WaPo Article: "In Arlington, winter biking gets a boost with plowed paths"

@dkel 107619 wrote:

If this example would spread westward, I’d be thrilled. The bit of snow-blowing that was done on the W&OD through Fairfax Co was a good start, but I still avoided the trail on several occasions rather than slog through on studs day after day after day.

And southward into the lesser-liked portion of Fairfax where a few of us live :cool:.

But, wait, they used a snow blower on some FFX-area trails? Damn it. Why must NPS suck. I just want them to do the MVT from Old Town to Key Bridge. I’m not even asking for south of OT. I’ll figure it out to OT. Just something. Anything.

@dkel 107656 wrote:

It means that only the hardiest of souls will use the W&OD even after it’s been “treated,” which isn’t any different than last year, so what’s the point, really?

It seems to me that at least a small sliver of pavement was passable in shorter time than in past years. Whether that has to do with the snow blowing by NVRPA or the weather, I can only guess.

I think they meant “officials,” with quotation marks, at least for the one bringing up the rear.

Also, where was this photo taken? Somewhere in Arlington?
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7776&stc=1[/IMG]

@Steve O 107671 wrote:

Also, where was this photo taken? Somewhere in Arlington?

I’m guessing Eads Street cycletrack…

@Tim Kelley 107675 wrote:

(And don’t call it a cycletrack)

Call it a War on Cars Incursion Victory Avenue!

@Steve O 107671 wrote:

Also, where was this photo taken? Somewhere in Arlington?
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7776&stc=1[/IMG]

Also, when was this photo taken? This looks more like fall biking. Not winter. To all the non-riders who look at this picture it makes winter riding look like an easy October mosey to the farmer’s market, instead of the snot covered, red faced, numb toed, ice covered, cold but sweaty mess that winter riding really is.

@dkel 107688 wrote:

If it’s still only those of us who can brave the icy W&OD on studs, then the snowblowing isn’t a victory for cycle transit, which is what the thread is about. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have said a thing, because I love my studs (when I have to use them)!

Well, I figure that people that want to ride [constantly] through the winter simply have to own studded tires. There will always be the mornings that are simply dangerous because of frozen water on the trails. The plowed trails are easily rideable on studded tires, unlike deep snow that has been left on in years past. I guess I see studded tires like lights: you simply have to have them to ride through the winter (unless you have a part-time job [then you mightn’t need lights]). If you don’t have studded tires, you just get a few more rest days than the folks that do.