A really nice commute today, including several of the longer stop lights on my route going my way! low 60s and overcast, so shorts and technical Tee was perfect. I also managed to have a nearly continuous series of impromptu 'riding buddies' for most of the ride, which I think kept my speed up a little (not drafting, just motivated to keep up).

Only one moment really marred the ride, by providing some sphincter tightening vicarious excitement: my most consistent riding buddy was a young woman in a Bike to Work Day t-shirt who was keeping a pretty solid clip on her Specialized road bike (very similar to my weekend bike ;-)). She and I approached the intersection of Jefferson Dr. SW and 3rd St. (Just before you get to the US Capitol Bldg) at roughly the same time; she was leading the way by a couple of bike lengths, perhaps. She was heading right, and I was heading left, so I took the portion of the lane to the left, and she was positioned pretty far to the right, though not because of me, as far as I could tell.

As we passed a parked over-sized vehicle (probably a tour bus, but my memory isn't that good) a jogger came darting out right in front of her. She grabbed her brakes and yelled in surprise, and he danced around her, demonstrating quick reactions and decent agility. So no actual harm to either, but it was a near thing.

I'd been with her for about 8 miles at that point, and I knew her to be a pretty careful, conscientious rider. In hindsight, she probably should have stayed a little further out in the lane despite her intent to turn right, esp. with the obstructed view offered by the parked vehicle.

However, the jogger was definitely at fault as a) we had the green light/ he had a 'don't walk' and b) it didn't look as though he had even looked for oncoming traffic before entering the roadway.