Beware of black locust branches. They have wicked thorns.

[Terpfan]

@Brendan von Buckingham 141731 wrote:

The Fort Cass trail between Pershing and Iwo Jima has some overgrown branches encroaching into the trail. Mostly harmless mulberry, but some of it is black locust and black locust have large, wicked sharp thorns. Don’t graze your shoulder or arm through low hanging branches like dummy over here.

I finally had enough of the damn branches and ivy hanging onto MVT between the marina and Belle View Blvd. So out came the hedge clippers. You have no idea how many people say thanks. But pretty sure I’m doused in poison ivy and three big blisters. But still, worth it for no more damn close calls at little turns.

[Steve O]

@Brendan von Buckingham 141731 wrote:

The Fort Cass trail between Pershing and Iwo Jima

Is that the name of the trail? I’m thinking you are referencing the route 50 southside trail alongside Fort Myer. I didn’t know it had a name. Or do you mean somewhere else?

So who is responsible for cutting it back? VDOT or Arlington?

[mstone]

@Steve O 141762 wrote:

So who is responsible for cutting it back? VDOT or Arlington?

If it’s VDOT they have a pretty solid policy of not maintaining trails

[Brendan von Buckingham]

@Steve O 141762 wrote:

Is that the name of the trail? I’m thinking you are referencing the route 50 southside trail alongside Fort Myer. I didn’t know it had a name. Or do you mean somewhere else?

So who is responsible for cutting it back? VDOT or Arlington?

That’s the one. Fort Cass at least as far as the silver historic marker along the trail.

[dasgeh]

Maybe if you report that you were injured, they’ll actually do something about it. Maybe write trails@arlingtonva.us too

[Tim Kelley]

@Brendan von Buckingham 141807 wrote:

That’s the one. Fort Cass at least as far as the silver historic marker along the trail.

That’s the Arlington Blvd Trail. The section you’re referring to was completed recently as part of a lot of work being done there over the years: https://projects.arlingtonva.us/projects/route-5010th-street-route-50courthouse-road/

My understanding is that it is VDOT who is responsible for maintaining the trail (although their official policy on snow clear is to do nothing). You should report the exact spot through the “Report A Problem” page here: https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/

Report back and let us know what you find out!

[Tim Kelley]

@mstone 141806 wrote:

If it’s VDOT they have a pretty solid policy of not maintaining trails

They are pretty good about this kind of stuff, at least here in Arlington, if you can get it in front of them. Otherwise, they have a small staff for the NoVa region so they aren’t particularly proactive.

[JorgeGortex]

Tim,

Is an upstanding citizen going to get in trouble for helping with trail maintenance like we are discussing, if they so choose to take it on? I live on Washington Blvd. where they planted trees a few years ago along with new sidewalks, and some of those trees have branches overhanging the bike lane. I’d like to trim them for the commuters that use the lane if I am not going to get chewed for doing it.

JG

[Terpfan]

@JorgeGortex 141823 wrote:

Tim,

Is an upstanding citizen going to get in trouble for helping with trail maintenance like we are discussing, if they so choose to take it on? I live on Washington Blvd. where they planted trees a few years ago along with new sidewalks, and some of those trees have branches overhanging the bike lane. I’d like to trim them for the commuters that use the lane if I am not going to get chewed for doing it.

JG

Golden rule: better to ask forgiveness than permission .

FWIW, the Park Police definitely drove by on GWMP while I was doing this at least twice and they didn’t say a word. No idea how ArlCo would treat it. I’m sure they won’t say they openly endorse it for liability reasons, but I suspect the unofficial answer on any enforcement is that it won’t exist.

[Steve O]

@Tim Kelley 141811 wrote:

My understanding is that it is VDOT who is responsible for maintaining the trail (although their official policy on snow clear is to do nothing). You should report the exact spot through the “Report A Problem” page here: https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/

Report back and let us know what you find out!

I have actually had reasonably good success reporting things through the VDOT site. Better, in fact, than I do reporting problems to Arlington County.

[Tim Kelley]

@JorgeGortex 141823 wrote:

Tim,

Is an upstanding citizen going to get in trouble for helping with trail maintenance like we are discussing, if they so choose to take it on? I live on Washington Blvd. where they planted trees a few years ago along with new sidewalks, and some of those trees have branches overhanging the bike lane. I’d like to trim them for the commuters that use the lane if I am not going to get chewed for doing it.

JG

I’ve been copied on email conversations where a citizen has asked if they could clear some brush themselves for NPS. NPS said no.

In this case it’s VDOT–my guess would be that they would say No if asked. But they probably wouldn’t even notice if you just did it yourself.

What would The Enabler say?

[Enabler]

@JorgeGortex 141823 wrote:

Is an upstanding citizen going to get in trouble for helping with trail maintenance like we are discussing, if they so choose to take it on? I live on Washington Blvd. where they planted trees a few years ago along with new sidewalks, and some of those trees have branches overhanging the bike lane. I’d like to trim them for the commuters that use the lane if I am not going to get chewed for doing it.

Can you imagine the PR nightmare if they gave you shit for doing THEIR JOB because they can’t be bothered? Be like Nike, Just Do It.

[Judd]

@Enabler 141858 wrote:

Can you imagine the PR nightmare if they gave you shit for doing THEIR JOB because they can’t be bothered? Be like Nike, Just Do It.

Do it. But maintain plausible deniability.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Terpfan]

@Tim Kelley 141837 wrote:

I’ve been copied on email conversations where a citizen has asked if they could clear some brush themselves for NPS. NPS said no.

Good thing I didn’t email them first.

Kind of crappy by them though given some parts of the MVT have literal bushes growing halfway into the trail at curves.

[Tim Kelley]

@Terpfan 141907 wrote:

Good thing I didn’t email them first.

Kind of crappy by them though given some parts of the MVT have literal bushes growing halfway into the trail at curves.

They did go out a week later and cut them though. You should report it anyway.

[Author]

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