My Evening Commute

[bentbike33]

@Zack 159142 wrote:

Riding home on the MVT last night, I came up behind another cyclist at the northern airport bridge and waited to pass as usual since it is a blind corner. Another pair of cyclists pull up behind me waiting for a clear line of sight too. Then suddenly, a fifth cyclist starts passing us all just as a northbound cyclist comes flying around the blind corner. Luckily, everyone avoided each other but man, I don’t remember an uptick in jerk cyclists this time last year. But in the past few weeks, it seems some folks act just like bad drivers!

My theory is that it has to do with the rising popularity of spin classes and Zwift and other virtual riding indoor training methods. So you have a growing set of fit, fast cyclists who either don’t know, or have forgotten, how to ride in the real world.

[semperiden]

@Zack 159142 wrote:

Riding home on the MVT last night, I came up behind another cyclist at the northern airport bridge and waited to pass as usual since it is a blind corner. Another pair of cyclists pull up behind me waiting for a clear line of sight too. Then suddenly, a fifth cyclist starts passing us all just as a northbound cyclist comes flying around the blind corner. Luckily, everyone avoided each other but man, I don’t remember an uptick in jerk cyclists this time last year. But in the past few weeks, it seems some folks act just like bad drivers!

That same scenario has happened to me before, just that that one time nobody was coming from the other direction, my heart stopped for a second because if somebody was coming the other way it would have been a bad accident.

I crashed at that site about a year ago. A slow cyclist was trying to pass a family at the blind corner, I was going downhill close to 20mph and had nowhere to go. I avoided the hit, but I braked with such force, that my handle bar twisted and I crashed 100ft after. Always be careful at that section, slow down and have your brakes ready.

[dbb]

@Zack 159142 wrote:

Riding home on the MVT last night, I came up behind another cyclist at the northern airport bridge and waited to pass as usual since it is a blind corner. Another pair of cyclists pull up behind me waiting for a clear line of sight too. Then suddenly, a fifth cyclist starts passing us all just as a northbound cyclist comes flying around the blind corner. Luckily, everyone avoided each other but man, I don’t remember an uptick in jerk cyclists this time last year. But in the past few weeks, it seems some folks act just like bad drivers!

I think they shot the gap between me and an oncoming cyclist a bit further north (just south of the parking lot) with no call or apparent concern.

[Alcova cyclist]

@dbb 159156 wrote:

I think they shot the gap between me and an oncoming cyclist a bit further north (just south of the parking lot) with no call or apparent concern.

I think I might have seen this play out too – saw another cyclist yell at two clowns passing unsafely heading south just before Gravelly Point.

I don’t normally ride the MVT, but was riding to a kids event at Wakefield HS straight from work so was off my usual route. For the whole stretch across 14th ST bridge and then MVT down to 4MR I was thinking “How do people ride this every day? People on this trail are freaking nuts!”

[semperiden]

@Alcova cyclist 159479 wrote:

I think I might have seen this play out too – saw another cyclist yell at two clowns passing unsafely heading south just before Gravelly Point.

I don’t normally ride the MVT, but was riding to a kids event at Wakefield HS straight from work so was off my usual route. For the whole stretch across 14th ST bridge and then MVT down to 4MR I was thinking “How do people ride this every day? People on this trail are freaking nuts!”

I prefer to take the Custis + W&OD + 4MR instead of MVT in the evenings at this point. It adds a few more miles, but I feel somewhat less anxious. Although I gotta say, there was someone playing soccer and someone playing basketball on the trail yesterday… There is no escape.

On that note, I was almost hit twice today crossing while the ped signal was on. One of them saw me and tried to beat me to it, and came less than a foot from hitting me. I always try to get to a ped crossing when turning left because I feel safer, but it is not always the case. I have always wondered, giving that Virginia law considers us a vehicle on the road, are we considered pedestrians while doing this? Would I be entitled for damages if someone ever hits me and I survive?

[KLizotte]

^^It’s generally better to cut through Columbia Island, through the Pentagon, then take Army Navy Drive to 4MR near Shirlington. Or cut through Crystal City and head south depending on where you are going. I avoid that stretch of the MVT like the plague even though it is only 2 miles away from where I live. Total chaos there.

[bobco85]

Seconded on the avoidance of the MVT between 14th St Bridge and Four Mile Run, except I prefer to use the following route: Columbia Island -> LBJ Grove -> Boundary Channel Dr -> Connector Rd -> Eads St (I love the protected bike lane) -> Glebe Rd (only 1 block) -> Route 1 sidewalk (half a block) -> 4MR as shown here: https://goo.gl/maps/pNkf1nN8zkm

You can also go the Boundary Channel Dr -> Long Bridge Dr -> Crystal Dr route, but I find the southbound Crystal Dr bike lane to be awful (though not as bad as the MVT; northbound Crystal Dr bike lane is just fine), so I usually avoid it except on the weekends. For reference, that route is here: https://goo.gl/maps/JcsNvxEo75H2

[lordofthemark]

@bobco85 159493 wrote:

Seconded on the avoidance of the MVT between 14th St Bridge and Four Mile Run, except I prefer to use the following route: Columbia Island -> LBJ Grove -> Boundary Channel Dr -> Connector Rd -> Eads St (I love the protected bike lane) -> Glebe Rd (only 1 block) -> Route 1 sidewalk (half a block) -> 4MR as shown here: https://goo.gl/maps/pNkf1nN8zkm

You can also go the Boundary Channel Dr -> Long Bridge Dr -> Crystal Dr route, but I find the southbound Crystal Dr bike lane to be awful (though not as bad as the MVT; northbound Crystal Dr bike lane is just fine), so I usually avoid it except on the weekends. For reference, that route is here: https://goo.gl/maps/JcsNvxEo75H2

The former (the Eads Street route) is generally what I have done when wanting to avoid the MVT. I would note though, that the right turn from the right lane on east bound Glebe, to the sidewalk, can be a little awkward. That route will be much better when the Arlington side 4MRT reopens from Eads west (well at least for those of us headed to Shirlington).

