PSA: Slippery When Wet!

[KLizotte]

I second the warning. Broke a bone on the last southern boardwalk on the MVT last summer. I went through there about a month ago and noted that there were lots of skidmarks into the fence and I could still see where my pedal gouged out the wood. I slow way down when I see wood now; I wish others would too because I’m afraid of someone wiping out in front of me.

The bridge trolls are alive and well! 😡

[TwoWheelsDC]

I’m glad that I go straight there, from the parking lot up to the TR bridge, rather than trying to negotiate that turn. Definitely seemed very slick this morning!

[Popsicleian]

Same thing happened to me about a year ago, and now I know to take it extra slow through there. The dude in front of me on my ride last Friday morning had to learn that lesson the hard way. I had to brake fairly quickly when he went down and started to feel my tires washing out, but luckily I stayed upright

[cephas]

Add personal story: I wiped out on the wood bridge just north of Old Town a few years ago. Then they resurfaced the bridge, and it totally looked life it had more traction. Being cautious, I still took it carefully, but not slowly enough. And the extra traction laughed as I wiped out. I’ve also wiped out going about 0.08 mph over a manhole cover. Slow, straight, and steady. And of course avoid if possible!

[KLizotte]

I’ve also wiped out on the expansion joint on the eastern end of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge; not on the bridge itself, but the U turn section that takes you up to the overlook above the roadway. I was heading downwards and making the left hand turn when my back wheel went out from under me and I went splat. No injuries just embarassment since I did it right in front of a cop car that was parked there (can only fathom what he was watching out for….errant peds?).

[baiskeli]

I wiped out there one morning, just from dew and frost, and then two cyclists right behind me bit it.

NPS needs to DO SOMETHING about this. It can’t possibly require as much effort as they put into the GW crossing. Just some grit paint or something.

[Terpfan]

@KLizotte 54699 wrote:

I’ve also wiped out on the expansion joint on the eastern end of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge; not on the bridge itself, but the U turn section that takes you up to the overlook above the roadway. I was heading downwards and making the left hand turn when my back wheel went out from under me and I went splat. No injuries just embarassment since I did it right in front of a cop car that was parked there (can only fathom what he was watching out for….errant peds?).

I was always paranoid I my tire would blow out going over one of those expansion joints at 30mph as I careened downhill, but I never thought about the swirly area with uturn overlook. As for the cops, I’ve literally never taken a trip across the bridge without seeing them on it or very closeby (including driving down it).

On the slippery when wet topic–the PSA should be expanded to note post-flood areas move gravel and sand into spots where it was not before. I almost took a wipeout on a back road by Hollin Hills pool because I didn’t expect a bunch of loose sand around a turn I come flying down at. Thankfully I took it slower today otherwise I would be a classic example of bicycle darwinism (injury variety).

[KLizotte]

Twice in the past week I’ve seen people slide badly while walking across the metro ventilation grates by a metro station. The first guy fell and the second managed to save himself with some fancy footwork. This particular grate is in front of the L’Enfant Plaza station on C Street and the bike racks are positioned next to it. Not sure if all stations have these grates by the racks but just wanted to point out that even walking across them is hazardous when wet.

[JeffC]

I wiped out this week on a wooden bridge in Falls Church near the end of our street. Not only was it wet from recent rains but the trees hanging over it had dropped some fruit like berries on the bridge. I was going just a few mph but fell fast and hard. Gloves saved my hands for sure. Unfortunately, all my weight fell on my left upper arm leaving two massive bruises with only a small bruise on my upper rear thigh. My body took all the brunt of it leaving my bike unscathed. I was wearing street clothes and just biked home from the Metro that day. Unfortunatley, my dress shirt and khakis got deep stains I could not get out so I had to ditch $100 worth of clothing. I hate crashes, even the slightest one gives terrible bruises and ruins clothes, much better to get to your destination a bit slower.

[MV Clyde]

Those wooden bridges are nasty. I went down hard on one of the small MVT bridges going north down the hill past Morningside. I was doing around 20 mph and hit the bridge on a slight angle. My bike went out from under me. I landed on my shoulder and head. Ruined a perfectly good helmet. I went to the doctor afterwards because I thought I broke my wrist also. He said that most of his bike crash patients are due to those slick bridges.

[MV Clyde]

I saw four people crash today on the wood bridge at the bottom of the hill from Mount Vernon Estate — two on my way to Mount Vernon, and two on my way back. All four crashed on the curve just before the bridge ends (going north). I made it through ok, but was taking it easy. Everyone appeared to be ok. I went back to see if I could help and nearly slipped just walking my bike.

[bobco85]

@MV Clyde 56619 wrote:

I saw four people crash today on the wood bridge at the bottom of the hill from Mount Vernon Estate — two on my way to Mount Vernon, and two on my way back. All four crashed on the curve just before the bridge ends (going north). I made it through ok, but was taking it easy. Everyone appeared to be ok. I went back to see if I could help and nearly slipped just walking my bike.

I crashed there last October while heading toward Mount Vernon, and I had slowed to around 5-6 mph to try to avoid slipping. It’s impossible to keep your wheels straight up after that curve, so the bridge becomes instant-slip. I’ve got nice marks on my winter jersey from it:

right arm
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3190[/ATTACH]

right knee
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3191[/ATTACH]

right forearm
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3192[/ATTACH]

even though I fell on my right side, the handlebar turned to the left and thus the left shifter is bent slightly inward
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3193[/ATTACH]

Be careful out there!

[Vicegrip]

How is it that this known true hazard has not been addressed?! This little bridge is covered with bike splatt scars. Signs help but due to human nature only help sometimes. A proper non slip surface is needed here.

[hozn]

I was really embarrassed on Thursday AM to lay my bike down on the wood bridge near Roosevelt island. Slid across the bridge and wedged my [carbon] front wheel under the railing. After heaving it out, realized my wheel was no longer quite true, but good enough with the brakes opened. So got to fix that this weekend. I was fine other than a little road rash. It was dumb because I know how slippery the bridges get; I guess I didn’t appreciate how wet they were that morning. Lesson learned … Again.

[KLizotte]

@MV Clyde 55443 wrote:

Those wooden bridges are nasty. I went down hard on one of the small MVT bridges going north down the hill past Morningside. I was doing around 20 mph and hit the bridge on a slight angle. My bike went out from under me. I landed on my shoulder and head. Ruined a perfectly good helmet. I went to the doctor afterwards because I thought I broke my wrist also. He said that most of his bike crash patients are due to those slick bridges.

Last year, right about this time, I went splat on that same bridge and broke a bone in my hand. Gave myself a black eye and bumps and bruises. The crash really bent the handlebars. Like you I discovered upon walking on the bridge that it is covered in mildew slime. Lots of rain seems to cause the slime to grow exponentially. I shudder to think of all the tourists on rental bikes going over these bridges without any knowledge of the danger they pose (and often without proper hand/head gear).

I now generally avoid the southern half of the MVT due to the bridges and crowds. I’ve found great routes along the parallel streets that are almost entirely free of cars and peds through very nice neighborhoods. And no wooden bridges!

I hope the woman cyclist who actually went over one of those bridges is doing ok. Anybody hear anything about her condition?

[Author]

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