toaster404 t1_jdvetjw wrote
Reply to comment by Valuable_Ad481 in lol at the police ticketing and towing the cars that are literally parked on the shoulder of 66 by the Kennedy Center by mikeydhakid
I had a different experience. Rode my e bike N from Mt. Vernon area - larger than usual number of people on the Mt. Vernon Trail, but not really any unusual behavior, the usual inattention, but most people behaving as one does on a multi-use path. That was true all along the way. Memorial bridge had a few more clueless than usual, but not much more than peak tourist, and better behaved than peak tourist. Parked at the kit festival, only moderate confusion, and all were polite enough. Even law enforcement acting rational. Rode up Constitution, nobody cared that I lane split. A few more oblivious peds than usual, but I'm careful. Parked by Natural History and played with dinosaurs. Nobody screwed with my bike, security let me in without a search. Then across the mall, down L'Enfant towards the Wharf - cars parked in the bike lane. I laughed, figure they all got tickets. Crossed over to East Potomac, a few unaccustomed to bikes and walking rationally, but not many, and we worked it out. Park Police dude said the point was looking good and traffic blocked, so I rode around the loop. Took some off roading, but easy and fun. The my girl is cute and needs pictures, instagram, and gotta fish people were there. Some cool bicycles. Then across 14th st bridge - that was the most zooish, but everyone behaved, and the police had just arrived to handle the parking on the ridge. Laughed about that with some folks. Then back home. Pretty easy, over all, considering the thousands of people. Having the cars immobile actually made it easier!!
Overall, one of the more entertaining trips of late. And I have to wonder about the intelligence of anyone trying to get in using anything but a bike or feet.
Valuable_Ad481 t1_jdvi4wm wrote
we parked in crystal city by the treatment plant and rode up MV trail and crossed at 14th. the MV had its normal amount of tourist traffic on a nice day. once we crossed the bridge it was a shit show around the tidal basin. we ended up lane splitting and going against traffic since the sidewalks were at a crawl. multiple motorists were pissy even though they weren’t moving and there was no risk of us hitting their cars. we went up 14th and then over to georgetown to hobo drink some beers by the river. that side of town was its normal warm day self.
toaster404 t1_jdvucvh wrote
I had no interactions with motorists. Didn't do the tidal basin, though. That's always been weird for me on a bike.
On the other hand, I may be so inured to motorists that I don't notice. Park police even said I could ride against traffic, so long as I was safe. I'm safe.
At this point, I wonder about the intellect and sensibility index of people who drive into an entirely known and predicted traffic disaster. Wouldn't be surprised if the narcissism and entitlement indices were high.
On the other hand, on Hains Point and the Mall everyone seemed to be getting along and having a great time. In some areas, contact highs might have been possible!!
Valuable_Ad481 t1_jdxfy3u wrote
to be fair…. most of my road rides happen in the ‘burns or national forrests so i see very few if any pissy people. could of been a normal amount for a high traffic event.
the obvious city dwelling pedestrians were orderly and knew how to react around a crowd and cyclists. the lack of self and situational awareness was super high for the none city folk. higher then i had ever seen it before.
it feels like the vast majority of people forgot how to exist in public during the pandemic without being a nuance for others.
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