Mystery Sign

[CaseyKane50]

@ginacico 160458 wrote:

What’s the Anderson Trail? Seen on Army Navy Drive at the corner of Joyce, looking uphill.

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My recollection is that it branched off of what is now the Four Mile Run Trail just before the Arlington waste treatment plant and ran along Glebe Road.

I think it was named after Wayne Anderson, he was Alexandria’s city manager from 1970-1974 and was instrumental in the Four Mile Run flood control project. There is a plaque on the Alexandria side of Four Mile Run mounted on a rock where Commonwealth Avenue intersects the Four Mile Run Trail.

The Four Mile Run Trail dates from 1980.

[DismalScientist]

It’s the asphalt separate from the sidewalk that is 4MRT east of the intersection of Glebe and Glebe.

[bobco85]

Wow, I’ve never heard of the Wayne Anderson Trail before!

After doing a bit of Google research, it appears that this section is the Wayne F Anderson Bikeway (full name): https://goo.gl/maps/qsy2LjpuMd42 (please correct me if I’m wrong)

Pages where I saw the Wayne F Anderson Bikeway referenced:

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1994/04/14/bicyclists-receive-a-boost/c5470e4a-6a80-4fff-a129-945335889fbe/?utm_term=.ed2fad88f50f
• https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/pedalers/SRDiES98IU8
• http://www.geocities.ws/dccues/great_falls_beyondhtml.html
• http://www.rundc.com/Doc/VA/Alexandria/Dangerfield.htm
• https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/localmotion/info/BikePed%20Meeting%20notes%20011110.pdf

Does anyone know why the name was dropped from common usage?

[accordioneur]

@CaseyKane50 160460 wrote:

There is a plague on the Alexandria side of Four Mile Run mounted on a rock where Commonwealth Avenue intersects the Four Mile Run Trail.

Bubonic? Biblical?

[ginacico]

Here’s a bit from the Arlandrian in 2009, wherein Steve O also noticed the strange signs.

“The Anderson Trail…or perhaps, Anderson Bikeway….is the proper name of the trail in Four Mile Run park between Route 1 and the Avenue.”

http://www.arlandria.org/2009/06/anderson-bikeway.html

[lordofthemark]

@ginacico 160470 wrote:

Here’s a bit from the Arlandrian in 2009, wherein Steve O also noticed the strange signs.

“The Anderson Trail…or perhaps, Anderson Bikeway….is the proper name of the trail in Four Mile Run park between Route 1 and the Avenue.”

http://www.arlandria.org/2009/06/anderson-bikeway.html

This is a relief to know. Instead of saying ” the Four Mile Run trail, but the one in Alexandria, not the one in Arlington” when describing the detour, I can just say “the Anderson Trail”

[lordofthemark]

@accordioneur 160467 wrote:

Bubonic? Biblical?

One of the leading “bike haters” in the City, is someone who lives on the east side of Old Town, works near King Street metro, and drives to work. And regularly complains about his commute. And ran for Council, and actually got 8400 votes. Of course the City is the subject of divine wrath.

[cvcalhoun]

@lordofthemark 160471 wrote:

This is a relief to know. Instead of saying ” the Four Mile Run trail, but the one in Alexandria, not the one in Arlington” when describing the detour, I can just say “the Anderson Trail”

And that way, ensure that absolutely no one knows what you’re talking about.

[Steve O]

@cvcalhoun 160474 wrote:

And that way, ensure that absolutely no one knows what you’re talking about.

Don’t get me started. It’s like calling the Donaldson Run Trail “Zachary Taylor Trail.” Or my other favorite mystery signs are the ones along the W&OD that say “John Marshall.”
Not “John Marshall Bikeway” or “John Marshall Bike Route,” just “John Marshall,” as though you will turn that way and there will be a guy standing there in a white wig.

Here’s my original blog post on the topic if you’re bored.

[CaseyKane50]

@CaseyKane50 160460 wrote:

My recollection is that it branched off of what is now the Four Mile Run Trail just before the Arlington waste treatment plant and ran along Glebe Road.

