Cycling around DC on a Sunday

I didn't have a ton of time on Sunday after I got my chores done, but I managed to get in a quick ride. Since it was on the chillier side, I thought the Mt. Vernon trail wouldn't be too crowded. Wrong. Very wrong.

I was able to check out the Woodrow Wilson bridge. The path along the bridge is in good shape and there's a fun spiral the end; however, there's not much to do on the other side; it just sort of ends at this long hill.



Bike DC next Saturday.

My New Commute by the Numbers

In November, I might be switching offices to somewhere outside of the Beltway which those informed call Springfield, VA. My transit options: car, metro, or bicycle. Everyone has an opinion: buy a beater; read on the Metro; bike like a beast. Let's break it down by the numbers.

Car

Time: Google Maps says it would take 30 minutes to drive from my apartment and up to 35 minutes in traffic. Since I'd be driving in rush hour traffic, assume 35 minutes. I don't have parking available in my building, so I'd need to park the car on the street. Add some time for that; let's say 15 minutes for walking to and from the car and finding a spot when I get home. Total time estimate: 35 minutes * 2 + 15 minutes = 95 minutes.
Cost: I'd have to buy a car, pay for insurance, maintenance, and gas. Car insurance for a 24 year old male in my neighborhood estimate $125. Car payments $300 per month. Assuming I get 30 MPG, $3 a day in gas times days in the office per month 21 is $63. Plus maintenance costs $100/month. $588/month.

Estimating car costs is tricky. Alternately, say the miles to get to work with an estimated cost at .55 cents per mile. 32 * .55c * 21. For the month would be $369. Range $369 - $588.

Metro

Time: Trip planner says it will take just under an hour during rush hour. Add time of walking to and from the metro plus the initial wait time 20 minutes. 60 * 2 + 20 = 140 minutes.
Cost: One way is $5.10. So there and back for the month. $5.10 * 2 * 21 = $214.20.

Bicycle

Time: I've looked at some suggested routes from WABA and planned my own here. It's 17.3 miles. In traffic with gear the ride would probably take me an 70 minutes. There and back would be 140 minutes.
Cost: Well, I wouldn't ride every day. I'd aim for biking 3 days a week. The other days I'd Metro. So let's say half the cost of the Metro: $107.10.

Summary

Car: $370 - $588 per month and takes 95 minutes a day.
Metro: $214.20 per month and takes 140 minutes a day.
Bicycle: $107.10 per month and takes 140 minutes a day

Driving has the least time with the highest cost. For $10 to $20 dollars a work day I could save 40 minutes a day. However, if I bicycled to work I wouldn't have to go to the gym. Not working out for 2 hours three days a week would save time. It would work to about the same time overall while saving about $400. I'd also get through plenty of reading on the metro during those alternate days. It most definitely worth trying out the bicycle. Ride free!

Study Shows Bike Lanes Result in Closer Passing

A UK study determined that motorists pass cyclists closer when bike lanes are present. Washcycle does a nice job discussing the study. Is the average passing distance what matters? Or is it the outliers - those who pass extremely close - that matter?

The outliers are the cars closer to hitting you; however, safety has more factors than how close a motorized vehicle passes you. If more bicycle lanes get more people on a bicycle, the roads might be safer. If having  a bicycle lane makes people more at risk for a right hook, the roads might not be as safe.

The question to ask is there a higher rate of accidents per cyclist on roads with bicycle lanes? I don't think this study come close to answering that.

Guide: How to Bike to Work - Part I

A few days back I posted about my personal enjoyment of commuting to work on my bicycle. So, what if you want to start biking to work too? Good news is it's easy. Here's a guide to get started.

(I've split up a guide into two parts. In part I, I will cover planing a route, storage, necessary gear, and basic bicycle safety checks. In Part II I will cover what kind of bicycle fits your style, logistics of looking good and riding well, and debunk some popular excuses.)

Part I: Getting started

Plan a route:

If you're new to riding in the street with traffic, it's important to be comfortable with where you're going and how you're going to get there. So, step one is planning a good route. Ask around to see what roads and trails co-workers or other experienced cyclists use. Additionally, many cities publish free bicycle maps with roads that are good for riding. Washington DC Department of Transportation's map can be found on their website here and a user generated DC map here. Additionally, Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) experts have put together some cue sheets for popular routes in the area.

After you've planned a route, try it out! On a weekend or a day you're not working, practice the route and time yourself so you know how long it will take. Have fun too; you'll probably see parts of the city you've never experienced.

Parking:

Once you get where you're going, having somewhere to store your wonderful machine is important. Many buildings and parking garages have free bike racks. Ask if bicycle parking is available. If it's not, ask if they can put rack in the garage. Ask again. And last resort if secure and accessible indoor storage is not available, you can lock your bicycle outside. If you lock your bicycle on the street, invest in the best U-lock you can buy and learn how to properly lock your bicycle. Theft is a problem and I can't say this enough: if it's not locked down eventually it will get stolen. Seriously, you don't want to be made fun of by Hal. And, hopefully one day, we'll see more of these bike stations.

