Help from our DC ladies!

DC Ladies! I need your help.

I was listening to a radio show based in DC, and the hosts (women, for godsake!) started out talking about people taking up all the space on jogging paths, but then morphed into them complaining about cyclists on the roads in DC. They said that there are bike paths everywhere, especially over bridges, and that the bikes should be there, or on the sidewalk.

I'm working on a letter to the show, and need to know if there are indeed bike lanes everywhere, especially on the bridges. They mentioned a park (where that poor girl was murdered who was connected to a senator?) and said that the bikes are all in the road and not on the bike path/lanes. I need to know if there are true bike lanes, or just the paths that are shared with walkers/joggers/toddlers/dogs, etc.

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

DC Ladies! I need your help.

I was listening to a radio show based in DC, and the hosts (women, for godsake!) started out talking about people taking up all the space on jogging paths, but then morphed into them complaining about cyclists on the roads in DC. They said that there are bike paths everywhere, especially over bridges, and that the bikes should be there, or on the sidewalk.

I'm working on a letter to the show, and need to know if there are indeed bike lanes everywhere, especially on the bridges. They mentioned a park (where that poor girl was murdered who was connected to a senator?) and said that the bikes are all in the road and not on the bike path/lanes. I need to know if there are true bike lanes, or just the paths that are shared with walkers/joggers/toddlers/dogs, etc.

Thanks!

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I don't know of any trails in the DC area that are designated for bikes only. We've got a lot of trails, but they are all multi-use. I don't know what bridges they are talking about specifically, and I've only ever ridden over Memorial Bridge to Arlington Cemetery, but the path there is a sidewalk.

The park you mentioned is Rock Creek Park. Here's a web site and another that talks about the difficulty of using it for commuting and how busy it can be. I know of a few people who commute on the bike trails, but most people ride in the streets, where we are allowed to be.

Some streets in DC have designated bike lanes, but others are just "bike routes" on which bikes share the traffic lanes with cars.

You might mention this thread this in the MidAtlantic section so the others in the area will be sure to see it.

Thanks for looking out for us!

This is the letter I'm drafting:

Hello Ladies,

I am a huge fan of xxx Satellite Radio (my name is used in xxx's promotional material - just ask xxx about me.) I have, and will continue to promote xxx in print and online. I've also become a new fan of your show. I found that my views paralleled yours, and I've laughed so hard I thought I would have to pull over to be safe.

However, I was appalled at the turn in your show on Wednesday, August 21. You were talking about people on Multi-use Paths (MUPs) who take up the whole path, don't yield right-of-way, and are just downright rude. The conversation turned to bashing cyclists. I am a cyclist and board member of Sorella Cycling (www.SorellaCycling.com) which is a club with over 145 women of all ages and abilities. You mentioned many things that are either just plain wrong, or even illegal.

In most cities, it is illegal for cyclists to ride on sidewalks. We don't just have the right to be on the road, we have no choice. In many locations, it is too dangerous for cyclists to use the paths. There are too many joggers, rollerbladers, strollers, dog-walkers, and small children to make it safe for all parties. As a jogger, I'm sure you wouldn't want to negotiate a path with all the obstructions you've already observed in addition to a line of cyclists going 15-25 mph. We are all much safer if the cyclists stick to the road.

You also mentioned that you are frustrated when a cyclist is as far out in the road as your right wheel. Again, in almost every state, that is the law. The laws are clear that we need to stay as far to the right "as is safely allowed." We can be in the lane when there is no shoulder, when the debris on the side makes riding there a lethal prospect, or when the pavement is too rough. God forbid, we can even take the whole lane when we feel it would be unsafe for a driver to attempt to pass us. Cyclists can even ride two abreast in many locations. We are not all rude, arrogant athletes. Quite a few of us are ordinary women, trying to get to work, trying to exercise to stay healthy, or just trying to have some fun.

