rocdoc

Yep. Interesting to read all the replies about similar situations. Busting cyclists for not coming to a full stop sounds a lot more like harassment than safety promotion to me. There are a lot more useful things that the police could be doing related to biking and MUPs...

KenshiBiker

Couple of years ago the City of Sacramento made a big show of enforcing the 15 mph speed limit on the American River Bike Trail (nice, 8-ft-wide, 30+ mile long MUP). Officers were trained in use and issued LIDAR. I understand they had one or two officers with the LIDAR and multiple officers down the trail to intercept the speeders (may even have been on motorcycles). Lots of press in the media about it. Last year and this year I haven't heard or seen any evidence that they are still doing this.

When I heard about it, my reaction was that if I got a ticket, I was going to frame it.

CptjohnC

Not to be dumb, but where is the CCT speed limit posted? Is this just a MoCo thing? I've never seen a posted limit on the CCT between Chain Bridge and Georgetown. But according to a 2008 WaPo article, it applies only in Bethesda...? Nor have I seen a posted limit on the MVT or the W&OD. I've heard rumors of speed limits, but they never agree on what the limit is, and if the limit isn't posted or otherwise placed in the public consciousness, I can't imagine a citation could be valid (unless there's a default limit like there is in some jurisdictions -- like 25MPH unless otherwise posted? but even then some notice is required)

Supposedly there's a 15MPH limit on National Park Service trails, but I've never seen any indication thereof, posted signs or otherwise. And certainly no enforcement.

bruised

You'd think they'd invest their valuable time and resources into promoting any activity which takes traffic away from the roads. Rather than trying to make people feel bad about using the trails, why not do something positive which encourages and promotes safe/legal trail use - maybe put up a sign, hand out a flyer.....there has to be something more useful and productive than doling out tickets to cyclists....WTF.

And they wonder why we....

Noddy

I think I would not be inclined to share my license information with the officers. Since I'm not required to possess a license to operate a bicycle it can't possibly be in my best interests to involve my motor vehicle license in any cycling offenses I may commit.

GovernorSilver

Just found this:
Capital Crescent Trail Congestion - Bethesda Magazine - July-August 2015 - Bethesda, MD

In 2008, officials with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission posted 15 mph speed limit signage on the section of trail between downtown Bethesda and the District line. Though all National Park Service trails and many other trail systems carry the same speed limit, few have posted it.

Pelicano says park police do stage enforcement waves occasionally. Records indicate that no one has ever received a citation for speeding on the trail, but warnings have been issued, Pelicano says. The department prefers to rely on park volunteers who are armed with a radar gun or a large digital speed sign to stop speeders and educate them about the speed limit and safe cycling practices, Pelicano says.

Even so, Kines says safe and unsafe speeds for cyclists depend on context. “If someone is speeding along the trail at 2 p.m. on a Sunday, it would appear unsafe and would be unsafe,” Kines says. “If someone is traveling at the same speed at 4 or 5 a.m. on their way to work, it’s a different story.”

CptjohnC

So another reference to a speed limit (on NPS trails) without a source. I visited the NPS website dedicated to the Mount Vernon Trail and the rules make zero mention of a speed limit. I then moved on to the 'full rules' which cites to the CFR. The section I found on speed limits says:

§ 4.21Speed limits.(a) Park area speed limits are as follows:(1) 15 miles per hour: within all school zones, campgrounds, picnic areas, parking areas, utility areas, business or residential areas, other places of public assemblage and at emergency scenes.(2) 25 miles per hour: upon sections of park road under repair or construction.(3) 45 miles per hour: upon all other park roads.(b) The superintendent may designate a different speed limit upon any park road when a speed limit set forth in paragraph (a) of this section is determined to be unreasonable, unsafe or inconsistent with the purposes for which the park area was established. Speed limits shall be posted by using standard traffic control devices.(c) Operating a vehicle at a speed in excess of the speed limit is prohibited.(d) An authorized person may utilize radiomicrowaves or other electrical devices to determine the speed of a vehicle on a park road. Signs indicating that vehicle speed is determined by the use of radiomicrowaves or other electrical devices are not required.

I don't see how the entire MVT or CCT could be reasonably construed as a campground, picnic area, etc...

Likewise the section on Bicycles doesn't mention a speed limit.

I found numerous articles in various publications similar to what you did, most from back in the 2007/8 timeframe, or like this one, citing to that time period. I'm not surprised that no one has been cited -- it would be an interesting trial.