I took Crystal Drive on Tuesday, which gave me the chance to stop at the farmers’ market. The high level of parking turnover makes it one of the least useful door zone bike lanes I know.

[semperiden]

Thanks! I have been meaning to try the Columbia Island/Pentagon/Army Navy route for a while and I am glad others recommend it. I have done the MVT/Washington Blvd/Pentagon route before and don’t like the bumpiness of it.

[GovernorSilver]

@bobco85 159493 wrote:

Seconded on the avoidance of the MVT between 14th St Bridge and Four Mile Run, except I prefer to use the following route: Columbia Island -> LBJ Grove -> Boundary Channel Dr -> Connector Rd -> Eads St (I love the protected bike lane) -> Glebe Rd (only 1 block) -> Route 1 sidewalk (half a block) -> 4MR as shown here: https://goo.gl/maps/pNkf1nN8zkm

You can also go the Boundary Channel Dr -> Long Bridge Dr -> Crystal Dr route, but I find the southbound Crystal Dr bike lane to be awful (though not as bad as the MVT; northbound Crystal Dr bike lane is just fine), so I usually avoid it except on the weekends. For reference, that route is here: https://goo.gl/maps/JcsNvxEo75H2

Ooh, I didn’t know about “Connector Rd”. Gotta try it sometime, though I no longer commute to DC.

As for the 2nd route, the answer is “Behind The Buildings”. The disadvantage is Crystal Dr. turning into a 1-way northbound, but I sneak into the bus lane to get around that.

[Alcova cyclist]

Wound up taking the long way when the Wright Gate (by Iwo Jima Memorial) was inexplicably closed at 5:45pm this afternoon. Taking the route 50 “bike trail” from there into central Arlington was an adventure. It sucks at the best of times, but now has a stretch that’s closed requiring you (I guess) to ride on route 50 between Pershing and the Washington Blvd exit ramp. Luckily if cross with the light and you haul it you can stay ahead of traffic until you’re back on the trail. Of course, that trail tries to kill you repeatedly from there west, so it’s not that much of an improvement. (I guess you could go into the neighborhood and pick your way west, but there’s no marked detour).

It is shameful that Bike Arlington labels that nightmare an “off street trail” and colors it green on the comfort map when it crosses blind-curve exit ramps from a 50mph highway (along with a host of other problems). It’s just a matter of time till someone gets killed on that stretch of “trail”.

[Tania]

@Alcova cyclist 159559 wrote:

Wound up taking the long way when the Wright Gate (by Iwo Jima Memorial) was inexplicably closed at 5:45pm this afternoon. Taking the route 50 “bike trail” from there into central Arlington was an adventure. It sucks at the best of times, but now has a stretch that’s closed requiring you (I guess) to ride on route 50 between Pershing and the Washington Blvd exit ramp. Luckily if cross with the light and you haul it you can stay ahead of traffic until you’re back on the trail. Of course, that trail tries to kill you repeatedly from there west, so it’s not that much of an improvement. (I guess you could go into the neighborhood and pick your way west, but there’s no marked detour).

It is shameful that Bike Arlington labels that nightmare an “off street trail” and colors it green on the comfort map when it crosses blind-curve exit ramps from a 50mph highway (along with a host of other problems). It’s just a matter of time till someone gets killed on that stretch of “trail”.

I’ve been doing this instead: https://www.strava.com/activities/968219599/

Stay on Pershing, cross Washington and then left on Fillmore (first light after Washington). There’s a bike path through the neighborhood that puts you out right at 50 and Washington Blvd. it’s slightly longer but very pleasant.

[accordioneur]

For those who cut through Columbia Island, please be considerate of other users of the place. More than once I’ve been buzzed by cyclists while I was walking through the parking lot with a 50+ pound, 17 foot long kayak slung over my shoulder.

[Steve O]

@Alcova cyclist 159559 wrote:

It sucks at the best of times, but now has a stretch that’s closed requiring you (I guess) to ride on route 50 between Pershing and the Washington Blvd exit ramp.

You wouldn’t know this by the (not) signs, but you can also bypass the construction section by riding on the sidewalk of the frontage road and avoid riding on Rte. 50 itself. Tania’s solution using the very secret trail is nicer.

Also, the new trail on the east side of 50 from FT. Myer Heights to Pershing avoids all the ramps. Then you cross at Pershing.

[Tania]

@Steve O 159572 wrote:

You wouldn’t know this by the (not) signs, but you can also bypass the construction section by riding on the sidewalk of the frontage road and avoid riding on Rte. 50 itself.

How? When I cross 50 at the light at Pershing, I make an immediate left and cut through the parking lot of the h/motel there (techinically “Wainwright Road”) and then get on the trail/sidewalk but that is what is closed right now through where it crosses over 27 (near Bedford Street if you’re looking at a map).

There isn’t a frontage street unless it’s on the other side of the road (the Ft Myer side)? I’ve tried cutting through the parking lots of the apts/condos there but there’s no way to get back onto the trail without playing frogger to cross Washington Blvd (no light).

[Author]

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