Many Thanks

Here is a photo of one of the repairs.

Thanks for all of the advocacy to get this fixed Dan. Looks good from Casey’s picture and I’m looking forward to not grumbling when I ride that part of the trail.

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What can we do to put pressure on those in charge of the MVT trail and other areas to get real fixes done in a reasonable amount of time? Riding the MVT is downright dangerous and something I avoid except to get to Haines Point the “easy” way these days. To make matters worse a friend went down hard after hitting a root bump today on the MVT near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and broke his collar bone. His MIPS helmet saved his head. He’s a very experienced cyclist, so this was a fluke for him, but still.

There are so many bad spots on the trails that make me think the engineers and foremen that do the construction are clueless. Let me make my rant list:

1. The turn from 4M trail along Glebe to get on the trail as it goes under W. Glebe and Glebe Rd. Who puts metal fencing on a 90-degree turn on a busy trail?
2. The new “round-a-bout” at the bottom of the Custis Trail after it goes under 66. The concrete edge is raised in such a way that if you aren’t careful you can catch the sidewall of your tire and nearly go down. Which I’ve nearly done more than once.
3. That beautiful new bridge over Lee/Langston Blvd that dumps into a busy, narrow trail with people merging or moving from two directions, with limited sightlines from 19th Rd.
4. The aforementioned MVT Trail, which is so rooted as to be absurd, let alone dangerous.

Frankly, I am surprised there aren’t more accidents and injuries in these locations. It’s a big reason I mostly avoid the trails anymore… and there is the irony because I now have to keep fingers crossed my smart riding protects me from the distracted idiots in cars.

JG

@JorgeGortex 211559 wrote:

What can we do to put pressure on those in charge of the MVT trail and other areas to get real fixes done in a reasonable amount of time?

reallocate an itty-bitty portion of the road maintenance budget?

A couple of weeks ago, I rode with #accordioneur on an Arlington 55 + Ride, from Belle Haven to Mt. Vernon. I will testify that stretch has become worse since I last ran it 2 years ago. *Many* root heaves and pavement fall-outs disguised by fallen leaves. No one crashed, I didn’t go down, but still. The need is…obvious. Let me make sure I can commit this weekend… merci!

Although design is certainly a problem in many places, the real problem with the MVT is neglect. The Park Service all but stopped doing routine maintenance on the trail a few years ago. No money, they say. Two huge trees fell along the trail north of the stone bridge. Their root balls tore up the side of the trail. Nothing has been done. The MVT painter has saved my neck any number of times. They also paint potholes and warning arrows.

I sometimes ride a long wheel base recumbent on the trail. In June I hit a root heave that snapped my fork. My butt has gone airborne a number of times from sequential root heaves, despite the fact that the long wheelbase acts as suspension.

Volunteer efforts are wonderful as are those by Arlington County and Alexandria City. But the Park Service has surrendered. The MVT is a very low priority. I think it’s time to take a US Senator or two on a trail ride. 34 years ago a senator’s wife was seriously injured on the trail while riding with her husband. She recovered and some funds were allocated to redesign the MV end of the trail. I know 2 other people that crashed in the same place. One was my wife. The redesigned trail isn’t all that much better. I crashed there in 1989. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/08/14/ranger-mounts-a-2-wheeler/f8608db4-a8cf-4e84-ae8f-941141d98446/

@Oldtowner 211589 wrote:

Rootchopper is spot on here. NPS used to be much better at maintaining the MVT. They’d even be out there leaf blowing in the fall. A few years ago efforts all but stopped. They do stay on top of the wooden bridges, at least. As for everything else, it’s just been a slow steady decline and has gotten to be dangerous. If only there were a massive infrastructure bill or something to fund ya know, infrastructure..

Or some billionaires who were concerned about bike infrastructure who might make a sustaining contribution. :rolleyes: