derath

I am not completely new to cycling, although with my new road bike I have been on the road more lately than ever before.

Today I did a somewhat popular route in Washington DC. It is called the Zoo Review, (details of the route is here: https://www.bikewashington.org/routes/zoo/zoo.htm ) I experienced a number of things often discussed in this forum so I thought it would be fun to point some of them out.

First, I did this ride in the middle of the day for some fun/fitness. I had to go to an appointment at a client downtown in the morning. On my drive in to my appointment I counted 12 cyclists riding on the sidewalk, and 3 on the road. Several of the sidewalk riders seemed to really have to try to not hit pedestrians that they passed.

The road portion of the ride was with traffic. Beach Drive goes through a National park and is closed to traffic on the weekends, but open to traffic during the week. It is 25mph, 2 lanes and absolutely no shoulder. During various portions of the road there is an associated MUP of varying condition. I rode on the road most of the time. Being a slight downhill for most of the road, I was able to keep a 16-22mph speed, so I did not worry so much about not having the shoulder as I was going close to the speed limit.

I ran into 2 jerks on the road. The first one was great. I took beach drive north from my client to my starting point, so I had seen a very good speed trap on my way. While riding I got lucky enough to get Jerk #1 who was getting pissed that I was taking the lane (going 20mph). I finally moved a little right and he flew past me...right into the speed trap. (karma). I smiled as I passed.

The second jerk passed me and yelled I should be on the path (again I was going 19mph).

I finally got off and went on the MUP. It was in noticably bad condition compared to the road. For one I could not go over 15mph on the path. Also I had to constantly slow down to pass the numerous runners oblivious to me with their Ipods. I finally said f**k it and got back on the road.

The second half of the ride is on a rails to trails path. It was much wider and was ok. But still I encountered many runners/walkers that I had to try and safely pass. I had at least 5 times where there were 3 walking side by side blocking almost all access. Many were reluctant to move aside and let me pass.

So what did I take away with my ride?

1. If given the choice of riding on the road and a MUP, I will take the road.
2. The presence of a MUP makes it really hard for drivers to accept my right to share the road (Beach drive while having these MUP there are also share the road signs)
3. I love having a job that allows me to "disappear" for an hour or 2 in the middle of the day for a ride.
4. We have a long way to go in order to educate cagers on how to share the road, and how to educate cyclists to use the road.

-D

Da Tinker

+1 on all points

Helmet Head

I agree with all 4, though, with respect to #4, I believe educating cyclists to use the road is by far the most effective way, perhaps the only way, to achieve educating cagers on how to share the road.

I say this because of how dramatically easier it became for me to use the road with cagers once I learned how to communicate effectively with them. I think the main problem is that cagers don't know what a given cyclist is going to do next, for good reason (most cyclists do not ride in a visible and predictable manner). Of course, for a cyclist who learns vehicular cycling, that takes care of most (90%?) of the cager problem, but not all of it. But the rest is so minor it really becomes inconsequential. at least for me.

gurana

I love the Zoo Review. I've only gone on the weekends, so I couldn't say about interacting with traffic on beach drive. The only portion I ever have issues with is the part where you're parralleling rock creek parkway and there is no path. I'm all for riding on the road to avoid side walks, but this part of the parkway is a highway with no shoulder. I'm not sure, but I think the posted speed limit is 40mph (at least 30). I've seen cyclists on this road before, but they looked like they knew what they were doing.

AndrewP

For the pedestrians on the MUP you need a Fox 40 whistle

cc_rider

Another fan of the zoo review / Capital Crescent loop. Rode is two weekends ago and might again this weekend.
The Rock Creek MUP near the zoo has gotten much worse in the last couple of years, and the Gerogetown stretch has always been too narrow. When the traffic is light I take the road, but with all the knuckleheads driving on the parkway I never feel safe. Beach on a weekend is a blast.
Wonder if the NPS has plans to fix the path or widen the road?

Usually enjoy the CCT, but sometimes run into the same kind of obnoxious runner/walkers you came across.
The upper RCT - Beach Drive to Veirs Mill and the MUP to Needwood - is much less used and much niceR to ride. Can sometimes go for a mile or more without seeing anyone else.

dynaryder

I've never done this loop,but I've ridden the two sections independently.

The CCT would rock if it weren't for the obliviate peds(engrossed in their iPods and cell phones or letting their dogs wander on 100ft leashes) and the hammerhead roadies who think Being On The Pace gives them the right to ignore the rules.

The Rockcreek MUP is pretty tore up. It also sucks that once you hit the DC/MD border the signage gets messed up. I've gotten lost both crossing into MD and coming from MD. And Beach Dr during the week amazes me. What kind of idiot tries to make time on a twisty,windy 25mph road?

cc_rider

Going north, at the border it is easier to take Beach / Jones Mill / Beach (left turn after going under bridge) than the MUP. I'll sometimes take the path southbound from Viers Mill, but only if I really need to ride surrounded by trees.

John E

With a 25mph/40kph speed limit, sure. What if it were twice that, with an unsharably narrow curb lane?


I agree. Educating cyclists is NOT enough, HH, although it does indeed help.

Dchiefransom

How is waiting to safely pass a pedestrian on a trail any different that a car having to wait to pass us when we take the lane on the road? The pedestrians on trails have the same right of way as we do when we're on the roads.

sbhikes

Amen.

It always strikes me what a double-standard cyclists have. They get all hot and bothered about the way motorists react to us and then turn around and react the exact same way to slower folks in other shared-use circumstances.

It may be annoying to deal with MUP traffic so either accept that that's how it is or find another route.

dynaryder

Yes,but most cyclists are aware of their surroundings. They don't just randomly stop or wander to the other lane. IPod/cell-phoned peds are generally in their own worlds and completly unpredicable.