Driver on Bluemont Junction Trail

[thecaptain]

I was riding home from work about 3 weeks ago after dark on the Bluemond and encountered a car with Pennsylvania plates. There was an elderly couple in it using an ipad as a navigation tool talking to a dog walker who was trying to help them figure out where to go. It was scary to think they had driven onto the path after dark. I couldn’t figure out how they got onto it. I yelled at them to be careful they could hurt someone- they looked at me like I was crazy. I guess they drive differently in Pennsylvania.

[ShawnoftheDread]

If they’re already stopped and trying to figure out the best way to correct their error with a trail user’s help, then yelling at them seems pointless at best.

[thecaptain]

Due to my upbringing I actually did not yell. Two senior citizens driving down a bike path after dark merely brought out a cautionary scolding and reasonable warning . Now if I had a cannon with me who knows what may have transpired.

[bobco85]

I traveled by that spot earlier today and noticed that they have installed a bright yellow flex post bollard with reflective striping.

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Even though I never got directly contacted by the trail staff, I am appreciative that they responded to my e-mail by installing this to better communicate to drivers that they are not supposed to be on the trail.

[mstone]

While many of us consider it a complete fail that they went right to a bollard instead of better signage or paint.

[rcannon100]

@thecaptain 70229 wrote:

Now if I had a cannon with me who knows what may have transpired.

Geeze, is my reputation that bad??

[Dickie]

Good Job bobco85 for taking the time to bring this to the attention of the authorities and getting something done, I really appreciate your efforts. I use the Bluemont Junction Trail every night on my way home and feel safer knowing the bollard is there. A bright yellow reflective piece of plastic does little to worry or offend me and if it prevents 2000lbs of steel and glass running me over I actually welcome it!

[thecaptain]

I will miss the cars on the BJTrail, but thanks for helping to save me and my bike for more talented car drivers. Of course now I will have no one to chastize nor to use my cannon against. Seriously, thanks for making sure the danger was corrected.

[bobco85]

@thecaptain 71443 wrote:

I will miss the cars on the BJTrail, but thanks for helping to save me and my bike for more talented car drivers. Of course now I will have no one to chastize nor to use my cannon against. Seriously, thanks for making sure the danger was corrected.

For some reason after reading this, I decided to do a Google search for “bollard cannon” and found something that blew my mind!

From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollard):

Historically (in the 17th and 18th centuries) old cannons were often used as bollards on quaysides: they would be buried in the ground muzzle-first to approximately half or two-thirds of their length, leaving the breech (rear end) projecting above the ground for the attachment of ropes. Such cannons can still occasionally be found. Later (19th-century) bollards were often given the same cannon shape.

pic from that same Wikipedia page
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The reason that bollards are so effective against cars is because at one time they were CANNONS!

That makes me wonder: will the federal ban on plastic guns apply to flexpost bollards? We may have to rearm

[mstone]

Did somebody say bollards? http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/penis-shaped-pillars-bring-shame-2323933

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