Shovel This Saturday!

[komorebi]

@bobco85 133810 wrote:

I should get to the MVT by 6 (the rain should have subsided by then). I’ll have a snow shovel, ice chopper, and 2 deck brushes (good for clearing bits of snow/ice). If you see me out there, feel free to stop by and help.

Awesome! I’ll come help. Expect me around 7:15.

[bobco85]

@komorebi 133839 wrote:

Awesome! I’ll come help. Expect me around 7:15.

Great! It looks like the rain is supposed to subside by 6. I imagine clearing the ice will be much easier (the snow will be heavier, but it will melt faster).

At 6, I’m going to start at the intersection of MVT/CC Connector and work my way north towards the 14th Street bridge, trying to create a 2-3 foot wide path along the way for 2 hours. Around 8, I’ll do an hour on the CC Connector and break whatever ice I can. Around 9, I’m getting food (Chipotle in CC probably), going home, getting a nice hot shower, stretching, and then eating ice cream

I’ll have my snow tools (shovel, ice chopper, 2 deck brushes) and my bike trailer with me. See you (and any other volunteers) there!

[bobco85]

WE DID IT!!!

Together with komorebi and a fellow cyclist named Sean who stopped to help, we completely cleared the MVT under the 14th St Bridge and cleared 1 side of the Crystal City Connector. This means that cyclists can get to DC using the MVT via the Crystal City Connector without having to dismount or deal with ice/slush/snow.

Before/After – MVT under 14th St Bridge
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10824[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]10825[/ATTACH]

The Shoveling Trio
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10826[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]10827[/ATTACH]

[bobco85]

More pics from tonight:

Crystal City Connector Before/After looking towards Crystal City from the bridge
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10828[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]10829[/ATTACH]

Me in the dark
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10830[/ATTACH]

Looking towards the Crystal City Connector tunnel
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10831[/ATTACH]

[PotomacCyclist]

Awesome job, Team! Triple ELITE

[KWL]

Bobco85 is a bad influence. I decided to do some trail clearing on the MVT on the way home tonight. L to R: Before; After; The other nearby ice field after being cleared; The piéce de résistance – Humpback Glacier after my shoveling. There is now pavement all the way from Rosslyn to 4MRT. Yeah it was getting dark for that last photo.

[bobco85]

@KWL 134094 wrote:

Bobco85 is a bad influence. I decided to do some trail clearing on the MVT on the way home tonight. L to R: Before; After; The other nearby ice field after being cleared; The piéce de résistance – Humpback Glacier after my shoveling. There is now pavement all the way from Rosslyn to 4MRT. Yeah it was getting dark for that last photo.

Great job! I’m glad you took it upon yourself to tackle the dreaded Humpback Glacier (this should probably be added to the forum dictionary). With today’s weather, whatever is left will likely be gone thanks to your effort.

[bobco85]

First off, I want to thank everyone who volunteered to help shovel and clear parts of the MVT. It really made a difference. How much of a difference? Here’s some stats:

Keep in mind the following dates:
1/16 (Sat) – week before the storm (to help with comparison)
1/20 (Wed) – Carmageddon 2.0
1/22-1/23 (Fri/Sat) – Winter Storm Jonas reared its ugly head
1/26 (Tue) – 14th Street Bridge was cleared
1/30-2/1 (Sat-Mon) – volunteers cleared a path underneath 14th Street Bridge and on the Crystal City Connector

14th Street Bridge Counter Data
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10854[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]10855[/ATTACH]

Crystal City Connector Counter Data
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10856[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]10857[/ATTACH]

We’ll be able to see the impact of KWL’s final clearing of the Humpback Glacier over the next few days, but looking at the current data it seems while the effect was not a lot on pedestrians, everyone’s efforts had a huge impact on biking.

[Author]

Posts