The 2017 Comfort Map Is Out!

[huskerdont]

I think BobCo about squeezed it dry, as usual, and I’m not smart enough to improve on that, but the map does really illustrate just how difficult it is to legally/safely/efficiently get from the Pentagon/Crystal City area to, well, anywhere west of there.

I like the idea of map monsters for nearby jurisdictions, but one would also have to go right in the middle of Arlington, about where Columbia Pike is between the cemetery and the Army-Navy club.

[KLizotte]

@Tim Kelley 147802 wrote:

So you’re thinking that some sort of “regional” map, which would require other jurisdictions deciding that having a level of comfort map, would be a good idea? I like it!

Absolutely because Arlington is rather, ummmm, small. Most people without kiddies are gonna want to explore, especially DC, Alexandria and East Falls Church. (Let’s face it, McLean is a disaster) If 2-5 more miles were added around the circumference, that would give people an incentive to venture further than the county. Shirlington, the National Mall, Georgetown, C&O, Old Towne, etc. are all hot spots so it would be great if the map could show those.

[DrP]

This is a good map. Sorry to hear that the circulation won’t be as large as last year. I know some neighbors were glad to receive it.

On the back page, the Orange description states: “Orange routes generally have higher traffic volumes or high traffic speeds than yellow or blue routes”
I believe “yellow” should be replaced with “green”

A few comments on missing steep hill arrows (I either use these routes to get hill work or choose a particular cross-street to avoid the hill in between):

Williamsburg between Harrison and George Mason – steep in both directions since the peak is in the middle (close to Emerson)

Williamsburg heading from Old Dominion towards Glebe (peak is before 35th St N)

I think you are missing the connection between 4MR and Potomac Ave (the switchbacks)

Given where you have some arrows, there likely should be some at the following:
N Harrison between Little Falls going up to 27th St N

N Harrison between 16th and up towards 18th

N George Mason between 25th going up to Lee Hwy

[Tim Kelley]

@DrP 147929 wrote:

This is a good map. Sorry to hear that the circulation won’t be as large as last year. I know some neighbors were glad to receive it.

On the back page, the Orange description states: “Orange routes generally have higher traffic volumes or high traffic speeds than yellow or blue routes”
I believe “yellow” should be replaced with “green”

A few comments on missing steep hill arrows (I either use these routes to get hill work or choose a particular cross-street to avoid the hill in between):

Williamsburg between Harrison and George Mason – steep in both directions since the peak is in the middle (close to Emerson)

Williamsburg heading from Old Dominion towards Glebe (peak is before 35th St N)

I think you are missing the connection between 4MR and Potomac Ave (the switchbacks)

Given where you have some arrows, there likely should be some at the following:
N Harrison between Little Falls going up to 27th St N

N Harrison between 16th and up towards 18th

N George Mason between 25th going up to Lee Hwy

Thank you! Most of the content is the same so your neighbors aren’t missing much. But please do remind them that they can order any of our brochures online for free!

[Tim Kelley]

@KLizotte 147927 wrote:

Absolutely because Arlington is rather, ummmm, small. Most people without kiddies are gonna want to explore, especially DC, Alexandria and East Falls Church. (Let’s face it, McLean is a disaster) If 2-5 more miles were added around the circumference, that would give people an incentive to venture further than the county. Shirlington, the National Mall, Georgetown, C&O, Old Towne, etc. are all hot spots so it would be great if the map could show those.

Yes, we’d just need to convince DC, Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax governments and planners that this is something worth helping us out on! Simple, right?

[dasgeh]

Big picture: YAY! It’s awesome! (thank you for fixing the colors!)

Quibbles:
– I don’t think 10th between Barton and Irving deserves Glebe-level scary. I wonder whether it deserves Lee Hwy-level scary. Certainly not west of Washington
– I love that 395, 66 and 50 don’t exist, though I quibble that 395 and 66 are marked, but I don’t think 50 is
– Wakefield coming north from the Pike deserves all the arrows

[KLizotte]

@Tim Kelley 147932 wrote:

Yes, we’d just need to convince DC, Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax governments and planners that this is something worth helping us out on! Simple, right?

Just do it for them; I’m sure the forum will be more than happy to tell you which colors to apply to the streets. It is highly unlikely that any of those other jurisdictions will even notice. Get an intern!

