A request: Don’t do speedwork on the Mt. Vernon Trail at rush hour

[PotomacCyclist]

I know most of the regulars here probably don’t do this. But I know there are many more lurkers on the forum, so maybe a few of the guilty parties will see this. The Mt. Vernon Trail, particularly the section between Rosslyn and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, is not really the best place to do bike speed workouts, especially at peak hours (perhaps 7:30-9:30 am and 4-7 pm) on days with nice weather. There are a lot of cyclists, runners and walkers on the trail at those times. The trail is narrower than some other trails (like the W&OD) and certain sections have blind curves, including the section south of the airport.

Other hazards: Gravelly Point is popular with pedestrians, including many families with young children. Expect to see young kids on the trail over there, whether it’s appropriate or not. It’s simply going to happen.

What bothers me the most are the people who clearly look like they are on a training ride, who think that they can’t stop or slow down no matter what. If they even pause for a micro-second, they believe that the entire workout will be nullified. Thus, they will speed through a section where there is a lot of bike and pedestrian traffic going in both directions. They will pass even though there are multiple bikes heading in the other direction. They pass in between bikes going in both directions, forcing other cyclists to veer off to the outer edge of the trail to avoid the risk of side-swiping the speeding cyclist.

Note: I’m not trying to beat up on fitness cyclists and triathletes, because I also belong in that category, for the most part. I simply want to point out that the Mt. Vernon Trail is not the place to be doing continuous tempo rides and speed intervals. Hains Point or some of the local low-traffic roads are much better for that. Even if someone chooses to do a speed workout on the MVT, that person needs to understand that it’s OK to slow down when there is a lot of bike traffic going in both directions. It is not OK to force everyone else to avoid you as you squeeze in between bi-directional bike traffic while you continue to zoom through with an intent look on your face.

And for the runners (I belong to this group too), please don’t swerve back and forth from side to side on the trail, especially if you are wearing earphones, which make you oblivious to your surroundings. (Many people claim that they can hear everything around them when wearing earphones but that hasn’t been my experience in far too many cases.) If you plan to turn around on the trail and do a U-turn, peek over your shoulder first to make sure there are no cyclists (or other runners) coming up from behind. It is dangerous to stop suddenly and veer across the yellow line and do a U-turn without looking behind you first.

And thus ends my yearly rant about dangerous behavior on the Mt. Vernon Trail. Apologies to those who’ve heard this before, but there are always new cyclists and runners out there every year, many who don’t yet understand the concept of trail etiquette. In the meantime, I vow to make more of an effort to ride there only in non-peak hours, to the extent possible. In general, cycling in the D.C. area is fun. Cycling on the Mt. Vernon Trail at rush hour? Not so much.

Topic

[MCL1981]

Sadly most of the jerks who behave badly do not surf and participate in these discussions. They don’t need to interact with other people because their world already revolves solely around them.

[creadinger]

Now that is a totally reasonable request. I did my first full round trip commute of the year yesterday (yeah I’m a fair weather commuter. what are you gonna do about it?) and I saw exactly what you explained below between the 395 bridge and the Crystal City spur.

I can’t say that I saw any near collisions or really dangerous stuff, but seriously when I’m already to the right and someone comes up behind me dinging their bell like they’re a freakin bike ambulance or something. I am not moving over any more D-bag! Maybe I’m just being sensitive, but 4+ dings right behind someone is just being a dick. He didn’t have any bags or gear and was fully kitted out, so I got the impression he was out training.

It looked to me like most of the joggers were a bit skiddish and freaked out by the sudden increase in the number of bikes all the sudden. Most of them were either running in the dirt or looked like they were bracing themselves for imminent collisions.

[rcannon100]

(yeah I’m a fair weather commuter. what are you gonna do about it?)

Laugh. Giggle. Point fingers. And then welcome you back!!!!!!!!

[Rootchopper]

Creadinger, welcome back to the commuting horde.

