right turn from Gallows Rd bike lanes, to W&OD – a bit of a scare

[acc]

I have a suggestion about parking off Iliff Street instead of the post office. The entire problem of the right turn would be avoided. https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=google+maps+dunn+loring+virginia&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89b64b0e1579aedf:0x8906a741bd22def,Dunn+Loring,+VA&gl=us&ei=BMcyUNfPMM-l2AW-k4GwDw&ved=0CAkQ8gEwAA

Your idea of riding down the asphalt path adjacent to Gallows is reasonable.

I’ve ridden down this portion of the Gallows Road on my way to Cottage Street and the hill is fairly steep and it’s easy to pick up more speed than you want coming down it.

Good luck and best wishes for a safe ride.

ann

[Dickie]

I ride on gallows every day as part of my commute both weekends and weekdays and have always found that entering the trail is a bit of a concern, even with the bike lane present our dramatic decrease in speed at the intersection can make a driver nervous. Did you signal your intention to turn? Not that this is a deal breaker, but the driver might have been wondering what your intention was and wanted to warn you of their presence. However, sounds like you did nothing wrong, more likely than not it was an irritated driver honking because they were mad at the world, remarkably this happens pretty frequently. I would however consider using hand signals to let drivers know what your intentions are.

[Tim Kelley]

@lordofthemark 28830 wrote:

I was thinking of putting this under missed connections, but I would like some more insight into the facility issues.

Yesterday I wanted a nice long ride (for me) on the W&OD and was tired of having to go up the streets of Annandale to get anywhere, so I stuffed the bike into the car and drove – parked at the Post Office on Gallows and Electric. Rode down to the trail on the bike lane.

The right turn is pretty sharp, and even though I wasn’t going all that fast, part of the bike probably ended up at the outside part of the bike lane. As I was turning I heard a loud honk from behind, and a van passed REALLY CLOSE. I was afraid I had let part of the bike go outside the bike lane. But there was a crowd of bikers waiting to cross Gallows, and (after inquiring if I was alright, which I was, scare apart) one of them said “I don’t know why he did THAT” or words to that effect – so I guess I didn’t do something wrong.

I’m now inclined to use the sidewalk on that approach, rather than the bike lane, in future. I also purchased a mirror (my destination was Reston Town Center, and I took advantage of the downpour to go into the bike shop there and stock up on accessories) which I hope might help me.

So did you have a specific question?

I’d just chalk the experience up to having to deal with a motorist that doesn’t want to be a PAL. Sometimes people are just jerks.

[Dirt]

I encounter similar issues at different places on the trail. There are spots where the road narrows for one reason or another. I often have drivers come up from behind and they MUST BE IN FRONT OF THE BIKE before the road narrows. Being patient would add 5-15 seconds to their journey and that isn’t acceptable, so they race me to the spot where the road narrows.

There are a few ways to deal with the situation you’re experiencing.
1) Use that mirror of yours and if you see someone coming up, you can just slow down and let them go past before you get to the turn. Start your turn when it is safe and there is room for you to swing to the left side of the bike lane.

or

b: Slow as you approach the corner, stay in the middle or right side of the bike lane and then just put a foot down to steady yourself as you go slowly… maybe very slowly through the turn. Having the foot down, or at least ready to touch down can give you the confidence to make the turn… even if there are cyclists waiting at that light, as there often are. It isn’t as elegant a solution, but it gets you around the corner.

[Dirt]

This brings up another topic… I think a lot of us are guilty of this…. When we approach a situation or an opportunity to pass, it is very easy to think about speeding up to zip around someone… be it in a car, on a bike or walking/running. We don’t always consider that doing the opposite… slowing down and letting the danger pass might be the better option. I know that every questionable pass that I’ve done in the past has happened because I misjudged approaching speeds, thought I had more room than I did or just wasn’t patient enough. I’ve been fortunate that it hasn’t really caused a problem… though I know I’ve annoyed some people by doing so.

My goal is to relax a bit more and wait for a good opportunity to pass, instead of pushing the issue and possibly causing an accident… or at least bad feelings between trail/road users. Part of being a PAL is being patient and passing when it is safe. Doing so also gives you the opportunity to work on developing better leg power because of a lot more accelerations after you’ve slowed to pass safely.

It helps me to keep in mind that no-where I’m going is so important that arriving 30-90 seconds later is going to make a difference. If it were that important, I should have left 5 minutes earlier.

Rock on, Folks.

[vvill]

Very true. I like to think I’m a safe and considerate trail user but I did a couple of boneheaded moves yesterday (although there were no visible reactions from anyone) – tried to be better today. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.

[Dirt]

We all do bone-head moves now and then…. I do at least. One would think that I wouldn’t make silly mistakes, since I spend a significant portion of my life on 2 wheels, but I definitely do. It is easy to get complacent… or let your mind wander. Bonehead moves are great opportunities to learn and become a better cyclist.

I’d also add that is why I tend to not get mad at people when they make mistakes when walking, driving or riding. If it is someone that repeatedly does stupid stuff, I try to talk some sense into them, but if it appears to be a one-off, I don’t get my chamois in a wad.