What you'll need:

You probably have most of the basics. This is a list of must-haves:

• A bicycle in good condition.
  
• A U-lock. I recommend buying two leaving one at work and the other for trips around town.
  
• Front white light and red rear light. This is the law in DC, and definitely makes sense. Be seen.
  
• A backpack or pannier to your carry stuff
• A helmet

For basic roadside maintenance, you'll need:

• A patch kit
• Multitool with allen and spoke wrenches and a chain tool. If you ride an older bicycle, you may need some open-ended wrenches.
  
• A spare tube
  
• Minipump or C02
• Saddle bag to carry all your swag
  

Safety Check:

A working and safe bicycle is important and it will make the ride more enjoyable. At first if you don't know what you're doing, have a local bicycle shop tune-up your ride. Basic tune-ups in Washington DC run $89 - $99 dollars.

As you gain experience or for the experienced, the ABC Quick Check covers the basics.

A: Air. Check you tires are properly inflated. If tires are deflated, it's a pain to ride. If they are over inflated, they won't have the proper give and you'll feel every nook and cranny in the road.
B: Brakes. Make sure the brake pads are not too worn, they're not rubbing against the rims, and they're responsive.
C: Chain, Cranks, and Cassette. Make sure your chain is properly lubed and nothing is too worn.
Quick: Quick Releases. If you have quick release wheels, make sure the hubs are firmly attached and the brakes are in. If you don't know what that means, read this.
Check: Try it out. Give the bicycle a spin around the block. Shift into different gears. Make sure there are no loose parts. If there are tighten them.

Riding Safely:

Lastly, bicycling is safe and fun, but you are vulnerable when riding around with 3000 lbs metal wagons; so, brush up on safety tips. You should ride predictably and avoid the common hazards like dooring, potholes, and the right hook. There are many good bicycle safety resources available on the web; spend sometime looking over them. WABA's Safe Cycling guide is here. If you're in the area, they also offer free Confident City Cycling Classes.

Part II - Commuting in Style coming soon.

Why I Ride Part II - My Cycle and Me

I love bicycles. I love my bicycle. Bicycling is a simple joy.

I spend most of my time thinking about bicycles - my bicycle, my steel horse. I have trouble articulating it, but it brings back the glee of my first sweet ride: the white and blue huffy single speed with coaster brakes. Bicycling brings back the feeling of throwing a towel over my shoulder and peddling to the pool on a hot summer day, using my coaster brake to skid down my driveway during an alleged high speed chase, or jockeying with friends on the street as we explored Glen Ellyn in June.

I still cherish the freedom my bicycle provides. I find the entire city is at my disposal.

Early last year, I started biking to work. Bicycling to work isn't for everyone, but it is right for me. I cycle commute because:

It's the fastest way to commute. Traffic on a bicycle isn't bumper to bumper because of construction on the 14th St Bridge; it's the occasional street cleaner or double parked car. I blow past the smog machines on 16th St. And I can park anywhere for free.

It's the most enjoyable way commute. Being outside, experiencing the neighborhoods, engaging the street allows me to feel the pulse of the city. You can't do that when you're trapped behind a windshield hearing the Eastern Motors radio spot on repeat.

It's the cheapest way to commute. I could purchase several trips to Argentina and back with the money I saved on car payments, insurance, gas, parking, and maintenance.

It's the healthiest way to commute. I lost 30 lbs. I got in better shape bicycling to work than I did training for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler.

If I can't ride to work in the future, I'm not sure what I'd do. When I tell co-workers biking to work is a priority, they dismiss me saying "Just buy a beater." It's not about the money, driving, or the Metro. It's about riding. I love to ride.

Bicycling to work everyday changed my life. It gave me freedom, an identity, a hobby, and a passion.

Need some bicycle time

I survived my second post-go-live week. So far it's been a success. On Wednesday, we had almost 17000 members log in and served almost 400,000 page views. Ryan was out on his honeymoon; so, it was just me handling the technical side of issues. At times, I felt like the helpdesk, but everyone is trying hard to resolve issues before they bubble up to me which is appreciated.

Scattered thunderstorms across the area today means I'm not going out for a ride today. Maybe I'll get some bicycle time in around town.

On Thursday, after a day that was just a barrage of questions, I was pretty cranky. Once I got on my bicycle it all melted away. There's something about the freedom of riding, the focus need to traverse traffic, the breeze in my face, or the force of accelerating that just helps me relax. I don't know what I'll do if I can't cycle commute in the future.

