Looking for Support to convert Glen Echo Trolley Trail in Palisades to a bike trail

[mstone]

@dasgeh 66714 wrote:

No, that’s not what I wrote. I am not talking about a new connection to the C&O Canal or the CCT. I am familiar with those options. I am interested in a safe connection to the area NW of the Key Bridge. Right now, there’s only a substandard sidewalk from the Bridge to the Western entrance to GU. You posted a link to a map that implied you were interested in a trail from M to this bridge that I don’t know if anyone will use (as lots of others have pointed out). I do think a lot of people will use a trail/MUP/MUT/enhanced sidewalk that goes from Key Bridge at least to GU, and probably farther. These people could help you support your project.

But, hey, if you don’t want support for your project, you’re doing a fine job turning potential constituencies away.

I think in this case you’re being a little unreasonable; you’re basically saying that if his project can’t help you, it sucks. What do you want him to do, promise something (a better connection to the bridge) that he can’t deliver and which would probably torpedo his project if they did get linked? This project is about reusing existing infrastructure/ROW, and there isn’t any that’s going to help the bridge situation.

[jojopuppyfish]

@dasgeh 66714 wrote:

No, that’s not what I wrote. I am not talking about a new connection to the C&O Canal or the CCT. I am familiar with those options. I am interested in a safe connection to the area NW of the Key Bridge. Right now, there’s only a substandard sidewalk from the Bridge to the Western entrance to GU. You posted a link to a map that implied you were interested in a trail from M to this bridge that I don’t know if anyone will use (as lots of others have pointed out). I do think a lot of people will use a trail/MUP/MUT/enhanced sidewalk that goes from Key Bridge at least to GU, and probably farther. These people could help you support your project.

But, hey, if you don’t want support for your project, you’re doing a fine job turning potential constituencies away.

I didn’t mean to come off as rude. Sorry about that.
The first map I posted was the route of the original trolley trail. That is accurate because the trolley went over the bridge and eventually went onto M Street. But that is not the route I am seeking now

Take a look at this google map
http://goo.gl/maps/pkpUM

Right now I am going to focus on getting the bridge retrofitted.
So essential, I want to connect Foxhall Rd to Prospect Rd going over Foundry Branch Valley Park (East -west Route) Because the google map is flat, it doesn’t show elevation.
But there is a cliff above canal rd.
Coming from Arlington VA, I don’t think there is anything that can be done to improve the connection from the Key bridge going to Georgetown University.

[jojopuppyfish]

@TimBoucher 66705 wrote:

I cycle from the Glen Echo (Bannockburn Rd) area every day for work (to Key Bridge, and into Arlington), and would be very interested in helping get this trail built. I don’t enjoy the MacArthur road trail – way too close to traffic for my liking.

Let me know if you need help.

Thanks
Tim

Just sent you a PM

[mstone]

@jojopuppyfish 66728 wrote:

But there is a cliff above canal rd.
Coming from Arlington VA, I don’t think there is anything that can be done to improve the connection from the Key bridge going to Georgetown University.

I think there are things that could be done, but I’m not sure there are politically viable things that could be done. Every connection helps increase bike & pied use though, and maybe someday something would be possible. (Taking car space, or a big honkin’ ramp, or obtaining more right of way, etc.

[dasgeh]

@mstone 66716 wrote:

I think in this case you’re being a little unreasonable; you’re basically saying that if his project can’t help you, it sucks. What do you want him to do, promise something (a better connection to the bridge) that he can’t deliver and which would probably torpedo his project if they did get linked? This project is about reusing existing infrastructure/ROW, and there isn’t any that’s going to help the bridge situation.

I really wasn’t being unreasonable or even saying his project sucked. I was going off of a map he posted. His descriptions were unclear, so I even preferenced it with “if this is what you’re looking for, here’s why I support it and how I think you can get more people to”. When he was a dick, I didn’t even say that his project sucked, just that he wasn’t doing a good job of drumming up support for his project.

He’s now clarified and sort-of apologized. Again, not really spurring me to go out of my way to connect him to the GU folks who could help him get it built. But if other people want to support his project, great. I don’t think it sucks. I’m just not going to spend my time on it.

[mstone]

@dasgeh 66763 wrote:

I really wasn’t being unreasonable or even saying his project sucked. I was going off of a map he posted.

The map is the old trolley ROW (much of which appears to have been taken for other purposes), not the proposed trail (which, AIUI, could use some but not all of the old infrastructure/ROW). I agree that a map just of the proposed trail would be helpful.

I think this is a case of someone getting upset by something online that can definitely be read in a more sympathetic way.

Edit to add: jojopuppyfish, I’m not sure if you’re aware that at the default resolution the map’s red dot is basically just somewhere in Georgetown, but zoomed in the trail runs to the car barn on M street.

[leadandsteel]

edited to starve the trolls

[Tim Kelley]

Lets keep the language family friendly, please! I don’t want to lose my job… Thanks for the self moderation LeadandSteel, it easy to get heated about things on the Internet.

Lets go for a bike ride!

[jojopuppyfish]

So an update:
I decided to work with both the PCA (Palisides Association) and FCCA (foxhall association) on getting the whole path built.
On Tues, I went to the PCA local meeting and presented a resolution to the PCA that the should vote in favor of the Glen echo path as a bike train.
Next month, On Dec 3rd at 7:30pm, the members of the groups will vote on this.
http://www.palisadesdc.org/

If you want to vote on it, get there and pay a membership and stick up your hand and say yes.

Still working with FCCA on the bridge portion of the trail.

If anyone has ideas, feel free to post here.
-Brett

[jojopuppyfish]

Posting on Blog
http://waba.org/blog/

Anyone with questions I can try and answer them here.
-Brett

[USandstrom]

Have you connected at all with the dance community at Glen Echo – the Friday Night Dancers? The contra community tends to have a lot of bikers and currently getting to Glen Echo for dancing is mostly car-based.

[jojopuppyfish]

You mean these guys.

Thanks for the info
http://fridaynightdance.org/

[jojopuppyfish]

Just an update. The meeting was held on Tues and the resolution was tabled. The PCA will work to have hikes of the trail in the next several months.
I’ve also talked to Georgetown U about the Foundry Branch Bridge. Its not currently in their plans, but this was just the first meeting.
-Brett

[kny]

@jojopuppyfish 71080 wrote:

Just an update. The meeting was held on Tues and the resolution was tabled. The PCA will work to have hikes of the trail in the next several months.
I’ve also talked to Georgetown U about the Foundry Branch Bridge. Its not currently in their plans, but this was just the first meeting.
-Brett

Brett,
I would like to help make this trail a reality. Please contact me directly to get me added to any committees or public discussions regarding this topic.

I am a Prospect St resident. I regularly walk/run/pull behind a bike a baby stroller through GU, down to Canal Rd, on the narrow Canal Rd sidewalk to Macarthur dodging fire hydrants, telephone poles, and forcing other walkers/runners/cyclists onto the traffic side as I don’t dare risk the stroller going over the curb into traffic. It is an unsafe stretch, but the only realistic means for a pedestrian to connect Georgetown to Macarthur/Foxhall. And, that stretch is a traffic nightmare so pedestrians should be strongly encouraged.

I realize that by the time this were to happen I will be well past the baby stroller needs, but nonetheless, this would be a dramatic improvement for the area and needs to happen, so let me know how I can get involved to help.

[MattAune]

But will you still be interested if the trail doesn’t have anything over 15% GRADE?

[Author]

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