Jefferson and Madison Drives are remarkably quiet in the mornings. Evening rush, they're a mess, but after that, they're quiet again, especially if it's not springtime. This city has many kinds of bikers. Some obviously need the fastest and most direct route, but I'm far from the only one I know who wants a relatively quiet and clean air.

I always assumed the Penn bike lanes were sited largely for symbolic purposes. I hate riding one them. Really, why should I have car exhaust, commuter busses tilting toward me, and a complete absence of shade, when I'm on a clean, quiet bike? I take the Mall instead.