I agree with all the sentiments experssed in this thread. When I was yonug and foolish I too rode like a Lancealot on the trail. Until I had to take a dive to avoid hitting a toddler. That incident wised me up fast.

I have noticed a surge in bike commuters. I was thinking of posting a blog about how bike commuting sucks to deter the masses from clogging the trail. I am afraid that $4+ gasoline will win the day, however. Nobody listens to me anyway.

We will have beaucoup company on the trails and bikeways in about a month. I replaced my front brake pads last night.
They’re going to get a lot of use in the weeks ahead.

[pfunkallstar]

No worries, in my experience the trails only get REALLY full from April through mid June and then again from September through mid October, the rest of the year is too icky, gooey, or gross for most people. Yesterday was an absolute nightmare from Rosslyn up to the W&OD junction, a lot of blind passing going on and random bicyclists getting angry that I was behind them. Also, there was a pair of cyclists up in Falls Church who were chatting it up while rocking both lanes – bad form.

[DaveK]

@creadinger 15176 wrote:

I can’t say that I saw any near collisions or really dangerous stuff, but seriously when I’m already to the right and someone comes up behind me dinging their bell like they’re a freakin bike ambulance or something. I am not moving over any more D-bag! Maybe I’m just being sensitive, but 4+ dings right behind someone is just being a dick. He didn’t have any bags or gear and was fully kitted out, so I got the impression he was out training.

I always ring my bell when I’m coming up behind someone to pass just to let them know I’m there. I know others do that as well. It may just be that he was letting you know he was back there.

[Terpfan]

@DaveK 15191 wrote:

I always ring my bell when I’m coming up behind someone to pass just to let them know I’m there. I know others do that as well. It may just be that he was letting you know he was back there.

Yep, that’s what I tend to do. One ring just to let someone know I am about to pass them. Of course everyday I notice more than half the people passing me aren’t making any attempt at all. I kind of understand at night when our lights give us away on a pass (save in those few spots where GW traffic is absolutely blding), but in the morning when the traffic from the parkway is loud is when it seems like folks never call out their passes.

Agreed on broader thread topic. I got behind a training group crossing 14th Street Bridge (ok, I know we determined the actual correct name a few weeks back, but to me it’s always been 14th St Bridge) and one guy almost tried to pass the dozen or so. I figured it’s beautiful out and a 3 minute delay isn’t killing me.

And yes, I wish joggers would signal their intentions. Even walkers sometimes… last night a couple decided to cross right in front of me to sit on a bench. They were in dark clothing and thankfully my light is bright enough to see them a few dozen feet away so I could avoid them, but it seems like common sense to think before walking/biking/jogging/etc.

[PotomacCyclist]

I don’t care if someone passes me from behind, as long as they do so safely, and when there isn’t oncoming traffic on the other side of the dividing line. I’m talking about when I’m riding on the right (as I should be), and others are riding toward me on the left (as they should be), and then someone on the left decides that he simply has to pass no matter what, even though he has to squeeze between cyclists going in opposite directions, when the MVT is not that wide.

Passing safely is to be expected. Some people ride faster than others (either because they are fitter or they have a faster bike, or both). Unsafe passing shouldn’t be common, but unfortunately it is. The majority of cyclists don’t do this. But it only takes one person to create a hazardous situation for several other cyclists and runners. It’s as though some people think that they have right of way, on the left side of the trail, just because they are passing someone. I do have to admit that I haven’t always been perfect about this either, but I try not to do it these days.

I don’t want to hunt anyone down and publicly shame them either. I’m just hoping that either some of the speedsters read this, or their friends and relatives read it and perhaps mention it in passing. Sort of like creating more of a culture of safe trail riding in general. One thread won’t change the entire bike culture, but it’s easy enough to start a thread, and with enough reminders on forums, personal conversations, group meetings and such, hopefully more people will understand the need to ride more safely, especially in crowded conditions.

[creadinger]

I always ring my bell when I’m coming up behind someone to pass just to let them know I’m there. I know others do that as well. It may just be that he was letting you know he was back there.

