RTC TrailBlog : d.c.

The Capital's Cycling Cabbie

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:45:00 GMT

Kathy Wimbush is a rolling contradiction: a cab driver who not only respects cyclists, but is an avid one herself. "The traditional relationship between bikes and cab drivers isn't a positive one," she says, laughing. A lifelong resident of Washington, D.C., Wimbush thinks she might be the only taxi driver in the city who would prefer to be on two wheels rather than four. We recently asked her to share some of her experiences and advice to both cyclists and drivers.

How did you get started as a cabbie?
I've been driving a cab for 12 years; it started out as a dare with an ex-boyfriend who had a license. We were in the cab together--he was taking somebody somewhere, and I felt the route was out of the way, and he said, "If you think you can do better, I'll pay for you to get a license." So I did it just to prove to him I could get a license. I'm also a freelance tour guide, but the market for that is very unpredictable, with the economy and wars and 9/11. So eventually the cab became my main source of income.

When did you start cycling?
When I was in college, I had a boyfriend who liked to bike, so we rode together and it was lot of fun. He had never been to D.C. before, and one July 4, we went on a bike ride from D.C. to Mount Vernon [in Virginia] and back. It was great. So that's really how I got started. I rode off and on after that. Then one year I went on vacation with some friends to Cape Cod [in Massachusetts]. I rented a bike and did the Cape Cod Rail Trail for the first time--it was really nice. That was my first rail-trail.

When the price of gas started going up a few years ago, and city officials decided to double the parking rates downtown, I started using my bike more--going to the bank and the grocery store and the health club. It's kind of silly to drive around and hunt for a parking space and pay double the price when I can just ride my bike from home, lock it up right outside where I need to go, take care of my business and ride home.

Do you know of any other cabbies who cycle?
I haven't met any others! [laughing] The other cabbies see me on my bike when I go to the Yellow Cab lot to pay our weekly bills for the cab. Some of them are surprised--they think there's something wrong with my cab. I say, 'No, the car is fine, it's just easier to ride the bike.'

How do your customers react?
Last year I had to pick up a cyclist on the Capital Crescent Trail who got two flat tires and had to get to work. He was surprised that I was bike friendly. He called someone on his cell phone and said, "I actually got in a cab with a driver who rides a bike--I feel like I'm with family!" [laughing] That was nice to hear.

What do you like about cycling?
The last two years I've tried to do some weight-loss programs, and the bike actually is my best workout. Before I cycled regularly, I used to plateau a lot--I'd lose a few pounds, and then I couldn't lose anymore. I can do lunges and whatever till doomsday, but the bicycle is the only thing that can break through the plateau. Since I've been riding the bike, I've lost at least 25 pounds.

My mother's side of the family is horrible in terms of health. My cousins on that side have had big health problems--heart attack, stroke, diabetes. But I don't have any of that. I have great blood pressure--the doctors are surprised, given my family health history. And I'm 46. I can lose a lot more weight, but I know I'm going to get there because of the bike.

The only thing that's not so positive about bike riding for me is, because I don't look like I'm getting ready to ride the Tour de France, I don't think I'm taken seriously in bike shops. I had to go to several stores before I finally got the customer service I was starving for. The salesperson at that store was real pleasant to talk to. He was surprised I drove a cab and wanted to help me even more when he found that out.

Do you use rail-trails regularly?
I just recently rode the Metropolitan Branch Trail--that was great. I ran some errands for a cab customer and used that trail, because it starts near my home in northeast D.C. I can see where I will be on that trail a lot more. I also like the Capital Crescent Trail, but that's mostly for recreation. And the Mount Vernon Trail--but that's for work. If I'm meeting a tour group at Mount Vernon, I'm riding my bike down there. That's an income trail for me!

What do your friends think of your cycling habit?
Honestly? [laughing] My closest friends, they think I'm kooky--but they have noticed that I've lost weight!

Do you treat cyclists differently than other cabbies do?
Absolutely! The traditional relationship between bikes and cab drivers isn't a positive one [laughing]. I do get annoyed when I see a cyclist being irresponsible, but I'm not trying to kill anybody. Just today, I was driving near the Kennedy Center, and a cyclist was riding in the road, and the other drivers were being hostile. But I said, 'It's just somebody trying to get from point A to point B, and they just happen to be on a bike. That's no reason to try to kill them. Just move your car over.'

Has your experience as a cabbie made you a better cyclist?
Oh yeah. One of the things I watch out for is cars pulling over and people opening the doors. I almost got into one of those tumble-over-the-door accidents last year, but I anticipated what the cab was going to do, and I was able to adjust for that. I usually ride my bike the way I drive--looking ahead and trying to anticipate what people are going to do. I also have mirror attached to my helmet so I can see what the traffic is doing behind me. If I see someone is getting impatient, I stop and let them go by me. It's an ounce of prevention.

What advice would you give to urban cyclists?
I'd say, you can stop [at an intersection] just like everybody else can stop. Jumping off your bike for a second is not going to ruin your day. Don't put your life in jeopardy. As a person driving, I don't want to run over someone--and it can be prevented if everyone follows the rules.

