True story: March 2009 at the Key Bridge

There I was, JRA . . .

I was on the Custis Trail, crossing Lynn in the crosswalk, on my bike, w/ 5 seconds on the light; car coming up off GW Parkway was stopped, saw me, then turned right, for Key Bridge, crossing my path. I hit his front fender & went over his hood. Interesting legal issue here: Local practice--the officially designated Custis
Trail cross Lynn there in the crosswalk--contravenes state law, which says bikes can't ride in crosswalks. What trumps, apparently, is that drivers must stop for any people in crosswalks, regardless if said people are there legally or not. The very nice Arlington Police officer cited the driver and not me (this would not happen in all counties of Va.). Later I looked at the sign there for drivers coming up off the Pkway; that one says Yeild to all PERSONS [not Pedestrians] in the crosswalk.

Federal bike commuter benefit, up to $20/month

The federal Bicycle Commuter Act, passed as part of last year's stimulus bill (HR 1424), allows employers to grant employees a rebate of up to $20 per month to help defray the costs of bicycle commuting; I wonder how many employers have jumped at this opportunity....

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition provides info for employees seeking the benefit & links for employers as well (e.g. IRS guidelines to the benefit).

If anybody out there works at The George Washington University and would like to help me petition for this benefit, please contact me.