New commuter route

[Steve O]

@chuxtr 182623 wrote:

On ARLnow.com this morning. Morning Notes. Cyclist riding on GW Parkway going under Key Bridge. WTF???

https://www.arlnow.com/2018/11/09/morning-notes-2024/

Where did he come from? Spout Run?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Steve O 182627 wrote:

Where did he come from? Spout Run?

I’ve seen people on CaBis coming onto the GWMP from Spout Run(!) But if you were coming from Lorcom and turning left onto Spout Run, I don’t think you’d pass any “no bike” signage, as the one sign is on the west side of the I-66 overpass.

[Judd]

I think he’s just on the bleeding edge of a “Parkways for People” advocacy campaign.

I’ve ridden a bike on Skyline Drive, Colonial Parkway and the Natchez Trace Parkway and all three were a great way to commune with the natural beauty of our nation.

Maybe we should all just take a lane on the GW Parkway and move it towards being a bit more park like.

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[TwoWheelsDC]

@Judd 182646 wrote:

I think he’s just on the bleeding edge of a “Parkways for People” advocacy campaign.

I’ve ridden a bike on Skyline Drive, Colonial Parkway and the Natchez Trace Parkway and all three were a great way to commune with the natural beauty of our nation.

Maybe we should all just take a lane on the GW Parkway and move it towards being a bit more park like.

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My understanding is that a fair amount of riders use (or at least used to use) the GWMP south of Old Town on weekends for group rides. I can’t even let myself imagine a day where there was a GWMP running north from Rosslyn to Great Falls…it’s like trying to imagine heaven even though you know it doesn’t exist.

[bentbike33]

@TwoWheelsDC 182648 wrote:

My understanding is that a fair amount of riders use (or at least used to use) the GWMP south of Old Town on weekends for group rides. I can’t even let myself imagine a day where there was a GWMP running north from Rosslyn to Great Falls…it’s like trying to imagine heaven even though you know it doesn’t exist.

Back in the early 2000s, the WABA Bike DC ride a couple of times had car-free use of the northbound GWMP from Rosslyn to Fort Marcy Park. It was glorious.

[Emm]

@TwoWheelsDC 182648 wrote:

My understanding is that a fair amount of riders use (or at least used to use) the GWMP south of Old Town on weekends for group rides. I can’t even let myself imagine a day where there was a GWMP running north from Rosslyn to Great Falls…it’s like trying to imagine heaven even though you know it doesn’t exist.

It’s a “used to use” situation for the most part south of Old Town. When I lived down there you’d see the occasional bike on the parkway, but if park police caught them they got them off the parkway quickly, and cars were NOT happy about bikes on the road out there either. There are a bunch of no bike signs out that way too. Group rides tend to stick to the neighborhoods, and occasionally Fort Hunt road if they’re brave.

Honestly, I think for the most part bikes would actually be fine south of Old Town on the GW parkway, if it weren’t for the ridiculous speeding (cars go 60-70 mph down there on a regular basis.) The parkway south of Old Town is rarely that busy, and could drop to one lane, even during rush hour and generally be fine.

[Steve O]

@TwoWheelsDC 182648 wrote:

My understanding is that a fair amount of riders use (or at least used to use) the GWMP south of Old Town on weekends for group rides.

Yes, this was a thing for a long time, until NPS banned all cyclists all the time about, what?, 10 years ago maybe?

Personally I think a reasonable compromise would be to allow bikes on weekends and holidays. Although traffic still moves along briskly, it’s light enough that drivers have plenty of space and time to move to the left lane to pass with lots of room for everyone.

[Starduster]

@Steve O 182627 wrote:

Where did he come from? Spout Run?

Most likely.

[honestmachinery]

Used to ride the parkway south of Belle View on weekend mornings in the early 90s, until a couple of detective-looking guys in an unmarked LTD rolled up next to me, rolled down the window, and directed me to the bike path. Probably shouldn’t have slammed on my brakes without speaking and reversed direction behind them, but I like to think they enjoyed turning around and catching back up to me to make sure their concerns were being addressed.

I wouldn’t ride there now even if permitted. Too many mobile device-using mfers.

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