Unfortunately another disturbing crime on the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT). A reader sends a report from the MBT Yahoo group:

“From Commander Solberg (via ANC Commissioner Tim Clark) last night:

It appears to be a robbery involving three suspects. A shot was fired at the victim, and he was grazed but thankfully not seriously injured. It happened at 3rd and T Sts. about 6:15.

We have not made any arrests.”

Subsequent messages are unclear as to whether the actual incident took place on the trail or at 3rd and T St, NE.

UPDATE from MPD:

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at approximately 6:15 pm, an area resident was walking on the Metropolitan Branch Bike Trail in the area of 3rd & R Street, Northeast, when he was accosted by three individuals. One subject produced a weapon and demanded the victim’s possessions. After complying and without provocation, the victim was punched in the face. The victim then attempted to flee from the scene and sustained a graze gunshot wound to the hip area after the suspect fired his weapon.

All three suspects then fled on foot. The victim received treatment for his injuries and an area hospital. The Metropolitan Police Department continues its investigation into the identity of these three individuals.

To ensure this area remains safe for all, the bike trail will be monitored and patrolled by officers on a regular basis.

Capt. Jeff Brown

459 I Street NW

Just got word from the folks at BicycleSPACE that they are moving from 459 I Street NW to 1019 7th St, NW (next to The Passenger) in Mt. Vernon Square. The move should be completed this Winter. Owner Erik Kugler tells me:

“We thought it would be a great location because it was formerly a hardware store and has that homey feel, it’s close enough to our old location, next to a high-quality establishment (Passenger) and it’s going to be out of the heavy construction zone in the MVT in the near future as that all gets redeveloped. We’re just scratching the surface of what we’ve set out to do with bicycle retail.”

For fans of BicycleSPACE – do you like this new location?

1019 7th St, NW

Very cool news about the renovation going on at 905-907 U St, NW. The second and third floors are going to house Off Road Indoor Cycling – “a dedicated indoor cycling studio”. I’m told that if all goes well they will open their doors around the May/June time frame. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

An homage to WWII bomber planes?

And long haul truck drivers?

Photo by flickr user Gerry Dincher

Back in June 2011 we looked at an incident about an off duty police officer who was intentionally hit/harassed by a car in Columbia Heights:

I was stopped [on a bike] at the intersection of 13th and Kenyon St. NW at a red light, waiting to turn left onto 13th St. Kenyon is a one-way street going west, and I was on the left side of the street, since I would be turning left. While waiting for the light I heard a car speed up Kenyon St. behind me…

The light turned green and I started to proceed. And then I felt *BUMP!!!!!* again, this time a bit harder…

So I stopped. Pulled out my police badge (yes, I’m a cop if you didn’t know before. No I really don’t want to talk about it, thanks) showed it to the driver and motioned him to stay right where he was.

Thanks to a reader for sending a link to the update from a Girl on a Bicycle:

In the end: Mr. Harrison was sentenced to 36 months for the felony fleeing, 36 months for felony possession of a firearm and 180 days for the assault on a police officer, to be served concurrently. So basically, 3 years (minus the year he’s already served while sitting in jail since being arrested). I am happy with this. It’s the high end of the spectrum for each of the charges, and even though its concurrent, not consecutive, I feel its enough.

My hope is that maybe Mr. Harrison will learn his lesson this time. Maybe.

And maybe others out there might think twice before doing something dangerous to another human being and think they could get away with it. I am very sure Mr. Harrison had no idea what the consequences would be for doing something he probably thought was no big deal. That night, I was just another girl on a bicycle. Today, he’s just another criminal in jail.

Why in the Helen of Troy are there always so many bikes locked up outside the residential block of the 1400 block of N St, NW?

Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

Dear PoPville,

Several weeks ago I locked my bike Downtown with a u-lock and, after a night of hard drinking, woke up to find that I had lost my keys. I have no spare and my bike has been sitting locked to the rack since then. Unfortunately I did not register the bike with the police department. Does anyone have any recommendations as to how I can get my bike back?

