Missed connection

[EasyRider]

Seems less pleasant to me, actually. Currently, I’m taking the lane and eliminating a dangerous one lane crossing from my commute. If I went down the Columbia Island and doubled back to Memorial Bridge on the MVT, I’d then have to cross two lanes of GW Parkway traffic to get back to the bridge.

Still, I’d rather do that than take the 14th street bridge to 15th St. across the mall. The sidewalks crowded with pedestrians around the Tidal Basin and Washington Monument?… no thanks. Taking 15th across the mall and through the intersection at Constitution? Not if I don’t have to. Sorry to sound grumpy, but I find the cycletrack that starts at 15th and Penn to be more trouble than it’s worth. It requires constant vigilance to avoid pedestrians who step out into it without looking both ways, not that the pedestrian crossing lights aren’t hidden by tree branches anyway.

[ursus]

At about 9:30 this morning, I slowed down heading westward on the Maine Avenue sidewalk and then stopped at the light where the 14th Street Bridge exit ramp empties onto Maine. Several tour buses turned right onto Maine. Then the light turned red for the ramp and green for me, but a bus stopped completely blocking the curb indentation. I had to get off my bike and walk across. Another biker following flintstoned across.

[chris_s]

@dasgeh 148631 wrote:

I really wish the work would fix this annoying spot where the trail inexplicably dog legs to cross a parking space (?) instead of going through the grass at a cyclist-friendly angle.

Yeah, that used to be an access road/ramp from the Pentagon onto Washington Blvd. When they removed it, they cheaped out and didn’t want to move the storm drain, so they left that bizarre bit of driveway leading up to the storm drain and forced the trail users to continue crossing it. Multi-million dollar project to rework that whole area’s traffic flow but some nitwit tried to save $15,000 and stuck us with that nonsense for the foreseeable future.

[chris_s]

@Judd 148668 wrote:

Since we’re pointing out all of the things that suck about the “trail” on 27, I’ll add this part where the signed bike route (mostly a wide sidewalk) reaches a part where the sidewalk is just totally cut out. The options are to salmon in a lane with a blind curve or take a bit drop from the sidewalk into a gravel pit and hop the sidewalk on the other side to continue on to the trail.

https://goo.gl/maps/4YBtumbovAF2

I reported that to Arlington in September of 2015. 11 months later they passed the buck to VDOT. I reported it to VDOT. They passed the buck to Arlington. Here’s my “Report a Problem” ticket, helpfully marked as “complete” when they tried to pass the buck to VDOT.

[Judd]

@chris_s 148747 wrote:

I reported that to Arlington in September of 2015. 11 months later they passed the buck to VDOT. I reported it to VDOT. They passed the buck to Arlington. Here’s my “Report a Problem” ticket, helpfully marked as “complete” when they tried to pass the buck to VDOT.

Sigh. I used the Google maps time machine. It looks like in 2008, that there was still a big gap for cars to get through but that there were at least ramps at the edges of the sidewalk. https://goo.gl/maps/ja6M3nBDpu52
It appears that the sidewalk was redone some time between 2008 and 2015 and that the ramps at the end weren’t put back in place. It also looks like there is a secret hidden trail behind the construction fence that almost connects to the real trail – https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8699017,-77.059862,96m/data=!3m1!1e3 Also, I don’t get what’s going on in this space. It looks like a construction zone, but from the google map image it looks like it’s really just a dirt lot where some concrete culverts are being stored.

I’m guessing from the responses that neither Arlington or VDOT maintain any type of maps that indicate what roads and sidewalks they own? Since both agencies have passed the buck, I took a chance on submitting a complaint to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division as a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act for denying me access to the 9/11 Memorial by wheelchair.

[KLizotte]

Yeah, the photo above is out of date. The sidewalk cut-offs are deeper than shown and there is all kinds of rock debris that don’t show up in the pic either. It’s now un-rideable and is really infuriating if you are coming off the trail along Columbia Pike. I just take Columbia Pike the entire way (I do not salmon) from S Joyce St.

[scoot]

@KLizotte 148780 wrote:

I just take Columbia Pike the entire way (I do not salmon) from S Joyce St.

I also take the lane on the Pike all the way when riding this route. It is a bit exposed, as you are riding on what feels like a limited-access highway through the interchange, but:

1. There’s really not much traffic using the Pike between S Joyce and the Pentagon, or coming on/off Washington Blvd at this interchange. The road is very overbuilt.
2. It’s a big open field with no trees, so sightlines are great for the interchange.
3. In spite of the above two points, drivers tend to be considerate and to keep their speeds down here, probably because they’re right at the edge of the Pentagon reservation.

[KLizotte]

@scoot 148797 wrote:

I also take the lane on the Pike all the way when riding this route. It is a bit exposed, as you are riding on what feels like a limited-access highway through the interchange, but:

1. There’s really not much traffic using the Pike between S Joyce and the Pentagon, or coming on/off Washington Blvd at this interchange. The road is very overbuilt.
2. It’s a big open field with no trees, so sightlines are great for the interchange.
3. In spite of the above two points, drivers tend to be considerate and to keep their speeds down here, probably because they’re right at the edge of the Pentagon reservation.