Why I Ride

After some time in Maryland and DC on my steel horse, I passed by Revolution Cycles in Georgetown. I've been to Revolutions twice to pick up accessories; they're courteous helpful and an overall great bike shop; so, I tend to give a nod when I pass. Pinned up in the front window was a notice announcing the arrival of the new electronic shifting system from Shimano.

So now, bicycles may have electronic parts. Not trying to sound like Ray Bradbury here, but that's not cool with me. One of my favorite things bicycles is that they're powered, propelled, fueled by me. It's me, wheels, levers, pulleys, and cranks: a combination of simple machines.

Am I old? No. I just enjoy the elegant simplicity bicycles offer. On a day to day basis I'm hauled up gazing at a computer screen; it's nice to lose that attachment to electronics for a while.

Bicycling Physics

This article, How you steer a bicycle, is a very cool nontechnical explanation why you steer left to turn right.

The Idaho Stop

In Idaho, cyclists are allowed under law to treat stop signs like yields. Oregon is now considering the Idaho Stop. Cool right?

Well I posted this story, http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/02/10/when-is-a-stop-sign-not-a-stop-sign/, in my gchat status message. Most people replied back with "this crazy cyclist did this or that" or "this car ran me off the road" stories. I'm glad this article stirred reactions from both sides, because roads are a space for both cars and bicycles; unfortunately, they are not designed for both cars and bicycles; they are designed for cars.

The article's point is the following:

• Bicycles are supposed to be on the road.
• Roads are designed for cars.
  
• Not all rules of the road make sense for cyclists
• Example, stopping/accellerating for cars is easy, push the pedal. For cyclists it requires much more energy, push the pedal many times over. That's why they don't stop at stop signs. This discourages them from cycling in a predictable manner.
  
• In order to make roads safer for cyclists, you cannot continue to discount cyclists' concerns.
  

This is just one example, and a great one, of the fact that bicycles don't get special treatment; they're different. (Note: I don't feel the Idaho Stop is not the only solution to the problem at hand. Other options include timing of traffic lights for cyclists, called green waves, or adjusting the enforcment of laws.)

In the future, cyclists will continue to ride on the road. Our planning and laws need to account for them. The hope is that it's safer for cyclists and it encourages more people to ride. DC is taking a nice step towards multiuse roads with the redesign of U St/16 St/New Hampshire; they are installing a contraflow bike lane and bike only traffic signal.

For more coverage check out GreaterGreaterWashington, WashCycle, and StreetsBlogs.

Bicycle Style

I'm obsessed with bicycles. I've got two; I'm looking for a third. Part of it's about style.

Check out the style from Copenhagen or in every day clothes at Velocouture.

Smart Bike around DC

--$3.33 a month for alternative transit.--

My SmartBikeDC credentials arrived in the mail last week. They came in an envelope slightly larger than a postcard that was filled the brim. Inside was my card, instructions about how to activate it, bicycle safety tips, bicycle laws, and the DC bicycle map.

Activating the card online was easy. Just about how any credit card works - sign up and enter the card number. (Note: I still have reservations about the security of the website.)

On my way back from another burrito lunch, I stumbled upon the stand at Metro Center, about half the spots were open, so I opted to take a bike for trip. I swiped my card, and screen showed #9. I raised it out of the rack, adjusted the seat, and scoped out my surroundings: sidewalks packed with pedestrians, cars, delivery trucks, and buses congesting the sidewalks. It was not an attractive sight.

With a lack of a destination, a waning lunch hour, and disposition for indecision I took it for the first thing that came to mind, a spin around the block. My joy ride was short, but I got a good feel for the bike.

The red an white bikes aren't made for speed or looks, but they are a three speed sturdy ride, easy to pedal, and are equiped with the all powerfull bell. Most people will have an easy time hopping on and ride a mile or two around the city.

Currently outside of the ocassional lunch time joy ride or the after work trip to logan circle, there aren't enough stations for me to adopt SmartBike into my daily routine, but I'm happy to pay the $40 a year to support the great program.

I've got a grainy cell phone video of the ride complements of Joris:




UPDATE: check out street films coverage of SmartBike DC. The bikes are 3 speed not one. Thanks dc2wheel.

Carbo-Load

The brakes have been pulled taut, derailer adjusted, screws tightened, tires inflated, and carbohydrates have been consumed. I'm ready for the ride tomorrow, hopefully the weather stays nice. Here goes nothing.

Bike Shop

I took my bicycle to CityBikes today to fix the derailer. If High Fidelity was written about a bike shop this would be that shop. Rows of bikes temporarily strung along the wall at varying heights and opinionated, off-beat, bearded employees' chit-chat fill the compact store. I definitely trust the employees and service department there. My bike is fixed as well as it can be; unfortunately, from the looks of it I'm going to need a new bike or install more aggressive shifting system. I'm going to opt for the new bike. It's the right time. My current bike played its part, got me started riding again, and I can still use it around town.