Thanks to @tsb_dc for sending the photo. He writes:

“Happy New Year from DC Council member at large. 15th St bike lane at M st”

At least a Greater Greater Washington commenter notes that CM Vincent Orange apologized:

“I’m very sorry! I apologize for parking in the bike lane.”

I honestly think it’s a very good sign that an apology was issued so quickly.

From an email:

“We play every monday near 6th st & penn st NE (next to gallaudet) at 7pm and at rush rink 13th & d st SE on thursdays.”

I was digging these new (to me) bike racks from in front the National Geographic building downtown.

The last Bike House clinic of the season is this Saturday, December 10th at Qualia coffee (3917 Georgia Ave. NW). Come work with our expert mechanics to get your bike ready for winter–and don’t worry, we have events planned for the months ahead, and clinics will start up again soon.

and a Pop-up vintage event this Saturday, December 10:

It’s a vintage fashion collective, taking place at Bar 7 (1015 7th street NW — Mount Vernon Square) from noon to 6pm. There will be a DJ and full bar, and the event is free to attend. Several of the District’s independent vintage collectors and designers will be exhibiting and selling their wares, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Urban Promise.

I’ve recently started to notice a few bicycles with motors added on to them. I can’t decide if it’s the greatest idea or the stupidest idea. Since I despise steep hills on the capital bikeshare bikes, I’m leaning towards awesome. What do you guys think?

From an email:

“I work at a local non-profit youth/community bike shop (Phoenix Bikes) and wanted to I wanted to alert you to something your readers might be interested in this weekend:

Phoenix Bikes is having our annual sale of refurbished bikes this Saturday, December 3rd @ Big Bear Cafe (1st and R St, NW). All of the bikes we are selling have been donated by people in the DC/MD/VA area and are worked on by young people and volunteers in our mentoring program. Each bike has been tuned up and checked out by a bike mechanic, and is ready to ride. All of the proceeds from the bikes sold will go back into our youth program.

We will have over 40 bikes for sale including mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrid bikes, single speeds and cruisers.”

“Dear PoPville,

My bike was stolen on Monday, November 21 near the corner of Nebraska and Massachussetts Ave. It’s a Trek 4300 mountain bike, Women’s Specific Design. It’s silver gray with thorn-like details. There are water bottle and tire pump holders, spoke lights, head and tail lights, and odometer wiring. It was locked with a 5/8″ thick Kryptonite flex combo cable and a silver gray Trek helmet.”

If you think you may have seen the bike please email lauralynn63@hotmail.com or leave a tip in the comments.

Ed. Note: If your bike has been stolen send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail with Stolen Bike in the subject line. Please include a photo, the location where it was stolen, if there is anything distinctive about the bike, what type of lock you used and let me know if you’d like me to include your email address with the post. If you think you may have seen the bike please share your tip in the comments.

“While I was out of town for my grandfather’s funeral, my front door was kicked in by a particularly brazen burglar. This happened in broad daylight around noon right off busy Florida Avenue in the U Street area. Luckily, one of my neighbors happened to return home shortly after the break in and called the police for me. The timing could not have been worse as I received the call from the responding officer with the bad news as I was leaving the funeral service. The burglar stole my bright orange, diamond frame Public bike, a laptop, my brand new bike lights, and a backpack. I know the chance that I’ll see any of my stuff again is pretty much zero, but I’m holding out hope that because my bike is so distinctive, maybe someone out there in PoPville has seen it? I’ve seen a couple orange step-through and mixte frame Public bikes riding around dc, but I haven’t seen any other diamond frames like mine, so it really might be the only one. Any help would be appreciated!”

and

“As I noted a few weeks ago, my house was burglarized and they took my bike, among other things. It is a brand new white Giant Avail with red trim – you’ll know it’s mine when you see 2 red cup holders attached to the frame and a small bike repair kit bag behind the seat. Please grab it! I’ll pay you back if you have to buy it, just email me at ustreetwatch@gmail.com.”

and

“My bike was stolen from the NY Ave Metro. It’s a green Surley Pacer, now with silver rain guards.

sure, include this email address: sasha_clayton@yahoo.com”