Issue on 4 Mille Run trail just before Mount Vernon

[consularrider]

@dbb 65870 wrote:

As I understand it, this is a “temporary” ramp to facilitate the demolition of the bridge upstream about 50 yards. There is a plan to put in a permanent ramp. This is one of the few engineering projects where a full scale prototype (this ramp) will be built and reviewed. We should do that and collect those observations and suggestions to provide input to the permanent ramp design.

Ok, so you were up at 4:30 am replying to a Forum post but you couldn’t make it to the 7:15 Kumbaya ride or FCCII? Get your priorities straight man! Must be nice to be on furlough! :p

[dbb]

@consularrider 65932 wrote:

Ok, so you were up at 4:30 am replying to a Forum post but you couldn’t make it to the 7:15 Kumbaya ride or FCCII? Get your priorities straight man! Must be nice to be on furlough! :p

I was waiting for a cab to take me to DCA. Currently in Albuquerque for thr balloon fiesta. A gathering of hot air second only to those that caused this shutdown fiasco.

[Rod Smith]

I hate when people shortcut switchbacks. Maybe if this is ADA ramp, there will be railings that will prevent cutting corners? If it’s temporary though, maybe not.

[bobco85]

I witnessed two people on CaBi’s “testing” out the new ramp while passing by on Potomac Avenue about an hour or so ago. Saw the first guy slow and stand up on his pedals in a “Can I really bike on this?” sort of way, then I guess he answered “Yes” to himself and went for it. He was followed by his companion. Nothing was set up to say “Path not open yet” so they invited themselves right in.

[chris_s]

@mstone 65101 wrote:

it would be nice if the stairs had one of those bike ramps; walking a bike around those zig zags looks horrible.

I believe it will.

[PotomacCyclist]

@bobco85 66034 wrote:

I witnessed two people on CaBi’s “testing” out the new ramp while passing by on Potomac Avenue about an hour or so ago. Saw the first guy slow and stand up on his pedals in a “Can I really bike on this?” sort of way, then I guess he answered “Yes” to himself and went for it. He was followed by his companion. Nothing was set up to say “Path not open yet” so they invited themselves right in.

The newer signs say that trespassers will be prosecuted. Well, at least if they ever enforce the no trespassing rule.

[cyclingfool]

Saw railing and tools to install railing out there this AM as I rode by. What would our local miniature scale Alpe d’Huez be without guard rails to boot?

[bobco85]

I took a CaBi down to Potomac Ave and walked back. Here are the pics I took when I passed by the construction (I again saw people using it):

view of the new railings (note: at the bottom, a fence is blocking the stairs but not the ramp)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3837[/ATTACH]

pano of the ramps
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3838[/ATTACH]

from the top
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3839[/ATTACH]

closest warning sign to the top side
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3840[/ATTACH]

[KWL]

And it is nice to see with all this rain we’ve been having, the OP subject is no longer a problem. No debris washing down onto the trail.

[PotomacCyclist]

Arlington has applied for three federal Transportation Alternatives Program grants for “non-vehicular” transportation improvements (although bikes are vehicles, aren’t they?). This includes:

* $400,000 to created a paved bicycle and pedestrian connection between the Four Mile Run Trail and Potomac Yard. If approved, the county government would kick in $100,000 in local funds to match the federal funding.

http://www.sungazette.net/arlington/news/county-officials-to-seek-federal-funds-for-non-vehicle-transportation/article_dc23c144-35a8-11e3-bd48-001a4bcf887a.html

The bridge demolition is scheduled to run into next spring, so no permanent trail work can be done before then. But after that point, the area will be clear for a new connector, to replace or accompany the temporary one that is being installed right now.

P.S. People continue to ignore the Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted signs. If the authorities are serious about keeping trespassers out, they should install a sturdier fence, instead of repairing the flimsy one over and over again.

[PotomacCyclist]

The stairs have a bike ramp along the left side (when looking uphill). I haven’t trespassed and taken a closer look so I don’t know if the design is proper. I’m wondering if the ramp is too close to the railing. If so, then people will have to tilt their bikes while walking up, so that the handlebars don’t hit the railing. Or maybe this will only affect kids and adults with smaller bikes. Or it will affect most adults, or none at all. We shall see.

[dbb]

I think the ramp and stairs will be a great “point of departure” for the design of the ramp for the permanent ramp referenced above. Might be good to involve as many in this process as possible. I’ll bring it up at the next Arlington Bike Advisory Committee meeting.

[hoffsquared]

I rode down this path yesterday not realizing that it was not properly open at the bottom. There are no barriers at the top at all any more.

It’s nice that they have done this but it was not an easy or comfortable ride for me and I will probably continue to cross Jeff Davis via Glebe Rd.

[PotomacCyclist]

I haven’t checked on the status of the path in recent days. But I would like to note that the Harris Teeter grocery is reopening today. I believe it opened at 8 am, for the first time since it shut down in spring 2012 (because of the sewage backup). I know some people are joking about bringing umbrellas and rain boots, but I think I’ll check it out, without any rain gear. It was a nice store before and it’s supposed to be “new and improved” now.

In case you don’t know about it, the store is located on the ground floor of the Eclipse, the condo development next to Four Mile Run and the path from Potomac Ave. It’s on the NW side of the block, at Rte. 1 and S. Glebe Rd. Kind of a weird design because it’s not easy to tell there’s a grocery store there while walking, riding or driving past. The entrance is inside the parking garage. You can’t enter the store from the street. (A design flaw in my view and the view of many others.)

Anyway, it might be of value for cyclists, especially for stocking up on water and food before a long ride onto the MVT or FMR Trail/W&OD. I don’t know if there is much bike parking. There are a couple circular parking loops on the sidewalk but they might be too close to the wall to be of any use. There’s also the CaBi station at Glebe and Potomac Ave.

[consularrider]

The fencing at the lower exit from the switchback was completely pulled back this morning instead of just being trompled down. I think the fence was still intact at the foot of the wooden stairway.

[Author]

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