Help from our DC ladies!

[divingbiker]

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

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.

[Kalidurga]

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.

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

[Pedal Wench]

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.)

[Bad JuJu]

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

[7rider]

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).

[Aint Doody]

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

[aicabsolut]

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).

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.