A Sad Day For Bicyclist In DC

As a bicyclist who rides her bike five days a week in rush hour traffic you never like to hear about fatal biking accidents.  What’s even more disturbing is hearing that a bike rider was hit by a five-ton military vehicle.

President Obama meet with 44 nations to discuss nuclear security during the Nuclear Security Summit here in Washington, D.C. During the two-day event, entire sections of DC had been on virtual lock-down, with roads barricaded and a heavy police and military presence in and around the Washington Convention Center where leaders and officials gathered.  With all of these safety measures in place and less drivers on the road I felt totally and completely safe driving my bike to and from Union Station.  I passed the police, the barricades and the National Guard with no incident.  In fact, when I came home Monday night I thought, wouldn’t it be great if we had this presence every day?  That is until I heard the news that a bicyclist was hit by a military vehicle, instantly killing the biker.

The Major Crimes Division of the DC Police Department and the DC National Guard are still investigating the fatal accident.  The National Guard truck struck and killed the bicyclist at the intersection of New York Avenue and 12th Street NW.  I’m somewhat less confident in our military and Police Department and I am much more cautious as I ride to and from on my daily commute.

Here’s more on the story from the Washington Post and the memorial in honor of the bicyclist:

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association has placed a memorial to cyclist Constance Holden, 68, near 12th Street and New York Avenue NW, where she was killed Monday evening.

The white bike, which we’ve seen elsewhere around the District near the sites of fatalities, reminds us of the need for all travelers to pay attention to one another, even under the stresses of getting around in a crowded city.

Holden, of Mount Pleasant, was struck by a D.C. National Guard truck assigned to the Nuclear Security Summit. She was the first cyclist to die in the city this year. The incident is under D.C. police investigation.

I had walked through the area about a half an hour earlier. The mix of drivers, cyclists and walkers was somewhat diminished because so many people worked from home, but the intersections still were quite active, with motorcades and security forces occasionally passing through.

The cyclists’ association has long urged all of us, no matter what our mode of travel, to be aware of our surroundings and cautious in our navigation.

Glen Harrison, who directs the association’s education program, passed along some safety reminders for everyone.

Cyclists
Be seen. If you can‟t see the driver of a vehicle either directly, or through a window or in a side-view mirror, then they cannot see you. Make eye contact if possible. Wear high-visibility clothing and use front and rear lights when riding at night or in the early morning.

Ride away from the “door zone.” Give enough space between yourself and parked cars that a car door can open unobstructed. If necessary, take your own lane of traffic. It’s your right.

Obey traffic rules. Inside the central business district in Washington, bicyclists are not allowed on the sidewalk. On the road, you are subject to the same rights, responsibilities and rules as motor vehicles.

Drivers
Watch for cyclists. Check your side mirrors when turning. In urban areas, bikes and cars can travel at comparable speeds so just because you passed a cyclist doesn’t mean he or she disappeared. Always use your turn signals when turning. Take the time to look before you open your car door.

Reduce your speed. Driving slowly and carefully around other road users saves lives.

Share the road. There are more than 72,000 bike trips a day in the Washington region. Give cyclists three feet when passing. The extra time it takes you to drive safely around a cyclist could save a life.

The association has a guide called Safe Bicycling in the Washington Area that I think is very helpful for all travelers.

The view from my train window

Over the last past two months the Washington metropolitan area has had one major snow storm and one minor snow storm.  We are currently buckling down for a record breaking blizzard that could dump fifteen to thirty inches of snow on the DC tristate area.  I was able to work from home today so no commute thank goodness.  If we get anywhere close to the amount of snow they are predicting I have no idea when I’ll start my commute up again because… wait for it.. MORE snow is predicted for Tuesday.  It will be a long, long time before I’m able to ride my bike again and depending on public transportation is going to be tricky.  But hey, for now I’m warm and safe inside and I’m grateful to be able to telecommute.  While I wait for “The Big One” here are some photos from my MARC train window the other day.

An Ode to MARC by Natasha Ramsey

I recently found out that one of my favorite digital gal pals is also a MARC commuter.  We go in opposites directions… me DC to Baltimore… her in the opposite direction.  We are experiencing opposite ends of the same crazy commute and love/hate relationship we have with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) MARC train system.  My girlfriend, Natasha Ramsey is also an amazing poet.  She has given me permission to post her unedited poem “An Ode to MARC”.  I LOVE this poem and if you’ve EVER had to commute on the MARC train you’ll know why.  Enjoy!

“Mostly Annoying Rail Commute” describes my train ride to DC most days
MARC, your engines are old, outdated and worn
Even your conductors no longer have your support; a smile is hardly ever found.

Loud announcements hurt my ears
Please tell the 7:20 conductor/announcer wanna be Kanye rapper that after waiting forty minutes in the freezing cold,
his sing-song tone announcing the stops are not American Idol worthy.

“No standing in the vestibules! We’ll get there when we get there!”

Tell me, why are there fewer cars when you expect crowded conditions?
Why you feel the urge to slack off and not give a damn?
Is it because really, there is no competition?

The Maryland state commuter train and even its official parking lots are a joke
Cars constantly getting vandalized on lots
While MTA Transit cops give oh so helpful advice of, “park under the lights” and “good luck!”

“As usual, MARC’s facing extensive delays”
Even the morning newscaster knows the score
I swear if I could sue, MARC directors will be forced to commute
Using their own faulty, flawed train system
Let’s see how they like it when they’re stranded, losing time at work, and then ignored.

Ahhh, saving the best for last,
I bring up exhibit D which is none other than time.
For time is something you seem to care less and less and even less about
But no doubt you still bill my hard earned dimes no matter the delays and extensive cancellations
Please understand this all adds up to my frustration.

Hitching rides, metro’ing…
Everyday is an adventure.

How to fight a state entity without fear, knowing they’ll never be replaced…
It’s like Tony Soprano bullying you nicely,
“you take our trains, why should we care, get the hell outta my face!”

Now almost anything I’ll do to avoid you;
The plague you have become on my life.
No longer do I anticipate being at work by 8 a.m. so I can have dinner with my husband
No longer do evening cocktails with friends fit my plans

Constantly, your disheartened, sullied staff tells me to kick rocks
Well not in so many words but they say things like, and I quote, “if you’re unhappy, find a new way home”

Exaggerating?  Here’s a verbatim PA system relay:
“Train 411 is 30 minutes delayed”
Twenty minutes later, “Train 411 is on the move”
Five minutes later, “Train 411 will bypass the West Baltimore stop; Train 415 which is no longer on schedule but only 10 mins late will pick you up”.

Seriously, MARC, what the fuck!?

Read more about Natasha Ramsey on her website http://www.natasharamsey.com