Lyft/Uber lot on South Eads (Crystal City) at Fort Scott

@dbb 180805 wrote:

The airport authority leased a lot which had been used to store rental cars along Eads in the late spring. It is now used for Lyft and Uber drivers to hang out till they get a fare. In the early evening, the stretch of Eads near the bus facilities turns into a real cluster as cars are trying to turn left into those lots, often without regard for motorists and cyclists.

Has anybody been hit by a turning car there in the past 3 months? We are gearing up for a fight with the County.

Please PM me.

Haven’t been hit… yet… but I have had multiple cars swing into the bike lane around a left turning car in front of me. I know it’s going to happen so I’ve been extra defensive.

Last night while biking along Eads I watched multiple cars pull into the bike lane to get around the line of Uber/Lyft drivers trying to get into the lot. I was lucky that none did it too close to me, but I expect this dangerous behavior to continue, and I am VERY concerned that without any buffering of the bike lane in this area, most drivers will not look for cyclists before pulling into it. I turned back after I passed the cars to see 2-3 more cars pull into the bike lane to get around the line of turning vehicles. I’ve had evening commutes where the line of cars is backed up to the kabob place so I am not surprised drivers and local residents are frustrated, but driving in the bike lane is not making things safer.

Here are some not-super clear shots from my fly 12.

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White car pulled out into the bike lane a little in front of me.

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You can see another black car in the bike lane in front of the white car here.

@dbb 181434 wrote:

The community associations have gotten the County to hold a public meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, 27 Sep 2018 at 7 pm. While the community associations will be represented, there is always room for others.

Details below from https://projects.arlingtonva.us/events/public-meeting-on-mwaas-dispatch-lot-on-south-eads-street/

Date/Time
09/27/2018
7:00 pm-8:30 pm

Location
Aurora Hills Community & Senior Center
Multipurpose room

In April 2018 the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) began operating a dispatch lot for Uber/Lyft vehicles on South Eads Street, near Fort Scott Drive. MWAA relocated the lot to the Eads Street site to make room for their Project Journey construction project, but the move has resulted in increased traffic congestion in this area.

Join County officials as they discuss proposals for mitigating the traffic situation and shifting some of the lot’s access from South Eads Street to Route 1. MWAA and Virginia Department of Transportation officials have also been invited to attend.

The meeting will start with a presentation followed by a questions & answers session.

I can’t make the meeting, unfortunately, but this could be a tactical urbanism opportunity — the County could put up barriers to protect this bike lane for that stretch until a better solution can be found. Yes, that will cost a few parking spaces by the park, but not many (if there’s a barrier for one car length where a car would turn left, drivers would get nothing by going into the bike lane). And it would cost little, so could be easily removed if it turns out to really screw things up. The County has to try this sort of thing!

@mstone 181445 wrote:

If anyone wants to suggest this, I advise being well away from the neighborhood “congestion” activists, perhaps in a little popemobile bubble.

How about a Pope bike instead: https://youtu.be/FZ0yNZvXqHU

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