I used the cycletrack for the first time today. I was coming up 15th northbound from the Mall having completely forgotten it even existed till I got to the first light north of Constitution on 15th and realized it was there (I don’t like how they combined north and southbound cyclists on the track since it’s clearly not obvious to northbound cyclists that the track even exists if you are following traffic in the right lane). I then did an awkward turn on the sidewalk so that I could position myself to cross 15th at the crosswalk so as to get onto the track.
I was thrilled(!) to be able to pedal along outside, but not in, traffic but my euphoria was very short lived since the cycletrack seemed to disappear after only three blocks(!) – that is, at Lafayette Park. I wanted to go north but all I saw was parked cars and a sidewalk ahead of me and I was now on the wrong side of the road to continue north. Did I miss something here??? How is one to continue on 15th?
Since my destination was Foggy Bottom I hooked a left turn thru Lafayette (which could use it’s own cycletrack given the pedestrian traffic) and continued onwards through the streets. Later on that day, I experienced my first road rage incident – a woman in a van was furious that I was “taking the lane” down a one way, one lane street (21 St, NW heading south near the Mall). The incident left me rattled and unlikely to bike thru downtown ever again – I’ll stick to the trails and quieter suburban streets.
I fully endorse segregated lanes/tracks as exists in some cities in Europe. I think the reason why DC can’t quite get it right here is because it feels obligated to inconvenience the car culture as little as possible. They are trying to carve out a tiny niche for cyclists but aren’t willing to go all the way; this creates a lot of half-ass dangerous results. Such a shame.
