Curious about W&OD official position on night commuting.

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  • March 2, 2011 at 4:20 pm #909790
    CCrew
    Participant

    I’m just curious, because I got stopped this AM for the third time in as many months on my inbound commute. I know the official stance is that the “park” is closed from dusk to dawn, but until recently it’s seemed to have been a gentlemans agreement that commuters were left alone.

    All three times have been Vienna police and I undergo an ID check, and as a result pretty much a check of what I’m carrying since I carry my ID and things in a Chrome messenger bag. They’re courteous and professional, but three times in as many months is three times more than the three years I’ve ridden the trail. Keep in mind I’m on the trail in the 3:30am timeframe and lit up like a UFO, so I’m hardly trying to do the ninja thing. Last two times I’ve been overtly threatened with a ticket.. although my work ID has a tendency to take a lot of the wind out of their sails.

    I’m just wondering with the various entities and advocacy people here if this has ever come up. Thanks.

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  • March 2, 2011 at 11:06 pm #925171
    PrintError
    Participant

    I’d like to know as well, I’m out there in the dark every morning but have yet to be stopped. I’ve even seen a cop here and there, and they just return the wave.

    March 3, 2011 at 2:05 am #925172
    eminva
    Participant

    I’m curious to know, too. I am not often out before dawn, but am out after nightfall for pretty much all of standard time. I’ve never seen the police. However, I exit the trail shortly after entering Town of Vienna.

    I think the Police Department does a lot of bicycle policy stuff in Town of Vienna. A couple of years ago I answered a survey about bicycle/motorist/pedestrian safety from the PD. I gave them oodles of great suggestions, but I don’t know what came of it. There are some new bike lanes in the last couple of years, so maybe it is all part of the same initiative.

    Hmm . . . unusual work hours . . . office somewhere near the White House . . . work ID takes the wind out of the sails of local police . . . I’m beginning to wonder if you are the person who answers the red phone when it rings.

    Liz

    March 3, 2011 at 1:26 pm #925173
    Dirt
    Participant

    Interesting CCrew… You must fit some profile that Vienna is cracking down on. ;)

    I’ve been commuting on the W&OD and Custis before sunrise and after sunset for over a decade and never got more than a second glance from a police officer.

    March 3, 2011 at 3:57 pm #925175
    WillStewart
    Participant

    With all those blinking lights, he might be taken for a small emergency vehicle, and the Vienna Police are known for their less than amicable relationship with the Vienna VFD.

    March 3, 2011 at 11:46 pm #925186
    acc
    Participant

    [

    Hmm . . . unusual work hours . . . office somewhere near the White House . . . work ID takes the wind out of the sails of local police . . . I’m beginning to wonder if you are the person who answers the red phone when it rings.

    Liz

    I’m just hoping he’s not the one who makes the red phone ring. :rolleyes:

    Is there anything about your bike or your attire that would draw official attention? I’m sure there is not, but am curious.

    Safe riding,
    ann

    March 4, 2011 at 7:50 pm #925196
    skreaminquadz
    Participant

    Sorry to hear that CCrew. I just read a very similar story on another local forum about the W&OD out in Leesburg. He wasn’t cited either, just a harsh reprimand.

    If they start enforcing the “park closed at dark” rule I would not be able to commute at all for several months of the year unless I can talk my boss into letting me work 6 hours a day in the winter. Hmmm….

    March 4, 2011 at 7:53 pm #925197
    WillStewart
    Participant

    skreaminquadz, what is the other forum that covers the W&OD in Loudoun?

    March 4, 2011 at 8:13 pm #925199
    CCrew
    Participant

    @acc 2696 wrote:

    I’m just hoping he’s not the one who makes the red phone ring. :rolleyes:

    Is there anything about your bike or your attire that would draw official attention? I’m sure there is not, but am curious.

    Safe riding,
    ann

    Oh, heck no. Unless seeing a middle aged white guy makes one suspect :) Herndon maybe it would….. LOL

    Seriously though. I’m 54 years old, dressed in cycling attire, ie: highly reflectorized on clothing, ankle bands, messenger bag. Run high powered lights, and generally am TRYING to be seen rather than being in stealth mode. I can’t figure it out either.

    March 4, 2011 at 8:55 pm #925201
    OneEighth
    Participant

    The obvious storyline here (should this ever get picked up) would run sort of like this:
    As State and local governments cut services and raise property tax assessments and the like to make up for budget shortfalls, the local PD has excess FTE and related expenses devoted to ticketing bicyclists for riding on the bike path.
    That’s just not going to read well.

    March 4, 2011 at 9:18 pm #925202
    Joe Chapline
    Participant

    Or it might be like the Dos Equis commercial, something like: “He’s often detained by police, because they find him interesting.”

    March 5, 2011 at 3:05 am #925203
    acc
    Participant

    @Joe Chapline 2713 wrote:

    Or it might be like the Dos Equis commercial, something like: “He’s often detained by police, because they find him interesting.”

    Oh, that was great! I’ve lived in Vienna since ’92 and the Town employs its own police force. They are highly visible, it is definitely different compared to Fairfax County where the police are spread more thinly. On the bright side, the Vienna Police response time in an emergency can be less than five minutes. I’ve never had a negative encounter with them. That being said, part of the W&O runs directly behind buildings that house the type of governmental agencies with lots of heavily armed guards patrolling the perimeters and operating checkpoints. I wonder if they are patrolling the trail in that specific area roughly around mile marker 10.

    Mr. Crew you appear to be an endangered species. Too bad you can’t check yourself off an extra exemption on the 1040 form.

    ann

    March 5, 2011 at 7:12 pm #925207
    skreaminquadz
    Participant

    @WillStewart 2708 wrote:

    skreaminquadz, what is the other forum that covers the W&OD in Loudoun?

    Hey Will – they don’t specifically cover it but it is local and they have a commuting section that I have found useful. The other forum is MORE (Mid Atlantic Offroad Enthusiasts). Here’s the link…

    http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20653

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