New bike lane on Old Georgetown Rd in Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw a fender bender coming off 270 today due to the awkward turn from the ramp. Guess where the cars pulled off. Wonder if some angry bikers stumbled upon the blockage in their beautiful own path.

The accident that everyone predicted would happen due to the obviously dangerous changes to the ramps has happened. The question is how much longer these hazardous road conditions will be allowed to continue.

Speaking of hazardous road conditions, how about 2 dead teenage bicyclists and at least 2 more critically injured bicyclists within 3 years, all of whom were either on the sidewalk or in a crosswalk? Not to mention a dead pedestrian, several seriously-injured pedestrians, and multiple pedestrians and bicyclists who were hit but not seriously injured..

Now compare that to a "fender bender" and tell me which is more important.

It’s an interesting perspective that you think it is necessary to make roads less safe for the vast majority of everyone else just to make then safer for a handful of people. If that was the case, then ultimately there is no utility to bike lanes and there would never be a purpose to installing them.

I support bike lanes because they are supposed to make everyone safer. When they do not meet that objective then they need to be modified.

Please provide evidence that they have made Old Georgetown Road less safe. Traffic back-ups don't make roads less safe.

Go away dude. The sea-lion routine is getting old.

This is a thread about the new bike lanes on Old Georgetown Road. You said they make the roads less safe. What are you basing this on, besides feelings and one fender-bender (which there were plenty of, before the bike lanes)?

What makes this so incredible is that I’m actually eating my breakfast! Like get a clue.

This is an internet message board for the public to comment on, not your private breakfast room.

[Anonymous]

I drove it again yesterday and today and really the traffic is still so much better than it was 5 years ago. And I’ve definitely seen people using the bike lanes. I think the people complaining much all drive OGR in the same 30 minute period which isn’t a popular time for the bike riders. I agree that the turn off from 270 is awkward and could perhaps be modified — even some painting or signage might help with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove it again yesterday and today and really the traffic is still so much better than it was 5 years ago. And I’ve definitely seen people using the bike lanes. I think the people complaining much all drive OGR in the same 30 minute period which isn’t a popular time for the bike riders. I agree that the turn off from 270 is awkward and could perhaps be modified — even some painting or signage might help with it.

I drove it yesterday during evening rush and it was a sh*tshow with zero cyclists, despite being stuck for 30 minutes.

So you drove at a time when there were a lot of other people driving, and there was traffic congestion? I don't think the bike lanes are the cause of that. I was driving yesterday evening during rush, on roads where there are no bike lanes, and there was traffic congestion there too. Generally I expect there to be traffic congestion during evening rush.

The amount of congestion has double travel time for no purpose. That’s the problem.

To which you will reply say something about dead people and on and on.

The kabuki is tiring. SHA is being mandated to reassess these lanes in light of their flawed estimates of traffic impacts. They will change. Get over it.

(still complaining about a longer commute on page 46 of a thread) "Other posters get over it."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove it again yesterday and today and really the traffic is still so much better than it was 5 years ago. And I’ve definitely seen people using the bike lanes. I think the people complaining much all drive OGR in the same 30 minute period which isn’t a popular time for the bike riders. I agree that the turn off from 270 is awkward and could perhaps be modified — even some painting or signage might help with it.

I drove it yesterday during evening rush and it was a sh*tshow with zero cyclists, despite being stuck for 30 minutes.

I drive it daily. I have seen 1 cyclist a week max.
I see cars backed up for miles, right turns that are near fender-benders from what was the middle lane, and I have to guess that with many workers still WFH or hybrid, (e.g., NIH) the best is yet to come!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove it again yesterday and today and really the traffic is still so much better than it was 5 years ago. And I’ve definitely seen people using the bike lanes. I think the people complaining much all drive OGR in the same 30 minute period which isn’t a popular time for the bike riders. I agree that the turn off from 270 is awkward and could perhaps be modified — even some painting or signage might help with it.

I drove it yesterday during evening rush and it was a sh*tshow with zero cyclists, despite being stuck for 30 minutes.

So you drove at a time when there were a lot of other people driving, and there was traffic congestion? I don't think the bike lanes are the cause of that. I was driving yesterday evening during rush, on roads where there are no bike lanes, and there was traffic congestion there too. Generally I expect there to be traffic congestion during evening rush.

Of course there is congestion during rush hour.

Do you understand math? Where there were 3 lanes, there are now 2. For all the same cars.

