This thread was started about a year ago. Since I started using an ELF to commute between Sterling and Tysons on the W&OD and more recently along Route 7 eastbound, I’ve racked up 7,000 miles over a year and a half. Here’s an update on my experience.
Over the summer I started using the Route 7 eastbound “bike” lane after they finished construction between FFX Cnty Parkway and Reston Ave and repaved the badly deteriorating shoulder all the way to Tysons. My inbound commute decreased from 17 to 13 miles and from 52 to 36 minutes which on many days is the same or faster than a car. Most auto drivers are pretty chill about sharing the road when the shoulder is blocked by a deer carcass, trash bins, tire vomit or even a couch. I put on my turn signal and they slow down slightly to make a space for me to cut into the travel lanes and then back onto the shoulder. I still use the W&OD westbound since the Rt 7 shoulder westbound has too many missing shoulder sections and I don’t want to press my luck playing frogger.
Fortunately I’ve not had any incidents. No children, pets, wildlife, pedestrians or cyclists have been injured or killed by my presence on MUPs. Both the police and park staff had many opportunity to challenge my presence on the Virginia trails and have not. I’ve been fortunate not to have any accidents or even any close calls with cars and I’ve had no injuries myself.
For me this works. An ELF allows me to get exercise and commute at the same time. I like it and look forward to my daily commute. Occasionally I’ll pass someone who does a judgy hurump (and this post is sure to spark some of them to comment here, again) but most people seem content (perhaps even happy?) to share the road or trail with an ELF. To those, I say: thanks for being nice to me.
P.S. that wasn’t me on the C&O, that time.
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