Alexandria Bike Lobby wins again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look around your office and tell me which of the 300 pound admins from PG County are going to pedal their fat assess to work-Burger King-work-home even if there were dedicated paved paths just for them?

None.

This bike thing has white privilege written all over it.

Bike lanes are racist.

There is some truth to this, actually a lot of truth to this. Not that the majority of people from PG county are overweight but that it is extreme white (usually) male privilege to think and demonize that biking for all your needs is practical, the best, the most efficient use of your time, the answer. It is also very white
male privilege to have that Jesus complex that I just save everyone, I am absolutely right, it is my duty to tell everyone why and convert them. Because I’m a white dude, I know, I’m smart, smarter than you. You have to pick up your kids and take them to soccer. Of course you can bike it if it was only so easy as more bike lanes. You can just buy all those kids bikes and helmets, you have the free time to bike to practice, it’s great. It’s fine. You need to commute to your job In dc from Fairfax, OMG no problem. It’s ok, you can afford a bike, and gear and I’m sure you have access to a gym at your cool white collar job in a posh building plus the extra tine to take a shower once you get there. Oh you need winter and rain gear, sure so easy just spend more money you don’t have to get that too. Wait, you’re handicap, no big deal, you can get an arm pedal bike or some other adaptive bike, they’re so affordable. Wait, you work more than one job because you need the cash, ok I just know you can store your bike at both places. And just get a light for when you leave late, it’s totally safe. Ha ha ha. I mean Seminary Road was just spearheaded by an Uber bike enthusiast who lives in a million dollar neighborhood to make the few blocks walk for his grandchildren from their million dollar neighborhood to his safer. He just needed that little stretch of Seminary to do it. Who cares about the poors? They don’t live in Seminary Hill. They’re too busy getting run over on Beauregard or Little River Turnpike in the west end. Not my problem, we’ll just blame it on the cars and lack of bike infrastructure, not the fact that these people are running for the bus. We won’t worry about it, Who needs to get these people bikes or work to make it safer. They’re like different shades of brown and black. Out of site out of mind!

+1

[Anonymous]

You think poor people don’t bike?? You really do have your head up your rear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You think poor people don’t bike?? You really do have your head up your rear.

You aren’t helping your pro bike lane position. At all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think poor people don’t bike?? You really do have your head up your rear.

You aren’t helping your pro bike lane position. At all.

PP, if you would have supported bike infrastructure, except somebody said something mean to you on an anonymous Internet message board - well, then you probably weren't much of a supporter of bike infrastructure.

The reality is that poor people bike. Bikes are a cheap way for people to get around without having to depend on buses that may run infrequently, or not show up at all, or not run early enough, or not run late enough, or not go where they're going.

If you're interested, you can look up the Monument Street bike lane controversy in Baltimore.

Or you can read this piece, which is by now almost 15 years old but still relevant: https://www.bicycling.com/news/a20049826/how-low-income-cyclists-go-unnoticed/

Or you can just open your eyes and look around. See that person biking on the sidewalk? See that bike locked to a sign? That's not a middle-aged white male on a $10,000 bike. That's a low-income worker commuting to a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are very tiny number of cyclists in the city of Alex.

BUT the City is extremely limo liberal and they love to embrace anything that aligns them with liberal ideas and want to make sure they are putting on a good show. They love any kind of environmental activism and causes and do lots of window dressing activities like send out declarations and such but there is very little substance. These actions are easy so they embrace them to avoid the real and tough issues like neglected infrastructure, school issues and so on.

The more safe and useful bike routes there are in Alexandria, the more people will ride bikes in Alexandria.

Wrong.

What do you mean, "wrong"?

DP. Just a guess, but to date, the road diets have not produced more bike riders. Or if they have, it's minimal. Plus it is hard to tell because the bike groups get tipped off by the city when they plan to do the counts of traffic on the bike lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look around your office and tell me which of the 300 pound admins from PG County are going to pedal their fat assess to work-Burger King-work-home even if there were dedicated paved paths just for them?

None.

This bike thing has white privilege written all over it.

Bike lanes are racist.

