January ’16 – Trail Condition: That time they predicted mind-boggling amounts of snow

[S. Arlington Observer]

Thanks to all for the updates on the FMR trail from Shirlington to Eads (and US 1). Does anybody have a report on Eads Street itself, specifically its bike lanes between S. Glebe and 18th Street S. (the Crystal City Metro station)?

Also, I’d really appreciate it if anyone has insight into Key Boulevard, 13th St N and 11th St. N. in Arlington. (This route roughly parallels Wilson/Fairfax from Courthouse to Ballston but without having to deal with the same level of traffic.)

Thanks so much!

[bentbike33]

@vern 133304 wrote:

At noon the WOD at Wiehle was untouched but for some footprints.

Where, oh where, could the ELF be driving?

[PotomacCyclist]

@S. Arlington Observer 133305 wrote:

Thanks to all for the updates on the FMR trail from Shirlington to Eads (and US 1). Does anybody have a report on Eads Street itself, specifically its bike lanes between S. Glebe and 18th Street S. (the Crystal City Metro station)?

Also, I’d really appreciate it if anyone has insight into Key Boulevard, 13th St N and 11th St. N. in Arlington. (This route roughly parallels Wilson/Fairfax from Courthouse to Ballston but without having to deal with the same level of traffic.)

Thanks so much!

EADS STREET BIKE LANES — Covered in snow

The main road lanes on Eads St. are clear but the bike lanes are not, from what I’ve seen. They are still covered in ~15 inches of snow.

[slowtriguy]

@hozn 133290 wrote:

Am curious if anyone has updates on W&OD in Falls Church and westward. I hear that we should expect it to be partly cleared out to Vienna, which would probably make the trip to Reston doable.

I did a scouting run (literally) today that crossed the W&OD in Falls Church 4x – near Shreve and Fowler, at West, at Great Falls, and at Oak. I also ran between Great Falls and Oak. Nowhere that I saw would be rideable except maybe, maybe with a fat bike. There is a path that runners/hikers have created, but it’s very bumpy packed footprints and only about two footprints wide. Deep snow on either side if you drop off, and the pedal strokes would put one’s feet into the snow too. Here are a couple of pictures that capture what I saw reasonably well.

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At Fowler looking east toward Broad & Citizens Bridge

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At Fowler looking west toward Shreve

I’m happy to say that all major roads I saw (West, Shreve/Haycock, Broad, Lincoln, Great Falls, Park, Oak) would be easily rideable provided one pays attention to the narrowed lanes and snow piles causing greatly reduced visibility at intersections. If it doesn’t get too cold tonight, it won’t be too icy tomorrow.

[PotomacCyclist]

As expected, Capital Bikeshare will remain closed tomorrow (Wed. Jan. 27).

http://www.capitalbikeshare.com/news/2016/01/22/service-alert-january-2016-snow-event

I would try to help with clearing more stations but it’s very difficult work. I’m still sore from yesterday’s shoveling. If I push it too hard, I’ll just get myself injured.

I don’t think the system will be able to reopen until the snow melts from warmer temperatures. Shoveling is just going to take too long with the limited staff that CaBi/Motivate has. If that’s the case, then the stations may not be clear until Tue. or Wed. of next week (Feb. 2 and 3) when temperatures will reach the low 50s. The rain on Wed. Feb. 3 could really speed up the melting. (There’s a chance of a small amount of snow on Thur. Feb. 4. I don’t think that will have a major effect on the bikeshare network, but it’s too early to say.)

So that’s my outsider, non-expert guess — a reopening date of Wednesday, Feb. 3. If I’m wrong and they open sooner, I will be happy to be wrong.

P.S. I’m not criticizing Motivate and Capital Bikeshare. Winter storms and heavy snowfall like this past weekend are relatively rare in the DC area. It wouldn’t make sense to have a large number of employees on hand for snow clean-up duty when this situation occurs so infrequently. But maybe Motivate can make arrangements with the local jurisdictions for volunteer help from transportation and environmental services departments to assist with station clean-up once the roads are clear. (Then again, this may not work because many of the plow drivers and snow shovelers are contractors, not full-time gov’t employees.)

[PotomacCyclist]

@SeekJustice 133302 wrote:

Thanks! I’ve considered doing CaBi, but wasn’t sure if the lower quality bikes would drive me crazy…I have a friend who says it can be frustrating not being able to get up to a decent speed. I think I’ll give it a try though once the snow is clear!

I also am psyching myself up to just make my run home 14th St & MVT and just deal with whatever I encounter…I’ll report back with very wet feet.

