Is it Election Day Yet?

It is! Some thoughts on that in a later post. But first, a look back at an 'experimental' approach to radio news coverage.

In the latest 'bike-centric' news: I covered the Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear by bike.

WTOP and its staffers are pros at covering live events like the rally in DC this past weekend. But times and technology are changing, and we change with it.

I've always hated the hassle of trying to drive and park downtown in heavy traffic (uh, like any day of the week) but facing major events with restricted access can be a real pain in the...driver's seat. Now that I live where I work, and have gone carless, I proposed covering the event by bike. My boss, Jim Farley, who's embraced the changes in our industry and put us way ahead of the curve in so many ways, gave me the thumbs up. And hey, he knows an opportunity to cut fleet costs when he sees it.

So I kitted out my Gazelle Medeo and took off for the Mall. Along the way, I noted lots of folks taking advantage of Capital Bikeshare Bikes, others trying without much success to hail cabs, and many others who decided to go old-old-school and walk.

The bike valets were not available on the Mall, though WABA did make the pitch to Comedy Central, so finding bike parking was actually, a bit of a challenge. Good news in a way--a signal that many folks are indeed finding bikes a viable form of transportation.


My first stop was getting my credentials--a very hot commodity. The line was a bit long and I had a noon deadline, but I was able to put together a quick report via iPhone.



I had some scrambling to do throughout the day. Getting cell service was a challenge, so we figured the bike would allow me to hightail it off the Mall and better my chances of being able to file electronically.

At one point, after my 2pm filing deadline,,a man seated next to me on a bench said he'd just come from the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station where, as he described it, there had been an escalator "collapse". I snagged some sound from him, hopped on my bike, shot on over to the Metro stop, and found ambulances and Metro Transit police vehicles at the 9th and D entrance. Click here to listen to DC Fire/EMS spokesman Pete Piringer and the man who initially reported the trouble to me...



For reporters, the day was a challenge in one way: getting cell service. We are all so dependent on being able to file electronically. We knew we'd face this challenge going into the event. That's one reason I opted to experiment by bike coverage (I've covered events by bike before, but not when expected to go live, thoughout the day).

Even using the tactic of speeding off the Mall to find a more 'open' signal in cyberspace, I ran into trouble electronically. It was frustrating to have sound that I could not get to air as quickly as I'd like.

But the upside was how easy it was to get around. Traffic was of course light, as people wisely opted to leave the cars at home. Foot traffic was heavy, but I was able to cut through fairly easily. My Gazelle Medeo had an effect similar to that which you see when mounted police move through a crowd--the sheer bulk of the thing helped cut a swath through the crowds--in the streets. The Medeo is a lot like a good police horse: It's solid, not speedy. Of course, I'm not a speed demon either, so I suppose we are a perfect match.

I don't know that covering news events in blazing heat or pouring rain would be as much fun, but I have to say this experiment in sound (iPhones, Twitter) and mobility (pedal power) was a blast.

And biking to meet deadlines? A definite fitness booster.

And yes, if you are curious, I wore a helmet, outfitted the bike and myself with lights (I'll get a pic of that at some point for you) and abided by traffic laws. I always try to operate under the premise that any time I'm on the bike I am a bike ambassador, and that's especially true when I've got the WTOP logo on display. And no, the WTOP lawyers don't make me say that. It's just good, common sense.

For pix of the event, head to my Flickr page @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kryan1035/sets/72157625276242000/

Woman Dies As A Result of Hit-and-Run Injuries

22 year old Danny Elizabeth Alay-Mateo died Tuesday morning as a result of her injuries in a hit-and-run in the Piney Branch area of Silver Spring. Police are continuing their investigation into the fatal pedestrian collision. They need the public's help.  Emphasis in bold font is mine. Here's the release from Montgomery County Police:

Piney Branch Pedestrian Collision Now Being Investigated as a Fatal

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are continuing to investigate a serious pedestrian hit-and-run collision that occurred in the Piney Branch area of Silver Spring.

This morning at 10:30 a.m., the pedestrian, Danny Elizabeth Alay-Mateo, succumbed to her injuries at an area trauma center. She was 22-years-old and resided in the 9100 block of September Lane in Silver Spring.

On September 25 at 8:13 p.m., 3rd District officers and fire/rescue personnel responded to the 8700 block of Carroll Avenue for the report of a pedestrian struck. The preliminary investigation revealed that for unknown reasons, Alay-Mateo was in the northbound portion of the roadway of the 8700 block of Carroll Avenue. For reasons still under investigation, a dark colored vehicle struck her and failed to stop and remain at the scene.

The description of the striking vehicle is a 1994-998 GMC Jimmy, Chevy S-10 pick-up truck, Chevy Blazer, or Oldsmobile Bravada. The vehicle could possibly have minimal damage to the right front headlight, the hood, and/or the windshield. The right side exterior mirror was located at the scene and the plastic housing compartment is believed to still be attached to the vehicle.

Detectives have interviewed several witnesses, but would like to hear from anyone else who may have information about this collision and/or the suspect responsible. Those persons are asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 301-840-2435. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this felony crime.


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Road Rules: A Change, And A Chat With Peter Moe

Who is Peter Moe? He's Maryland State Highway Administration's Bicycle Safety Coordinator. Didn't know Maryland had one? Don't feel bad, it was news to WTOP's own Bob Marbourg, Dean of Washington Traffic reporters.

WTOP talked to Moe about Maryland's new rules of the road regarding cyclists. These are rules drivers need to be aware of and cyclists need to keep in mind as they travel the roadways.

One law welcomed by cyclists is the 'three foot rule'. Moe explains what that means for drivers. "What you need to do now in the state of Maryland is give bicyclists at least three feet of space when overtaking them."

Another change repeals the law that basically forced cyclists to stick to the shoulder of roadways. Why shouldn't cyclists be required to stay on the shoulder? "Because sometimes on that shoulder, there may be debris or obstacles that a cyclist has to avoid in order to travel safely." Moe says the repeal of the law means that cyclists now have some discretion. They can stay on the shoulder if they feel safest there, but can now 'take the lane' on the road if they prefer. Isn't that having it both ways? Many drivers feel bikes should not be on state roads in the first place. Moe says the law is on the side of the cyclist. "You can and should expect to see bicyclists on any roadway, apart from our interstates. Bikes are considered a legal vehicle, and they have a right to the roadway."

But Moe adds, they have responsibilites that come along with those rights: they are required to obey all traffic laws. And yes, that means stopping at red lights and at stop signs. "That's really for eveyone's benefit. For the bicyclist and for the motorist." It's the predictability, the understanding that you can expect the other guy to do the expected thing that helps keep everyone safer.

Roads: There's More to Know About Sharing Them...

If you felt that the people responsible for doing things like building the Inter County Connector just don't pay attention to bikes and cyclists, this might comfort you. Here's the release from the Maryland State Highway Administration, and listen to my interview with Peter Moe from the Maryland State Highway Administration this weekend on WTOP, 103.5 fm/103.9fm/107.7fm.

SHARING THE ROAD TAKES ON NEW MEANING FOR BICYCLISTS AND DRIVERS

New Bicycle Laws Take Effect Today