There is some truth to this, actually a lot of truth to this. Not that the majority of people from PG county are overweight but that it is extreme white (usually) male privilege to think and demonize that biking for all your needs is practical, the best, the most efficient use of your time, the answer. It is also very white
male privilege to have that Jesus complex that I just save everyone, I am absolutely right, it is my duty to tell everyone why and convert them. Because I’m a white dude, I know, I’m smart, smarter than you. You have to pick up your kids and take them to soccer. Of course you can bike it if it was only so easy as more bike lanes. You can just buy all those kids bikes and helmets, you have the free time to bike to practice, it’s great. It’s fine. You need to commute to your job In dc from Fairfax, OMG no problem. It’s ok, you can afford a bike, and gear and I’m sure you have access to a gym at your cool white collar job in a posh building plus the extra tine to take a shower once you get there. Oh you need winter and rain gear, sure so easy just spend more money you don’t have to get that too. Wait, you’re handicap, no big deal, you can get an arm pedal bike or some other adaptive bike, they’re so affordable. Wait, you work more than one job because you need the cash, ok I just know you can store your bike at both places. And just get a light for when you leave late, it’s totally safe. Ha ha ha. I mean Seminary Road was just spearheaded by an Uber bike enthusiast who lives in a million dollar neighborhood to make the few blocks walk for his grandchildren from their million dollar neighborhood to his safer. He just needed that little stretch of Seminary to do it. Who cares about the poors? They don’t live in Seminary Hill. They’re too busy getting run over on Beauregard or Little River Turnpike in the west end. Not my problem, we’ll just blame it on the cars and lack of bike infrastructure, not the fact that these people are running for the bus. We won’t worry about it, Who needs to get these people bikes or work to make it safer. They’re like different shades of brown and black. Out of site out of mind!

hahahahahaha. This is perfection, except that you left out that the portion of Seminary where all the accidents are occurring was largely ignored because a multibillion dollar car transportation company want to do a study for HOT lanes. Oh, and somehow, the VERY VERY IMPORTANT bike network in Alexandria had to include this portion of Seminary, but could completely ignore Howard Street, which has much lower ADTs, links to two schools and was just repaved, ahead of schedule, as a 4 lane road. But there was just something about this portion of Seminary Road that made it a top priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are very tiny number of cyclists in the city of Alex.

BUT the City is extremely limo liberal and they love to embrace anything that aligns them with liberal ideas and want to make sure they are putting on a good show. They love any kind of environmental activism and causes and do lots of window dressing activities like send out declarations and such but there is very little substance. These actions are easy so they embrace them to avoid the real and tough issues like neglected infrastructure, school issues and so on.

The more safe and useful bike routes there are in Alexandria, the more people will ride bikes in Alexandria.

Wrong.

What do you mean, "wrong"?

DP. Just a guess, but to date, the road diets have not produced more bike riders. Or if they have, it's minimal. Plus it is hard to tell because the bike groups get tipped off by the city when they plan to do the counts of traffic on the bike lanes.

Well, there's a conspiracy theory.

Half a mile here, and half a mile there, are not going to make a meaningful difference. What will? A network. People use routes to go places, whether they're walking, biking, or driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think poor people don’t bike?? You really do have your head up your rear.

You aren’t helping your pro bike lane position. At all.

PP, if you would have supported bike infrastructure, except somebody said something mean to you on an anonymous Internet message board - well, then you probably weren't much of a supporter of bike infrastructure.

The reality is that poor people bike. Bikes are a cheap way for people to get around without having to depend on buses that may run infrequently, or not show up at all, or not run early enough, or not run late enough, or not go where they're going.

If you're interested, you can look up the Monument Street bike lane controversy in Baltimore.

Or you can read this piece, which is by now almost 15 years old but still relevant: https://www.bicycling.com/news/a20049826/how-low-income-cyclists-go-unnoticed/

Or you can just open your eyes and look around. See that person biking on the sidewalk? See that bike locked to a sign? That's not a middle-aged white male on a $10,000 bike. That's a low-income worker commuting to a job.

You don’t get it. I have spent my entire career working with low income and vulnerable populations in their daily lives and you’re so ignorant and out of touch. You just think it makes sense for poor people to all hike, bye cause you’re so smart and see a few people you assume are low wage workers biking. But do you actually know? The large majority of low income people do not have access to a bike, or money to buy one, a helmet and gear (like a lock or lints). Sure a handful may be able to get a cheap one at a thrift store if they can get there. But this is not anywhere near the norm. Many actually don’t even know how to ride a bike, just like many don’t even know how to swim. They can’t afford regular every day stuff, like diapers, tampons, fresh food, insurance. Things these bike vigilantes take for granted. It doesn’t even occur to you that someone might need a job that is just too far away to bike, and it’s the only job they can get. They have zero free time or luxury to worry about bike lanes and road diets, because they’re just trying to keep their head above water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m also supposed to give pedestrians the right of way by law, but I told my kids that even though they legally HAVE the right of way, don’t assume it’s safe to do so all the time. If you walk behind a ton of steel that’s backing up, you might have the right of way, but you might also be killed. Which is more important to you?

PP#1: It's not legal for people on bikes to do this.
PP#2: That's wrong, it actually is legal.
You: Just cuz it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.

Yes, it's true that it may be legal but it may also be dangerous because the drivers aren't obeying the law.

