EPA Shuttle – Crystal City

[creadinger]

@cyclingfool 59327 wrote:

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One of my available commute routes from Alexandria to DC takes me through Crystal City, and I’ve been going this way lately out of boredom with taking the MVT every day for years. Almost daily, I encounter this shuttle bus, parked illegally in the bike lane along Potomac Avenue near the corner of Crystal Drive. I took the attached pictures the end of last week. Some googling revealed that this shuttle is providing shuttle service on a contract basis for the EPA offices located in the building. I emailed these pictures to what seemed like the correct EPA office (aaoarm@epa.gov) along with a request that they work with the contractor/driver so they don’t block the bike lane. (Text of email below). As I allude to in the email, there is some irony in the fact that a shuttle bus for the EPA blocks bike lanes.

As yet, I have received no response. I didn’t even get an automated “thank you for your email” message. I am hoping someone on this list works for/with EPA and knows where/to whom I could address my concerns, perhaps someone at the Crystal City office that might have a direct connection with the shuttle service. Thanks for any help/ideas that anyone may have.

Thanks!

I’d be interested to know if you get a response or even resolution about this. The wife and I rode that way a lot the past 2 years on grocery trips.

In the mean time I’d just suggest taking the lane as you ride north on Potomac Ave/Crystal Drive past the hotels, EPA, and defense contractor row. We routinely took the lane in that area, especially on Clark St. because of the number of charter buses, tour buses, hotel shuttles and taxis blocking bike lanes, car lanes, walking lanes, and any other type of lane you could think of. That area is a mess sometimes and the EPA shuttle is a small part of the challenge. I hope your e-mail will spur some action.

[cyclingfool]

@creadinger 59349 wrote:

I’d be interested to know if you get a response or even resolution about this. The wife and I rode that way a lot the past 2 years on grocery trips.

In the mean time I’d just suggest taking the lane as you ride north on Crystal Drive. We routinely took the lane in that area, especially on Clark St. because of the number of charter buses, tour buses, hotel shuttles and taxis blocking bike lanes, car lanes, walking lanes, and any other type of lane you could think of. That area is a mess sometimes and the EPA shuttle is a small part of the challenge. I hope your e-mail will spur some action.

THanks for the reply. I have no qualms taking the lane and I do so there when the shuttle is parked like that. It just seems particularly ridiculous to have an EPA shuttle bus clogging up the works and blocking a bike lane. And, as you point out, hotel shuttles and taxis regularly block/park in CC’s bike lanes… alas.

I’ll post back here if/when I get a reply from someone/anyone at EPA. I suppose I could also alert Arlington parking enforcement if I never hear anything else back.

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