Accident this morning at Lynn & Key? (8/8)

[JeffC]

@theakston 6977 wrote:

Not trying ot be a pedant but isn’t it traffic coming off of i-66 not the GW Parkway – or have I got this location wrong?

You could be right, it’s either one or the other, perhaps even both as both go through that area. I drive my car in that area very infrequently so cannot say for sure.

Please be careful out there, this is easily the most dangerous spot on my commute, I’ve seen some crazy things there, saw one guy collide with a movable traffic sign trying to avoid a ped and once had to cross it when all the traffic lights were broken because of a storm, now that was scary.

[vvill]

I think the tunnel is the best option really, but who knows how long it’ll be take. Cars >> bikes – this is America after all. Can’t really blame Arlington co engineers/planners for that.

A temp. solution might be to make it easier to access the north/west side of Key Bridge from under K St. That way a lot of trail users could get into G’town without needing to cross Key Bridge or Lynn St at all. Although obv it wouldn’t help those going further south in VA.

[DaveK]

@theakston 6977 wrote:

Not trying ot be a pedant but isn’t it traffic coming off of i-66 not the GW Parkway – or have I got this location wrong?

Yep, it’s an off-ramp from 66. It’s all traffic that’s come off 110 to 66 to go into DC.

[consularrider]

The comments section from yesterday’s ARLnow.com report included something from the cyclist struck on Monday:

“i am the cyclist who was hit on Monday morning. the facts are simple. the walkway sign was white, meaning that cyclists and pedestrians had the right of way, legally. after i was hit and thrown from the hood of the work van, i made it back to the van. The driver finally got out, and said to me, “i had a green light.” I think that summarizes everything. A driver had a green light, and even though making a turn, and driving through a crosswalk, he felt he had the right to go regardless of what was in his way. By the way, he received the ticket for failure to yield. If cars and trucks do not yield to people in the crosswalk, there is no hope for safe passage. I hope the person hit today is lucky and doing well. having spent four hours or more at GW shock trauma, with excellent care, and bruised and bloodied all over (and for those who care about the bicycle – a bent handlebar – showing the force of the fall — i feel lucky that it wasn’t worse. a trip to the trauma unit shouldnt be the entrance fee for crossing the street.”

And from my experience, the cyclists heading east have much less of a problem because the cars turning right towards Key Bridge can at least see them if they are paying any attention. Unfortunately for cyclists heading west, they are usually invisible until they actually get into the intersection. There is an issue with cars turning right on red there. In the morning I turn left from the trail into the crosswalk across the intersection and cars rarely look to their right. In the evening I am enterning the trail after having riding north on Lynn St and cars are straddling the cross walk making it more difficult to make the turn. In addition both cyclists and pedestrians waiting to cross Lynn St frequently block the entire trail, again making it nearly impossible to enter the trail, especially when there is a car cheating up across the crosswalk.

[Tim Kelley]

And another follow up here:

http://www.arlnow.com/2011/08/11/cyclist-recounts-accident-at-lynn-street-and-lee-hwy/

[txgoonie]

I think we need a crossing guard. Or two.

[RESTONTODC]

Or a crossing gate likes the railroad crossing with flashing red lights and bells when there is someone in the crosswalk.

[americancyclo]

A guy on a tandem bolted past me today on the island between N Fort Myer and Lynn, only to be nearly run over by a K-9 police SUV turning right on to Lynn heading toward DC. No lights or siren, but little regard for us cyclists either.

[Author]

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