New "speed control" bariers at Roosevelt Island

[dasgeh]

It’s worth having these conversations because sometimes there is money. Sometimes, the money springs up at the last minute (“We have some funds left over from paving the car road yet again. It’s not enough for another repaving. We shouldn’t return it to the Treasury because we’ll get less next time. What should we do?”). Sometimes it’s not enough for a car project, but would be plenty for a bike project. So having something in our pockets can be useful (“Oh, you have extra money to be spent on the parkway. Please extend the ramp in such a way to straight the MVT and eliminate the parking lot crossing”).

Anyway, this started as a “please remove the barriers so we have a choice”. That doesn’t cost anything.

[Drewdane]

@baiskeli 45157 wrote:

…so some cyclists can avoid having to slow down a little just to make a turn on a perfectly good bike trail. Hmmm.”

The point many have made in this thread is that the bike trail is far from “perfectly good” and in fact is not even “good enough”.

[baiskeli]

@Drewdane 45165 wrote:

The point many have made in this thread is that the bike trail is far from “perfectly good” and in fact is not even “good enough”.

I don’t think you could convince the NPS of that though.

[Tim Kelley]

FYI-I spoke to Nps and they took a look at the barriers and plan to move them away from the trail to give a bit more space.

[consularrider]

They finally did move the barriers back from the trail yesterday.

[rcannon100]

Hum…. I think a number of cyclists helped move the barriers back. Every time I go by they are in a different configuration. Gap opened to allow cyclists; cap closed to block cyclists; cap opened to allow cyclists.

Meanwhile, with the increase in temperature has resulted in an increase of bike traffic, the double 90 become increasingly dangerous and harrowing.

[birddog]

It would be OK if they would straighten out the double 90s here:

38.896720, -77.067291
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.896731,-77.067299

We could then merge with traffic until we get to the bridge that goes over the GW parkway.

[Bilsko]

@rcannon100 46219 wrote:

Hum…. I think a number of cyclists helped move the barriers back. Every time I go by they are in a different configuration. Gap opened to allow cyclists; cap closed to block cyclists; cap opened to allow cyclists.

I’ve noticed this daily reconfiguration too while riding home. I’ve been tempted to stop and open up the gap a bit myself now and then but always end up just riding past.

**I’m not advocating or suggesting that anyone mess with official NPS traffic control devices**, but I think they’re just the water-weighted kind with a little plug at the bottom: Open the plug, drain some water and they shouldn’t weigh more than a fully loaded pannier.

My disclaimer notwithstanding, I think they’re awful and would love to see them moved.

[Steve]

The thread title always make me laugh and think about how lately a combination of the wind and my legs have been the biggest speed control barrier! Seriously, from 14th St. to Rosslyn is supposed to be the easy part of my ride home, not the hard part.

Maybe the guy making the art garden at the top of the ramp will take one of the barriers for up there?

[Bilsko]

When I rode by the TR barrier clusterf%&*ck yesterday (Westbound towards Rosslyn), there was a (temporary?) posted sign with a 15mph speed limit. There was also a tent with NPS officers there. I would have stopped but was late to get home. Anyone else stop?

I didn’t see the sign when I rode by eastbound this morning but I could have just not been paying enough attention.

Is there any legal justification for the sign? Could someone point me to the VA / NPS code that sets the trail speed limit at 15mph?

I know that on the CCT, in MD, the speed is officially codified at 15mph (although not in DC, IIRC). I didn’t realize that VA had implemented the same for the MVT.

…Now that I’m a VA bike commuter and all…

[americancyclo]

@Bilsko 56842 wrote:

Could someone point me to the VA / NPS code that sets the trail speed limit at 15mph?

I know that on the CCT, in MD, the speed is officially codified at 15mph (although not in DC, IIRC). I didn’t realize that VA had implemented the same for the MVT.

Title 36 -Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Compendium
George Washington Memorial Parkway
4.30 Bicycles.
The following regulations apply to bicyclists on designated trails in George Washington
Memorial Parkway:

The speed limit for bikes is 15 MPH.
Cyclists must stay on the right side of the trail.
Move left only to pass and give ample audible warning when passing other trail
users.
Bicyclists must adhere to protective equipment requirements and regulations set
by the applicable state or county.
Trail users must keep to the right and travel in single file.

[bobco85]

@Bilsko 56842 wrote:

When I rode by the TR barrier clusterf%&*ck yesterday (Westbound towards Rosslyn), there was a (temporary?) posted sign with a 15mph speed limit. There was also a tent with NPS officers there. I would have stopped but was late to get home. Anyone else stop?

I didn’t see the sign when I rode by eastbound this morning but I could have just not been paying enough attention.

Is there any legal justification for the sign? Could someone point me to the VA / NPS code that sets the trail speed limit at 15mph?

I know that on the CCT, in MD, the speed is officially codified at 15mph (although not in DC, IIRC). I didn’t realize that VA had implemented the same for the MVT.

…Now that I’m a VA bike commuter and all…

The MVT has 15 mph speed limit signs south of the Wilson Bridge, but does not have any north of it. I was unsuccessful in finding any legal documentation of the speed limit. (never mind, americancyclo found the documentation)

As an aside, how could a cycling speed limit even be enforced when bicycles are not required to have speedometers?

[ShawnoftheDread]

@americancyclo 56846 wrote:

Title 36 -Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Compendium
George Washington Memorial Parkway
4.30 Bicycles.
The following regulations apply to bicyclists on designated trails in George Washington
Memorial Parkway:

The speed limit for bikes is 15 MPH.
Cyclists must stay on the right side of the trail.
Move left only to pass and give ample audible warning when passing other trail
users.
Bicyclists must adhere to protective equipment requirements and regulations set
by the applicable state or county.
Trail users must keep to the right and travel in single file.

Interesting change of language there. It’s in the bicycles section, but states “trail users” must be single file, not “bicycles” must be single file. So the side-by-side joggers are in violation even if they stay on one side of the trail? Or is it just another example of sloppiness in drafting legislation?

[consularrider]

@ShawnoftheDread 56854 wrote:

Interesting change of language there. It’s in the bicycles section, but states “trail users” must be single file, not “bicycles” must be single file. So the side-by-side joggers are in violation even if they stay on one side of the trail? Or is it just another example of sloppiness in drafting legislation?

Or travel on the left hand side of the trail.

[Steve]

@bobco85 56850 wrote:

As an aside, how could a cycling speed limit even be enforced when bicycles are not required to have speedometers?

I believe the answer is, “it can’t.” If speedometers are not required by law, then I don’t think a speed limit law has any real enforcibility. I could be wrong though.

[Author]

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