I'm living in the Office. I'm on a party planning committee and I'm helping out with office olympics in August.

Bike DC

Bicycling magazine recently rated Washington DC the most improved bicycle city. With the new bicycle sharing program SmartBike, a single speed self-service bike rental, and increased bike lanes, the District is taking the steps in the right direction; however, at this point, I'm an experienced road cyclists, and I don't feel confident on the DC streets. The current bike lanes end abruptly and fail to connect with one another, cars park in the lanes or don't look while taking right turns, other cyclists disobey traffic signals creating a distrust between cyclists amongst motorists, and the multi-use paths aren't wide enough to accommodate joggers and cyclists. All in all it's nice to see the city gain support for cycling and get recognized for their first of many efforts. One day I hope to experience an extensive system of paths with physical barriers between the road; for now, to celebrate the first step I will observe Bike to Work Day on Friday May 16th, and the MS Ride that weekend. Thanks for all your support on the ride.

---

I was on the phone with the client the other day. After a quick thought started, there as a small pause, and he asked "Charles, I hope you don't mind, but how old are you?"

Blindly I replied "22."

He let out a short string of laughs, and said "Wow. You'll go far." 

Startling, but it was a nice compliment.

---

Last week I gave a presentation on web usability to my project team entitled "A Presentation: Don't Make Me Think" (The title comes from Advanced Common Sense). I put it together a little last minute - changed thoughts in mid-sentence or twirled my arms a bit like a dinosaur at times - but went well in the end. I'm going to work on sharpening it, perfecting the art, and giving it as a Brown Bag lunch.

Veronica and Claire are coming this weekend and planning on going to the Newseum.  Troy has already been.

April 21 - 27 2008 was the official Turn Off Your TV week; unfortunately I missed it. I will observe it this week starting yesterday.

Capital Crescent

Another bike ride this weekend. With an ominous email sent out friday afternoon, "ride will be canceled if it's raining at 8 am," the ride was in flux, but the rained stayed away just enough to make for a pleasant day.

We met for breakfast in Georgetown. On my way to Georgetown, I saw Mayor Fenty spectating a little league game at 9 am with a red tie and an overarching umbrella that could have kept the entire dugout dry. I wanted to shout good job and give a big thumbs up, but I restrained myself. 

By the time I got to Dean & DeLuca, the slight drizzle cleared away, and it was nice enough to sit at their sidewalk cafe to enjoy a blueberry muffin and some coffee. The bike rack overflowed and the rumble of clip shoes pounding away on the brick sidewalk dominated the early morning noise. 

With a few instructions, a count of people, and a couple snippets of advice we were on the Capital Crescent trail. The trail follows old railroad tracks along Potomac and through the leafy parts of the city. At mile 6 we split off from the tracks and headed up MacArthur blvd into the heart of the prestigious suburbs that comprise Montgomery Co. I peddled and peddled, past the mini mansions and let their fancy cars power by me. The ride ended at Great Falls Park which unfortunately I didn't have enough time to explore. 

We headed back to Georgetown, this time down hill, and got lunch - lunch after a forty mile ride tasted pretty good.

Also in the news of today:

I bought Rock Band.

I made Granola.

I clean my apartment to make room for Rock Band.

Today was eventful.

Bicycles and Cherry Blossoms

Saturday couldn't have shaped up to be a better day. Around 8 am, I pumped air into my bicycle tires after a winter of neglect, and found my way into Rock Creek Park. I met up with Ryan in Rosslyn, and rode down the Potomac for breakfast in Old Town. After a light snack and a few introductions, the cycling team was off towards Mt. Vernon. The trail winded along the river, in and out of trees, and over the marsh on wooden bridges. After relaxing with George Washington, we made our way back to the District; however, Saturday was the perfect storm for the National Mall. With a moderate temperature and a bright sun, the cherry blossoms peaked underneath the mass of kites flowing in the Kite Festival wind. The traffic was worse than Tuesday rush hour.

We rolled over the 14th St bridge, moving casually towards the bank of the Potomac that was painted red from the fully bloomed cherry blossoms that sat below the swirling kites and Washington Monument. Baseball caps, wind-breakers, camera straps, and sunglasses dominated the scene. With excitement everywhere, people wandered in any direction; cross walked signals were ignored, because the streets had turned into a parking lot of running cars. 

On the way home, we passed cars on the left (surprisingly is legal), and some large tour buses just started to follow us and ended up in the opposite lane. We turned off 15th before we found out what happened to the buses.

I didn't have my camera for the trip, but I was able to just enjoy yesterday. I've been told this marks the beginning of tourist season, and the lines return any day now. Until then I'll just enjoy my bicycle. 

I need a bell.