New traffic pattern on Crystal Drive, as of Sat., June 15

[KLizotte]

Yeah! It’s about time :p

[CaseyKane50]

New lane markings have been put down on the section of Crystal Drive between 12th and 15th Streets. This section of Crystal Drive should be opening early next week. It appears that there won’t be a bike lane headed north bound, but south bound will have a bike lane.

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[consularrider]

@CaseyKane50 59978 wrote:

New lane markings have been put down … It appears that there won’t be a bike lane headed north bound, but south bound will have a bike lane.

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Actually, it must have the world’s narrowest bike lane.

Maybe that’s a two way cycle track on the left hand side?

[bobco85]

I don’t understand the use of the double solid white lines, but there appears to be enough room to make it a hybrid bike/parking lane like on South Hayes Street between 15th Street and Eads Street. At least on South Hayes Street there are markings to let drivers know how much they should let their cars stick out.

[mstone]

@bobco85 60010 wrote:

I don’t understand the use of the double solid white lines, but there appears to be enough room to make it a hybrid bike/parking lane like on South Hayes Street between 15th Street and Eads Street. At least on South Hayes Street there are markings to let drivers know how much they should let their cars stick out.

hybrid bike/parking lane? is that code for “scamming green credits via overprovisioned parking”?

[CaseyKane50]

It appears as if the markings are finished on this section of Crystal Drive. A bike lane is in place for south bound riders, but the double solid white lines are definitely not marking off a bike lane in the northbound direction. You can ride to the right of the double solid white lines, but you will be in the door zone of any parked car. A biker will probably be safest taking the lane.

The county might need to adjust the sign just past 15th Street to indicate that the bike lane has ended.

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Update: I sent an email to Katherine Youngbluth (Street Improvements – Crystal City) and David Goodman (Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements) asking them if there were any plans to add sharrows to the northbound lane and suggesting they should adjust the bike lane sign.

[CaseyKane50]

@CaseyKane50 61319 wrote:

Update: I sent an email to Katherine Youngbluth (Street Improvements – Crystal City) and David Goodman (Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements) asking them if there were any plans to add sharrows to the northbound lane and suggesting they should adjust the bike lane sign.

Based on the response I got, it appears the project is still not complete. There is however, a good explanation for the double white lines.

Here is the response from Katherine Youngbluth.

Hello Casey,

Thank you for your email and I apologize for the delayed response; I just got back from vacation on Monday and have been trying to catch-up and keep up with my emails.

The Crystal Drive Two-Way Conversion Phase 1 project (which you have attached photos of below) has not yet been accepted by the County from the construction contractor, which means that there are still signage and other aspects of the project that need to be worked on. We are continuously working with the construction contractor to resolve a number of issues.

The Crystal City Multi-Modal Transportation Study and Crystal City Sector Plans called for a bicycle couplet for Crystal Drive and South Clark Street with Crystal Drive having the southbound bicycle lane and South Clark Street having the northbound bicycle facility. The concept for the northbound bicycle lane on South Clark Street between 15th Street South and 12th Street South is currently being developed is anticipated to be a cycle track. We expect to be in construction on the South Clark Street cycle track next year. The double white lines below will be a future transit lane, which will remove the on-street parking in the area. In the long term, the streetcar will run in this lane and travel northbound before turning westbound on 12th Street and travel onto Pentagon City.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Katherine D. Youngbluth, AICP

Capital Project Management Coordinator
Division of Transportation
Arlington County Government
2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Ste 900
Arlington, VA 22201

[NicDiesel]

@bobco85 60010 wrote:

I don’t understand the use of the double solid white lines

I saw the “official” response but I really think this is a case of the painting crew getting confused. Still, it’s nice to be able to do an almost complete Crystal City loop before and after work.

[CaseyKane50]

Green paint has been put down on the southbound bike lane

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[consularrider]

oooooh, pretty!

Just in time for the 4MR bridge demolition detour.

[PotomacCyclist]

@consularrider 60000 wrote:

Actually, it must have the world’s narrowest bike lane.

Maybe that’s a two way cycle track on the left hand side?

Almost every time I ride up the road, I try to ride in between the two narrow white lines. Mostly because… it’s there. Sort of like the technical skating elements they used to have in the Olympic ice skating competitions, only on a bike.

[CaseyKane50]

Of course. The sign says it is a bike lane

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[bobco85]

They should paint it green, you know, just for kicks!

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