But then don't talk to me about scofflaw cyclists. The danger is from scofflaw drivers (or drivers who don't even know the law).

It's not really smart law, now is it? Tons of steel against a bike? Seems to me that any smart biker might understand this and stop behaving in a manner that can get them killed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m also supposed to give pedestrians the right of way by law, but I told my kids that even though they legally HAVE the right of way, don’t assume it’s safe to do so all the time. If you walk behind a ton of steel that’s backing up, you might have the right of way, but you might also be killed. Which is more important to you?

PP#1: It's not legal for people on bikes to do this.
PP#2: That's wrong, it actually is legal.
You: Just cuz it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.

Yes, it's true that it may be legal but it may also be dangerous because the drivers aren't obeying the law.

But then don't talk to me about scofflaw cyclists. The danger is from scofflaw drivers (or drivers who don't even know the law).

You need to answer my question as to why you called the incident in which a biker hit the individual in DC and scraped his leg a 'near miss'. This is the third time I've asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m also supposed to give pedestrians the right of way by law, but I told my kids that even though they legally HAVE the right of way, don’t assume it’s safe to do so all the time. If you walk behind a ton of steel that’s backing up, you might have the right of way, but you might also be killed. Which is more important to you?

PP#1: It's not legal for people on bikes to do this.
PP#2: That's wrong, it actually is legal.
You: Just cuz it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.

Yes, it's true that it may be legal but it may also be dangerous because the drivers aren't obeying the law.

But then don't talk to me about scofflaw cyclists. The danger is from scofflaw drivers (or drivers who don't even know the law).

You need to answer my question as to why you called the incident in which a biker hit the individual in DC and scraped his leg a 'near miss'. This is the third time I've asked.

You're responding to multiple PPs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m also supposed to give pedestrians the right of way by law, but I told my kids that even though they legally HAVE the right of way, don’t assume it’s safe to do so all the time. If you walk behind a ton of steel that’s backing up, you might have the right of way, but you might also be killed. Which is more important to you?

PP#1: It's not legal for people on bikes to do this.
PP#2: That's wrong, it actually is legal.
You: Just cuz it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.

Yes, it's true that it may be legal but it may also be dangerous because the drivers aren't obeying the law.

But then don't talk to me about scofflaw cyclists. The danger is from scofflaw drivers (or drivers who don't even know the law).

It's not really smart law, now is it? Tons of steel against a bike? Seems to me that any smart biker might understand this and stop behaving in a manner that can get them killed?

If the driver is disobeying the law, then it's not "a bicyclist behaving in a manner that can get them killed," it's "a driver killing a bicyclist." Seems to me that any smart driver might understand this and stop behaving in a manner that can kill people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think poor people don’t bike?? You really do have your head up your rear.

You aren’t helping your pro bike lane position. At all.

PP, if you would have supported bike infrastructure, except somebody said something mean to you on an anonymous Internet message board - well, then you probably weren't much of a supporter of bike infrastructure.

The reality is that poor people bike. Bikes are a cheap way for people to get around without having to depend on buses that may run infrequently, or not show up at all, or not run early enough, or not run late enough, or not go where they're going.

If you're interested, you can look up the Monument Street bike lane controversy in Baltimore.

Or you can read this piece, which is by now almost 15 years old but still relevant: https://www.bicycling.com/news/a20049826/how-low-income-cyclists-go-unnoticed/

Or you can just open your eyes and look around. See that person biking on the sidewalk? See that bike locked to a sign? That's not a middle-aged white male on a $10,000 bike. That's a low-income worker commuting to a job.

You don’t get it. I have spent my entire career working with low income and vulnerable populations in their daily lives and you’re so ignorant and out of touch. You just think it makes sense for poor people to all hike, bye cause you’re so smart and see a few people you assume are low wage workers biking. But do you actually know? The large majority of low income people do not have access to a bike, or money to buy one, a helmet and gear (like a lock or lints). Sure a handful may be able to get a cheap one at a thrift store if they can get there. But this is not anywhere near the norm. Many actually don’t even know how to ride a bike, just like many don’t even know how to swim. They can’t afford regular every day stuff, like diapers, tampons, fresh food, insurance. Things these bike vigilantes take for granted. It doesn’t even occur to you that someone might need a job that is just too far away to bike, and it’s the only job they can get. They have zero free time or luxury to worry about bike lanes and road diets, because they’re just trying to keep their head above water.

If you've spent your entire career working with low-income people, then you should know that low-income people bike. If you don't know that, then I don't know what to tell you. Do all low-income people bike everywhere? No, of course not. But low-income people bike. (Typically, without a helmet.) And low-income people get killed while biking. You should know that too.

