Suggestions for naming the Arlington Loop?

[Tim Kelley]

Hi Everyone—one of the pieces of feedback that Arlington County received from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) in how to improve our bicycle friendliness is to promote particular pieces of the trail infrastructure we have.

In particular, the LAB point out that the circular route connected together by the Custis Trail, Mt. Vernon Trail, Four Mile Run Connector and W&OD trail is a fantastic resource for area cyclists who use it for transportation or recreation. We are looking to substantially improve these trails with way-finding signage in the near future and other potential in-ground upgrades.

Since getting feedback from the LAB we have reprinted the bike map and have highlighted that section with an orange outline and referred to it as “The Arlington Loop” with the description, “(Premier off-street facilities supporting County-wide and regional transportation).” Going forward we’d like to consider an alternative name that is catchy and helps describe this loop as much more than just its use as a recreational trail.

Since many people here on the forum use the trails of this route regularly, we know that you probably have some good ideas for a name. It should be short, catchy and fun.

This route is something to be proud of and we would like it to be a distinctive and well known aspect of the County. Help us come up with a name that can do this!

Thoughts?

Topic

[DismalScientist]

E-bike raceway? :rolleyes:

[PotomacCyclist]

Some of the runners at the local Pacers Running Stores refer to it as the Arlington Triangle.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/14508175

It looks more like it has five sides than three. Thus, Arlington Pentagon Trail might be more accurate. But that would confuse people, who would probably expect that the trail would only be located near the Pentagon.

[culimerc]

WOD<>Mt Vernon<>Custis<>(back to) WOD. 3 sides or at least thats where I thought it came from.

[PotomacCyclist]

Makes sense. But neither the MVT nor FMR/WOD even resemble a straight line on the map. Trying to find the straight lines reminds me of when I look at a map of France and try to figure out why they call it the Hexagon.

[vvill]

I always thought the French hexagon was pretty clear. Brittany, the northernmost point, Alsace-Lorraine, Monaco (or thereabouts), the southmost point, and at the bottom of the Bay of Biscay. Maybe not a perfectly symmetrical hexagon though.

[KLizotte]

@culimerc 16056 wrote:

WOD<>Mt Vernon<>Custis<>(back to) WOD. 3 sides or at least thats where I thought it came from.

You forgot about Four Mile Run.

[PotomacCyclist]

@vvill 16080 wrote:

I always thought the French hexagon was pretty clear. Brittany, the northernmost point, Alsace-Lorraine, Monaco (or thereabouts), the southmost point, and at the bottom of the Bay of Biscay. Maybe not a perfectly symmetrical hexagon though.

But it’s odd why the section from Brest to the Spanish border is considered one side when it’s concave and curved while the southern part is considered to be two sides and those two sides are about the same distance combined as the NW side.

[invisiblehand]

@eminva 15826 wrote:

I agree with everything you say, but what is wrong with “The Arlington Loop”?

+1

It’s been called the Arlington Loop and/or Arlington Triangle for years. It’s silly to change things just for the sake of changing thing.

[off2ride]

Call it “The Beltway” because everybody is there at any given time.

@Dirt 15952 wrote:

Can we call it “The Beltway”? I kinda like the idea of the odd looks people will give me when I say I’m going for a spin around The Beltway at lunch.

[baiskeli]

@chris_s 15995 wrote:

Knowing Arlington, they’ll try to name it the Car-Free Beltway™

That is a great idea, actually.

[Tim Kelley]

It’s been decided. We’re going to keep going with, “The Arlington Loop”

Thanks for all the input!

[GuyContinental]

@eminva 15826 wrote:

I agree with everything you say, but what is wrong with “The Arlington Loop”?

The beltway-equivalent interstate in my hometown is called “The Loop” — gets the idea across about how it serves the regional transportation network. I think of the Arlington Loop as serving a similar function for non-motorized transit, no?

Liz

I agree with Liz- the concept of “Loop” as in a non repeating travelway, is important to retain and we want it to be affiliated with Arlington – that leaves “Loop”, “whorl”, “spiral” and “circuit” as possible terms (but I only ran with Loop and circuit):

Arlington Circuit
Arlington Spiral
Arlington Whorl
Custis Loop
Custis Circuit
Custis and Potomac Loop
Custis and Potomac Circuit
Arlington and Potomac Loop
Arlington and Potomac Circuit
Arlington Custis Loop
Arlington Custis Circuit
Rosslyn & Potomac Loop/Circuit
Arlington & National Loop/Circuit

When I first started riding the trail I named it “Arlington Loop” in my ride log before I had any idea that it was actually called that… there is somethign to be said for simplicity, history and obviousness…

[Author]

Replies