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

[PotomacCyclist]

@chris_s 133531 wrote:

That’s useful info – are you getting an error? I see your user account in the database.

The message reads “Invalid login attempt.” I was able to logon about a week ago, but not since the weekend. I’m pretty sure I’m using the correct password. If I’m not using the correct password, there’s no password recovery procedure.

[scoot]

@Kitty 133485 wrote:

Ironically enough, my biggest “ask” would be access to the Teddy Roosevelt bridge, or at very least Memorial, from North Arlington. They can plow all of Custis, but if it deadends at the bike counter, it doesn’t really help.

I try to avoid any commute through Georgetown via M street on a good day, but right now it seems to be the only connection into the city (from Key). Under best conditions I would only recommend this to a confident (if not foolhardy) cyclist at M street quickly devolves into “Thunderdome.” Based off of yesterday you’d better have a steel spine and think like a Jeep because there is no “shoulder” or room for error.

I’m about to try it again this morning… If I don’t make it, tell Teddy I loved him (and his bridge).

I’ll take the contrarian viewpoint here.

I find that TR crossing (too narrow, fence is too low, guardrail even lower) to be scary enough when the surface is dry. I’d be terrified to try it when there are irregular ruts of ice. Because there is zero room for error: if you fall, you might end up either in the highway or the river.

On the other hand, I’ve always found M Street drivers to be very respectful. Grudgingly respectful, perhaps, but I insist on claiming the center of the lane, and I’ve never had a close call there. The cars aren’t going very fast, so there isn’t much of a speed differential to worry about. And because the speed differential isn’t high, it’s not difficult to switch lanes when necessary (to pass double parked cars or turning vehicles) just like a driver would.

Disclaimer: I haven’t been across the river since the snow, so I haven’t seen any of these routes in their current conditions. Also, since I don’t commute that direction, my experience on M Street is mostly off-peak (late evenings and weekends). Getting through heavy congestion on M Street would present different challenges, for sure.

[vern]

The WOD was plowed into Reston with a stopping point midway between Wiehle and Temporary Roads. I am hoping this means they plowed from where they stopped yesterday in Falls Church into Reston, but I don’t know this as fact. The little bit I rode on in Reston was slushly like the trail plowed yesterday. Progress…

[rcannon100]

WOD Shirlington to Barcroft: Pretty good but every now and then there would be BAD patches of ice or hard pack. I opted to ride in the road.

[hozn]

@vern 133539 wrote:

The WOD was plowed into Reston with a stopping point midway between Wiehle and Temporary Roads. I am hoping this means they plowed from where they stopped yesterday in Falls Church into Reston, but I don’t know this as fact. The little bit I rode on in Reston was slushly like the trail plowed yesterday. Progress…

Yeah …. Not so much . Well, yes to progress. The W&OD is plowed from the west up until just shy of Buckthorn Ln (they stopped midway up the hill). So I turned onto Buckthorn and rode Sunrise Valley, Hunter Mill, Crowell(?), Browns Mill, Beulah. Bleh

From the east the plow made it to Idylwood park. So basically the trail is unplowed from west of Hunter Mill east of 495.

The plowed sections west of Broad St. we’re tough to ride — snow was still pretty deep and not consistently packed enough. I sorta half went over the bars there when the snow gave way under my front tire. Luckily it was just into the soft snow. I assume the Macbook is fine

I look forward to riding it frozen in the AM; that should be easier, though the cost of falling is greater.

[vern]

Oh…that’s not so much progress. If they stopped at Buckthorn (or just short of it), that means they cleared maybe about 2 miles of trail in Reston. That’s not much for a day’s work, especially if they haven’t done much more from the other direction.

[oldbikechick]

I decided to finally try to venture out today in hopes that I wouldn’t be doing something too stupid. Took a Cabi in the evening from the Washington monument to Rosslyn, figuring that the Memorial Bridge sidewalk surely would be cleared by now. I was really surprised to see that it wasn’t. Something had been done there, but not the usual clear sidewalk. So, I did a little walking and really started to worry about the 110 trail since that (and the memorial bridge) has always been my go-to in the snow. Luckily, only a bit more walking to get over to it and the rest was clear. And then a little dodging of cars crossing over rt 50. So, probably not time yet to get back on my slick tire bike, but the glorious sunset reminded me why I love my bike commute and really need to get back to it as soon as possible. Maybe it’s time to get studded tires…

[jrenaut]

@vvill 133517 wrote:

Custis … there seems to be a large crack/dip in the concrete pavement on the Rosslyn hill which may not be easily visible in the dark.

Man, you weren’t kidding. That one almost got me going UPHILL. Luckily there’s a huge pile of snow there so you’re likely to be slowing down already before it jumps out at you.

The sidewalk from the Monolith to the east side of the Key bridge is packed slush but the bridge is fine. Sidewalk in Georgetown is a mess.

[DismalScientist]

You tried the sidewalk in Georgetown? Yuck.
That hole in the Custis is impressive. I would take Key Blvd into Rosslyn tomorrow just to avoid it.
When widening the snowless area on Lee Hwy, VDOT put alot of snow on the Custis between Nash and Oak. It’s passible but narrower.

[hozn]

@vern 133547 wrote:

Oh…that’s not so much progress. If they stopped at Buckthorn (or just short of it), that means they cleared maybe about 2 miles of trail in Reston. That’s not much for a day’s work, especially if they haven’t done much more from the other direction.

From their FB post, it sounded like they were struggling with the ice. Maybe they’ll make more progress with the warmer start tomorrow.

[dkel]

@hozn 133545 wrote:

I turned onto Buckthorn and rode Sunrise Valley, Hunter Mill, Crowell(?), Browns Mill, Beulah. Bleh

Was that you I saw rocking it on Park Street as I drove my kids to choir just shy of 4:30? It may have been “bleh,” but you looked like you were having a pretty good time!

[hozn]

@dkel 133552 wrote:

Was that you I saw rocking it on Park Street as I drove my kids to choir just shy of 4:30? It may have been “bleh,” but you looked like you were having a pretty good time!

Maybe! I was definitely on Park St around that time. Was that you honking?

[jrenaut]

@DismalScientist 133550 wrote:

You tried the sidewalk in Georgetown? Yuck.

Just to the first curb cut. I mean, if I rode the sidewalk, how could the NPS “police” car almost hit me because he started changing lanes without looking? Wouldn’t want to miss that.

[dkel]

@hozn 133553 wrote:

Maybe! I was definitely on Park St around that time. Was that you honking?

Oh, no. I don’t honk at cyclists. Maybe I have sensitive musician ears, but car horns are an assault when you’re out on a bike. I’m pretty sure it was you, though: the Ti bike and fluorescent helmet are a bit of a giveaway. And the banjo bros backpack. And the generalized awesomeness.

[PotomacCyclist]

S EADS ST protected bike lanes, Arlington — still covered in snow

Near the Crystal City Metro. They won’t be rideable on Friday morning.

====

15TH ST NW protected bike lane in DC — still covered in snow

At and around U Street. This won’t be rideable on Friday morning either.

But the snowpack isn’t as bad as it was early in the week. Except for the snowplow-created snowbanks, I think both of those lanes could clear up by early next week, when the high temperatures could get into the 60s.

[Author]

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