New Arlington County Commuter Services Campaign – What do you think?

[dasgeh]

One thing that’s not covered on the pdf – because you would expect this to be obvious – is that the priority in the sidewalk goes to pedestrians then cyclists.

I’ve been involved in or seen far too many instances in the last 6 months where drivers coming out of driveways (either short ones from a house or long ones coming out of a parking lot) almost run over pedestrians, strollers, cyclists because drivers simply don’t look who’s in the sidewalk. I’ve also seen a surprising number of cars blocking sidewalks, forcing pedestrians and cyclists into the street. A friendly reminder that blocking/running over people in the sidewalk is illegal would be helpful.

[vvill]

All things considered, I think it’s great. You can’t include everything there and still have it be clear/concise/readable.

[rcannon100]

It’s very good. And its a message I repeat like a mantra…. be predictable. Even if you do something stupid, stay predictable (if you miss a turn, just miss it… go around the block and do it again – NO Crazy Ivans).

So I will say it again, its good.

But of course my snark would be, what’s missing? Even the slightest hint of enforcement. Dont see a police officer anywhere in the image (of course it could be “where’s waldo” hiding somewhere).

As much as you “encourage” people to “drive nice” – we now have an overloaded traffic infrastructure, with ppl stuck in unacceptable commute times (even of their own doing), and aggressive and irresponsible driving is now the norm. It is not a question at any major intersection of whether a car will run the red light, but how many. I saw a taxi driving the wrong way down a one way street in front of an Arlington school the other day. I mean, it has gotten to the point of being just silly.

As much as it makes Blackwell cry , I ride on the sidewalk because I want to be as far away from cars as I possibly can.

[Mark Blacknell]

I really like the graphic. Good job, folks.

~

@rcannon100 12835 wrote:

As much as it makes Blackwell cry , I ride on the sidewalk because I want to be as far away from cars as I possibly can.

No, *that’s* what makes Blacknell cry.

~

Re: upthread issue about the cyclist in blue approaching the intersection with the right turning blue car. The cyclist has a couple of options – he can slow down and wait for the turn to complete, or he can move left into the traffic lane (where, as a matter of law in Virginia, he always has a right to be). What the cyclist should *not* do – both as a matter of law and of safety – is filter on the right. Unfortunately, I see cyclists do this all.the.time. It’s not just illegal (passing on the right, and you’re not splitting a lane), it’s very dangerous. Drivers (people) are like goldfish – even if they noticed you when they passed you in the bike lane earlier, they’re sure not going to remember that you were there and check before completing the turn.

This situation plays out daily in the Wilson Blvd chute between Whole Foods and Market Commons. Safest thing to do? Get out of the bike lane, and pass right-turning cars on the left (you know, assuming cars from the left lane aren’t about to turn into you to get around the long line of cars turning left into Whole Foods).

[DismalScientist]

@Mark Blacknell 12842 wrote:

This situation plays out daily in the Wilson Blvd chute between Whole Foods and Market Commons. Safest thing to do? Get out of the bike lane, and pass right-turning cars on the left (you know, assuming cars from the left lane aren’t about to turn into you to get around the long line of cars turning left into Whole Foods).

For the second time in recent memory, I was in the middle of the right lane of Clarendon going about 25 in this area. I heard from a pedestrian behind me to “get in the bike lane.” It was a good idea he was behind me lest I identify him and initiate a discussion of the relative safety of what he was advocating that I do.

[KLizotte]

@DismalScientist 12855 wrote:

For the second time in recent memory, I was in the middle of the right lane of Clarendon going about 25 in this area. I heard from a pedestrian behind me to “get in the bike lane.” It was a good idea he was behind me lest I identify him and initiate a discussion of the relative safety of what he was advocating that I do.

Yeah, they probably should have put in sharrows along Clarendon/Wilson instead of bike lanes given the traffic situation there.

[RESTONTODC]

@Mark Blacknell 12842 wrote:

This situation plays out daily in the Wilson Blvd chute between Whole Foods and Market Commons. Safest thing to do? Get out of the bike lane, and pass right-turning cars on the left (you know, assuming cars from the left lane aren’t about to turn into you to get around the long line of cars turning left into Whole Foods).

I think it would help to have a sign “BEGIN RIGHT TURN LANE, YIELD TO BIKES”. Most of driver assumes the bikes needs to stop and yield for cars when marking turn.

[Author]

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