What about drivers?
I'd tell them, wherever you're going is not so important that you need to kill somebody on a bicycle to get there. A little patience will go a long way. We should be happy more people are out biking, because that means they're using less fuel. It's also good for their health. We've got to coexist, and it's not a bad thing to coexist.

Photos by Heather Wimbush.

RTC Partners with Guardian Angels for Trail Patrol Program

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:21:00 GMT

The recently opened Met Branch Trail connecting downtown Washington, D.C., with neighborhoods to the north is a great example of how urban rail-trails serve a wide variety of needs--from everyday commuters to casual runners and the people and businesses in communities along the trail.

But one of the realities of life in a big city is the threat of crime and assault, particularly after dark. Trail users returning home of an evening are often a target.

Having been one of the key proponents of the construction of the Met Branch Trail, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) understands that building the trail is only half of the mission. The other half is to make sure the trail is well-used and well-loved, and that nearby residents become stewards of the pathway. That includes things like landscaping along the corridor to create places for rest and relaxation, and helping local school students build a natural connection to the trail.

It also includes making the route safe.

Following a number of troubling incidents on the Met Branch Trail in recent weeks, the challenge of reducing the threat of assault and robbery has received increased attention.

That's why RTC is partnering with a national volunteer patrol agency, the Guardian Angels, to see what can be done about making the Met Branch Trail a place where all people feel secure.

Last week, members of RTC's trail development staff met with a group of Guardian Angels, including one who often walks the Met Branch Trail on his way to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station, where he connects to patrols throughout the Metro system.

The plan is to build a closely connected network of trail security volunteers from neighborhood groups, trail users and residents in the area. Given that many of these volunteers probably won't have the burly presence of your average Angel, safety patrols will be made up of four or five volunteers, who will walk or bike sections of the trail together.

It will not be the role of the volunteer patrols to directly confront troublemakers or act like citizen police in foiling crime. The idea instead is that one of the biggest deterrents to threatening behavior on the trail is a regular presence of groups of people.

The hope is that these small volunteer patrols will be the kernel that develops into a strong sense of community ownership along some of the trail's less traveled and isolated spots.

Interested? Join RTC, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Guardian Angels at a public safety open house between 4 and 7 p.m., June 22, at the S Street Pocket Park on the corner of S and 4th streets NE to discuss the formation of regular community patrols, and sign up today to join the trail patrol.

Also, at the urging of one local rider, there is now also a "Bike Buddies" sign-up sheet, where trail users can connect with others who will be on the trail at the same time. Information about the volunteer security patrols, and the Bike Buddies system, can be found by joining the Met Branch Trail listserv.

For more information, contact Stephen Miller at 202.974.5123, or e-mail stephen@railstotrails.org.

Photos: Cyclists on the Met Branch Trail north of the New York Avenue Metro station; community members gather for the "Meet the Met" celebration in 2010, by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Philadelphia Duo Preps for Climate Ride

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:54:00 GMT

Do you remember the Pedal Pushers, Steph Rio and Sara Lanious? The two Philadelphia friends have been preparing for the fast-approaching Climate Ride--a five-day, 300-mile bicycle trek from New York City to Washington, D.C., on May 13 to 17.

When Rio and Lanious signed up to ride, they selected Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) as the beneficiary of their fundraising efforts. They had never attempted such a long ride before, and we asked for periodic updates about their training and progress.

Now, Climate Ride is almost here, and the Pedal Pushers are gearing up for the final push!

From the Pedal Pushers:

We are just about one week away from our ride and so excited to get started! Both of us have been upping the mileage on our weekend rides and preparing with gear like padded shorts, which have been a real life saver. Yesterday, Sara participated in the Five Boro Bike Tour in New York City as part of her training, and she has a killer farmer's tan to prove it!

Each weekend, you can find both of us doing diligent loops from the city to East Falls and back on West River Drive when it closes to car traffic on the weekends. We are still fundraising to reach our goal of $2,400 each to donate to this great organization! Right now, we have $3,265 and need all the help from supporters like you to reach our goal and donate to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. We are trying to reach our target by the time the ride kicks off on May 13, so please consider supporting us in our efforts to raise awareness about this organization and donate today!

Ride On!

Steph and Sara
tinyurl.com/pedalpushers2011

Photos (left to right): Sara Lanious stretching before a ride; Steph Rio on the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia. Courtesy of the Pedal Pushers.

Video: RTC Joins Tree Planting on the Met Branch Trail

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:47:00 GMT

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Last Thursday, April 21, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) joined Casey Trees out on the Met Branch Trail in Washington, D.C., for a tree planting. RTC and Casey Trees staff were joined by a great crowd of friends, supporters and volunteers to plant golden rain trees and sweet gum along a particularly exposed section of the trail just north of the New York Avenue Metro Station, as well as a strand of fruit trees in one location adjacent to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station.

"The idea is that we're going to line this section of the trail with trees so that we have a continuous tree canopy, so during the very hot summers in D.C. it will be much cooler, and much more pleasant on the trail," says Heather Deutsch, bicycle program specialist and trail planner with the District Department of Transportation. Deutsch lives right along the Met Branch Trail and is a regular user.