I wouldn’t call them lower-quality bikes. They are quite sturdy. But yes, they are much slower than road or even hybrid bikes. You do have to get used to the different speed and the heavier weight. They aren’t ideal for long-distance trips, especially if you are trying to minimize the duration of the trip. But they have benefits too. They are comfortable for medium-distance trips. They are much more stable than other bikes. I’ve run into unmarked construction ditches and trenches (not too deep, but deep enough) and haven’t gotten knocked off the CaBi bikes. I’ve run over a screw that went straight into the tire and caused a flat tire and barely even wobbled. (I didn’t even notice anything was wrong until I started to hear a clicking sound and then the tire finally began to feel heavy. The tire only deflated gradually. On a skinny bike tire, I might have popped the entire tire immediately and crashed.)

CaBi bikes have proven to be incredibly safe. Not just here but nationwide. They have proven to be the safest popular transportation mode of all. I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting that, but the numbers bear it out. Nationwide, there have been something like 23 to 25 million total bikeshare trips (or maybe even higher than that). Not a single fatality yet. It’s due to the slower speeds, the upright riding position, the sturdiness and the low center of mass of the bikes, along with the network effect of more cyclists leading to safer conditions for all riders.

There’s also the convenience of being able to check out a bike (except at some downtown stations on weekdays at peak hours) whenever you feel like. I’ve done this many times, when I happen to be in various neighborhoods in DC, VA or MD.

You could try a one-day membership if you have doubts. That’s a low-risk way to test it out. Just keep in mind that you need to check in the bike within 30 minutes or else you will get charged additional per-ride fees. You can check in the bike, then check it back out to extend a ride and avoid those extra charges, as long as you don’t go over 30-min. per individual trip.

[PotomacCyclist]

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Eads Street protected bike lane, Tuesday Jan. 26

It might be rideable… on a BMX bike with front-mounted snow-melting lasers.

[DavidRomero]

Here is some updates from NVRPA.

https://www.facebook.com/wodtrail/

[hoffsquared]

Thx for all of these updates! I will venture forth tomorrow or Thursday.

[PaulH]

I just came home via Four Mile Run. It is in very good shape and would be easy even without studded tires. It is plowed to to half width with dry pavement and a few ice spots. The connection to Eads is another story — deep sticky snow which would be difficult to walk in, even if not pushing a bike. However, twenty feet and you are on a dry road. The bike lanes on Eads are blocked, but the rest of the road is fine.

[dasgeh]

Custis around Quincy and Monroe was clear down to pavement (I didn’t go down to the trail today – none of the routes down to it were cleared at all, and I was riding #kidical).

@S. Arlington Observer 133305 wrote:

Also, I’d really appreciate it if anyone has insight into Key Boulevard, 13th St N and 11th St. N. in Arlington. (This route roughly parallels Wilson/Fairfax from Courthouse to Ballston but without having to deal with the same level of traffic.)

I didn’t ride on 13th, but I did ride on 14th and generally around the neighborhood, and I would be shocked if 13th isn’t clear pavement (at least 2 car tire tracks worth) by now. 14th is definitely clear to pavement (cranky listserve folks were complaining that the steep hill was kept clear even though their street wasn’t touched #smh).

[Crickey7]

People have travelled the CCT and report it’s clear the entire stretch to Bethesda, though it may be icy in spots.

[dasgeh]

According to twitter:

Quote:

CCT – plowed
MBT – plowed
Custis – plowed
Four Mile Run – plowed
MVT – untouched by @NPSGWMP

https://twitter.com/Pedal2DC/status/692120485195354114

[ebubar]

Pondering biking from Takoma all the way to Marymount tomorrow. Pretty sure I’ll be good into the city. Curious if anyone has info on M street, Key Bridge, Custis up to Lee HWY and Lee Hwy up to Old Dominion and Marymounts main campus. I suspect my usual sidewalk riding from the Italian Store up Lee to MU wont be possible and I’m not a fan of riding that road uphill with rage filled speed demons in giant metal boxes…

[KWL]

@ebubar 133328 wrote:

Pondering biking from Takoma all the way to Marymount tomorrow. Pretty sure I’ll be good into the city. Curious if anyone has info on M street, Key Bridge, Custis up to Lee HWY and Lee Hwy up to Old Dominion and Marymounts main campus. I suspect my usual sidewalk riding from the Italian Store up Lee to MU wont be possible and I’m not a fan of riding that road uphill with rage filled speed demons in giant metal boxes…

The upriver side of Key Bridge is clear. Not on your route but I also noticed the Rt 110 path looks to be plowed and mostly clear. Both of these observations are from a motor vehicle.

[Author]

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