Why you shouldn’t pass on a blind curve.

[KLizotte]

That’s why I hate that “bridge” – too many people flying around the corner and not staying in their lane. Sigh. They are lucky it was a low impact collision.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@KLizotte 120377 wrote:

That’s why I hate that “bridge” –

Same. Instead, I always cut up to Abingdon to the west side of the power plant and take the section of the trail that parallels the train tracks.

[peterw_diy]

Aren’t there still convex mirrors by the curves?

[AFHokie]

@peterw_diy 120380 wrote:

Aren’t there still convex mirrors by the curves?

Last I recall they needed some repair; one is barely hanging and about all you see in it is the ground immediately below it.

[Tania]

I always amazed when people do this. That could also be written “I always see people doing this.”

[rcannon100]

(a) Always ring bell or signal at blind turns (there are several such underpasses on WOD and one such bridge on Custis)

(b) ALWAYS ALWAYS avoid MVT on weekend (just saying)

[GovernorSilver]

@peterw_diy 120380 wrote:

Aren’t there still convex mirrors by the curves?

There’s one at the curve where the collision happened, but I never see anything useful in it. Probably pointing at the ground instead of who’s coming from the other side like the other poster said.

I only ride there on weekday mornings before 9AM (commute).

[KLizotte]

@rcannon100 120391 wrote:

ALWAYS ALWAYS avoid MVT on weekend (just saying)

Like others I avoid the MVT on nice wknds. Unfortunately such an action causes the numbers coming out of the automatic counters to under represent the true demand for the trail. Sigh. No good way out of that conundrum.

[bobco85]

@rcannon100 120391 wrote:

(a) Always ring bell or signal at blind turns (there are several such underpasses on WOD and one such bridge on Custis)

This cannot be stressed enough. I have successfully affected situations where a collision could have occurred by ringing my bell regardless whether I knew someone who might not stay in their lane was approaching.

[CaseyKane50]

@KLizotte 120394 wrote:

Like others I avoid the MVT on nice wknds. Unfortunately such an action causes the numbers coming out of the automatic counters to under represent the true demand for the trail. Sigh. No good way out of that conundrum.

Generally, I try to ride on the MVT before 7:30 on weekends. I get counted, but get out before it gets crazy. I assumed with the higher temperatures forecasted for Saturday, I could get away with a short stretch on the MVT.

[rcannon100]

@KLizotte 120394 wrote:

Like others I avoid the MVT on nice wknds. Unfortunately such an action causes the numbers coming out of the automatic counters to under represent the true demand for the trail. Sigh. No good way out of that conundrum.

This is actually classic network modeling, where bike trails are a network. When utilization (demand) reaches capacity, you have congestion (the MVT on the weekend). At the point of congestion, true demand can no longer be known.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@rcannon100 120401 wrote:

This is actually classic network modeling, where bike trails are a network. When utilization (demand) reaches capacity, you have congestion (the MVT on the weekend). At the point of congestion, true demand can no longer be known.

So you’re saying that if we just build more capacity, congestion will ease?

[ShawnoftheDread]

@TwoWheelsDC 120403 wrote:

So you’re saying that if we just build more capacity, congestion will ease?

I think he’s saying we need to make the trail more narrow so demand decreases and congestion eases.

[rcannon100]

@TwoWheelsDC 120403 wrote:

So you’re saying that if we just build more capacity, congestion will ease?

As a networking principle, there is always some point where sufficient capacity will satiate demand.

Next question: What is that point? Which is more affordable? Increasing capacity or decreasing demand? What will happen to demand as you add N+1 capacity?

Where your supply of capacity is virtually infinite and relatively cheap, the answer would be capacity.

Where increasing capacity has high costs, one might think about how to alter demand.

But as for todays proposition….. once congestion has been reached, you can no longer accurately measure demand.

[dasgeh]

You could also title this thread: why trail designers should not design trails with blind curves.

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