News Flash: Ninjas Prohibited on the W&OD!

[mstone]

ninja discrimination lawsuit in 5..4..3..

[chris_s]

I kind of want to hug that sign.

Official sanction for post-sunset use AND anti-ninja rules?

[bobco85]

I find it ironic that the very people who should be reading that sign, i.e. ninjas, won’t see it because they’ll only be on the trail when it’s dark. I propose putting a spotlight on it and a sign with flashing lights around it that says “FREE STUFF”.

[JimF22003]

I ride west of Herndon after dark all the time… So do tons of other people. I hope they don’t plan to start enforcing this for people who are riding safely and are properly illuminated…

[mstone]

@JimF22003 44981 wrote:

I ride west of Herndon after dark all the time… So do tons of other people. I hope they don’t plan to start enforcing this for people who are riding safely and are properly illuminated…

Into Loudon? Those guys are just looking for ways to get you…

[ShawnoftheDread]

I hope the “extended hours” won’t be used to justify stricter enforcement against those using the trail at, say 9:30 or 10:00 p.m. I never work hard enough to use the trail that late, but I’m sure plenty of others do (Liz and Vin, I’m looking at you).

[rcannon100]

For any who might not know:
* Technically the WOD closes 30 min after sundown.

NVRPA 1.09 A. Opening and Closing. No person shall enter a park more than one half hour before sunrise
or remain in a park more than one half hour after sunset unless the person is (i) using a
lighted facility (as provided for in §1.09(C) below) or specially posted park, (ii) attending a
special event permitted by the Park Authority, (iii) is a bonafide renter or camper or (iv) has
the express written permission of the Park Authority to be in a park before opening or after
closing. If a patron is in a park outside of operating hours in accordance with exceptions (i –
iv) above, the patron must leave the park by the closing time posted for the facility, park or
event or specified in the permit.

Any riding on the WOD after that is technically has been illegal and you could be ticketed.

* Yes, police have harassed cyclists on the WOD after dark. We have had probs with Arlco police in the past planting cruisers on the WOD and saying “none shall pass” I dont think it has happened in Arlco in a while – but it sure is nice to have this statement.

Okay, so here is the pop quiz. The new sign says the park closes at 9 pm. But on June 20, sundown is at 8:38 pm. So on June 28 – when does the park actually close? :p

BTW if you are on Twitter, tweet to @NVRPA and thank them for officially extending park hours for lighted bikes. (or you can always send them an email)

[SerialCarpins]

This reminds me of a question that I had wanted to ask a few months ago…are the laws the same on the CCT from Georgetown to Bethesda? What are the “hours” of this section of trail? I think the gate leading to the Air Right Building tunnel gets locked at 10pm (Maybe 9?) so one would assume that the hours follow that logic, but who knows since part of the trail is in DC and part in MD….I have to say, I have ridden as late as 10pm on the trail, and still encountered a few people.

Anyone know the actual hours/law?

[jabberwocky]

I rode the trail for years commuting to my old job (Reston to Tysons and back) and never had any issues. Hell, I had cops in Vienna and Reston wave at me when I rode by later at night.

[GuyContinental]

@rcannon100 44988 wrote:

For any who might not know:
* Technically the WOD closes 30 min after sundown.

Any riding on the WOD after that is technically has been illegal and you could be ticketed.

* Yes, police have harassed cyclists on the WOD after dark. We have had probs with Arlco police in the past planting cruisers on the WOD and saying “none shall pass” I dont think it has happened in Arlco in a while – but it sure is nice to have this statement.
:p

I really don’t think that even Loudoun will go after commuters- as far as I understand it the goal has always been to have an enforcement mechanism to take care of potential miscreants. Individual LEOs have taken it on themselves to go after the hated cyclists…

Midnight WO&D warrior Ccrew (where did he go BTW?) said that he was stopped 1-2 times a year but more out of curiosity than any desire for the LEO to be a jerk or issue a ticket. I mean really, in my case, if I can’t ride the WO&D I’d be forced onto Rt 7, in the dark. I’m not sure what I’d do except eat the ticket and ask the officer for a 30 mile ride to Arlington.

[Bilsko]

@SerialCarpins 44989 wrote:

This reminds me of a question that I had wanted to ask a few months ago…are the laws the same on the CCT from Georgetown to Bethesda? What are the “hours” of this section of trail? I think the gate leading to the Air Right Building tunnel gets locked at 10pm (Maybe 9?) so one would assume that the hours follow that logic, but who knows since part of the trail is in DC and part in MD….I have to say, I have ridden as late as 10pm on the trail, and still encountered a few people.

Anyone know the actual hours/law?

The CCT is kind of tough because oversight appears to be split between NPS and Montgomery county (for the DC section, its NPS under the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Park, and MD section is Mont. Co)

I’m not sure how Montgomery Co. regulates it once you get up to the MD border, but as bart of the C&O Canal Park, NPS regulations say it closes 30min after sunset until 30min before sunrise (Sec 1.5 (2)F) I’m pretty certain that its not regularly enforced. There are *lots* of commuters that ride well past dark.

Also of note:
Geocaching is only allowed if its “virtual geocaching” and you can only take 1 Bushel of Walnuts per day, but 1/2 a Gallon of Paw Paws are OK.

[rcannon100]

@Bilsko 44998 wrote:

Also of note:
Geocaching is only allowed if its “virtual geocaching”.

Non virtual caches are plastic boxes or water proof ammo cans or other assorted things. Basically it looks like abandoned property (aka trash) and in worst cases looks a lot like a bomb. The caches get hidden in creative places resulting in lots of environmental damage as numb nuts go stomping around the landscape trying to find the hidden box of tupperware. (yes, I was a geocacher)

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Bilsko 44998 wrote:

Also of note:
Geocaching is only allowed if its “virtual geocaching” and you can only take 1 Bushel of Walnuts per day, but 1/2 a Gallon of Paw Paws are OK.

Great, now I’m hungry again. And not a pawpaw in sight.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ShawnoftheDread 44986 wrote:

I never work hard enough to use the trail that late, but I’m sure plenty of others do (Liz and Vin, I’m looking at you).

I was once stuck at work until 630pm. I thought I was gonna die.

[dbb]

There is something fun about cruising down the MVT at 1030 at night. About the only time you get to use all your lights. It certainly helps to do this on your normal commute as it forces you to remember where al the bumps are.

[Author]

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