CliffordK

Is there the ambiguous +9 "rule" in your area. Where they rarely ticket cars that are going less than 9 miles over the speed limit.

Say a car going 64 MPH in a 55 MPH zone would be generally considered fine.

So... does that mean a bike could safely be cruising at 24 mph in a 15 mph speed zone? Or are they discriminating against the bikes?

Personally I don't care how fast a bike goes in the long straight stretches. My concern is how the bikes are handled on curves and around other trail users.

So, if they go 30 MPH in sections where the bike trail is 30 feet wide... and not another soul in sight... good for them. If they are rude to other trail users or go unreasonably fast around blind corners... then perhaps they just need an official scolding or maybe a reckless endangerment or failure to yield citation.

GovernorSilver

You asked a bunch of questions in your post. The only one my post really offered an answer was on whether signs were posted on CCT.

obed7

I would at least stop and ask if it was ok if I took a selfie of he and i together. On the other hand, if you want to ride over 15mph, an mut is not the place for it.

skycomag

lets use a biking term instead of fat or portly.. Clydesdale

zandoval 

Rats... Something else to mount on your handelbars...

CptjohnC

Fair point, and my apologies. Your answer with regard to Bethesda and the posted limit is spot on. I guess I'm more focused on the un-posted but apparently enforceable speed limit elsewhere on the CCT and other NPS trails. Thanks for the clarification, though.

avidone1

If you put tin foil around a small spaghetti strainer and strap it on your head you can thwart harmful radars
as well as alien and CIA attempts at mind control.
Just don't tell them I told you.

Cross Creek

The answer, of course—The soon to be released "Stealth-Cycle." To avoid detection by radar, all of the remaining bits of metal attached to this carbon monocoque frame will be made of low density plastic and other low-reflectivity materials. It will feature multiple flat angles to confuse detection units, and will introduce a first, the 1x13 split bamboo drive-train. In other news, Raytheon announced the first phased array traffic radar system, guaranteed to pick up even the tiniest piece of metal in a cyclist's rig. Sources close to the development team hinted that detection and tracking hardware "could" be linked to auto-acquire/auto-engage pulse beam weapons previously limited to USN/DARPA R&D projects.....

Kindaslow

I had been working in mental health for just over twenty years when I met the first person who wrapped her head in tin foil to "protect" herself. It was a special moment for me!

jon c. 

I don't think speedometers are legally required in any vehicle. You are legally required to adhere to posted limits. How you do that is your own business.

scott967

Naah, sounds typical for Montgomery County.

scott s.
.

caloso

This.

Cyclist0084

When I was living over in Illinois, the town I was in always seemed to have their "speed machine" out and about. I'm a notoriously slow rider and it took me a while, but I eventually noticed that usually anything under 12mph didn't even seem to register. It got to the point whenever I'd see one while out for a ride, I'd speed up just to get it to come on, usually anywhere between 13 to 15 mph. Hey, you have to find some way to make a ride around a boring little town exciting. LOL!!

Shimagnolo

About a half mile from my house is a playground where they put one in a couple years ago. So ever since then, it makes a nice challenge when I'm coming home to see if I can make it flash, (25mph) on my final sprint, which is up a mild grade.

bikepro

But officer, I was using the cruise control . . .

wrldtraveller

here in Calgary, there is a speed limit between 10 kph up to 30 kph. The 10 kph is in downtown which is very congested during day time, especially during lunch time so its understandable, but If im allowed to rant, like a previous person mentioned, i phone, earbuds, music, and those cybermens who are totally oblivious to cyclist. hmm. and even some people who actually hear me warning them that I am attempting to pass, they purposely move to block my way saying that they have the right of way and i do not. That irritates me considering 10 kph, I can walk that fast. Once I am pass downtown, well.... the sky's the limit because hardly anyone walk past the downtown zone.

by the way, I do have speedometer on my bike because I like to challenge myself and see if I can go faster, count up the total mileage I ride. and yes, it is in mileage. The fastest I can go is 30 Mph, so like I said, 10 kph is pretty slow.

oh well...maybe its time for me to buy a road bike and start riding on roads with them crazies in 3000 lbs+ death machines.

Wanderer

I wonder if they give you 9MPH over? Equal protection, right?

TheManShow

The LAPD had on their cars the slogan to protect & serve. Maybe the DC Cops need to protect the tax payers from the scum of the earth, doing some real police work that is meaningful.