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In!

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@chris_s 188630 wrote:

Tonight’s meeting will present a new concept plan, quite different from Concept #1 which was presented last October. Final drawings of Concept #2 aren’t out yet, but early drafts of this concept are significantly worse for biking than Concept #1 was. Things to watch out for:

1) Does it provide a low-stress bike route for the entirety of 19th Street? The Rosslyn Sector Plan calls for a new connection to the Mt Vernon Trail at the far east end of 19th Street. It is vital that a first-class bike facility exist on 19th Street moving forward to get people to and from that new trail connection. Concept #1 had a protected bike lane in both directions between Lynn and Ft Meyer with unprotected bike lanes east of Lynn.
2) Does it provide a low-stress bike route for the entirety of Wilson Blvd? Concept #1 dropped down to a SHARROW for eastbound Wilson Blvd between Nash and Lynn Street (with a great protected bike lane westbound). Does Concept #1 fix this problem? or make it worse?
3) Will the new designs resulted in a usable facility? Early drafts of Concept #2 switched from street-level, curb-protected bike lanes to sidewalk-level bike lanes. Many local residents have had bad experiences with sidewalk level cycling facilities along Maine Ave and elsewhere in DC. What are we gaining by moving to sidewalk-level facilities? How does the County intend to design them to prevent bike/pedestrian conflicts?

#1 & #2 resonate with me – I exit my office building on N. Kent between 19th and Wilson and the east ends of both 19th and Wilson are harrowing to ride on.

Unfortunately I just noticed this meeting and can’t attend tonight

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@scoot 188206 wrote:

My intent was to push back on the defeatism I read …

One man’s defeatism is another’s realism.

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@lordofthemark 188109 wrote:

My original point was meant to be light (dystopian being obviously absurd) and focused on the complete streets difficulties. I mentioned class only in response to a list of fine retail establishments. I probably shouldn’t have. I can edit my remarks if that is desired. Ok? Peace.

No serious offense taken. Just had to show a little Westapharian pride and defend the nabe. To further lower tensions, I hereby withdraw my proposal to build a wall along the southern border of Arlington.

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@lordofthemark 188131 wrote:

1.1 mile to the west of Westover is EFC metro. 1.3 miles to the east is Ballston. Just east of Westover’s retail area is the apt complex that was mentioned above. 2 blocks north of Washington Blvd is VHC, where there has been a big dispute about parking among other things, despite proximity to the metro.

I’m not sure I get your point – is it that the county should make it more pedestrian and cyclist friendly to get from EFC/Ballston to Westover? Right now, to get between EFC and Westover cyclists have a point-to-point link via W&OD and Ohio street. Pedestrians have sidewalks. There’s also the 2A bus. Between Westover and Ballston there’s the W&OD/Custis, there sidewalks and again, the 2A bus. I’m with Dismal – I think there are better uses of the government’s resources than creating redundant infrastructure on what will always be an unpleasant cycling route. My guess is that given the superior alternatives already available, a Washington Blvd cycletrack/PBL/whatever would see too little use to be worth the investment.

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@lordofthemark 188068 wrote:

One might almost think that was a hint that it was a tongue in cheek jibe. I certainly won’t turn down a chance to have a beer at the Westover Beer Garden out of fear of the roving street gangs and rabid lost dogs in the area. Are they still fighting about the noise there?

Yes, Lost Dog is in the area, but it’s not rabid

One of the nice things about Westover is that it’s not strictly an “upper middle class” enclave. There are a large number of more affordable garden apartment rentals around Westover, and the mix of businesses – barbershop, drug store, hardware store, library, bank, bars, etc. – serves the entire community. I would suggest that self-loathing upper middle classers and Arlington haters might want to restrict themselves to the workers’ paradises of their own communities – proletarian utopias such as Old Town and Del Ray come to mind.

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@sjclaeys 188024 wrote:

I’ve been using this area as a pedestrian, cyclist and driver for over 20 years. The diagonal parking on the north side actually works well because the cars back up into the buffer zone that is not in the road and leaving at an angle gives drivers a better view of on-coming bicycles and cars (though they are on the road and not the buffer zone). The option 3 of having the diagonal spaces face the other way and have cars back in I think could be incrementally safer. A PBL on the south side between parked cars and the sidewalk would be a hazard due to dooring. The greatest threat to safety in the area is vehicles, especially Metro buses, going through at unsafe speeds. Nothing in the options addresses that.

I think the back-in parking would be less safe. I think it does nothing to increase cyclist safety – so you’ll be hit by a car pulling into a spot rather than a car pulling out – and would be a nightmare of a bumper-car fest as cars stop on Washington Blvd. and try to back up into the spaces. I also see little benefit to a 1/2 mile (at best) cycle track that requires you to cross a busy street to use it. The proposed Option 2 looks reasonable.

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Finally, cyclists find a cannon that doesn’t post puppy pix.

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Little known fact: The original Cannondale bikes used parts salvaged from real cannons.

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@consularrider 187699 wrote:

I found the perfect bike for you today at Main Velo in Harheim, the Ice Full Fat Tricycle.

A couple of weeks ago I had a set of BMX tires (I couldn’t studded tires in a 20″ size) in an online shopping cart with the idea of transforming my wife’s trike into a snow machine but didn’t wind up pulling the trigger on the purchase because I knew she wouldn’t appreciate me getting her pristine ride all slushy.

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Might Count:
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Definitely Counts:
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So, is it the wheels or the pedaling that make a ride valid? Like, would “rides” on this thing count? (like Sunyata, I am asking for a friend)

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Local Realtor Tori McKinney is hosting a free Mardi Gras party at Falls Church Distillers on 2/26. Free food, live music, spiritneuring:

Description
Join us for a FREE Mardi Gras Party & Chamber Networking Mixer
Light MARDI GRAS FARE* – Po Boys, Jambalaya, King Cakes and more!

LIVE MUSIC from Magnolia Blue

CASH BAR, including themed,specialty cocktails

PLEASE RSVP!
5-7:30 = Mardi Gras-themed Chamber Networking Mixer
7:30-close = Mardi Gras Party

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mardi-gras-party-chamber-networking-mixer-registration-55556833986?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR1gfb3-pFYd_7zvxC-fI7LAtPKUlOT4uBDXknJOmQWtwWT5mhmKVB0SwyU

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@huskerdont 186978 wrote:

Note that the trail portion of the detour isn’t really the kind of place for fancy cycling. It’s more of a neighborhood trail for dog walkers and such.

Please share that sentiment with the 2,000 or so Lycranauts who buzzed me this morning when I was out for a run on that section of the trail.

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Thursday night we went over and had our first volunteer experience. Walked Feisty and Copper, played with Archie.

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