Why bother writing to you? As cyclists, and as women, we have to fight everyday against aggressive drivers who are ignorant of the law. We hear so many stories about cyclists being killed by cars who were ignorant of the law. We are regularly intentionally run off the road, we have trash thrown at us, and we are yelled at and honked at. We've had people throw down tacks that flat our tires, but also cause horrific crashes. It is just unacceptable to incite this type of behavior.

We need heroes, not women throwing fuel on the fire.

Sincerely,

What show was this?

Broadminded Broads, on XM

I listen mostly to NPR.

I guess they're not very broadminded, are they? :p

Great letter , let us know what (if) you hear back from them.

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

In most cities, it is illegal for cyclists to ride on sidewalks.

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I wondered whether it was illegal to ride on sidewalks in DC (I've seen signs that say "ok for bikes to ride on sidewalk", so I thought it might be by exception.) So I did a search for the DC law, and found this. Section 1201.9 says it's ok to ride on the sidewalks, except downtown and where there are signs prohibiting it.

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We are not all rude, arrogant athletes. Quite a few of us are ordinary women, trying to get to work, trying to exercise to stay healthy, or just trying to have some fun.

Why bother writing to you? As cyclists, and as women, we have to fight everyday against aggressive drivers who are ignorant of the law. We hear so many stories about cyclists being killed by cars who were ignorant of the law. We are regularly intentionally run off the road, we have trash thrown at us, and we are yelled at and honked at. We've had people throw down tacks that flat our tires, but also cause horrific crashes. It is just unacceptable to incite this type of behavior.

We need heroes, not women throwing fuel on the fire.

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I like that part. Very well written letter, Pedalwench.

I changed the paragraph about sidewalk laws. Thanks for the research!

n many cities, it is illegal for cyclists to ride on sidewalks. In DC, it is permitted, but not in the business districts. Your show is nationally broadcast, and it needs to be made clear that the laws are different across the country. However, it is usually not safe. Drivers pulling out of streets and driveways rarely look in the opposite direction when pulling into traffic. Try it - when making a right turn, do you look right before turning? I've almost been hit as a pedestrian in this situation - imagine if I were moving four times faster? We don't just have the right to be on the road, we have no choice. In many locations, it is too dangerous for cyclists to use the paths. There are too many joggers, rollerbladers, strollers, dog-walkers, and small children to make it safe for all parties. As a jogger, I'm sure you wouldn't want to negotiate a path with all the obstructions you've already observed in addition to a line of cyclists going 15-25 mph. We are all much safer if the cyclists stick to the road(DC Law 1200.3 Operators of bicycles have the same rights as operators of motor vehicles.)

Great letter--especially with that revised paragraph! Very clear, thoughtful, and passionate. I, too, would LOVE to hear what kind of response you get.

Here is a summary of DC area bike laws, with links.
Nice letter...thanks for writing it.
Oh, you may want to add (to clarify for those who don't know) that even if a bike path or MUT is available, cyclists are usually *not required* to use it. This is a safety issue, for the very reasons you point out (other users, slower speeds, etc).

Great letter! Well-written. It will indeed be interesting to hear if you get a response.

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

However, I was appalled at the turn in your show on Wednesday, August 21.

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Great letter! I am so glad you are writing to them. There are so many ignorant people out there and the last thing we all need is for a radio show to perpetuate hate towards cyclists. I hope they read your letter on the air...wouldn't that be the coolest thing?

One thing...Wednesday was August 22, Tuesday was the 21st. Yikes...I'm a very picky proof-reader and I can't control myself! I hope you don't mind! :eek:

Once again, awesome letter!

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Originally Posted by sara

One thing...Wednesday was August 22, Tuesday was the 21st. Yikes...I'm a very picky proof-reader and I can't control myself! I hope you don't mind! :eek:

Once again, awesome letter!

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Yikes! So much for wanting to be taken seriously. Shoot. I already sent it in. Grrrr.

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

Broadminded Broads, on XM

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I knew who it was before I got through with the first post. I didn't hear them talking about this particular thing, but I put two and two together after hearing them talk about Rock Creek Park in an earlier segment

I've listened to Broadminded for about 8 months now. They really ticked me off the first time I heard them. They frequently spout off in ignorance on a number of topics. The rest of the time they are really funny, and I enjoy them very much. When they talk about things they know nothing about, I remind myself that they're paid to be funny, not smart, and to fill air time.

Your feedback may or may not get their attention. They're pretty vapid about serious things. I'll be listening to see if they respond, though!

Karen

Great letter! Let us know if you get a response. That's all we need around here - more hatred towards cyclists coming from a radio show. What I've learned from riding around this area is that a cyclist is the best target for people who need to release their anger (and trust me, lots of people in this area are harboring lots of pent up anger).

What number is the station? I have XM but have never listened - I want to check it out on my way home from the office.

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Originally Posted by IFjane

What number is the station? I have XM but have never listened - I want to check it out on my way home from the office.

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They're on the Take 5 channel - 155, I believe..

thanks, PW. After I posted I did and amazing thing - I realized I could look it up online....DUH...:rolleyes:

Yeah, except for some stupid reason, you can't get 155 at xmradio.com, like you can every other station.

What a ripoff.

I also like Satellite Sisters on that station, and on the weekends, More Time.

Karen

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Originally Posted by Regina

Here is a summary of DC area bike laws, with links.
Nice letter...thanks for writing it.
Oh, you may want to add (to clarify for those who don't know) that even if a bike path or MUT is available, cyclists are usually *not required* to use it. This is a safety issue, for the very reasons you point out (other users, slower speeds, etc).

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This is true. I get yelled at CONSTANTLY, and some of the gestures and words have been very threatening recently, on MacArthur Blvd which runs from Georgetown area to Maryland. This is a road that is covered with road bikes on the weekends. The speed limit is fairly low, but people speed a lot. There is a "bike path" (technically, it's not a MUP, because it's marked for bikes) on one side of the road--sometimes it is on the shoulder like a regular bike lane and sometimes it breaks off and is separate from the road. It's hard to ride on the path going north as it runs on the other side of the street. It's also used more like a MUP. Joggers, walkers, strollers, kids on bikes, slower bikes of all varieties, dogs, people parking. The way people pull out from side streets, it is pretty dangerous to ride on the path going north (they don't look), and if you are going over 15mph, which is very easy on this road, it's pretty dangerous to ride on for the traffic. PLUS, that road is a bike route with "share the road" signs all over the place. We're thus not at all required to actually be on the path.

Sidewalks are so busy and pretty dangerous to be on. The regular MUPs are ridiculous if you're actually trying to train. The only time there are significant numbers of cyclists on them such that you may not have to stop or go off the path regularly is during commuting hours. Even then, it's not so safe. My only wreck so far has been on a DC area MUP.

The Rock Creek path is not very suitable for road bikes. It has so much debris and some rough bridges that it's much more suitable for mountain bike tires.

Thanks for writing the letter. Non-cyclists who use the paths want us on the street. Motorists want us on the paths or sidewalks or home.

Earlier this year, the Washington Post had an article about the hazards of local MUCs and the blame seemed to be pointed at the cyclists. About a month ago, there was a letter to the editor on the same topic. The writer claimed that cyclists were going 30mph on the Mt. Vernon Trail (hmmm, I'm not sure that's possible, given the trail's windy nature, bumps, etc.).

While I've encountered cyclists going way too fast for conditions, taking corners incorrectly at higher speeds, and engaging in unsafe behavior, most of the "hazards" I've encountered have been on foot (IPOD wearers), moms w/stollers, or inexperienced cyclists (wobblers, IPOD wearers, kids, et.al.). Julie is right that there are a lot of angry people in this area who take their anger out on others---cyclists are a popular target.