I love and respect all mankind.

[krazygl00]

@lordofthemark 28830 wrote:

I’m now inclined to use the sidewalk on that approach, rather than the bike lane, in future. I also purchased a mirror (my destination was Reston Town Center, and I took advantage of the downpour to go into the bike shop there and stock up on accessories) which I hope might help me.

Most cyclists I’ve seen riding toward the trail on that section of Gallows are on the path (if we’re talking about the same place)…no reason not to use it. Gallows is pretty bad, especially for someone who doesn’t put a whole lot of road miles in.

Careful using that mirror! Don’t let it become the only thing you rely on for looking behind you. Think of it like an added safety measure that might help you notice a car coming up from behind, but not a replacement for turning your head and looking behind you. And on an editorial note, my personal belief is that mirrors aren’t that great for in-town use, where traffic and dangers come from all directions. I think they are more suited for rides out on long rural roads with fewer crossings, eg. touring.

@acc 28849 wrote:

I have a suggestion about parking off Iliff Street instead of the post office. The entire problem of the right turn would be avoided. https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=google+maps+dunn+loring+virginia&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89b64b0e1579aedf:0x8906a741bd22def,Dunn+Loring,+VA&gl=us&ei=BMcyUNfPMM-l2AW-k4GwDw&ved=0CAkQ8gEwAA

Your idea of riding down the asphalt path adjacent to Gallows is reasonable.

I’ve ridden down this portion of the Gallows Road on my way to Cottage Street and the hill is fairly steep and it’s easy to pick up more speed than you want coming down it.

Good luck and best wishes for a safe ride.

ann

I concur, this is the best solution. There is parking on Sandburg St. (off of Iliff) and there is also some parking on Cedar Ln where it crosses the W&OD.

[JimF22003]

The bike lanes along Gallows between the W&OD and Rt 7 are pretty recent. They’re a big improvement over riding the bumpy sidepath that still runs alongside the road, but they’re not a free ride. I’ve been nearly run into when a car makes an incursion into the lanes at 1) where Old Courthouse Rd. comes in at the light, 2) where the road makes a right-hand turn, and cars cut across the corner, 3) cars using the bike lane as a right-hand turn lane when heading to the 7-11.

Another big problem is that the lanes just stop about two blocks from Rt 7 (because the road is too narrow I guess) so you have to merge right into traffic. I generally cut across through the parking lot behind the office building through there, which makes a nice slalom course.

They need to run a street sweeper down both sides of the road once in awhile though…

My biggest challenge when heading south, is to get across four lanes of traffic plus the center turn lane to get off onto Oak Street. I either have to wait for traffic to clear behind me, or just to signal and take my place in the line of cars. When I live it works out OK 😮

P.s. I also suggest parking at Sandburg (but only if you don’t take up one of the spots I was planning to use )

[ShawnoftheDread]

On these parking suggestions: are they for weekends only, or do they work for weekday commuting? My commute may be changing soon, and I may need to park closer to the W&OD to start out before I can do the full 18 miles each way from my house every day.

[lordofthemark]

Its been a few days now, but I am pretty sure I signaled my turn.

Thanks for the advice on the mirror – I may well start a thread on proper mirror usage.

For my W&OD rides, I’m thinking if I do drive there again I like the parking by Cedar Lane. Also avoids that hill on Gallows at the very end of my ride. Or I may put the bike on the Fairfax Connector bus – I want to try the bike on the bus thing from a beginning of the route stop at least one more time before doing it at regular stop.

Yeah, although I’ve done a few rides that take me on Hummer and on Annandale Rd, I don’t suppose I’m experienced on roads like Gallows.

Where is a place to get used to using on road striped bike lanes thats more foregiving than Gallows? DC I expect?

[Tim Kelley]

@lordofthemark 29114 wrote:

Where is a place to get used to using on road striped bike lanes thats more foregiving than Gallows? DC I expect?

Arlington County, despite being only 26 square miles in size, has 31+ miles of on street bike lanes.

[lordofthemark]

@Tim Kelley 29115 wrote:

Arlington County, despite being only 26 square miles in size, has 31+ miles of on street bike lanes.

Ah yes, I was actually on one in Rosslyn for about a block, getting back to MVT from my rest stop on another ride.

Any favorites?

[acc]

For a thrilling ride try starting on Fairfax Drive in Arlington. And just. Keep. Going.

[Tim Kelley]

@lordofthemark 29171 wrote:

Ah yes, I was actually on one in Rosslyn for about a block, getting back to MVT from my rest stop on another ride.

Any favorites?

Take a look at the bike map: http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/maps-rides/

The black lines in most place signify bike lanes (they could also be sharrows, but only in a few places). Check out Williamsburg Blvd and Military Rd for the longest sections of bike lanes, although the terrain can be hilly.

Quincy Street and Sycamore St are shorter and flatter, and then there are also some in Crystal City as well.

Both Wilson and Clarendon/Fairfax have lanes, but they are generally busier streets, but worth riding outside of the busier times.

And remember, stay out of the door zone!

[Author]

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