Seriously, there are folks in transport data world on Meetup.com that would probably love to do this in their spare time. There are weird, but useful, folks out there.

[Judd]

@KLizotte 147942 wrote:

Just do it for them; I’m sure the forum will be more than happy to tell you which colors to apply to the streets. It is highly unlikely that any of those other jurisdictions will even notice. Get an intern!

Seriously, there are folks in transport data world on Meetup.com that would probably love to do this in their spare time. There are weird, but useful, folks out there.

Get Chris S on it. Dcbikemap.com

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Steve O]

@TwoWheelsDC 147805 wrote:

Well, a regional map would be ideal, but at the very least a more robust online version of the map that provided a bit more information on some key destinations outside Arlington’s borders and information on any comfort level changes that occur as one transitions from one jurisdiction to another.

Agreed. Perhaps a little taste of what’s right alongside the borders like is done with the County Bike Map. For instance, Chain Bridge is shown, and it wouldn’t be hard to show it connecting to the C&O Canal.
Also including the Alexandria side of the 4MR trail at the detour would have been really useful right now, given that that part of the trail is about to be closed for a year.

I remember having this identical discussion back when the County bike map also ended right at the borders. Now it does a nice job of showing a lot of the surroundings.

[Steve O]

@huskerdont 147916 wrote:

… but the map does really illustrate just how difficult it is to legally/safely/efficiently get from the Pentagon/Crystal City area to, well, anywhere west of there.

No kidding. Try mapping a route on green and blue from Pentagon Row to the Cinema & Drafthouse.
1.9 miles by car or by suicide bike on Columbia Pike
5.5 miles via blue & green comfort zones on map

[KLizotte]

@Steve O 147978 wrote:

No kidding. Try mapping a route on green and blue from Pentagon Row to the Cinema & Drafthouse.
1.9 miles by car or by suicide bike on Columbia Pike
5.5 miles via blue & green comfort zones on map

I live in PC and can go west easily via FMR, WOD and Army Navy Drive. Going north and northwest is the problem because of 395 and the horrors of Columbia Pike and Rte 50. Granted, the bike blvds and some of the backroads along the Pike and Rte 50 are easy to ride but I have to plan carefully and take an indirect route. Thank god I can go through Ft Myer and avoid riding down Columbia Pike when I am heading to downtown Arlington. I feel like Columbia Pike is the number 1 barrier for us PC residents, 2nd is Rte 50. 395 is a huge barrier too but it is for drivers too so I’m not sure how it ranks.

If Columbia Pike were safe to ride for its entire length either via improvements to the Pike or expansion of the bike blvds I’d be a very happy camper.

[Steve O]

@huskerdont 147916 wrote:

I like the idea of map monsters for nearby jurisdictions, but one would also have to go right in the middle of Arlington, about where Columbia Pike is between the cemetery and the Army-Navy club.

Yes, this comfort map really underscores the critical need for that connection under 395 at the golf course. Without that or something else, there is just no comfortable way to get from CC/PC to the Columbia Pike business corridor without a really long detour.

And then there’s still the discontinuity of the bike boulevards that also needs to be improved. Or some other solution to the Pike.

[dasgeh]

@Steve O 148013 wrote:

Yes, this comfort map really underscores the critical need for that connection under 395 at the golf course. Without that or something else, there is just no comfortable way to get from CC/PC to the Columbia Pike business corridor without a really long detour.

And then there’s still the discontinuity of the bike boulevards that also needs to be improved. Or some other solution to the Pike.

If only there were some people that were in a position to make these changes that need to hear this message… oh, right countymanager@arlingtonva.us countyboard@arlingtonva.us

[Steve O]

@dasgeh 148016 wrote:

If only there were some people who were in a position to make these changes who need to hear this message… oh, right countymanager@arlingtonva.us countyboard@arlingtonva.us

Perhaps a group of active citizens could meet on a monthly basis and “advise” the county manager on things that could be made better for people and families riding bikes in the county. I bet that would get things to improve in a jiffy.

[dplasters]

@Tim Kelley 147808 wrote:

We actually considered adding map monsters. Alexandria, DC, FAIRFAX?? Yar, there be dragons.

Its funny… but also sad and true

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