2014 February Trail Conditions

@cyclingfool 78373 wrote:

The block boxing at 17th and Constitution was off the hook

This reminds me: 17th & Constitution is giving Lynn & Lee a run for its money as the worst intersection on my commute. Drivers turning right from Constitution onto 17th and from 17th onto Constitution seem to think it’s their God-given right to do so, at speed, at all times. Given the location, I’m not even certain who to complain to (NPP, MPD, Secret Service?). Thoughts?

What an amazing day to be riding a bike!!!! Conditions were and are changing very quickly. The snow was fluffy, then slushy, then icy, then wet. Riding home late this morning I went from riding in the sunshine to dark clouds and heavy snow in about 90 seconds.

On Topic: The sun is warming and clearing everything it hits. It is still cold enough that shaded areas that regularly hold snow and ice are staying snowy and icy. A hardpack and icy line is forming on the path through these shaded areas. Cross tires with tread worked well. Icy spots will be around tomorrow morning.

@dasgeh 78379 wrote:

17th & Constitution is giving Lynn & Lee a run for its money as the worst intersection on my commute. Thoughts?

besides avoid it?
Penn to E St?

@cyclingfool 78383 wrote:

It’s a great question. I see violations of all kinds there all the time, sometimes committed in plain view of cops, and nothing is done. So I take crossings at that intersection very cautiously. If crossing Constitution I always wait to see that cars in all lanes are stopping (one guy blew a red light once and would have taken me out if I had just blindly crossed with the crosswalk sign).

As for who to contact/complain to, the few times I have seen cars stopped near the intersection it has been NPP, so my guess is that they’re probably the best bet.

Ugh. FWIW, I put in a seeclickfix report, under the category “How’s my driving: complaint”. It seems like you could vote for it.

@cvcalhoun 78405 wrote:

It looks like I may need to make it to Shirlington (from Bethesda) on Friday. From Google maps, it looks like my best route involves the MVT from Arlington Bridge to the Four Mile Run trail, then up Four Mile Run. Two questions:

1. What are the conditions on those trails at this point?
2. How steep is the Four Mile Run Trail? I use an old Trek hybrid that weights 65 pounds with all the accessories I have attached to it, and my experience has been that some of those trails into Virginia from the Potomac go more or less straight up, which can really affect the amount of time I need to allow, but I don’t believe I’ve ever actually been on FMR.

I’d recommend CCT to Water Street/K Street, down Rock Creek Trail to Ohio Drive to 14th Street Bridge to Mount Vernon Trail. The connection across the Four Mile Run Trail with the Shirlington Connector trail are pretty flat. There are some little bumps and gentle grades but nothing god-awful. I’d avoid going over Memorial Bridge to the MVT because I hate dealing with the crossing across the GW Parkway. Hope this helps.

You may want to cross at Key Bridge and take the MVT from there. The MVT will be more pleasant than the Rock Creek Trail. Memorial bridge involves parkway crossings.

This morning, the MVT and 4MRT were mostly clear, but with accumulated snow on the elevated portions of the 4MRT around the bridges under Glebe and 395. I expect that will be melted this afternoon if not tomorrow.

@cvcalhoun 78405 wrote:

It looks like I may need to make it to Shirlington (from Bethesda) on Friday. From Google maps, it looks like my best route involves the MVT from Arlington Bridge to the Four Mile Run trail, then up Four Mile Run. Two questions:

1. What are the conditions on those trails at this point?
2. How steep is the Four Mile Run Trail? I use an old Trek hybrid that weights 65 pounds with all the accessories I have attached to it, and my experience has been that some of those trails into Virginia from the Potomac go more or less straight up, which can really affect the amount of time I need to allow, but I don’t believe I’ve ever actually been on FMR.

Four Mile Run up from the Potomac (and the MVT) is a very gentle grade (maybe 50 feet in three miles).

Probably the easiest way is to get to the MVT at Roosevelt Island or 14th St Bridge (your choice) and then head downstream to the FMR trail at the end of DCA. Head west to Shirlington and then to go home, continue up the W&OD to the Custis so you can do the entire Arlington Loop. Doing the Custis from west to east is easier as the grades are gentler.