recent surge in bike thefts, Smith said. "DPS has stepped up its uniform patrols of the bike racks and plans to take other operational measures as well," Smith said in an email.
• Big Bear Cafe had a charity bike sale to raise money for Bikes for the World. 
• The new Wal-Mart on NY Avenue will have bike parking, which would be more exciting if they weren't required to by law.
• Speaking of bike parking, Laurel's city hall now has a custom bike rack.
• Tysons bike plan meetings are over and the plan will now be submitted.

Phase one includes  new signed bike routes that connect Vienna, McLean and Falls Church to Tysons, and will also add more signage to bike routes that already exist. This phase also calls for a Bike and Transit Ambassador program that will encourage more people that live and work in Tysons to use bikes for transportation. The phase also calls for the construction of a small trail that will connect the Pimmit Hills and Idylwood neighborhoods to the Tysons Central metro station. Sidewalks along Anderson Road and Dolley Madison Boulevard will also be widened to create side paths that cyclists from McLean can use to access the Silver Line.

New trails won't be created until phase two  of the plan (2012-2016), which will also mark the expansion of the on-street bicycle network with shared road lanes. Streets that typically have low traffic flows will be marked with sharrows, on-street symbols that indicate to motorists  to share the lane with bicyclists. Traditional bike lanes are also planned. 

Phase three (2015-2019) will add 5.6 miles of trail improvement and several shared-use paths, including one shared-use path connecting 123 to Boone Boulevard. Phase four (2020-2030) will add “Cycle Tracks,” roadways specifically constructed for bicyclists and not vehicles. Similar tracks are currently installed in some parts of New York City.

Saturday Morning Ride - Replacements

Still catching up from the holidays

• Bicycle Stations, the little bike shop at 14th and W has closed. "They will be opening a new location in Alexandria next week."
• NCPC approved several amendments to the comp plan. Many involve cycling as doesn one item put off until February. "review of the National Park Service plan for the last section of the Georgetown Waterfront Park, stretching from Thompson Boat Center to the Kennedy Center. The final phase of the project includes a resurfaced asphalt bikeway, a new asphalt-tile pedestrian promenade, and replacing the Sycamores now on the site." 
• Purple Line planning moves forward, but still has big funding hurdles to overcome. "The most vocal opposition comes from the town of Chevy Chase and Columbia Country Club. Both have objected to trains running along the wooded Georgetown Branch Trail, which follows the town's border and cuts through the club's golf course. Opponents say the route would require cutting thousands of mature trees along the popular path.
  
  State planners have said they need the trail route, which Montgomery County bought from CSX in 1988 for a transit line, to move trains most efficiently between Bethesda and Silver Spring.
  
  Chevy Chase town council member Pat Burda said residents worry that school children and trail users could get hit by trains while crossing the tracks near Lynn Drive. Current state plans call for an at-grade crossing. Burda said residents want a pedestrian bridge.
  
  Burda said the town, which has opposed the trail route for years, hasn't decided yet whether it will challenge the transit proposal in court."
• I think I know the answer most readers here will come up with. 
• College Park is asking all developers to pitch in money for a bike sharing system. Not sure if that is CaBi or their own. They asked one developer for $54,000. 'Wojahn added that bike sharing is one way of handling congestion. "The entire region is using it and it's shown to be successful. This is a real priority."...Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich (Dist. 4) said. "At the same time, it's not something we're just asking you, it's something we're asking all developers"'
• Virginia is looking for a new statewide bicycle/pedestrian planner. 
• "Bikes for the World is losing its long-time storage site in Northern Virginia and needs a replacement.  A sleek, heated indoor facility with loading dock is not required.  Bikes for the World simply needs an outdoor parking lot to re-locate five 40' truck trailers used for storage of bicycles, pronto.  For leads on empty lot space for placing trailers in Northern Virginia, or inexpensive warehouse space, contact Keith Oberg at 703-525-0931 or info@bikesfortheworld.org."
• Plans to make Sligo Avenue safer has led to some debate as to where bikes should ride. "he has proposed making an at-street-level path that would cut through the bump-out curbs so bicyclists could ride through them unfettered.

  That idea, however, didn’t go over so well with some East Silver Spring residents who worried that bicyclists should stick to the roadways since they could hit pedestrians.

  "We’re giving them a bike lane at every crosswalk," Karen Rooper said. "Now, you’re exposing the pedestrian to another lane of traffic."

  "I ride a bike, but what I’m trying to do is advocate for pedestrians," Ernest Bland said. "I don’t want to advocate for bicyclists at the expense of pedestrians."

• DDOT's new digital displays include information about CaBi. 
• The Post profiles Nancy Natasha Pettigrew. "Despite the pressure of the campaign trail, Pettigrew made time for triathlon training. She was up and out of her mother's house before dawn on the morning of Sept. 19 for a bike ride. She had often complained to friends in Miami how terrible the city was for bikers and praised the trails and bike lanes in Maryland. She set out on one of those bike lanes along Route 202 in Largo. At 5:30 a.m., a Cadillac Escalade crashed into her; the driver didn't realize she'd hit a person until she got home. Pettigrew died two days later, just five weeks before Election Day. An investigation is ongoing, according to police."

How CaBi moves bikes around

he has proposed making an at-street-level path that would cut through the bump-out curbs so bicyclists could ride through them unfettered.

That idea, however, didn’t go over so well with some East Silver Spring residents who worried that bicyclists should stick to the roadways since they could hit pedestrians.

"We’re giving them a bike lane at every crosswalk," Karen Rooper said. "Now, you’re exposing the pedestrian to another lane of traffic."

"I ride a bike, but what I’m trying to do is advocate for pedestrians," Ernest Bland said. "I don’t want to advocate for bicyclists at the expense of pedestrians."