May 2016 Road and Trail Conditions

[KWL]

@ginacico 140303 wrote:

Yeah, that sucked. I basically flintstoned behind some girl (yakking on her cell phone) trying to get around that sign.

Was it just me, or did the barriers at the Whitehurst crossing encroach further onto the sidewalk also? It was like navigating a maze tonight.

It looks like some Driver (a pejorative term) smashed into it. I may stop Thursday morning and see if there is any way a non-Driver human can return it to its normal position. Otherwise I guess a call to someone in DC government is in order.

[consularrider]

@ShawnoftheDread 140314 wrote:

It would be a shame if that sign kept getting knocked over into the traffic lane.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Certainly been known to happen more than one, just sayin’ …

[KLizotte]

Case Bridge is now being semi blocked by construction equipment. It is well marked with cones and the workers have been good about keeping stuff off the trail to the extent possible.

I can pass through without stopping with one side pannier; two panniers would almost certainly brush the wall or equipment.

The equipment is being used as part of the bridge refurbishment project that has been going on for the past couple of months. Fingers crossed they will be able to move the equipment soon.

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[GovernorSilver]

So much for my evening tourist avoidance route.

At least until I get the new saddle installed on the Renegade. I’m riding my Uptown 8 with panniers until then.

[bentbike33]

@GovernorSilver 140328 wrote:

So much for my evening tourist avoidance route.

The surface route along the Maine Ave. south sidewalk is usually OK now that we are past Cherry Blossom Season, but occasionally tour buses park near the marina entrance and have clots of clueless (don’t know that a bike bell ringing means “pay attention, something potentially hazardous may be about to occur”) foreign (non-English speaking, so verbal warnings are ineffective as well) tourists standing nearby. So, some flintstoning may be necessary when tourists are present, but otherwise it is a good route.

[huskerdont]

@KWL 140319 wrote:

It looks like some Driver (a pejorative term) smashed into it. I may stop Thursday morning and see if there is any way a non-Driver human can return it to its normal position. Otherwise I guess a call to someone in DC government is in order.

I tried using the DC 311 site to post about this barricade after posting about it here Monday. Unfortunately, I could not get the site to work with my browser, and I never got around to actually calling 311, hoping I guess that someone else would. My bad as it’s still jutting into the sidewalk, right at what is already a pinch point on the bridge.

[dasgeh]

@KLizotte 140327 wrote:

Case Bridge is now being semi blocked by construction equipment. It is well marked with cones and the workers have been good about keeping stuff off the trail to the extent possible.

Looks like someone riding with a bike trailer or wider cargo bike would be stuck. Is there a sign before you get there? Or are they inviting family bikers to get half-way across the bridge and have to turn around?

[mello yello]

KLizotte, I stopped and took the same picture yesterday afternoon, after not stopping on Monday. You totally beat me to it.

[KLizotte]

@dasgeh 140339 wrote:

Looks like someone riding with a bike trailer or wider cargo bike would be stuck. Is there a sign before you get there? Or are they inviting family bikers to get half-way across the bridge and have to turn around?

Yeah, no way a bike trailer or wider than normal bike is gonna get through. In fact I saw an NPS guy on a riding lawn mower do a u-turn this morning because of it. They did put up a sign that says “road work” at the start of the trail at L’Enfant Plaza but that really isn’t helpful and there isn’t a sign at the other end of the bridge. The next time I see any workers I’ll bring the signage issue to their attention.

[GovernorSilver]

@bentbike33 140331 wrote:

The surface route along the Maine Ave. south sidewalk is usually OK now that we are past Cherry Blossom Season, but occasionally tour buses park near the marina entrance and have clots of clueless (don’t know that a bike bell ringing means “pay attention, something potentially hazardous may be about to occur”) foreign (non-English speaking, so verbal warnings are ineffective as well) tourists standing nearby. So, some flintstoning may be necessary when tourists are present, but otherwise it is a good route.

I’ll give it a shot tomorrow, thanks.

Got Flintstoned a bunch of times on yesterday’s evening commute, due to mass confusion at the 15th St and Maine intersection. There was a car that had just turned left from 15th onto Maine in the right lane that was so close to the curb it was next to impossible to ride there – forcing a bunch of cyclists into Flintstone-hood. Got Flintstoned yet again by a couple of cyclists who parked right at the curb ramp that I was hoping to use to enter the street – I think they wanted to keep going along Maine towards the fish market instead of turning to Ohio Dr .

Thus I was looking forward to taking my favorite avoidance route before I saw the bad news about Case Bridge. So that leaves the remaining alternative – Banneker Circle down to Maine.

[dasgeh]

@KLizotte 140344 wrote:

Yeah, no way a bike trailer or wider than normal bike is gonna get through. In fact I saw an NPS guy on a riding lawn mower do a u-turn this morning because of it. They did put up a sign that says “road work” at the start of the trail at L’Enfant Plaza but that really isn’t helpful and there isn’t a sign at the other end of the bridge. The next time I see any workers I’ll bring the signage issue to their attention.

Mind if I tweet the pic?

[KLizotte]

@dasgeh 140360 wrote:

Mind if I tweet the pic?

Be my guest.

[KLizotte]

Case Bridge update:

The scaffolding on the bridge was moved over a few inches this morning allowing for a bit more breathing room when biking by. I think a bike with two panniers can now squeeze through without bumping anything. Please note that there isn’t room to walk a bike nor would a trailer fit.

There are now signs that say “road work ahead” at each end of the bridge. On the HP side of the bridge it is rather obvious that there is an obstruction as well as a bail out point. The obstruction isn’t readily noticeable at the L’Enfant Plaza end.

I think something must have been said to the workers because all of the equipment was pushed to the side of the wall as far as practicable. I suspect the equipment will be there for 2-3 weeks given their current progress.

[dasgeh]

@KLizotte 140401 wrote:

Case Bridge update:

The scaffolding on the bridge was moved over a few inches this morning allowing for a bit more breathing room when biking by. I think a bike with two panniers can now squeeze through without bumping anything. Please note that there isn’t room to walk a bike nor would a trailer fit.

There are now signs that say “road work ahead” at each end of the bridge. On the HP side of the bridge it is rather obvious that there is an obstruction as well as a bail out point. The obstruction isn’t readily noticeable at the L’Enfant Plaza end.

I think something must have been said to the workers because all of the equipment was pushed to the side of the wall as far as practicable. I suspect the equipment will be there for 2-3 weeks given their current progress.

The power of twitter (i have no idea if it was my tweet, but that won’t stop me from taking credit ).

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[KLizotte]

Case Bridge update:

I went through at about 8:00 pm tonight and the construction workers were in the process of putting the equipment away. They said the obstructions would be there for about three more weeks and were doing their best to keep things clear but they have to move equipment around as they do their work during the day. Fair point. They are in a really tough position with only about eight feet to work with as they try to build a walkway under the bridge. Please be patient.

My advice is to avoid the bridge during normal working hours. They were working unusually late tonight.

[Author]

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