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@VA2DC 140817 wrote:

That’s good news coming off of Custis, but will the eastbound bike lane on the south side of Fairfax remain? Coming from Bluemont Junction, I’d hate to have to cross Fairfax twice just to get down a block (and not hop on the sidewalk in front of Buffalo Wild Wings).

It sounds like Chris is describing a lane only going west. If so, you couldn’t do that anyway.

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Hi Zack, I’m the guy you met at the Intersection of Doom and suggested you post this. See you on the trail.

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@semperiden 140803 wrote:

Sorry. Forgot to mention that this was actually on the street. There is a small portion of the W&OD that connects with the road for a few blocks. I think that the speed limit there is 25mph. Unfortunately, by the current law, it is a valid ticket and I don’t think I can fight it.

Okay, got it. Yep, you were a vehicle and it was a plain old stop sign

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@ShawnoftheDread 140796 wrote:

The stop sign in question is on the road; the intersection of Van Buren and 19th. It’s relation to the trail is that WOD users use it to get from the section of trail ending in Banneker Park to the section along 66 just east of Lee Hwy. But it’s not actually part of the trail.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the explanation. It sounds like he was legally a vehicle too.

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@chris_s 140707 wrote:

I am not a lawyer.

Stop signs on trails are not currently enforceable in Virginia, because trails are not “highways”. There was “enabling legislation” passed a couple of years ago that gives localities the power to enact a local ordinance that would make stops signs on trails legally enforceable, but to the best of my knowledge none of them have done so. Arlington definitely hasn’t.

I am not a lawyer.

I looked it up. Our very own state Sen. Barbara Favola sponsored a bill the Gen. Assembly recently passed that gave all local governments – not just Falls Church (I was wrong about that) the power to put up stop signs on trails in certain situations. If the speed limit of the road the trail is crossing is 45 mph or more, and there is no other traffic or pedestrian control there, they can put up a stop sign:

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+ful+SB959+pdf

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@semperiden 140693 wrote:

I have been reading about bike laws since then, and the code says that you are actually a vehicle when riding

Only when riding on the street. On a trail, and when using crosswalks, you’re a pedestrian.

This stop sign might not be valid – is the speed limit of the road there 45 mph or more? If not, the county has no authority to put up that sign, and you could fight the ticket if you so desire.

In general, if you see a stop sign on a trail, stop. Treat it just like one on a road. I would stop even if you think it’s not a valid sign too, just for safety and to avoid having to fight a ticket in the first place and avoid a safety hazard since motorist may expect you to stop.

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Bike trains would make good media stories. I hope Bikearlington and WABA get some reporters out.

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@DismalScientist 139720 wrote:

Upon further review, I retract my snide comment.

It’s okay – he moved the goalpost.

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Maybe there should be marked “No Passing” zones on trails.

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@jrenaut 140564 wrote:

It took almost three years before this thread had a Samuel L Jackson reference? What is wrong with you people?

I was stunned to be the first one.

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@Steve O 140457 wrote:

I’m still waiting for an opportunity to try out my new response to these sorts of things: Simply “Why?”

Now you can use “your face” like I taught you (and my daughter taught me), as in:

“Your face can get off the road.”

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@DanB 140527 wrote:

It sounds great, except that it starts about an hour too late. I get off work at 4:00.

Me too. It’s not a problem – it’s an opportunity. Let’s start drinking early.

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I’m sick of these m*******ing snakes on this m*******king trail.

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Coincidentally, that’s also the day of Bike Home from Work Again Day.

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Yes, thanks to all the volunteers!

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