Before the bike lanes, there was congestion during evening rush, and the road was deadly. Now there's congestion during evening rush, and the road is less deadly. This is a positive change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove it again yesterday and today and really the traffic is still so much better than it was 5 years ago. And I’ve definitely seen people using the bike lanes. I think the people complaining much all drive OGR in the same 30 minute period which isn’t a popular time for the bike riders. I agree that the turn off from 270 is awkward and could perhaps be modified — even some painting or signage might help with it.

I drove it yesterday during evening rush and it was a sh*tshow with zero cyclists, despite being stuck for 30 minutes.

I drive it daily. I have seen 1 cyclist a week max.
I see cars backed up for miles, right turns that are near fender-benders from what was the middle lane, and I have to guess that with many workers still WFH or hybrid, (e.g., NIH) the best is yet to come!

Backed up for miles? The whole road, from 355 in downtown Bethesda to 355 in North Bethesda, is only 5.3 miles.

"Near fender benders" don't kill people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove it again yesterday and today and really the traffic is still so much better than it was 5 years ago. And I’ve definitely seen people using the bike lanes. I think the people complaining much all drive OGR in the same 30 minute period which isn’t a popular time for the bike riders. I agree that the turn off from 270 is awkward and could perhaps be modified — even some painting or signage might help with it.

I drove it yesterday during evening rush and it was a sh*tshow with zero cyclists, despite being stuck for 30 minutes.

So you drove at a time when there were a lot of other people driving, and there was traffic congestion? I don't think the bike lanes are the cause of that. I was driving yesterday evening during rush, on roads where there are no bike lanes, and there was traffic congestion there too. Generally I expect there to be traffic congestion during evening rush.

The amount of congestion has double travel time for no purpose. That’s the problem.

To which you will reply say something about dead people and on and on.

The kabuki is tiring. SHA is being mandated to reassess these lanes in light of their flawed estimates of traffic impacts. They will change. Get over it.

The road backs up for 30 minutes a day on weekdays, which happens to be when you happen to be driving on it, and SHA hasn't even finished the project you, and you think that your drive time should outweigh every other consideration and everyone else should get over it.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, SHA hasn't even finished the project YET.

[Anonymous]

Petition for removing the bike lanes has 6400 signatures. Petition supporting the current design has 1400.

[Anonymous]

Even though more people have signed the "remove bike lanes" petition, I hope the state of MD ignores them.
I'd like to see the data on how many minutes per day that OGR is backed up.
Cause most of the time that road doesnt' need 3 lanes.

[Anonymous]

They've already reported that the backups are significantly more than original studies expected. Once the project is finished, they will do an official study, and likely make changes. My hope, like thousands of others, is that the bike lanes go away.

The delegates of the 16th district said the report from the state outlining when the project will be finished, and when the official analysis will be, is coming out any day. I am sure once it is released, it will make the rounds all over the place

[Anonymous]

lOoK aT tHe BaCkuPs

[Anonymous]

For WABA’s organized ride today they decided to meet at the Metro station because none of them live in the area and it’s apparently too far to bike from their homes in DC and Wheaton or wherever. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lOoK aT tHe BaCkuPs

This is an incredible story.

“A small band of devoted bicyclists braved chilly winds Saturday to ride on the newly-installed bike lanes on Old Georgetown Road, which have been previously criticized by some Maryland drivers as troublesome, unnecessary and annoying.

Seven bicyclists took part in the ride that began in downtown Bethesda and landed them about five miles away at Pike & Rose, the retail development on Old Georgetown Road near Rockville Pike.”

It was a Saturday morning so obviously not congested so they could have safely ridden in the travel lanes like many safely did on weekends before the bike lanes and they couldn’t even get more than 7 people. Really says everything that needs to be said.

OMG one of those quoted doesn't own a car...ditched it decades ago. That says a lot about the people who are lobbying for this ridiculous project. They think we should all ditch our cars. It will never fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lOoK aT tHe BaCkuPs

This is an incredible story.

“A small band of devoted bicyclists braved chilly winds Saturday to ride on the newly-installed bike lanes on Old Georgetown Road, which have been previously criticized by some Maryland drivers as troublesome, unnecessary and annoying.

Seven bicyclists took part in the ride that began in downtown Bethesda and landed them about five miles away at Pike & Rose, the retail development on Old Georgetown Road near Rockville Pike.”

It was a Saturday morning so obviously not congested so they could have safely ridden in the travel lanes like many safely did on weekends before the bike lanes and they couldn’t even get more than 7 people. Really says everything that needs to be said.

OMG one of those quoted doesn't own a car...ditched it decades ago. That says a lot about the people who are lobbying for this ridiculous project. They think we should all ditch our cars. It will never fly.

That guy is a local legend. He has a trike that he cycles his dogs around on. However, yes, they should not be making such big decisions for the benefit of the one local oddball curmudgeon.