I was heading west in the bike lane on E Street NW at 6th around 1 PM today, (Thursday 8/29/2013). The light turned green just before I reached the intersection, and the driver of a parking enforcement sedan moved to the curb across the bike lane without signaling, even though I was alongside the vehicle. I rode out of his way, stopped, and asked him politely if he could signal so I could adjust my lane usage. He did not respond positively, but I didn't hear exactly what he yelled.
At 7th Street approaching a red light the driver of another parking enforcement vehicle (this one a van) also moved across the bike lane to the curb without signaling, just as I came to the rear of his vehicle. The driver of a WMATA vehicle in the travel lane was indicating a right turn, and the bike lane ran between those vehicles so I continued in the bike lane. After stopping for the light I asked this driver politely if he could signal so I could adjust my lane usage.
He responded there was no way he could turn until the WMATA vehicle moved, so he didn't need to signal. I explained that I wanted to anticipate where both drivers were going for my own safety, and that I can't do that if vehicles don't use their signals. He responded that I was not even in the bike lane so I had no reason to ask for safety. I pointed out the striped pavement in the block ahead and the dashed lines on both sides of where I was standing. He said I still had no reason to ask him to use his turn signal, and besides I wasn't even in a bike lane.
There were several more frustrating exchanges where I tried to talk about what I (and the law) expect of drivers and how it helps everyone, and where he dismissed that and wanted to mistakenly place blame on me for not riding in a bike lane. I pointed out the bike lane repeatedly, and when he responded over and over that he didn't think the bike lane was under my feet I exclaimed "fuck no - it's right here!"
(I recognize now, after the fact as I always do, that this was a loss of control on my part, and admit that of course the discussion was influenced by it.)
This did not go over well with the driver, Mr. J. Wilson (the embroidered name on his uniform patch, as I saw no other ID). He expressed that the only reason I used that language was because he was in that uniform.
I agreed - I do expect people who work in parking enforcement to recognize bike lanes and know the laws about operating city vehicles legally and safely in traffic. Upon hearing this he repeated that I wouldn't dare approach him if he wasn't in uniform BECASE it would end badly for me. I said I would bring this concern to anyone who drives in a manner that threatens me, and I always have.
His response was that if he wasn't in uniform I could bet he would threaten me, and I had better call the police before I begin to say anything because nobody else would call an ambulance for me.
A voice from inside the van seemed to be encouraging Mr. Wilson, but I did not see the woman who was speaking. I decided to proceed through the now-green light for my safety, but first crossed E St against perpendicular to his van to reduce potential for him to use his vehicle as a weapon. I didn't note any vehicle identification numbers on the van or the license plate.
