Cyclists ticketed on the trails

[Arlingtonrider]

A friend just forwarded the following letter to the Editor in the Washington Examiner, Nov 30, 2011, page 26 <http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/letters-editor/2011/11/letters-editor-nov-30-2011/1958266>

Cops now nabbing ‘speeding’ cyclists

Having ridden the local bike trails for more than 25 years, I was quite surprised a few days ago to see an Arlington County policeman wearing a DayGlo vest aiming a hand-held radar speed detector at bicyclists (who don’t have speedometers) coming toward him on the Custis Trail leading to Rosslyn. This on a trail where the speed limit isn’t posted.

Not to be outdone, Falls Church police recently stationed a plainclothes officer on the W&OD bike trail who apprehended bicyclists who didn’t come to a complete stop at stop signs. Rolling through slowly after ensuring that there was no traffic approaching wasn’t good enough.

No warnings were issued, and, unlike with most minor traffic violations, the $75 fine couldn’t simply be mailed in. Cyclists were required to spend two-plus hours in court and also pay $61 in court costs.
Don’t Arlington and Falls Church have more serious law enforcement issues to pursue? Or are they just finding innovative ways to obtain revenue?

Robert Earl
Arlington

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/letters-editor/2011/11/letters-editor-nov-30-2011/1958266#ixzz1fE3UI9JJ

Topic

[Tim Kelley]

@Mark Blacknell 11481 wrote:

It sounds like the folks with radar guns on the trailers are transportation consultants, not ACPD. I know we discussed this in an earlier thread, and do recall at least one person saying that they saw a jacket with “POLICE” on it. But it just doesn’t square with experience, expectations, and enforcement possibilities that ACPD would be concerned with bike speeds on trails.

Photos of said transportation consultant:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]503[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]504[/ATTACH]

Toole Design had a contractor doing speed checks on the Custis and W&OD with a radar gun last month. No police, no tickets.

Perhaps the author of the Letter to the Editor was confused? I can’t speak for his experiences in Falls Church though.

[mrkenny83]

lol, I love that he posed for the pic!

[Arlingtonrider]

Mark and Tim,

Thanks for clearing that up. The letter was a little short on facts.

[Terpfan]

@Mark Blacknell 11481 wrote:

NPS has authority to set a speed limit for the MVT (which I believe to be 15mph), and NVPRA *may* have similar authority over the WOD.

I think you’re right on the MVT trail although the only speed limit sign I have ever seen on it is by Mt. Vernon as you head north/westbound right before the first big downhill. There is also a random sign about a speedbump too near there. I’ve always wondered if the speed limit applies to the whole MVT or not and I was lazy coming home one day when NPS had a booth/tent setup near the Reagan Airport crossing spot otherwise I would have asked them.

[Mark Blacknell]

I’m pretty sure it’s the whole trail. You can find the language at the GWMP’s website, in the “compendium” of park regulations. They’re not real big on that whole notice thing . . .

[Dirt]

Here’s a listing of all of the rules governing the W&OD from the NVRPA: http://www.nvrpa.org/park/w_od_railroad/content/rules

[pfunkallstar]

I was out on the W&OD when the Falls Church Police were out there ticketing. A fellow biker tipped me off right before Lee Highway so I proceeded to comically overreact during my street crossing. No cars were present but I stopped and looked both ways for about 30 seconds, proceeded to walk my bike across the road while frantically looking both ways, and then spent a solid minute uncomfortably adjusting my spandex (which actually was chaffing something fierce – never buy cheapo Bike Nashbar shorts).

[Author]

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