Falls Church Enforcement on the W&OD

[mstone]

@jabberwocky 33943 wrote:

I’m getting confused. Are people actually arguing that the stop signs on the W&OD have no legal weight and can be ignored? Because, uh, stopping at those roads seems like a really good idea to me.

If you slow down, look around, and proceed because the way is clear, what does a full stop add? Nobody (as far as I know) is arguing for blindly barreling through the intersection.

[americancyclo]

I think the issue is that most cyclists cross these streets safely, but a few times a year the poorly informed falls church police stake out an intersection that is on Virginia park land and harass cyclists for performing the same dance they do with cars every single day of the year in the name of safety while not ever actually improving the safety of the intersections through signage nor law.

[off2ride]

Arlington’s finest should patrol Custis trail once it gets dark. A lot of these runners using the trail don’t have any kind of blinkie or reflective vest on. To make things worse, they’re wearing dark colored clothing. I’d ticket them if I was the law.

[americancyclo]

@off2ride 33957 wrote:

Arlington’s finest should patrol Custis trail once it gets dark. A lot of these runners using the trail don’t have any kind of blinkie or reflective vest on. To make things worse, they’re wearing dark colored clothing. I’d ticket them if I was the law.

Off topic

[RESTONTODC]

I was pulling a 4 riders train approaching N Oak St one afternoon, slow down to stop, look left, right, called clear but then saw a hiding fall church police at the American Legion parking lot, yelled COPS and everyone were unclipped quickly and almost got ran over each other.

I don’t want get busted for not putting my foot down. Here is my new check list for W&OD intersection at Falls Church area.

1) Left clear for car
2) Right clear for car
3) Bushes and parking lot for hiding Falls Church cops.

[JorgeGortex]

@off2ride 33957 wrote:

Arlington’s finest should patrol Custis trail once it gets dark. A lot of these runners using the trail don’t have any kind of blinkie or reflective vest on. To make things worse, they’re wearing dark colored clothing. I’d ticket them if I was the law.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1901[/ATTACH]

[Mark Blacknell]

@off2ride 33957 wrote:

I’d ticket them if I was the law.

For what, exactly?

[mstone]

@Mark Blacknell 34132 wrote:

For what, exactly?

Being annoying. Ain’t that what the stoplight tickets are for?

[baiskeli]

@jabberwocky 33943 wrote:

I’m getting confused. Are people actually arguing that the stop signs on the W&OD have no legal weight and can be ignored? Because, uh, stopping at those roads seems like a really good idea to me.

As posted earlier, it seems Falls Church has a stop sign ordinance for bike trails, so they may be legal. But even if they aren’t, bikes must yield to oncoming cars before entering the intersection (if not stop first).

But lets also ask ourselves why the cops are enforcing this. To be jerks? Or because lots of bike riders blow through the crossings without care to look for oncoming traffic, creating a dangerous situation?

We are a deadly (to us) combination of fast, agile, small and silent. We can get right in front of a fast-moving car in a heartbeat. And then we’re vulnerable because we don’t have giant metal boxes around us to protect out bones or keep us off the pavement. We should think about that every time we cross.

[mstone]

They’re enforcing it because a vocal minority complained and/or because a particular cop has a grudge. If it was about safety they’d be enforcing the speed limit instead.

[sjclaeys]

It may also be easier to collect a larger revenue stream by ticketing cyclists, rather than enforcing other laws. Just sayin’.

[americancyclo]

@sjclaeys 34167 wrote:

It may also be easier to collect a larger revenue stream by ticketing cyclists, rather than enforcing other laws

I have yet to hear of anyone that has received a fine. I think it has only been threats and verbal warnings at this point.

[Steve]

I think people are arguing for something more like this:

http://www.vabike.org/the-idaho-stop-what-do-you-think/

[Steve]

@jabberwocky 33943 wrote:

I’m getting confused. Are people actually arguing that the stop signs on the W&OD have no legal weight and can be ignored? Because, uh, stopping at those roads seems like a really good idea to me.

I think people are arguing for this:

http://www.vabike.org/the-idaho-stop-what-do-you-think/

[baiskeli]

@mstone 34166 wrote:

They’re enforcing it because a vocal minority complained and/or because a particular cop has a grudge. If it was about safety they’d be enforcing the speed limit instead.

Do you have particular knowledge that a “vocal minority” complained (pretty much everyone who complains about anything is a vocal minority, but whatever) or that a cop has a grudge?

Do you think the speed limit is routinely violated at these crossings?

Do you think that cyclists never do anything dangerous at these crossings?

[Author]

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