Issue on 4 Mille Run trail just before Mount Vernon

[KWL]

@PotomacCyclist 67277 wrote:

… the Harris Teeter grocery is reopening today. …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.

Thanks for the information. We’ve been regular customers at that Harris Teeter, more than a few times loading up our two bikes with the week’s groceries. There was a decent bike parking area with inverted U racks right outside the store’s doors on the left. Now that I have my BOB trailer, the ride home will be a little less unstable.

[PotomacCyclist]

I decided to check out the bike path and the Harris Teeter today. The “Trespassers will be prosecuted” sign is gone. It does appear that the bike path is now open to the public, but not the stairs. I rode down on a CaBi bike. I took it slowly around the turns. It was manageable, even when I had to squeeze past a runner who was walking up the path in the other direction. I rode briefly on FMR Trail to see what it would look like after the bridge is demolished. It should be more welcoming to ride at twilight since the trail will be more visible from the pedestrian bridge and the small park next to Potomac Ave.

I decided to test out the bike ramp on the stairs. (The fence is still blocking the bottom of the stairs, but the bike path entrance is open, as mentioned.) I think the ramp, if that’s what it is, is too close to the railing, but it might work with a lighter bike that you can tilt and walk up. I don’t know, because when I tried rolling the CaBi bike up the stairs, I realized just how heavy those things are. I couldn’t make it up more than one step before giving up. (Maybe on a normal day I could try to get a tough workout and push the CaBi up the ramp. But I’m recovering from the Army Ten-Miler from this past Sunday. I feel better today but my hamstrings and calves are still somewhat tender.) I know I could roll my tri bike up the stairs, but not CaBi. At least not today. It’s possible that CaBi/Bixi bikes weigh close to 45 or 50 lbs. Plus the low center of mass seems to make it awkward to push up a ramp.

Anyway, I rode back up the path. Again, no problems but if the path were busy, I probably would walk the bike up.

Then I docked the bike and tried out the Harris Teeter on its reopening day. The store looks nice. The layout is basically the same as before, except for a larger dining area near the entrance. There were A LOT of “buy one, get one” free deals throughout the store. I don’t know how long they will last, but it might be a good idea to stop by soon and stock up on some goodies like turkey slices. My receipt also shows a 10% off discount on the total order through my VIC card. This might be an opening day or opening week promotion. Either way, it’s 10%.

Only problem is that I had to ride back home. I’m still in summer or fall mode. I wore a windbreaker but that didn’t help in the wintry conditions, not when I was wearing shorts, open-fingered bike gloves, no hat and a regular bike helmet. It was COLD today! Holy moly!

[cyclingfool]

According to the mailing I got at home, the 10% thing at the new Harris Teeter is all week FWIW. I used to shop there once in a blue moon, but with my current preferred commute route through Crystal City and down Potomac Ave to Del Ray, it is a lot more convenient than it used to be. I might have to stop there more often. The other shopping options are either sometimes a little lacking in selection (small Giant in Del Ray, though I do like this store a lot) or are not as convenient (Shoppers).

Thanks for the ride report on the Alpe d’Crystal. It’s good to hear that riding it is at least manageable. That’s a better characterization than I would have expected from the looks of it.

[consularrider]

Arlnow.com is reporting the train is “open.” At 7:45 this morning, the bottom of the stairs was still blocked by the fencing.

[PotomacCyclist]

I will add that many people will probably want to walk their bikes, even if the path is clear. It does require decent balance skills. I include balance training in my strength workouts, so I’m fairly good at it. (Better than I am at climbing long hills, by the way.)

[PotomacCyclist]

Well, that was fast. Google Maps has already added the temporary trail to their Bicycling route overlay. Or more like, someone added it or suggested it to them.

http://goo.gl/maps/OWsrn

[consularrider]

The fence at the stairway was opened last week. On Saturday I “rode” down the switchbacks. Clearly this is not a trail connection designed for cyclists and I will continue to use Glebe to access Potomac Ave.

[hoffsquared]

@consularrider 68944 wrote:

The fence at the stairway was opened last week. On Saturday I “rode” down the switchbacks. Clearly this is not a trail connection designed for cyclists and I will continue to use Glebe to access Potomac Ave.

Me too.

[dbb]

I rode up the path on Friday and was challenged by some of the turns. Not something I would want to do with if there was traffic.

[CaseyKane50]

Area has been landscaped.

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I too tried to ride up the path. Probably, the easiest way to go with your bike is to use the bike ramp.

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[KLizotte]

I’m confused by the addition of trees (landscaping). Isn’t this whole thing supposed to be temporary?

[consularrider]

Probably as “temporary” as the park that replaced the Orleans House Restaurant in Rosslyn on Wilson Blvd between Lynn and Moore Streets.

[dbb]

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To add to the excitement, Arlington County will be doing sewer work along Eads. County indicates effort will take about 3 months and start in December.

[consularrider]

Oh Joy. :rolleyes:

[PotomacCyclist]

@KLizotte 69856 wrote:

I’m confused by the addition of trees (landscaping). Isn’t this whole thing supposed to be temporary?

The current detour is temporary. The proposed permanent connector between Potomac Ave. and Four Mile Run Trail will cut through the area where the large bridge is currently located. That is the bridge that will be demolished over the winter.

Once the permanent path is built (no idea when that is supposed to happen, but I’m hoping for next year), the temporary path could remain or be removed. The trees could probably stay in place in either case. The landscaping is necessary to prevent erosion. Otherwise the path and FMRT could get covered in dirt or mud, and the temporary path could become unstable. It also prevents dirt from blowing around on windy days. I’ve noticed that local demolition projects add landscaping after the buildings are torn down, to prevent such mini-dust storms. The Metropolitan Park site was landscaped after the warehouses were torn down (along Fern St. between 12th & 15th Sts.). They smoothed out the dirt and planted grass. Construction on the new building didn’t start until a year or so after the old warehouses were demolished. The same will probably happen with the other warehouses that are being demolished this week on the NE part of that block. Likewise, the former Navy Annex site is being landscaped now that the building has been torn down.

(A further note about Metropolitan Park: Work appears to have begun on the new 12th Street connection between Eads and Fern Streets. I think they are adding utility tunnels. The Met Park contractor is responsible for building the southern half of 12th St. Eventually the PenPlace contractor will build the northern half of 12th St. (or maybe the County will). That will replace the existing bike/ped path, but I’d expect the new 12th St. to include bike lanes. It will eventually become part of the Pentagon City-Crystal City-Braddock Road streetcar route.)

[Author]

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