Missed connection

[StopMeansStop]

@acc 3967 wrote:

Clearly, a violation of helmet safety.

He looks like a helmut.

[brendan]

@baiskeli 5239 wrote:

Wednesday: I was stopped at an intersection on Wilson Blvd. You were salmoning up the street to my right. Just before my light turned green, you turned in front of me and proceeded to salmon between the two lanes of traffic as it began to go through the light.

Just wanted to check to see if you’re still alive.

Yeah strange. Friday and Saturday nights are the official Salmoning nights on Wilson. Especially for cars… … well, really

[baiskeli]

Today’s missed connection:

You were a construction worker on an ATV, about to cross the path along the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool to get from the staging area to the pool. You were looking to your right, chatting with the guy who is supposed to be directing traffic and keeping you from hitting me, as I approached from your left. I saw what could happen and gave you a wide berth – and sure enough, you pulled out without looking, and your dumbass buddy didn’t look either. But since I was looking out for you and your idiot buddy whose job it is to prevent just this sort of thing, you barely missed me.

If only I had been as stupid as you are, I could have met you up close and personal. Perhaps next time.

[eminva]

And there’s one today:

You: A 70-something, maybe 80-something cyclist. Kudos for being out on the second hottest day of the year!

Me: The commuter who was catching up to you just before the Gallows Road crossing on the W&OD trail.

Perhaps you didn’t notice, but there is a traffic signal at this intersection. You can press a button, wait for the light, and then traffic will stop for you to cross the intersection. Some cyclists also wait for a break in traffic and cross without waiting for the light. But you just blithely crossed without checking for traffic. I am SO glad the cars saw you in time and stopped. But I am very worried — I guess I can’t say in a maternal way, since you looked to be about my dad’s age — but still, I worry when I see you do stuff like that. Nearly scared me to death. Please use the traffic signal next time, okay?

P.S. You might want to stop at Spokes and pick up a helmet, too.

[Dirt]

@brendan 5257 wrote:

Yeah strange. Friday and Saturday nights are the official Salmoning nights on Wilson. Especially for cars… … well, really

I love the term “Salmoning”. Makes me hungry.

[baiskeli]

@Dirt 6152 wrote:

I love the term “Salmoning”. Makes me hungry.

Actually, had another missed connection today – a lady in a sunhat and sundress ambling the wrong way right at me in the bike lane on Wilson.

[Dirt]

I had a “We’re all gonna die” moment when a guy was walking on Custis “British Style” (on the left side of the road) right next to the sound wall on a blind turn. My sloth-like reflexes were adequate, but I definitely caused Mr. Man to need a change of underwear. I called back that he might be safer on the right side. “No $#|&” was his answer. At least the only catastrophe could be fixed in the laundry.

[jrenaut]

Dear angry man in the red Mustang turning from the alley onto 15th St NW –

I suppose you can technically make the argument that you didn’t fail to yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk as there weren’t any, though you had no way of knowing that since you didn’t look.

But you didn’t yield to me biking lawfully in the designated bike lane, and had you gone another three or four inches, you would have knocked me off my bike. Then you met my “turn around, incredulous” look with some angry hand gesture that I couldn’t really make out through your fogged up windows.

So, thank you for helping me get my heart rate up (unnecessarily, as the hill by Meridian Hill Park does that just fine) on my ride home.

[jrenaut]

Dear gentleman riding the wrong way down Harvard St NW at 9pm without any light whatsoever –

I’d prefer not to run you over next time I have to drive. Please use 1) A light and 2) Either one block north or one block south, both of which go in the direction you want.

[jrenaut]

Dear woman in the giant black SUV looking for parking –

I should have known you were not too bright when you made the right on red from S to 14th without really having enough time, but I was just enjoying the first ride on my new tires too much. And then you made me lock them up when you decided to abruptly pull over without checking the bike lane. I hope it scared you as much as it scared me. Though, as the cyclist right behind me said at the next light, “At least it got your heart rate up!”.

[JorgeGortex]

Dear older, 70 something rider near the USPTO in Alexandria,

You looked amazing in your full biking regalia, including helmet (kuddos), on your sweet ride. It was not, however, super cool that you meandered up the middle of the lane slowed, and made a u-turn in the middle of the street, without looking around or considering any of the cars, pedestrians, etc. nearby thus causing everyone involved to have a slight wide-eyed-white-knuckled moment. Maybe an extra bad call at a busy 4-way stop intersection in front of a busy Starbucks. If you would like to live into your 80’s enjoying your bike, I would suggest reconsidering said behavior in the future. Remember that you also make all (safe and considerate) cyclists look like idiots by practicing this riding technique.

Love, the person in the car (unfortunately not on his bike this given day) behind you.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

Me: Plodding along in my lightest workout shirt and a pair of khaki pants, lightly sweating in the 60 degree weather.

You: Sporting brand new neoprene overboots, tights, knee warmers and waterproof jacket and gloves.

Me: I checked the forecast and current temperature before I left home

You: Sweating profusely but too proud to shed some layers

[jrenaut]

To the cyclist who ran the light on 15th NW at S and almost got killed by a cab making a legal left turn with the light – please stop giving the rest of us who use those cycletracks a bad name.

[americancyclo]

In near total darkness on unlit section of W&OD this morning

Jogger with reflecto vest approaching: “This Plate! aghgbdbgbngbsmvvlllll”
Me: “What!?”

It’s hard to understand anyone going in the opposite direction at 20 mph.

[baiskeli]

To the guy who was wandering into the bike lane in Clarendon while looking at your phone: Don’t wander into the bike lane in Clarendon while looking at your phone.

Especially since you were heading for the car lane next.

[Author]

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