April 2016 Road and Trail Conditions

[Tim Kelley]

@JanaeBixby 138669 wrote:

I have seen three people with flats/ruined wheel frames in the last 2 days. It’s only a matter of time until I am one of them. Does anyone know how/where to talk to NPS or those who maintain the Mount Vernon Trail? My previous attempts to contact NPS lead me in circles. If anyone has a contact I would most appreciate it for future purposes.

I had one over the weekend at that location too…

[dbb]

@JanaeBixby 138670 wrote:

DBB, how do you contact NPS about issues on the Mount Vernon Trail?

The public facing email box that gets checked and distributed daily is GWMP_superintendent@nps.gov (GWMP and superintendent connected with the underscore)

They also can be reached during normal business hours at 703-289-2500

[Emm]

@JanaeBixby 138669 wrote:

I have seen three people with flats/ruined wheel frames in the last 2 days. It’s only a matter of time until I am one of them. Does anyone know how/where to talk to NPS or those who maintain the Mount Vernon Trail? My previous attempts to contact NPS lead me in circles. If anyone has a contact I would most appreciate it for future purposes.

Until it is fixed, you can take the Crystal City Connector through Crystal City, and then rejoin the MVT at the 4MRT connector–here’s a quick map of the easiest way through Crystal City I found, that puts you right back on the MVT.

Or you could just bike super slow through that section on the MVT. So far that’s been my solution (with an added bunny hop with the front wheel), and it’s going ok

[consularrider]

Or ride a fat bike with 15 psi. Any excuse for N+1, right?

[JanaeBixby]

@Emm 138675 wrote:

Until it is fixed, you can take the Crystal City Connector through Crystal City, and then rejoin the MVT at the 4MRT connector–here’s a quick map of the easiest way through Crystal City I found, that puts you right back on the MVT.

Or you could just bike super slow through that section on the MVT. So far that’s been my solution (with an added bunny hop with the front wheel), and it’s going ok

DBB, EMM,

Thanks. I have been taking it slow but it’s still painful, and I have never been a good enough biker to do hops or jumps! Just your standard every day commuter. Maybe one day. Either way, it isn’t right for them to leave it in the current condition. Its dangerous, and if you are heading south, and stop for a car, I have a hard time getting back over that lip trying to go from stopped and up hill and over a ridge all at the same time. They should have at least put some signage up. It may not be a problem for runners, but anyone jogging with a stroller will encounter frustrations as well.

[JanaeBixby]

@Emm 138675 wrote:

Until it is fixed, you can take the Crystal City Connector through Crystal City, and then rejoin the MVT at the 4MRT connector–here’s a quick map of the easiest way through Crystal City I found, that puts you right back on the MVT.

Or you could just bike super slow through that section on the MVT. So far that’s been my solution (with an added bunny hop with the front wheel), and it’s going ok

EMM,

Thanks for your map! It is actually SUPER helpful. I live in Del Ray and took the Crystal City route during the MVT construction last fall/winter, but hated it due to:

1. Idiot drivers trying to parallel park along Crystal City Drive and not checking that a biker is coming from behind them before they decide to pull nose-first into an available parking spot to snag it, or people double parking in the bike lane to pop-into Chic-fil-A.

2. Hitting the one way portion of Crystal City Drive- so frustrating where the bike lane just ends.

Your map works around all of those! I had no idea you could go behind the Noodles & Co building. Thanks.

[huskerdont]

@Tim Kelley 138668 wrote:

Can anyone else confirm that it’s completely broken?

Here’s what I heard from my guy as of today:

“One side of the bar graph is out again after being repaired two weeks ago, and will require another field visit and phone call to HQ. The daily and monthly displays were working fine two days ago.”

I am not someone else, but it was still completely dark outbound around 2:30 p.m. I didn’t look back the other direction since I just assumed. Anyone else?

[Steve O]

Although I have not ridden the MVT section since the problem was created, I sent this email anyway to the address dbb provided:

---

Hello,

There is a serious danger presented as part of the repaving project alongside the airport on the Mt. Vernon Trail.
Workers there have milled the surface several inches below the trail surface. This has created a very large lip which, if struck at even moderate speed, can cause flat tires and/or bent rims. It can also cause people riding bikes to crash. I am aware of at least 4 cases of people experiencing flat tires and at least one crash caused by this.

