Be careful around the Jefferson Memorial
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For those of you comming in and leaving the city on the 14th street bridge, take extra precaution around the Jefferson Memorial. Besides the increased number of pedestrians, and tour busses, NPS has placed a series of port-a-johns along the sidewalk that parallels the street (ohio drive?) so if you are comming off of the bridge and making a right your choices are salmoning into tour busses, or attempting to ride through the tourist potty queue. It may just be easier to take a left and ride around the tidal basin, or ride through the monument baracades. I think this arrangement should be in place until the end of next weekend, since the 4th is on a Wednesday. the inadequacy of bike infrastructure here will become very apparent as Cars/busses, people, and bikes collide.
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Yup. The sidewalk is about half its usual width where the portapotty is. Then there is the construction. A detour toward Hains Point is recommended for all members of the B Team.
p.s. We’ve all forgotten about posting all these things under the Trail Conditions tab. Must be the heat??
@Arlingtonrider 23949 wrote:
It’s time to take to the streets! (Also, the “like” above was a fat finger mistake.)
What now you don’t like me?
I thought the ding ding and the porta potty line was pretty funny. I do think it would suck to be doored by a porta potty as well.
I was pleased to see that the damned traffic cones had been moved out of the crosswalk however. Maybe the email I sent (copied below) to the NPS on the 26th had some effect
“I am writing to ask for assistance in resolving a recurring bicycle safety issue near the Jefferson Memorial where cyclists come down from the 14th Street Bridge, cross East Basin Drive and get onto the sidewalk along East Basin Drive heading towards the Mall and downtown. As you are aware, this route is a major cycling path for commuters entering the District.
Traffic cones are frequently placed in the crosswalk, presenting a hazard for cyclists who must quickly make a right turn on to the sidewalk. I moved a traffic cone from the center of the sidewalk this morning and as you can see in the photo I took this afternoon, the cone has returned. With the portable toilet at the corner, the turn becomes even more hazardous for cyclists.
Photo here
Other than keeping motorists from turning into the short roadway leading to the security barrier, I can’t see a need for the cones. If cones are necessary, moving the one cone that is in the crosswalk to the left edge of the crosswalk would allow it to be visible and not present a hazard. I would like the NPS staff at the Memorial to stop placing these obstacles in the crosswalk. In addition to presenting hazards to cyclists, the cone may also obstruct the path of individuals with disabilities.
I apologize for sending this to you but I was not able to find the name of the current Park Superintendent and wanted to allow the resolution of this issue at the appropriate level.
Can you please forward this email to the appropriate NPS supervisor with my request to direct the Memorial or maintenance staff not to put traffic cones in the crosswalk? If you or that individual have any questions, please contact me at 703- or at this email address, zzz. I would appreciate an email reply regarding my request.
Thank you,“
Here was the photo from the other day
and here is the photo from this morning
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