I guess anything is possible, but this wasn’t the normal ding-ding-“I’m back here”. It was more like rapid-fire ding-ding-ding-“you are in my way!”-ding-ding. I think it may have been more of a warning to oncoming riders that he was going to pass me and to watch out. I was following another rider in a DC Velo kit and were going about 17mph, and it seemed really out of place to want to pass people who already going at a decent clip for a busy trail.

@rcannon100 15177 wrote:

Laugh. Giggle. Point fingers. And then welcome you back!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

[Bunjabi]

As a commuter who almost met the high-speed traffic on the Mount Vernon Parkway head-on thanks to an especially zealous/dangerous passer coming at me Friday morning, I concur with this post.

There are a lot of blind curves on the MVT where I use it. Should there be signs at those places? I didn’t recognize the guy who almost sent me flying, so maybe he was new to the trail. I notice that new commuters definitely do not know the ins and outs of this route like I do, so signage might definitely help them avoid dangerous decisions. Whether there’s a will (or the bills) to put up such is unlikely, though.

At times during my commute in nicer weather, I internally curse all the walkers and joggers on the MVT. Then I remember that it’s a multi-use trail and that, if I want to use it, I have to share it. Delays are OK. They just let you be on your bike longer, right?

[Rootchopper]

Another common porblem occurs when several people pass in sequence. The first passer gives a warning then the rest follow without a warning. I’ve nearly been hit from behind when, thinking the coast is clear, pull out to pass a pedestrian after the first passer goes by.

[dasgeh]

I wish there were more signage on all of the trails/bike routes, especially close to the river/Monuments. I honestly think some of the walkers, runners and even cyclists just don’t realize what a MUT is. A simple “stay right, expect other people, especially bikes” would be really helpful, and I think would cut down on a number of random tourist movements (like the bench-sitters).

And while we’re putting up signs, some where there are blind curves, sudden trail/path entrances, and other unexpected things (e.g. “kid-zone” at Gravely Point) would be great.

[acc]

It’s such a shame you guys live so close to the city, all those bikes crowding out the trails…
Out here in Vienna it’s just the deer, the hedgehogs, and a lot fewer bike commuters.
I guess you need to build more trails.
Or move further out into the *gasp* suburbs.
(Why does this sound so familiar?)

Hands down the best line I’ve read today was a description of the continuous dinging by a passing cyclist who sounded like a bike ambulance. That was brilliant!

Happy Trails Out Here in the Suburbs…
ann

PS- Yes, the Mount Vernon Trail is pretty but oh my, way too crowded.

[consularrider]

@acc 15221 wrote:

…PS- Yes, the Mount Vernon Trail is pretty but oh my, way too crowded.

I’m commuting not training, so as long as I’m going fast enough to stay upright, I’m ok.

On the issue of agressive bell ringing, at least this rider was signaling, just being obnoxious about it. My estimate is that I get much lower than 50% giving the desired notice of overtaking in any format. I like to give a double ding of my bell. Too often the single ding seems to make people think they dropped something.

[acc]

When I’m riding by myself and don’t have to worry about embarrassing anyone I’ll amuse myself by thinking up odd things to call out as I pass:

Old broad on your left. Watch out.
Oh Lord, I’ve got no brakes. (A real crowd pleaser)
Don’t mind me, I’m just wheezing up this hill. (But notice I’m still passing you, tee hee.)

To the trail riding cyclists who insist on riding over the yellow line towards me my language is more colorful. And I have some perfected hand signals that go along with that colorful language. Not exactly ASL, but unmistakeable nonetheless.

I prefer a quiet, “I’m on your left” when a cyclist creeps up on my shoulder. It doesn’t startle me and I’m happy for a change in scenery. I’m quite pleased to stare at your, uh, bike for half a mile or so. And I promise not to make any sucking noises.

Bells are irritating. An air horn will probably cause me to crash.

Go ahead, pass me. See if I care. :roll eyes:

ann

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