Trails closing?

[cyclingfool]

@mstone 65523 wrote:

I see scofflaw cyclists!

I see a cyclocross obstacle.

Government shutdown: Inadvertently supporting the sport of cyclocross since 10/1/2013.

[JimK]

Haines point is closed. The east side has a barrier up, but the west side does not.

[Dirt]

HP is closed indeed. All the bathrooms are locked and the water is shut off. The golf course has been converted to a Park Police vehicle parking lot. They’re closed down for the long haul.

Anacostia River Walk park is closed. I talked to a Park Policeman today and he sort-of implied that the level of enforcement would depend on who was behind the wheel and what exactly you’re doing. I wouldn’t suggest jumping barriers in front of a park policeman.

[NicDiesel]

Hains Point is closed but there were people there doing loops when I rode by earlier this afternoon.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Who needs Haines Point??

[Bilsko]

@Dirt 65595 wrote:

I talked to a Park Policeman today and he sort-of implied that the level of enforcement would depend on who was behind the wheel and what exactly you’re doing. I wouldn’t suggest jumping barriers in front of a park policeman.

Seeing a Park Ranger roll by in the opposite direction on the MVT this evening… I got the same impression. The MVT was packed with riders in both directions – but it looks like enforcement is being kept to a minimum. My guess is that if its obvious that you’re using the trail to get somewhere – like commuting to work or home – they’ll leave you alone. It will probably depend on the location and the officer…as I think we’ve seen more aggressive enforcement up in RCP.

I didn’t take the CCT this afternoon, but it was busy this morning when I rolled down – I’ll report tomorrow AM too.

[KWL]

@rcannon100 65517 wrote:

How do you mean?

An e-mail from the C&O Canal Trust:

As you may be aware, our Federal Government has shut down for an indeterminate amount of time. What you may not have realized, however, is that the closure of the Federal Government means the closure of the C&O Canal National Historical Park and all other National Parks. For the C&O Canal, this means:

THE TOWPATH IS CLOSED

Visitor traffic, whether on foot, bike, or horse, is strictly prohibited.
Bicyclists planning rides from Pittsburgh to DC on the GAP and C&O Canal should plan to turn back at Cumberland.
All Visitors Centers are CLOSED.
Hiker/Bikers and campgrounds are CLOSED.
The Canal Quarters lockhouses are CLOSED.
All restroom facilities, both permanent and portable, are CLOSED.
Handles have been removed from all well pumps.
The only Park staff that will be on duty will be law enforcement rangers.
The portion of the Capital Crescent Trail that runs parallel to the towpath in DC is managed by the C&O Canal NHP and is CLOSED.
All access roads to the Park are CLOSED. This means you will not be able to trailer boats to boat ramps along the towpath.
Interpretive and educational programming in the Park will be temporarily suspended. School field trips to the Park will need to be rescheduled once Park staff has returned.
Volunteer events and events requiring special use permits will not be able to take place.
All volunteers working in an official capacity should cease volunteer activities immediately and not enter the Park’s premises.

After working side-by-side with the wonderful staff of the C&O Canal NHP for many years, it’s heartbreaking for the Trust to see them closing the doors, given no choice but to turn away thousands upon thousands of visitors seeking to recreate and rejuvenate along the canal’s towpath.

While the Park staff has no choice but to stand idly by, we as civilians can take action:
Educate yourself and others on how the shutdown affects National Parks.
Be vocal on social media and use #KeepParksOpen.
Use any means of communication you can – letter, email, phone call, social media, or even a carrier pigeon – to appeal to Congress. Find your US Representatives and Senators on the National Park’s Conservation Association’s Legislative Lookup.
Send notes of encouragement to the Park staff through our Facebook, Twitter, and email. To say this is a rough time for them is an understatement. We’ll forward your notes on and post them on social media, letting our Park Rangers know how much we appreciate them and are anxiously awaiting their return.
Last but certainly not least, respect the closure. While we don’t like it one bit, we have to respect it. Disregarding the closure can create potentially unsafe and hazardous situations, damage Park resources, and create undue work and stress on the few staff left standing.

Thank you,

Mike Nardolilli
President, C&O Canal Trust

C&O Canal Trust
1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301.714.2233
CanalTrust.org

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Bilsko 65609 wrote:

Seeing a Park Ranger roll by in the opposite direction on the MVT this evening… I got the same impression. The MVT was packed with riders in both directions – but it looks like enforcement is being kept to a minimum. My guess is that if its obvious that you’re using the trail to get somewhere – like commuting to work or home – they’ll leave you alone. It will probably depend on the location and the officer…as I think we’ve seen more aggressive enforcement up in RCP.

I didn’t take the CCT this afternoon, but it was busy this morning when I rolled down – I’ll report tomorrow AM too.

I passed a gaggle of NPP motorcycle cops on Ohio, which was closed… I asked “is it okay if I ride through?” and they said “yup, go ahead, thanks for asking!”

[Bilsko]

@TwoWheelsDC 65611 wrote:

I passed a gaggle of NPP motorcycle cops on Ohio, which was closed… I asked “is it okay if I ride through?” and they said “yup, go ahead, thanks for asking!”

I was going to take OH Dr. but had to go confront some MVT wooden-board ‘S’ curve demons first. We’ll see what the CCT and OH Dr look like tomorrow morning.

[PotomacCyclist]

Today is the 123rd anniversary of the founding of Yosemite National Park, which is now administered by the National Park Service. Just like the NPS-administered lands in the D.C. area, Yosemite was closed today.

[mattdwyerva]

Our warm showers guest says Feds took the pump handles off the well pumps on the C&O, and made attempts to lock the porta potties. He rode from DC to Whites Ferry yesterday, and said a number of other touring cyclists were pretty unhappy.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[mstone]

@mattdwyerva 65621 wrote:

Our warm showers guest says Feds took the pump handles off the well pumps on the C&O, and made attempts to lock the porta potties. He rode from DC to Whites Ferry yesterday, and said a number of other touring cyclists were pretty unhappy.

It is definitely a pretty bad time to be a long distance tourer; a lot of tours go through one Federal area or another, and if you’re in the middle of a long trip this could really hose you.

[consularrider]

@mattdwyerva 65621 wrote:

Our warm showers guest says Feds took the pump handles off the well pumps on the C&O, and made attempts to lock the porta potties. He rode from DC to Whites Ferry yesterday, and said a number of other touring cyclists were pretty unhappy.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

I hope they are complaining to their representatives in Congress and insisting that they get on with the peoples’ business. Maybe as a long time federal employee I have a jaded view of the budgetary process.

[Justin Antos]

Beach Drive was closed to cars north of Blagden/Broad Branch this morning. Park Police were patrolling, but just rolling by the bikers.

[NicDiesel]

Fun times yesterday at Hains Point. You can sort of see a would-be tri-stud coming towards me.
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