Improving the Bike infrastructure in Arlington

[S. Arlington Observer]

This seems as good a place as any to post a small rant and illustration.

Arlington has done a pretty good job of clearing the roads in the Courthouse and Clarendon neighborhoods, including bike lanes. (Much less so in Virginia Square.) So, taking advantage of the good civic services, I went for a midday ride and encountered this. I have no idea if it was left by a county crew, a county contractor or the private construction crew building the hotel around the corner. No markings on it to identify it.

No, it has not been there since the snow started. I don’t recall seeing it yesterday. Nor was it being used for any current hazard. And maddeningly, there were actually empty vehicle parking spaces all around it, but the bicycle lane seemed so much more inviting. (See the Jeep in front of it — spaces behind and in front of the Jeep and similar ones behind where I took the photo.)

There is so much public consciousness and education to be done. I am sure a contractor (or the government) would not simply park an item so as to block the automobile traffic lane of Veitch Street. But most people seem to regard bike lanes as temporary parking, storage, unloading or (in Crystal City, particularly) walking spaces. Anything but an actual transportation route.

Sigh

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[Tim Kelley]

@S. Arlington Observer 133642 wrote:

This seems as good a place as any to post a small rant and illustration.

Arlington has done a pretty good job of clearing the roads in the Courthouse and Clarendon neighborhoods, including bike lanes. (Much less so in Virginia Square.) So, taking advantage of the good civic services, I went for a midday ride and encountered this. I have no idea if it was left by a county crew, a county contractor or the private construction crew building the hotel around the corner. No markings on it to identify it.

No, it has not been there since the snow started. I don’t recall seeing it yesterday. Nor was it being used for any current hazard. And maddeningly, there were actually empty vehicle parking spaces all around it, but the bicycle lane seemed so much more inviting. (See the Jeep in front of it — spaces behind and in front of the Jeep and similar ones behind where I took the photo.)

There is so much public consciousness and education to be done. I am sure a contractor (or the government) would not simply park an item so as to block the automobile traffic lane of Veitch Street. But most people seem to regard bike lanes as temporary parking, storage, unloading or (in Crystal City, particularly) walking spaces. Anything but an actual transportation route.

Sigh

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10733[/ATTACH]

My inside man says:

“If it’s parked on the street without tags or a permit, then I’d say it’s a parking enforcement issue. Start by reporting it to the ACPD non emergency line.”

[DismalScientist]

I note that there is a wayfinding sign at the corner of 13th North and Lynnbrook Dr that directs some north/westbound traffic up Lynnbrook. Ummm…. Lynnbrook is one way in the opposite direction. Lynnbrook is not a bike trail on either the Arlington Bicycle Map nor the Bicycle Comfort Map.

Oh yes, there still is the issue that some parts of the frontage roads on Arlington Blvd are one way, yet are signed as bike routes and this one wayness is not indicated on the Bike Maps.

[Steve O]

@DismalScientist 133988 wrote:

I note that there is a wayfinding sign at the corner of 13th North and Lynnbrook Dr that directs some north/westbound traffic up Lynnbrook. Ummm…. Lynnbrook is one way in the opposite direction.

(sshhh. we like it that way)

[dasgeh]

@DismalScientist 133988 wrote:

I note that there is a wayfinding sign at the corner of 13th North and Lynnbrook Dr that directs some north/westbound traffic up Lynnbrook. Ummm…. Lynnbrook is one way in the opposite direction.

Hush your mouth!

[ShawnoftheDread]

I don’t get it.

[DismalScientist]

I think they like the government’s stamp of approval on scofflaw salmoning activity.

[Author]

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