NPS meeting tonight on Gravelly Pt and Roaches Run

To convince you all to write to NPS regarding Gravelly Pt and the MVT in general, I’m posting the letter I have sent them. Feel free to copy any of it you like. Hopefully it will spark some ideas I have not come up with at this late hour (when I should be packing for a trip).

June 16, 2012

Superintendent
Attn: Gravelly Pont EA Alternative Concepts
700 George Washington Memorial Parkway
Turkey Run Park Headquarters
McLean, VA 22101

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in response to the request for comments regarding Gravelly Point and Roaches Run EA Alternatives Concepts.

I am greatly in favor of alternative D. Cyclists and pedestrians need to be segregated at Gravelly Pt. It has become quite dangerous at that junction during weekends and warm weather evenings. Most pedestrians, either willfully or through ignorance, seem to be blissfully unaware that the trail is a transportation corridor and that standing in the middle of it or walking in the wrong direction impedes the flow of traffic and creates a dangerous situation. I have even seen children lying in the middle of the trail with their parents’ approval; sometimes toys and scooters are left behind. Also, on the busiest weekends, queues stretch across the trail for the port-o-potties. That entire area has become more like a common use park and less of a transportation corridor.

In order to improve safety, please put up signs explaining, in the simplest terms possible, the rules of the trail (pictures might be best). There are lots of tourists and beginner users on the Mt. Vernon Trail (MVT) who simply do not know basic trail etiquette such as walking and riding on the right hand side, speed limit(s), keeping dogs on a short leash to the right, signaling to pass, etc. This lack of communication often leads to tempers flaring and accidents or near accidents. This lack of safety awareness is only increasing as Capital Bikeshare becomes more popular with visitors and local casual users.

Also, please put in “real” toilet facilities to the extent possible; I am aware that no water mains exist. The current facilities are overused and not well-maintained; they smell badly and are unsanitary. Please put in a bike rack next to the restroom facilities so solo cyclists can lock up their bikes and use them. Also, potable water should be provided in some capacity if possible.

I ride the MVT almost every day as a commuter and a recreational cyclist and have noticed a substantial increase in trail users. On the nicest weekends, drivers have taken to parking on any grassy strip they can find, even if means parking outside of the parking lot. Vendors are starting to appear selling drinks, souvenirs, food, etc. It is great that so many people are using public land for recreation but it also means an increase in careless sightseers crossing the trail without first looking for cyclists, runners, rollerbladers, etc. It also means that a lot of very young children on scooters and tricycles are using the trail as a playground.

Ideally alternative D would prohibit pedestrians from the paved detour whereas the pedestrian pathway (where the trail currently exists) would require cyclists to walk their bikes. This seems like the most equitable, safest, and user friendly compromise; it would also prevent people from turning it into a walking/running loop (which would exacerbate the pedestrian-cyclist problems discussed above).

The trail leading from Gravelly Pt to the airport bridge is too narrow for the amount of users it supports and there is a blind hill at the halfway point; please widen that portion of the trail if possible. There also needs to be wall where the trail runs between the airport runway and the GW Parkway. At that pinch point, there is only a small strip of grass separating cars and trail users. This is very dangerous since a child could go running or riding off the embankment into oncoming traffic; similarly, a car could lose control and endanger trail users. There is also the issue of glare from oncoming headlights. A wall would provide the most safety but heavy vegetation would go a long way to accomplishing much of the same.

A map at Gravelly Point and Memorial Circle showing the trail and surrounding landmarks/tourist sites would be very useful. It should include miles (and perhaps walking/riding minutes) to significant locations/exit points.

A large sign (with a map) should be placed on the northern side of Memorial Bridge near the Lincoln Memorial informing pedestrians and cyclists that they should use the southern side of the bridge if they wish to use the trail. This is important because most people end up trying to scurry down the dirt paths and cross the Parkway.

Similarly, a larger, more prominent sign should instruct cyclists and pedestrians where the Humpback tunnel is located on Columbia Island. The existing sign is small and out of the way so visitors are still trying to get to the river by crossing four lanes of the GW Parkway. This is extremely dangerous and unnecessary. Signs on the other side of the tunnel should give similar instructions.

I am very happy to see that the NPS has undertaken the task of improving the crosswalks at Memorial Circle. While I don’t think the proposed changes are sufficient to eliminate the inherent dangers of the poor design, they are a step in the right direction. It would also be very useful if the 15 MPH speed limit were better enforced in this area, especially during rush hour.

Thank you for your consideration.

Hi Terpfan,

Hmmm, the NPS link above works for me so I’m not sure what the problem is. Try googling “Gravelly Point and Roaches Run Environmental Assessment”. I copied that from the front page of the site.

I wish they accepted email comments so one could include GoPro footage of the area. That said, if someone were to take pics on a really nice Saturday afternoon and send them to NPS that might help (I’d do it myself this wknd but I’m out of the country at the moment). I was really surprised at the in-person meeting they had on the subject that none of the NPS folks appeared to be cyclists.

I like the idea of the bike tools stand; didn’t think of that.