It is unacceptable to leave the trail in this condition without adequate warning signage at the very least. In addition to signage, the workers should have also smoothed the lip on each side, reducing the impact.

Please address this problem as the emergency that it is. A crash at this site prior to a distracted driver coming along the ramp could result in very serious consequences.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Kind regards,

[JanaeBixby]

@Steve O 138681 wrote:

Although I have not ridden the MVT section since the problem was created, I sent this email anyway to the address dbb provided:

---

Hello,

There is a serious danger presented as part of the repaving project alongside the airport on the Mt. Vernon Trail.
Workers there have milled the surface several inches below the trail surface. This has created a very large lip which, if struck at even moderate speed, can cause flat tires and/or bent rims. It can also cause people riding bikes to crash. I am aware of at least 4 cases of people experiencing flat tires and at least one crash caused by this.

It is unacceptable to leave the trail in this condition without adequate warning signage at the very least. In addition to signage, the workers should have also smoothed the lip on each side, reducing the impact.

Please address this problem as the emergency that it is. A crash at this site prior to a distracted driver coming along the ramp could result in very serious consequences.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Kind regards,

I too sent an email (with photos and map of the location) and called. The woman I spoke to sounded very surprised by the issue and had not already heard of it. The more people who bug them about it, the better for quicker action. Thanks!

[KLizotte]

@Emm 138675 wrote:

Until it is fixed, you can take the Crystal City Connector through Crystal City, and then rejoin the MVT at the 4MRT connector–here’s a quick map of the easiest way through Crystal City I found, that puts you right back on the MVT.

Whoa! I’ve lived in this area forever and had no idea that service road existed. Way cool! May come in handy when I want to get thru the neighborhood quickly and avoid the crazys on Crystal Drive (or the Friday night 5Ks).

Thanks.

[huskerdont]

@Tim Kelley 138668 wrote:

Can anyone else confirm that it’s completely broken?

Here’s what I heard from my guy as of today:

“One side of the bar graph is out again after being repaired two weeks ago, and will require another field visit and phone call to HQ. The daily and monthly displays were working fine two days ago.”

My bike with the Arlington Darkometer, 6:45-ish this morning, both directions.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11594[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]11595[/ATTACH]

[komorebi]

The NPS has added a bit of asphalt to smooth out the transition on the MVT where it crosses the airport ramp. I was bracing myself for more jolting when I approached the crossing this morning, and I let out an involuntary “Hallelujah!” when I saw that I didn’t need to.

Many thanks to dbb, Steve O, JanaeBixby, and anyone else who contacted the NPS and helped make this happen. By sheer coincidence, I ran into dbb by the Tidal Basin this morning and got to say my thanks in person. Totally made my day.

[Tim Kelley]

@komorebi 138706 wrote:

The NPS has added a bit of asphalt to smooth out the transition on the MVT where it crosses the airport ramp. I was bracing myself for more jolting when I approached the crossing this morning, and I let out an involuntary “Hallelujah!” when I saw that I didn’t need to.

Many thanks to dbb, Steve O, JanaeBixby, and anyone else who contacted the NPS and helped make this happen. By sheer coincidence, I ran into dbb by the Tidal Basin this morning and got to say my thanks in person. Totally made my day.

Its a much smoother transition, although the asphalt is still soft so you get kibbles sticking to your tires and making a satisfying plinking noising as they hit the underside of your fenders.

[Tim Kelley]

@huskerdont 138703 wrote:

My bike with the Arlington Darkometer, 6:45-ish this morning, both directions.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11594[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]11595[/ATTACH]

Top Men are working on it. It’s likely that even though the lights aren’t on, it’s still counting just fine though.

[huskerdont]

@Tim Kelley 138708 wrote:

Top Men are working on it. It’s likely that even though the lights aren’t on, it’s still counting just fine though.

If a bike counter counts and nobody can see it, does it make a sound?*

*(Yes, I know the counts are available online.)

[Author]

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