Riding opposite is safer than 16th, you say? Hmmm...maybe that two way traffic that 16th has that 15th does not, is a tad more dangerous. And yet, you want to inflict 16th street's dynamics on 15th Street?

by Cassandra on Aug 21, 2008 12:26 pm  

16th is a major street. It's one of the cardinal routes in and out of the city, connecting the Beltway to downtown. 15th is not.

Besides, 15th is a pretty scary road to bike on right now, with no lanes, speeding cars trying to beat the lights up at V and Florida, and so on.

If cars on 16th drove as fast as they do on 15th, 16th would be a mega death trap (and, in fact, one of the places where cars go particularly fast, down the hill approaching U, is one of the most dangerous intersections).

by David Alpert on Aug 21, 2008 12:30 pm  

I'm not sure I understand what the problem is here. I bicycle all the time, and I use New Hampshire whenever I head from my home in Columbia Heights to anywhere west of the White House.

I agree that a contraflow bike lane on New Hampshire would be the ideal solution, and I'm glad DDOT is studying it.

However, what is so bad about (SB) turning right on V, going one block, turning left onto 16th at a light, and then turning right onto New Hampshire?

Sure, you have to bike on big 16th for a block. But you're protected during your left turn by a traffic signal, and the queued traffic at U isn't bad to fall in behind.

So, maybe I'm misunderstanding the problem, but as a cyclist, I have no problem with taking V & 16th (or T & 16th when NB). After all, it's just a block.

by Matt' on Aug 21, 2008 12:56 pm  

Oh boy, not to get everyone all amped about 15th street again, but I generally feel much safer on 15th than I do biking on 16th, which I bike down every single day for the last couple of years. And sometimes back up, though if far downtown I come up 15th nearly the whole way.

There are a few speeders, yes, but the overwhelming majority know doing the speed limit helps you catch the light, and in this case, the excessive wideness means you can take a lane without halting a lane of traffic completely (like I routinely get yelled at for doing southbound on 16th next to Meridian Hill). Which is why one-way with a protected bike lane or dedicated bus lane is still a great idea.

But biking up 15th next to Meridian? That's a @#$ing workout that I usually skip.

by Steve on Aug 21, 2008 12:58 pm  

I don't understand... how is riding the wrong way into oncoming traffic safer? I drive to work because I have to go to the suburbs where there is no public transit. I HATE DRIVING and I support as many bicycle lanes as can be built. Please explain to me why driving into oncoming traffic is safer. I truly don't get it. No abuse, please! I am sympathetic to bikers -- but I am one of those schmoes who lives in terror of bikes coming at me.

by Anonymous on Aug 21, 2008 9:42 pm  

But really, though, do NOT ride on the sidewalk. Talk about destroying civic life and walkability.

by Fred on Aug 21, 2008 10:33 pm  

Ok, all you scardy cats turn in your bikes. If these streets are too "scary" maybe biking isn't for you.

Some of these streets may require more technical riding skill than others but they are not scary. Grow a pair and take a course on how to ride a bike.

As I learned in the police academy "Fear is no excuse to break the law".

by Joseph Friday on Aug 22, 2008 8:49 am  

as a driver, bicyclist, and scooterist - i despise wrong way drivers on any sort. driving down 17th street with bicycles coming at you the wrong way is dangerous for everyone. being on two wheels does not exempt you from the basic rules/laws of traffic.

by dcvoterboy on Aug 22, 2008 10:24 am  

Anonymous, dvoterboy: I'm not advocating violating the law by riding the wrong way. However, this isn't 17th St which is pretty busy. New Hampshire on either side of U is an avenue with only one lane of traffic in a space wide enough for about 1.5 to 2. There's plenty of extra room. So much, in fact, that DDOT has already decided to add another bike lane the other way.

Since there's going to be a contraflow bike lane, it can't be that hazardous for people to ride exactly where a lane will exist in the future. The only difference is some paint.

More importantly, why is it the best use of MPD resources to ticket people for doing something which will soon be legal? There are places where wrong-way riding causes real danger. If we are going to run a bike sting, run it in those spots. More importantly, run some driver stings too to ticket the unsafe drivers, who vastly outnumber the unsafe bicyclists.

by David Alpert on Aug 24, 2008 10:29 pm  

Today there was another pedestrian fatality, this time in Maryland. I hope we can exit the bike-driver loop for a bit to focus some much needed attention on this issue.

by Cassandra on Aug 25, 2008 8:17 am