Stopped from riding in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery

[dkel]

@Raymo853 107886 wrote:

This morning, a minister at the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery along Suitland Road, stopped me. She told me bikes are not allowed in the cemetery and she would call security and the police if I did not leave. I said nothing but just turned around. She also added she was tired of bikes in the cemetery and is planning to put a stop to it.

Because bikes are toys? Or somehow irreverent? But cars are allowed in the cemetery. What if you had been driving a sports car? Or an even better question: what if you had been riding your bike to visit a grave? Or going to a burial? Then is your bike allowed?

[Tim Kelley]

Were you passing through on your way somewhere, or just planning on riding for recreation to take in the views?

[worktheweb]

I have family interred at Cedar Hill, I would be dismayed if this were the case there. I should not have to behind a wheel to pay my respects. I don’t believe either cemetery is affiliated with a particular church, so, for what it’s worth, the minister probably has absolutely no authority there.

[creadinger]

The last Hills of Anacostia ride I did a couple of weeks ago, some angry lady was pulling into the cemetery as we were about to cross Suitland Rd from one section to the other. For every one of us that passed by she honked her horn and yelled at us that bikes are not allowed. Now who is the disrespectful annoying person? The small group of cyclists? Or the dumbass honking her horn and being belligerent?

**For that matter – there is a sign that says “no bikes” or something. I don’t know how legitimate it is. But yeah, the HoA ride may need to change a little. I think exploring some hills at the arboretum could be fun.

I can check the sign tomorrow to get the exact wording.

[creadinger]

@Raymo853 107886 wrote:

This morning, a minister at the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery along Suitland Road, stopped me. She told me bikes are not allowed in the cemetery and she would call security and the police if I did not leave. I said nothing but just turned around. She also added she was tired of bikes in the cemetery and is planning to put a stop to it.

Dislike the uppity ministers and such who plan to put a stop to riding in “their” cemeteries.

[Raymo853]

@dkel 107889 wrote:

Because bikes are toys? Or somehow irreverent? But cars are allowed in the cemetery. What if you had been driving a sports car? Or an even better question: what if you had been riding your bike to visit a grave? Or going to a burial? Then is your bike allowed?

There are signs posted stating the only permitted visitors are people visiting graves or services in the cemeteries. Does not ban any specific mode of transport.

[rcannon100]

I’m confused. Is it not the minister’s cemetery? If its not the minister’s cemetery, what was the minister doing there? Whose cemetery is it. I mean, if its not the minister’s cemetery, than the solution is easy – go to whoever’s property it is. This is private property? And the owners of the private property have perfect authority to say who can come and who can go. They can say you have to wear funny green hats on their property if they want. So if its not the minister’s, go to whoevers property it is.

But yeah, gotta say, I would not use a cemetery as a cut-through. Were you visiting the cemetery or just riding through it?

[Raymo853]

@creadinger 107897 wrote:

Dislike the uppity ministers and such who plan to put a stop to riding in “their” cemeteries.

These ones are privately owned so there is validity to the their attitude. Of course I bet these cemeteries, like churches, mosques, temples, not really open museums, non-effective charities, …. hide behind tax exempt status stealing revenue from the municipalities they demand services from.

Wow, that second sentence is a mine field.

[Raymo853]

@rcannon100 107900 wrote:

I’m confused. Is it not the minister’s cemetery? If its not the minister’s cemetery, what was the minister doing there? Whose cemetery is it. I mean, if its not the minister’s cemetery, than the solution is easy – go to whoever’s property it is. This is private property? And the owners of the private property have perfect authority to say who can come and who can go. They can say you have to wear funny green hats on their property if they want. So if its not the minister’s, go to whoevers property it is.

But yeah, gotta say, I would not use a cemetery as a cut-through. Were you visiting the cemetery or just riding through it?

I use it on low visibility days to reduce my exposure to the nut jobs that drive on Suitland Road.

[Greenbelt]

@Raymo853 107903 wrote:

I use it on low visibility days to reduce my exposure to the nut jobs that drive on Suitland Road.

We need you! To help with WABA/PG’s advocacy campaign for a safer Suitland Road!
http://www.waba.org/advocacy/campaigns/a-safer-suitland-road/

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7796[/ATTACH]

WABA/PG meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Hyattsville Town Hall and adjourns to Franklin’s brewery after…

[dkel]

@Raymo853 107899 wrote:

There are signs posted stating the only permitted visitors are people visiting graves or services in the cemeteries. Does not ban any specific mode of transport.

Then it doesn’t matter what mode of transport you use, if you’re using the cemetery as a cut-through, you’re in the wrong on this one.

[Raymo853]

@creadinger 107895 wrote:

I can check the sign tomorrow to get the exact wording.

I will ride by them all in about 30 mins. I will post the photos here and on Instagram with the #bafs2015 hashtag.

[Raymo853]

@dkel 107905 wrote:

Then it doesn’t matter what mode of transport you use, if you’re using the cemetery as a cut-through, you’re in the wrong on this one.

I agree and plan to stay out of them henceforth. I also just deleted the one segment I had made in the cemetery.

[Raymo853]

@creadinger 107895 wrote:

… Hills of Anacostia ride … … may need to change a little. I think exploring some hills at the arboretum could be fun.

I suspect as much. There are a lot of public roads in Anacostia and adjacent parts of Suitland that would be great additions. Some a lot less trafficked than the routes used in HoA currently. Such as these segments:
https://www.strava.com/segments/8165653
https://www.strava.com/segments/5962934
https://www.strava.com/segments/7266838
https://www.strava.com/segments/1089130
https://www.strava.com/segments/6129327
https://www.strava.com/segments/6061756

Yea the Arboretum is fun, but is not Anacostia nor easily connected to it.

[CaseyKane50]

On the other hand, the cemeteries could embrace bicyclists. In Portland, the River View Cemetery has gone out of their way to be accommodating to bike riders.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7797[/ATTACH]

[Author]

Posts