Just when you thought it was safe to ride in Rosslyn..

[CCrew]

Like it ever is, right? Meant to post this this morning.

In the construction area on the right in the block before Oak Street on Wilson, there are two sections where they have steel plates extending into the bike lane. They did a shoddy job of dumping loose asphalt to ease the transition to the plate, which just compounded matters.

There’s just enough room to squeak by between the plates and the traffic lane, or do what I do at 4am’ish and just take the lane, but wanted to give others a heads up that just as soon as you thought they were done they’re laying new booby traps.

Be careful out there and ride safe.

Topic

[Dirt]

I’m thinking I need an 8″ travel DH rig and body armor for riding through Rosslyn these days. Gives me an excuse to buy a new bike. Just what I need.

[CCrew]

There’s an even bigger, and potentially more dangerous issue now.

They’ve extended the area that the first set of steel plates cover, and they’ve put two plates side by side extending all the way across the bike lane. Problem is that the steel plates have an almost 1″ gap between them and that gap is parallel to the direction of travel and almost in the center of the bike lane to boot.. So if you come up on them with narrow bike tires and you hit that gap you are going down. Someone really, really needs to get someone in authority out there before someone gets badly hurt.

[KLizotte]

Adding to the danger is the fact that Capital Bikeshare is expanding along the corridor which means more newbie cyclists will be going thru there. It’s possible that the thick CaBi tires will be big enough not to get caught in the groove but I presume most riders won’t know the danger of riding on metal (I learned this the hard way when I hit the expansion plate on the Wilson bridge ramp – splat!).

[CCrew]

Exactly. 23-25mm tire is going to go right into these though. Even a bikeshare bike might get tossed if it gets caught in the groove, although it may not drop in.

[jrenaut]

I can testify from personal experience that Bikeshare tires are not as wide as they sometimes need to be. I got caught in one of whatever those grooves are on 9th NW around L (Mt Vernon Sq) and went down back in December or something. It was especially embarrassing because it was a bit icy that day, and the construction workers thought I slid on ice. So, not only was my skill on a bike questioned (probably unavoidable after a fall), but also my judgement, which was not fair in this case. I did fine avoiding all the ice.

[CCrew]

Should title this thread “How to kill a cyclist 101”.. Or better yet run it up the flagpole and see how far it flies. Here’s the spot..

[KLizotte]

God god. A picture is worth a thousands words. It’s as if they intentionally created a booby trap. Lawsuit anyone?

Did you contact the “proper authorities”?

You should send this photo to Dr. Gridlock of the Wash Post since he has a pro-car bias. Would be nice for him to see (and post on his blog) what we cyclists are up against on a daily basis and why we often have to take the lane.

Grrrrr…..

[CCrew]

@KLizotte 5416 wrote:

God god. A picture is worth a thousands words. It’s as if they intentionally created a booby trap. Lawsuit anyone?

Did you contact the “proper authorities”?

You should send this photo to Dr. Gridlock of the Wash Post since he has a pro-car bias. Would be nice for him to see (and post on his blog) what we cyclists are up against on a daily basis and why we often have to take the lane.

Grrrrr…..

Tried Arlington, this is what I get…

“I will be out of the office beginning June 23rd and returning to work on July 20th If this is an emergency please contact 703.228.6555”

Lemme find the ol Dr’s email address now :p

[Tim Kelley]

You can give me a specific location where this is? Map even a google maps pinpoint?

I’ll pass it along to my contacts…

[CCrew]

@Tim Kelley 5423 wrote:

You can give me a specific location where this is? Map even a google maps pinpoint?

I’ll pass it along to my contacts…

It’s actually Clarendon Blvd, not Wilson. It’s between N Ode and N Oak, in front of the new building under construction on that block. Probably a utility hookup that’s in process.

Tell them I’m painting a skull and crossbones in the bike lane if it stays!

You can tell your contacts that I ran it to my contacts at the Post…

[Tim Kelley]

Yup, someone will look at it.

I was wondering why I hadn’t seen it because I ride into Rosslyn every day. I usually turn off at Pierce though…

[Tim Kelley]

“The inspector on the project has contacted the developer and the plates will be turned so the joint faces 90 degrees to the direction of travel.

They will also be put closer together.”

[CCrew]

@Tim Kelley 5425 wrote:

Yup, someone will look at it.

I was wondering why I hadn’t seen it because I ride into Rosslyn every day. I usually turn off at Pierce though…

Thank you kind sir.. I thought the picture this morning would be compelling evidence…. The ducks were occupied elsewhere however..

[Author]

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