I think it was named after Wayne Anderson, he was Alexandria’s city manager from 1970-1974 and was instrumental in the Four Mile Run flood control project. There is a plague on the Alexandria side of Four Mile Run mounted on a rock where Commonwealth Avenue intersects the Four Mile Run Trail.

The Four Mile Run Trail dates from 1980.

I was wrong about the plaque, Wayne Anderson’s name is not on it.

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However, along the Alexandria trail is the Wayne Anderson Bikeway sign

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[Fairlington124]

I think we should make an effort to rename Union Street in Old Town south of King as the “Hal Hardaway Community Bikeway”.

[bobco85]

I think it’d be nice if we could have a sign or plaque giving a bio of Wayne Anderson and his contributions to the improvements in the area. Also, I’m in favor of referring to the section of trail as the Wayne Anderson Bikeway and getting some signage because calling it Four Mile Run Park Trail is confusing (I always have to explain that it’s the one in Alexandria).

In the meantime, I will start adding Wayne Anderson Bikeway to my future videos

[Steve O]

@bobco85 160499 wrote:

I think it’d be nice if we could have a sign or plaque giving a bio of Wayne Anderson and his contributions to the improvements in the area. Also, I’m in favor of referring to the section of trail as the Wayne Anderson Bikeway and getting some signage because calling it Four Mile Run Park Trail is confusing (I always have to explain that it’s the one in Alexandria).

In the meantime, I will start adding Wayne Anderson Bikeway to my future videos

I’m mixed on this. If, in fact, the powers that be put up clear, abundant signs and maintained them, then I would be okay. In the absence of signage, then no one will know what you are talking about. Just like the Donaldson Run trail, which is officially the Zachary Taylor Trail, but there isn’t a single sign anywhere announcing that. Donaldson Run is descriptive and tells you where it is. That’s a good name, and it’s what everyone calls it already.
No one calls the trail in question the Anderson Bikeway as far as I have ever known.

In which case I would prefer calling it something descriptive, like “Four-Mile South Side Trail,” or “Alexandria 4MR Trail” so at least people have an inkling of what you mean.

Four Mile Run Trail is, in fact, a huge problem, because it’s actually about 6 different disconnected sections of trail. Whenever it’s referenced it requires an additional descriptor, like “the section in Madison Manor,” or “the part in Barcroft.”

[dasgeh]

@Steve O 160510 wrote:

I’m mixed on this. If, in fact, the powers that be put up clear, abundant signs and maintained them, then I would be okay. In the absence of signage, then no one will know what you are talking about. Just like the Donaldson Run trail, which is officially the Zachary Taylor Trail, but there isn’t a single sign anywhere announcing that. Donaldson Run is descriptive and tells you where it is. That’s a good name, and it’s what everyone calls it already.
No one calls the trail in question the Anderson Bikeway as far as I have ever known.

In which case I would prefer calling it something descriptive, like “Four-Mile South Side Trail,” or “Alexandria 4MR Trail” so at least people have an inkling of what you mean.

Four Mile Run Trail is, in fact, a huge problem, because it’s actually about 6 different disconnected sections of trail. Whenever it’s referenced it requires an additional descriptor, like “the section in Madison Manor,” or “the part in Barcroft.”

How about Arlington just make an effort to officially name and adequately mark all of its trails, including wayfinding and location finding (for emergencies, etc).

If only some group had recommended Arlington do this already…

[lordofthemark]

@dasgeh 160511 wrote:

How about Arlington just make an effort to officially name and adequately mark all of its trails, including wayfinding and location finding (for emergencies, etc).

If only some group had recommended Arlington do this already…

At the last BPAC meeting the rep from Capital Trails Coalition mentioned the signage on the new Anacostia River Trail in DC, and there was some discussion of potential regional signage standards, etc. CTC may be the best venue to move this forward, esp with NPS being part of the coalition as well as representatives from most of the local jurisdictions (but not NVRPA as far as I know)

[Author]

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