The goal of the fruit trees is to create a small orchard that will become a popular community gathering place, with trail users stopping to enjoy not only the shade of the trees but also the persimmons and apples they will bear in a few years.

For RTC staff, it was a great to roll the sleeves up and work side-by-side with Casey Trees and all the volunteers who came out on a lovely spring day to improve the trail and celebrate Earth Day. A number of passers-by showed their appreciation of the new trees by stopping to say thank you.

"We are building life with our hands," said Jeff Ciabotti, RTC's vice president of trail development. "What could be better than that?"

The planting was made possible through RTC's Metropolitan Grants Program (funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation) and supported by D.C.-based BicycleSPACE.

(Also, read more about RTC's partnership with Casey Trees in the 2011 Green Issue of Rails to Trails magazine!)

D.C. Couple to Celebrate Anniversary on Climate Ride

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:13:00 GMT

By Stephany Small

I have lived in the Washington, D.C., area for the past several years and have taken advantage of the amazing trails and commuting routes found throughout the area. In fact, I was car-free for more than five years, using feet and bicycle as my main modes of transportation. Commuting by bicycle is wonderful: It is incredibly economical, the fastest commute and the most time-efficient form of exercise. Plus, it felt great to know that I wasn't contributing to traffic and was making a small impact on preserving our planet.

For our first anniversary, my husband Doug and I are riding our bikes from New York City to Washington, D.C., as part of Brita Climate Ride. This 300-mile, five-day ride from May 13 to 17 raises support and money for alternative transportation, bike advocacy and protecting the environment.

I have decided to make Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) the sole benefactor of all funds I raise. I believe in RTC's mission and want to contribute to the growth of trails around the country so others may be able to have the same opportunities for safe, outdoor activities and alternative transportation that I have been privileged to enjoy.

Please support me as I pedal toward a healthier, safer, happier place for us to live. Any donation you're able to make will go directly to benefit RTC's trail-building work around the country!

Learn more about Climate Ride, and find out other ways you can get involved.

Photo: Doug and Stephany Small, courtesy of the Smalls.

Trail Voices: Drew Snodgrass

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:30:00 GMT

by Marshall Pearson

Up to four times each week, second-grade teacher Drew Snodgrass can be seen pedaling his vintage red Schwinn road bike along the Metropolitan Branch Trail, enjoying the early morning solitude before the forthcoming deluge of classroom activity. Joggers training for a marathon and other commuters punctuate the landscape, and Snodgrass has even witnessed the talents of muralists as they covered an adjacent wall with silhouettes of cyclists. He says the subdued activity on the trail has had a calming effect and makes it easier to teach throughout the day.

Snodgrass recently moved to Washington, D.C., to teach at DC Preparatory Academy, a public charter school. He has been a bicycle enthusiast since his days living in Chicago before attending Illinois Wesleyan University. In a metropolitan area where traffic is congested and car parking is scarce, Snodgrass found himself biking from classes to his job on almost a daily basis, depending on weather conditions. A move to the northwestern corner of Mississippi as a Teach for America corps member position saw his riding transition mostly to trail activity, and cycling was no longer a viable commuting option. However, Snodgrass moved to Washington sans automobile and, once again, he turned to his bicycle as a primary mode of transportation.

After discovering the eight-mile Metropolitan Branch Trail, or Met Branch, on Google Maps (which uses trail data from RTC's online trailfinder, Traillink.com, to formulate bicycling directions) and hearing about the trail from co-workers planning to start a girl's running club, he began utilizing the new path and has integrated it into his daily life.

"I don't own a car, but even if I did, I think biking on the Met Branch Trail is a quicker and easier way to make the commute," he says. "It's such a nice and convenient route between my house in Capitol Hill and my school in Edgewood. There's no direct street route connecting those neighborhoods, but the trail goes straight from M Street Northeast and drops me [right] at the backdoor of my school-and it's a relatively flat and easygoing ride."

Snodgrass merges with the trail near M Street, less than a mile from his home in the Capitol Hill area, and exits near Edgewood Street and the DC Preparatory Academy. All told, the journey takes approximately 20 minutes.

"Sometimes I catch a ride with a co-worker, and by the time we fight traffic, find parking and walk from the parking lot to the school, I could have saved 10 minutes by biking," he says.

Even though Snodgrass tethers his Schwinn to the school's chain link fence before the start of the school day, he allows his renewed hobby to follow him into the classroom. In fact, he recently created an assignment based on The Important Book, written by children's author Margaret Wise Brown. For the task, his second graders wrote a short story about an object of their choice. While his students may have selected an action figure or stuffed animal for their tale, Snodgrass chose his bicycle (you can listen to his story below).

This teacher's active commuting and lifestyle has significantly increased his passion for cycling as a recreational activity--and everyone at DC Prep has taken notice. After all, his students know him as the teacher who rides his bike to school.

Drew Snodgrass - My Bicycle by railstotrails

Photos by Stephen Miller/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Note: This post has been edited from its original version. Drew Snodgrass moved to Mississippi, not Alabama, as was previously written.