Near miss on Eads Street

[KLizotte]

I never go through there at rush hour so have never seen the backup you describe; most of the time I take the S Fern Street which is a parallel street and much quieter than S. Eads. Have you tried S Fern instead?

I agree the lights should be synced however.

[83b]

Not that any of this is relevant, but I used to live right there and LOATHED that intersection. And the general pattern of traffic design problems and poor drivers was part of the attraction to move into the city. I also couldn’t believe some of the shenanigans with trying to use the gas station on that corner. Even though its one of the only ones in the neighborhood I started actively avoiding it.

[Sunyata]

@S. Arlington Observer 138036 wrote:

I’m not sure who controls those traffic lights or if the safety of cyclists (which, after all, are in a marked cycling lane on Eads Street at that point) even matter in their equations. Can somebody advise who to notify about traffic light timing?

Yikes… That sounds like a very badly controlled intersection.

In Arlington County, the Transportation Engineering and Operations Bureau handle light timing. Here is their website with contact info:
https://transportation.arlingtonva.us/streets/traffic-signals/

[dasgeh]

I agree this is one of the worst blocks in Arlington. It’s not just a cycling issue – it’s bad for everyone.

You can also reach Arlington’s DES on twitter (@arlingtonDES) and des@arlingtonva.us

[S. Arlington Observer]

@dasgeh 138093 wrote:

I agree this is one of the worst blocks in Arlington. It’s not just a cycling issue – it’s bad for everyone.

You can also reach Arlington’s DES on twitter (@arlingtonDES) and des@arlingtonva.us

Thanks to both you and Sunyata for the info on DES. I will follow up, though I don’t have a twitter account. I’ve resisted forever but may have to give in. My kids have Instagram, Twitter and 8 million other things. I feel lucky to not to be strangled for time with just Facebook.

But thanks. I will follow up with the County.

[consularrider]

@S. Arlington Observer 138098 wrote:

Thanks to both you and Sunyata for the info on DES. I will follow up, though I don’t have a twitter account. I’ve resisted forever but may have to give in. My kids have Instagram, Twitter and 8 million other things. I feel lucky to not to be strangled for time with just Facebook.

But thanks. I will follow up with the County.

Well, if the kids have Twitter they can do the tweet on your behalf and you can stay pure. I’m like you, between this forum and facebook, my retirement time is all used up and is cutting into my time on the bike.

[Subby]

I feel like the next intersection (heading to DC on Eads – 20th St, I believe) is worse bc you are back in the protected bike lane and you have cars turning right across your path. 23rd St is congested, but if you filter to the front it puts you in pretty good position to proceed. Not perfect but not really that bad, either. Just a general observation though – not trying to marginalize your having to deal with knuckleheads in that spot.

[lordofthemark]

When the MVT was mulchy I went that way a few times. Just tried to be real careful at 23rd and at 20th.

[vern]

@Subby 138146 wrote:

I feel like the next intersection (heading to DC on Eads – 20th St, I believe) is worse bc you are back in the protected bike lane and you have cars turning right across your path. 23rd St is congested, but if you filter to the front it puts you in pretty good position to proceed. Not perfect but not really that bad, either. Just a general observation though – not trying to marginalize your having to deal with knuckleheads in that spot.

That’s my experience as one who goes through this intersection daily. I always slow up at 20th or adjust my speed so that I know (or think I know) the cars see me that might turn right. At 23rd, I just wait until it’s safe to proceed, and if it’s all jammed up it’s usually pretty easy to slide through the mess and be on my way. But, because of the congestion driver’s do get antsy so cyclists must be very cognizant of driver’s who make sudden, erratic moves.

[Author]

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