Caboose Brewing is open, finally!

[dkel]

@mstone 115628 wrote:

Has anyone taken them aside for the awkward conversation?

I spoke with one of the employees about the awkwardness of the racks, and he acknowledged the situation. We didn’t get into enough detail for me to recommend any better solutions. I think part of their problem is that their property is quite small at that location: the reason Hozn and I both saw them sawing the patio apart that same morning is that they had apparently built the patio out too far, and the Town of Vienna made them remove the excess patio and lay down sod that day. I doubt that they will be able to install permanent, appropriately designed bike racks because most of that area is not their property. The racks that were there yesterday were not fixed, and were therefore pretty cheap and flimsy. They’re trying, and I give them credit.

[PotomacCyclist]

Good to hear that both riders appear to be OK. I hope that the man had nothing other than some minor bumps and bruises. The woman sounds like she wasn’t seriously injured.

As for the trail, if it’s likely that many people will be stopping in the future, then park officials should add ways of slowing down all traffic in that spot. They should also alert all cyclists and other users (rollerbladers, etc.) that the trail can be congested and that they need to slow down. If this inconveniences a few of the speedsters for a block or two, so be it. That’s really not going to wreck their lives or commutes in a significant way.

As for the methods to slow down and signal trail users, they could use any of the options that have worked elsewhere. I don’t know what the most effective means are, but I know that other locations have used zig-zag lane markings (on roads) as a psychological tool to get users to slow down. They could build an apparent zig-zag like they do on some neighborhood streets. The trail would actually remain straight, but trees, signs, planters and other items can be arranged to make it appear as if the trail is zig-zagging. This usually causes people to slow down. (Some people will still barrel through, however.)

A conspicuous Caution or Slow sign, well before the bottleneck, might help too. If these or other items can work in combination, then they could add two or more of them. There are ways to slow down traffic without spending an enormous amount of money.

Just as officials in Arlington and DC try to slow down car traffic in busy areas with a lot of bike and pedestrian traffic, Vienna and NVRPA officials could slow down trail traffic in this potentially busy area where there may be a lot of slower trail users.

[dkel]

@PotomacCyclist 115649 wrote:

As for the methods to slow down and signal trail users, they could use any of the options that have worked elsewhere. A conspicuous Caution or Slow sign, well before the bottleneck, might help too.

Not 50 yards further down the trail from Caboose are signs in both directions admonishing caution for side paths that join the trail. Those signs are new in the last year. I think similar signage is called for, not just for Caboose, but also for CrossFit Vienna, which is at the opposite end of the same industrial park, and sends lots of inexperienced trail users out to emerge from a tree-lined lot into traffic–suddenly. I’ve seen lots of startled people there.

[PotomacCyclist]

Maybe they could add a small roundabout at each end of the busy section, or at intermediate points through the busy section. It could be much smaller than a road roundabout. It would force everyone to slow down.

[hozn]

Hmmm a roundabout? Maybe they could just add bollards.

Fundamentally this doesn’t seem any different than the numerous other intersections along that trail (and very nearby that one). There are numerous points where people are entering or exiting the trail, though most of them have better sight lines. So there may be an issue with visibility when going westbound, in which case they could probably just trim the trees/shrubs there (I’ll pay attention next time I ride past).

I don’t think any special provisions are needed, though having the “trail” from the W&OD to Caboose look more official (and not just trampled grass/dirt), would probably help people realize there is an intersection. A sign might help, but I think in general if the visibility of the intersection is improved the situation will be equivalent to any other intersection on the trail. It is true that one simply has to be careful along that stretch; there are people jumping onto the trail from the Crossfit “gym” and then doing a crazy-ivan turn 50 yards down the trail — no idea why it was necessary for them to get on the trail in the first place, but in general someone should tell those people they don’t actually have to pay a gym membership to run on the W&OD .

[mstone]

Another possibility would be to widen the trail there. Might cut into the parking.

[dkel]

@mstone 115667 wrote:

Another possibility would be to widen the trail there. Might cut into the parking.

I have a hard time envisioning anything happening beyond a caution sign or two being put in. NVRPA just doesn’t seem like the kind of organization to be interested putzing with the trail at all.

[mstone]

@dkel 115672 wrote:

I have a hard time envisioning anything happening beyond a caution sign or two being put in. NVRPA just doesn’t seem like the kind of organization to be interested putzing with the trail at all.

but true

[Kolohe]

A similiar crowding occurs at Ashburn Road with the Carolina BBQ on a nice day. I think people just need to be mindful that a nice day draws crowds and the W&OD isn’t a sprint stage of the TdF.

[hozn]

Anyone want to get a pint at Caboose around 4pm? (I have to leave again around 4:30 to pick up the kiddo.)

[dkel]

@hozn 115891 wrote:

Anyone want to get a pint at Caboose around 4pm? (I have to leave again around 4:30 to pick up the kiddo.)

I will meet you there at 4:00. (This is just the excuse I needed to get off early!)

[hozn]

Nice! See you then!

[MattAune]

@hozn 115656 wrote:

It is true that one simply has to be careful along that stretch; there are people jumping onto the trail from the Crossfit “gym” and then doing a crazy-ivan turn 50 yards down the trail — no idea why it was necessary for them to get on the trail in the first place, but in general someone should tell those people they don’t actually have to pay a gym membership to run on the W&OD .

This one really bothers me. These idiots run straight onto the trail without looking, sprint 100 feet then stop and turn around to go back to the gym and do it all over again. There is no reason they need to use the trail, there is plenty of space in the parking lot for this nonsense.

[dplasters]

So then I’ll just hop on Mill St.. sounds safer than the W&O. Just take the W&O to the Vienna town green thingy cross Church and you’re good. A tasting this weekend is in order.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@MattAune 115959 wrote:

This one really bothers me. These idiots run straight onto the trail without looking, sprint 100 feet then stop and turn around to go back to the gym and do it all over again. There is no reason they need to use the trail, there is plenty of space in the parking lot for this nonsense.

The kids’ preschool was near a cross fit and they did the same thing there, except in the street. Run out the building between parked cars, run two blocks in the direction of traffic, Crazy Ivan into cars and bikes, and two blocks back against traffic.

[Author]

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