Q: Arrows on W&OD in Vienna

This topic has 14 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 2 months ago by vern.

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May 3, 2013 at 6:42 pm #913312

bikesnick
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Can anyone explain the arrows along the W&OD in Vienna? They point to a tall vertical pipe with a yellow top.
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(The arrows have gotten larger over the years.)
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May 3, 2013 at 6:52 pm #969227

jnva
Participant

These are not arrows. They are special markings for ELITE cyclists so they can time distance and speed without looking up.

May 3, 2013 at 7:00 pm #969228

GuyContinental
Participant

I decided that they are vent holes for the vast underground CIA facility that we all aren’t supposed to know is in Vienna.

(A close second is some sort of Fire Department non-hydrant, hydrant)

May 3, 2013 at 7:30 pm #969229

mstone
Participant

“turn here”; it’s a gullibility test

May 3, 2013 at 7:56 pm #969232

rpiretti
Participant

I’d guess underground electrical access but could be totally wrong.

May 3, 2013 at 7:59 pm #969235

TwoWheelsDC
Participant

@jnva 51119 wrote:

These are not arrows. They are special markings for ELITE cyclists so they can time distance and speed without looking up.

Or the Fuzz! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VASCAR

May 3, 2013 at 9:31 pm #969243

vvill
Participant

The arrows indicate bike resting posts and posing areas for “OneEighth sighting” thread photos.

May 4, 2013 at 9:55 am #969261

Dirt
Participant

The posts are some kind of venting for a utility pipeline is my guess. They need to be marked for easy access. Some, like the one you photogged, are quite close to the trail, so it seems silly to have to mark them. Others are further back and can easily get overgrown in the summer.

May 4, 2013 at 2:20 pm #969267

ShawnoftheDread
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@Dirt 51155 wrote:

The posts are some kind of venting for a utility pipeline is my guess. They need to be marked for easy access. Some, like the one you photogged, are quite close to the trail, so it seems silly to have to mark them. Others are further back and can easily get overgrown in the summer.

I agree with this. There’s one on the corner of Sandburg that isn’t covered by anything and it’s marked the same way.

May 4, 2013 at 7:40 pm #969268

Bilsko
Participant

I do recall that there are also green arrows/markings on the W&OD pointing to green colored pipes – those are for natural gas pipeline access. The ones you’ve photographed are probably sewage vents or possibly something with the NG lines as well. No steam system in NoVa (over that far, although Crystal City is considering it) and all the electric transmission lines are overhead…so I’m pretty sure its natural gas. I’ll check my copy of “Field Guide to Roadside Technology” and see what it says.

May 5, 2013 at 4:53 am #969280

GoodOmens
Participant

The arrow is simply letting you know the direction of the nearest poll. Nothing more.

May 6, 2013 at 12:44 pm #969168

Terpfan
Participant

I would guess it’s the gas line as well. It would make sense they ran it along the path because it makes for easier access. I’ve seen similar type markings near gas lines as a kid, although not usually quite that big of an arrow. If they need access at night, it would be tough for a vehicle to spot that, but with the arrow, they would see it. Similarly if overgrowth gets over it.

May 12, 2014 at 3:17 pm #1000912

bikesnick
Participant

@bikesnick 51115 wrote:

Can anyone explain the arrows along the W&OD in Vienna? They point to a tall vertical pipe with a yellow top.
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I spoke with a utility worker this morning. The arrows indeed point to the pipes, which are marker posts, not vents. The posts mark the location of manhole covers to access under ground electrical equipment. The markers are necessary to find the covers in the vegetation.

May 12, 2014 at 4:26 pm #1000927

creadinger
Participant

And this thread has come full circle. The mystery has been solved a year + 9 days later.

May 12, 2014 at 5:35 pm #1000940

vern
Participant

there are also arrows that point to manhole covers and similar utility stuff…so, in general, the arrows mark for utility workers where access points are adjacent to the trail, however, I prefer the conspiracy oriented theories.
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