My Morning Commute

[KWL]

@bobco85 132829 wrote:

I did slip and fall on the ice once, though…

So you are already in the running for wheels&wings’ London Bridge pointless prize?

[vern]

@Tania 132813 wrote:

So…basically, I’m just a total chicken. But the thought of going out at 5:45am for my first snow ride (even with studs) made me stay under the covers.

For redemption (and pie!), join the caravan in the morning.

[bobco85]

@KWL 132849 wrote:

So you are already in the running for wheels&wings’ London Bridge pointless prize?

I even got it on video! I look forward to seeing (and sharing) the footage when I upload it to my computer when I get home from work.

[consularrider]

@KWL 132849 wrote:

So you are already in the running for wheels&wings’ London Bridge pointless prize?

Even with the studs and fat tires I had the Pugsley slide out from under me at very low speed on some brown sugar on top of ice as I tried to transition off a street onto a sidewalk this afternoon. Just had to laugh at myself and remember to make no sudden movements.

[Tania]

@vern 132863 wrote:

For redemption (and pie!), join the caravan in the morning.

I’m in; dcv has promised a way-too-fast escort.

Our office is closed tomorrow so it’s 50/50 as to whether I drag my ass out of bed.

[consularrider]

@Tania 132885 wrote:

I’m in; dcv has promised a way-too-fast escort.

Our office is closed tomorrow so it’s 50/50 as to whether I drag my ass out of bed.

But it’s not supposed to start snowing until around 5 pm. Don’t you want the joy of another snowbound homeward commute? FYI, today’s average speed was only a hair over 7 or 8 mph (depends on whether you take the Garmin or Strava calculation).

[Raymo853]

I saw a semi-verified FB post that WMATA will close bus operations Friday at 5, the trains at 11, and be closed all weekend.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/traffic/transit/Metro-Close-Weather-Snow-Blizzard-Plans-Bus-Train-366104811.html

[notlost]

@Raymo853 132910 wrote:

I saw a semi-verified FB post that WMATA will close bus operations Friday at 5, the trains at 11, and be closed all weekend.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/traffic/transit/Metro-Close-Weather-Snow-Blizzard-Plans-Bus-Train-366104811.html

Verified.

http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=6029

[mstone]

I guess this ups the chance of the federal government closing. Or commutepocalypse part II.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Was soooooo close to taking liberal leave. But I figured I needed to get some exercise (and BAFS points) before laying on the couch all day…

[bobco85]

I finished the video of my commute Thursday morning with the snow, ice, and a fall:

[video=youtube_share;_nbd2x60V0s]https://youtu.be/_nbd2x60V0s[/video]

I’ve been recommended to hold onto the jeep should I find myself in the same situation again :p

(Edit)For my morning commute, I tend to alternate between Holmes Run Trail -> climbing Chambliss -> George Mason Dr -> W&OD and climbing Beauregard -> Walter Reed -> W&OD. This is the former of the 2 routes.

[KWL]

…was a bear. Places that have been cleared in the past were not this morning. Boundary Channel Drive near I-395 was a muddy mess. The Pentagon sidewalk was not cleared except right around the flags. The Washington Blvd sidewalk over Rt 110 was not cleared. Note the photo of taking the lane on Washington Blvd. Memorial Bridge sidewalk was cleared only about 1/2 way across from the DC side. I got tired of negotiating the narrow footpath and took to the car lanes then noticed the cleared section. Lincoln Memorial Circle was not totally clear. Twenty-second at Eye was blocked off but then clear near New Hampshire Ave.

I’m rethinking my route home. How do I get from Memorial Bridge to the Pentagon except to slog through knee deep snow next to Washington Blvd?

[KWL]

@KWL 133213 wrote:

…Memorial Bridge sidewalk was cleared only about 1/2 way across from the DC side. I got tired of negotiating the narrow footpath and took to the car lanes then noticed the cleared section. …

I lied. The Memorial Bridge sidewalk has not been cleared at all. I thought I saw a plowed sidewalk from the roadway, but it was just short sections that had melted plus the wooden ramp at the reconstruction section. Riding from the DC side this evening:

[bobco85]

Commuting to work on Tuesday was vastly different from Monday.

I took mostly the same route this morning as yesterday, riding up Beauregard from Sanger in Alexandria and using George Mason Drive to get from Barcroft towards Ballston before using Henderson to get to Glebe. On Monday, the 2 lane roads had 1-1.5 usable lanes, there were few vehicles, I had plenty of room, and getting onto Glebe was easy. However, on Tuesday, the 2 lane roads still had 1-1.5 usable lanes, but there were many more vehicles, I had less room, and Glebe was at a slow crawl. Oh, and there was a LOT more beeping going on (not at me, but it seemed at everyone and everything in general)!

Wednesday morning is going to be interesting, and sadly Glebe is unavoidable (but I will still bike to work).

[Sunyata]

@bobco85 133334 wrote:

Commuting to work on Tuesday was vastly different from Monday.

I took mostly the same route this morning as yesterday, riding up Beauregard from Sanger in Alexandria and using George Mason Drive to get from Barcroft towards Ballston before using Henderson to get to Glebe. On Monday, the 2 lane roads had 1-1.5 usable lanes, there were few vehicles, I had plenty of room, and getting onto Glebe was easy. However, on Tuesday, the 2 lane roads still had 1-1.5 usable lanes, but there were many more vehicles, I had less room, and Glebe was at a slow crawl. Oh, and there was a LOT more beeping going on (not at me, but it seemed at everyone and everything in general)!

Wednesday morning is going to be interesting, and sadly Glebe is unavoidable (but I will still bike to work).

Since the trails are not clear, George Mason is an inevitable part of my morning commute… Which is why I am teleworking again today. NVRPA is plowing the Arlington sections of the W&OD today. Hopefully that means I can finally get to the office tomorrow and stop sleaze riding.

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