By the way, if low-income people can't afford a bike, then they sure as heck can't afford a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think poor people don’t bike?? You really do have your head up your rear.

You aren’t helping your pro bike lane position. At all.

PP, if you would have supported bike infrastructure, except somebody said something mean to you on an anonymous Internet message board - well, then you probably weren't much of a supporter of bike infrastructure.

The reality is that poor people bike. Bikes are a cheap way for people to get around without having to depend on buses that may run infrequently, or not show up at all, or not run early enough, or not run late enough, or not go where they're going.

If you're interested, you can look up the Monument Street bike lane controversy in Baltimore.

Or you can read this piece, which is by now almost 15 years old but still relevant: https://www.bicycling.com/news/a20049826/how-low-income-cyclists-go-unnoticed/

Or you can just open your eyes and look around. See that person biking on the sidewalk? See that bike locked to a sign? That's not a middle-aged white male on a $10,000 bike. That's a low-income worker commuting to a job.

You don’t get it. I have spent my entire career working with low income and vulnerable populations in their daily lives and you’re so ignorant and out of touch. You just think it makes sense for poor people to all hike, bye cause you’re so smart and see a few people you assume are low wage workers biking. But do you actually know? The large majority of low income people do not have access to a bike, or money to buy one, a helmet and gear (like a lock or lints). Sure a handful may be able to get a cheap one at a thrift store if they can get there. But this is not anywhere near the norm. Many actually don’t even know how to ride a bike, just like many don’t even know how to swim. They can’t afford regular every day stuff, like diapers, tampons, fresh food, insurance. Things these bike vigilantes take for granted. It doesn’t even occur to you that someone might need a job that is just too far away to bike, and it’s the only job they can get. They have zero free time or luxury to worry about bike lanes and road diets, because they’re just trying to keep their head above water.

If you've spent your entire career working with low-income people, then you should know that low-income people bike. If you don't know that, then I don't know what to tell you. Do all low-income people bike everywhere? No, of course not. But low-income people bike. (Typically, without a helmet.) And low-income people get killed while biking. You should know that too.

By the way, if low-income people can't afford a bike, then they sure as heck can't afford a car.

All the data I’ve seen shows that low income people bike. In fact, there’s a higher percentage of low income people who bike than high income people who bike.

https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-on-bikes-cycling-is-most-popular-for-poor-people

Show me your data that contradicts this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think poor people don’t bike?? You really do have your head up your rear.

You aren’t helping your pro bike lane position. At all.

PP, if you would have supported bike infrastructure, except somebody said something mean to you on an anonymous Internet message board - well, then you probably weren't much of a supporter of bike infrastructure.

The reality is that poor people bike. Bikes are a cheap way for people to get around without having to depend on buses that may run infrequently, or not show up at all, or not run early enough, or not run late enough, or not go where they're going.

If you're interested, you can look up the Monument Street bike lane controversy in Baltimore.

Or you can read this piece, which is by now almost 15 years old but still relevant: https://www.bicycling.com/news/a20049826/how-low-income-cyclists-go-unnoticed/

Or you can just open your eyes and look around. See that person biking on the sidewalk? See that bike locked to a sign? That's not a middle-aged white male on a $10,000 bike. That's a low-income worker commuting to a job.

You don’t get it. I have spent my entire career working with low income and vulnerable populations in their daily lives and you’re so ignorant and out of touch. You just think it makes sense for poor people to all hike, bye cause you’re so smart and see a few people you assume are low wage workers biking. But do you actually know? The large majority of low income people do not have access to a bike, or money to buy one, a helmet and gear (like a lock or lints). Sure a handful may be able to get a cheap one at a thrift store if they can get there. But this is not anywhere near the norm. Many actually don’t even know how to ride a bike, just like many don’t even know how to swim. They can’t afford regular every day stuff, like diapers, tampons, fresh food, insurance. Things these bike vigilantes take for granted. It doesn’t even occur to you that someone might need a job that is just too far away to bike, and it’s the only job they can get. They have zero free time or luxury to worry about bike lanes and road diets, because they’re just trying to keep their head above water.

If you've spent your entire career working with low-income people, then you should know that low-income people bike. If you don't know that, then I don't know what to tell you. Do all low-income people bike everywhere? No, of course not. But low-income people bike. (Typically, without a helmet.) And low-income people get killed while biking. You should know that too.

By the way, if low-income people can't afford a bike, then they sure as heck can't afford a car.

All the data I’ve seen shows that low income people bike. In fact, there’s a higher percentage of low income people who bike than high income people who bike.

https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-on-bikes-cycling-is-most-popular-for-poor-people

Show me your data that contradicts this.

Well if low income people get hit biking, let's focus ALX funds on complete street features near those low income areas, not million dollar homes.