Does riding on the MVT lower one’s IQ?

[PotomacCyclist]

You’re not the only one to notice this behavior: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?1830-A-request-Don-t-do-speedwork-on-the-Mt.-Vernon-Trail-at-rush-hour

Besides the attitude problem among some cyclists is the narrow width of the trail. I’d really love to see NPS widen the trail, but I don’t know if that will ever happen.

During peak hours, I try to minimize the amount of time spent on the MVT. If I’m riding between Arlington and DC, I usually take the trail from the Crystal City connector up to the 14th St. Bridge only. If NPS ever allows a bike connector between Long Bridge Park and the MVT, then I’ll be able to avoid riding on that trail during peak times except for a very short stretch between the park and the 14th St. Bridge.

In off-peak hours, it’s not nearly as bad, in my experience. The trail is not as crowded so oncoming cyclists don’t need to pass as often.

[Terpfan]

On the plus side of the MVT lowering iq….

I have no seen any undergarments in trees or bushes recently and there has been a surprising lack of dead animals along the trail–at least the Old Town to 14th Street sections.

[MV Clyde]

It’s been really bad on the MV Trail this year. I chalk it up to more people riding these days (hence more inexperienced cyclists out there). Some of them are consistently bad….to the point of being predictable (which is good I guess because I can normally tell when they’re about to do something stupid). I just try to give them space. Sometimes that doesn’t even help…..

[5555624]

@GuyContinental 21849 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1182[/ATTACH]we are many months away from ninja season (except for ccrew…) but improper lighting on all types of MUT users is one of the bigger safety issues IMO.

Since my commute is at the same time as Ccrew, I agree about the lighting. Luckily, like Ccrew, I usually don’t encounter many cyclists at that hour. Recently, I’ve been out later on Saturdays, around 4:00-4:30 a.m. on the MVT and I do encounter MUT users without proper lighting and/or anything reflective. Last Saturday, as I passed the Pentagon at 4:08 a.m., a ninja was riding on Route 27 — no lights or reflectors on the bike, no helmet to hold a light, wearing a dark blue top and black bottoms — the only thing reflective were the tabs on the back of her shoes. As I was on the trail, I was not directly behind her, but I could not see her when she was more than 50 feet away; the cars on 27 were going faster and were on top of her before they realized what was going on. (I was wondering why cars were hitting the brakes.)

[acorn]

When I hear a complaint from a driver about rude bicyclist behavior, I always try to defend my “team,” but it is getting harder and harder since I have been witnessing so much of it myself. Please everybody, remember that just because you are on a trail doesn’t mean you can just let go and forget about safety. The trail is not your personal race training track…

[Author]

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