Another Rosslyn Accident

[consularrider]

The ambulance and two police cars were with the downed cyclist at the Marriott driveway entrance by the skywalk at 8:10. Since I was turning left at Ft Myer, I didn’t get close enough to see much.

[pfunkallstar]

Saw that, couldn’t make out much beyond the fact that there were a couple of cops milling about. Hope the rider pulls through.

[thucydides]

Washcycle has a little blurb on it this morning. All it says is that the biker was taken to the hospital and then quotes a cop who strongly implies the cyclist ran the Marriott stop sign. Lynn gets most of the attention but this spot right here is pretty nasty since vehicles exiting have an obstructed view to the right unless they move into the bike path. Plus a high proportion of vehicles exiting the Marriott are probably driven by tourists who are: a) not aware they’re crossing a major bike highway; & b) concentrating on not getting lost.

[baiskeli]

@thucydides 19705 wrote:

Washcycle has a little blurb on it this morning. All it says is that the biker was taken to the hospital and then quotes a cop who strongly implies the cyclist ran the Marriott stop sign. Lynn gets most of the attention but this spot right here is pretty nasty since vehicles exiting have an obstructed view to the right unless they move into the bike path. Plus a high proportion of vehicles exiting the Marriott are probably driven by tourists who are: a) not aware they’re crossing a major bike highway; & b) concentrating on not getting lost.

I’ll bet 90% of cyclists run that stop, especially heading downhill.

And yeah, the Marriott should put up a huge sign warning people that they’re entering a busy bike route and to stay to the right.

[5555624]

@thucydides 19705 wrote:

Plus a high proportion of vehicles exiting the Marriott are probably driven by tourists who are: a) not aware they’re crossing a major bike highway; & b) concentrating on not getting lost.

An even higher proportion are probably being being by drivers who simply don’t think to look to the right when making a right turn. Stop and watch how often this happens at Lynn Street sometime. Every close call I’ve had at Lynn Street has been becuse the driver has not looked to his/her right — sometimes they don’t even realize they have a green light, they just see there’s a gap in traffic. (As a pedestrian, since I am on the sidewalk, I see this all to often at Stop signs and red lights.)

[SpokeGrenadeSR]

@5555624 19737 wrote:

An even higher proportion are probably being being by drivers who simply don’t think to look to the right when making a right turn. Stop and watch how often this happens at Lynn Street sometime. Every close call I’ve had at Lynn Street has been becuse the driver has not looked to his/her right — sometimes they don’t even realize they have a green light, they just see there’s a gap in traffic. (As a pedestrian, since I am on the sidewalk, I see this all to often at Stop signs and red lights.)

i’m guilty of this. had a close call with 2 peds on wilson blvd when it’s a one way in march. felt terrible about it and haven’t made that mistake since.

[americancyclo]

Further questions from Washcycle about the Marriott stop sign:
http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/05/where-did-this-stop-sign-come-from-and-is-it-legal.html

Can Mr. Kelley poke around and ask about this?

[KLizotte]

I don’t know whether the stop sign at the Marriott is legal or not but I think it is a good idea nonetheless.

[brendan]

@KLizotte 20258 wrote:

I don’t know whether the stop sign at the Marriott is legal or not but I think it is a good idea nonetheless.

How about a high-power flashing sign that says: cars exiting this curb cut *CANNOT SEE YOU* so *SLOW DOWN*. Or maybe a rail-road crossing sign/light/bell/bar system?

More seriously: if the county is serious about keeping this part of the sidewalk a MUT, the hotel parking lot entrance/exit needs to be redesigned or closed. If redesigned, perhaps moved east away from the concrete structure (perhaps mid-block between the current location and the traffic signal). The current setup really has no solution due to the sight lines.

Brendan

[Tim Kelley]

@americancyclo 20256 wrote:

Further questions from Washcycle about the Marriott stop sign:
http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/05/where-did-this-stop-sign-come-from-and-is-it-legal.html

Can Mr. Kelley poke around and ask about this?

We’re looking into it…lots of changes will be happening there in the next year or two…

[americancyclo]

@Tim Kelley 20262 wrote:

We’re looking into it…lots of changes will be happening there in the next year or two…

A bridge! or a tunnel! or a catapult!

[Lt. Dan]

I hope the cyclist is okay…

[baiskeli]

@Tim Kelley 20262 wrote:

We’re looking into it…lots of changes will be happening there in the next year or two…

Are you looking specifically into whether that stop sign is legit?

[sjclaeys]

This morning I noticed a 10 mph sign a few yards before this stop sign and do not remember seeing it before. Is this a new sign? I definitely agree that cyclists need to be careful and go slowly through that area. However, the sign seems to be another example of traffic control authorities’ default presumption that the best way to solve any safety issue is to slow down or stop cyclists. Will we be seeing Arlington Police with radar guns to catch anyone going over 10 mph?

[pfunkallstar]

@sjclaeys 20322 wrote:

This morning I noticed a 10 mph sign a few yards before this stop sign and do not remember seeing it before. Is this a new sign? I definitely agree that cyclists need to be careful and go slowly through that area. However, the sign seems to be another example of traffic control authorities’ default presumption that the best way to solve any safety issue is to slow down or stop cyclists. Will we be seeing Arlington Police with radar guns to catch anyone going over 10 mph?

Sounds like it is time for a “Use Common Sense” sign – also – the Marriott seriously needs to tell people “I know you like to walk in s-curves along the sidewalk, hell, that is just American. But PLEASE try to keep to the right side of the sidewalk just outside of our establishment.”

[Author]

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