If I’m heading east, I stay in the left lane that way I am out of the way of drivers taking the exits or merging traffic. When heading west, I take the lane or the trail depending on my mood and conditions.

Columbia Pike along that stretch is never a problem whereas S. Joyce St between the Pike and Army Navy Dr is. Cars go fast, it’s busier, and they pass close. Weird since it is such a short distance between two sets of lights. I wish speed bumps were installed.

[scoot]

@KLizotte 148818 wrote:

If I’m heading east, I stay in the left lane that way I am out of the way of drivers taking the exits or merging traffic. When heading west, I take the lane or the trail depending on my mood and conditions.

That does make sense, but I never feel comfortable using the left lane of a multi-lane road unless I’m either passing someone or else preparing for a turn. I don’t like getting passed on my right. It may delay considerate drivers a few seconds, but they seem to understand. I stay toward the left side of the right lane of the Pike down the hill before the other busier Wash Blvd interchange also, unless it is rush hour when the arrows (that are frequently violated) make it an exit-only lane.

[Dewey]

From this morning’s commute into work

Me: Cycling East on Arlington Blvd at the junction with Ft Myer Heights Park, closely followed by a MetroBus, we’re both going 20mph.
You & your buddy: Standing over your bikes on the sidewalk looking East then suddenly, without looking left, both of you enter the road and weave around at 3mph.
Me: Back wheel locking up, trying to steer my now out of control bike and remain upright so I don’t get crushed by the bus.

Please look behind you to see what’s coming when you enter the road.

[scoot]

I also would like to see something done to improve that stretch of S Joyce. I haven’t had any memorable encounters, but some vehicles do come up from behind very quickly. As long as it were widened again approaching the intersections at each end, one vehicle lane plus a bike lane in each direction could easily handle the traffic load. Protected bike lanes could work well there.

[EasyRider]

@Dewey 148828 wrote:

From this morning’s commute into work

Me: Cycling East on Arlington Blvd at the junction with Ft Myer Heights Park, closely followed by a MetroBus, we’re both going 20mph.
You & your buddy: Standing over your bikes on the sidewalk looking East then suddenly, without looking left, both of you enter the road and weave around at 3mph.
Me: Back wheel locking up, trying to steer my now out of control bike and remain upright so I don’t get crushed by the bus.

Please look behind you to see what’s coming when you enter the road.

Terrifying, I can sympathize. I used to live in that neighborhood and people often just step right into Arlington Blvd without looking from the park on their way to the pedestrian bridge over Route 50. The other scary part is a quarter mile further down the road, the curve just before the stop sign at Iwo Jima. If you don’t take the whole lane and ride near the centerline on that curve, drivers will try to pass you by going halfway into the oncoming lane. When an oncoming car comes around that blind curve, the driver in the wrong lane freaks and their instinct is immediately return to their lane. But that’s where the cyclist is …

[chris_s]

@chris_s 148747 wrote:

I reported that to Arlington in September of 2015. 11 months later they passed the buck to VDOT. I reported it to VDOT. They passed the buck to Arlington. Here’s my “Report a Problem” ticket, helpfully marked as “complete” when they tried to pass the buck to VDOT.

I tried a new escalation tactic and at least got DES to dig into it more:

Following up on your inquiry, it turns out that the sidewalk is maintained by the Pentagon. Mr. Gunderson contacted the Pentagon. Apparently the area has been a construction entrance for several years now. There is currently a project that was put on hold because of contractor issues (walked off the job). A new contract was recently awarded and work will restart soon. Complete restoration of the sidewalk will not occur until the construction project has been completed.

I pushed back and said waiting on full restoration makes sense, but a little bit of temporary mitigation to slope the sidewalk down to ground level would go a long way in the interim.

[KLizotte]

@chris_s 148920 wrote:

I tried a new escalation tactic and at least got DES to dig into it more:

Following up on your inquiry, it turns out that the sidewalk is maintained by the Pentagon. Mr. Gunderson contacted the Pentagon. Apparently the area has been a construction entrance for several years now. There is currently a project that was put on hold because of contractor issues (walked off the job). A new contract was recently awarded and work will restart soon. Complete restoration of the sidewalk will not occur until the construction project has been completed.

I pushed back and said waiting on full restoration makes sense, but a little bit of temporary mitigation to slope the sidewalk down to ground level would go a long way in the interim.

Yes! A little bit of asphalt at both ends and a broom once a week would do wonders! Fingers crossed….

[AFHokie]

Yep, me yelling F-you too! wasn’t a necessary response to you honking as you passed me with less than 3ft on S Columbus St, but stopping to tell me you’ll kick my ass? Fortunately for both of us, as I get older I’ve become a teeny bit wiser and realized it was time to deescalate. I only have one thing to say: video cameras are everywhere including my handlebar. I have your plate # and unsafe pass/honking at me on video. Lucky for you the mic didn’t pick up your comment.

Not my best day

[Author]

Posts