[bobco85]

The Eads Street bike lanes on the south end have returned, and they now extend all the way to Glebe Rd!

Another thing to note on Eads Street: taking a page from the M Street cycletrack, the configuration of NB travelers at 23rd St S has a crossover between bike lane and right turn lane. This is a spot where drivers like to park/stand, so instead of blocking the bike lane, they’re blocking the right turn lane which forces right turning drivers into the bike lane (thus blocking it again). As mentioned previously on this thread, drivers are confused and are sometimes turning right from the center lane, so be wary.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bobco85]

@Starduster 162841 wrote:

Promoted here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/PapillonCycles/posts/?ref=page_internal

Thank you for spreading the word!

[bobco85]

Thanks, Judd & komorebi, for yet another awesome Bicycle Fun Club ride! Here are some of the pics I took at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens:

(left) little turtle; (center) white water lily flower; (right) so many lotus flowers
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(left) size comparison; (center) lotus flower bud; (right) the world beneath the lotuses
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(left) pink hibiscus flowers; (center) water pooling in a lotus leaf; (right) in a field of lotuses
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(left) pink lotuses; (center) blue star water lily; (right) pretty pink water lily
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(left) bee chilling on a Queen Anne’s lace plant; (center) dragonfly just before take-off; (right) raspberries that were ripe for picking but were too far away from the edge of the boardwalk to reach
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[bobco85]

Thanks to everyone who came, and special thanks to komorebi and Elaine who came to Port City Brewery even though they didn’t go on the ride!

My 1.5-2 hour estimate proved to be way under as we got distracted and delayed by many extra stops along the way (mimosa trees along Eisenhower Ave Trail, boundary stone along Wilkes St, Wilkes St Tunnel fun, East Coast Greenway midpoint, Wayne F. Anderson Bikeway signs, Seminary Rd bridge ice swap, my special detour of tiny bridges on Russell Rd, and probably more). The ride ended up taking about 2 hours 45 minutes in total (we also started late), and we didn’t get back to Port City until 9 p.m., just after they had shut off their taps, but not before we could buy some of their bottles. This was followed by some, ahem, not-so-legal drinking of said beers in an abandoned parking lot across the street (we couldn’t drink on the Port City Brewery premises after they had closed) involving hiding said bottles when a cop passed by (we’re true scofflaws).

Here are the pics I took (Nadine and reji have many more):

(left) Gotta do the ride before enjoying their beer! (right) Port City Brewing Company
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(left) at the start of the ride; (right) exchanging ice on the Seminary Rd pedestrian bridge
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(left) Sunset approaching; (right) My special detour to show the cool handmade bridges (more have appeared since my last visit)
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(left) Got back to Port City after they shut off their taps, so we bought some of their beer and drank in a parking lot; (right) You will notice there are no pictures of me partaking in the illegal activity of drinking in public
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[bobco85]

I live near the Holmes Run Trail (Sanger Ave/Beauregard St a.k.a. “Mark Center” area), work in Ballston, and bike commute every weekday, so I’m your guy for a good route!

One important thing to know about Holmes Run Trail: due to construction of a new bridge just downstream from Van Dorn St, the section of trail between Beauregard and Ripley St is closed off, and an on-road detour is in effect. I factored that in for both routes. Another important thing: unless you go the longer but flatter way to the east (Commonwealth Ave or Potomac Yard Trail), you’re going to have to climb 2 hills (first out of the Holmes Run Valley, second out of the Four Mile Run Valley).

These 3 routes represent multiple sections you can use to build a preferable commute:

1. https://goo.gl/maps/ubVSGt69iHk – (9.8 miles, 58 minutes) – this uses the Holmes Run Trail a little longer with Chambliss St to get onto Seminary Rd just as it becomes George Mason Dr; once on there, it’s an easy mostly downhill ride to the W&OD then Bluemont Junction Trail
2. https://goo.gl/maps/BqNfpSq6WHU2 – (9.0 miles, 56 minutes) – this uses Pegram St (long but not steep hill) to get to Seminary Rd, cross the pedestrian bridge over I-395 to get to Beauregard St where you’ll have a nice downhill to the W&OD; crossing US-50 (Arlington Blvd) on Henderson Rd which becomes Quincy St
3. https://goo.gl/maps/nywaHgZ3HsF2 – (9.6 miles, 60 minutes) – this route eschews most of the Holmes Run Trail and takes you through Fairlington and Shirlington to get to the W&OD, but there is one steep hill on Howard St you’ll have to deal with – (use this on Wednesday mornings so that you can come to Hump Day Coffee Club at Best Buns in Shirlington!)

Btw, for heading to Ballston, I rank the routes in terms of rider comfort as 1, 2, 3, but for returning from Ballston, it would be 3, 2, 1. Beauregard St and George Mason Dr are both great when you’re riding downhill with traffic, but drivers aren’t as nice when you have to go uphill.

Hope this helps!

[bobco85]

@streetsmarts 162766 wrote:

Hi Bobco,
I can’t make the ride, but might use some cold refreshment. If so, I’d meet you all at Port City about 8 or so.

Awesome! We should finish the ride before 8, so we’ll see you inside!

@streetsmarts 162766 wrote:

Question: I’ve never ridden over there; Google maps says to take Duke or Eisenhower (I’m coming from near West St. & Braddock Rd.) Anyone have a suggestion?

Since I’d like to see you alive, don’t use Duke St! I recommend this route (starts from Braddock Rd Metro): https://goo.gl/maps/EpRMUT9kAom I sometimes ride that route as part of larger loops going through the area, and that portion of Mill Rd is pretty okay for riding.

[bobco85]

Keeping the slip lane is not safe because it does not slow drivers down as they approach the crosswalk. That is a current problem that other posters have mentioned. Even if the crossing were moved farther from the intersection with the bigger island, the fundamental issue of drivers not yielding remains.

The problem of turning radius is one that has seemingly been solved at other intersections throughout the county, so I think we could easily increase the turning radius of that corner as necessary or increase the width of the right lane so that larger vehicles have room to maneuver.

I think removing the slip lane entirely and converting the now-closed right lane to a right turn only lane that has a dedicated green arrow for the start of the WB Walter Reed Dr green cycle (starts with green left turn arrow) would be the better solution. It doesn’t compare to the Intersection of Doom because drivers are not entering the intersection directly from a high speed interstate off-ramp and there aren’t 2 right turn lanes.

Now, if there were a Four Mile Run Expressway, this would be a different story

[bobco85]

Based on recent posts, I felt like I needed to share information on the tidbit that inspired my Tuesday Tidbit series (many thanks to ginacio whose curiosity was the origin of said inspiration!), the Wayne F Anderson Trail.

At the NE corner of Army-Navy Dr and South Joyce Streets, one can find a Bike Route sign with an interesting name on it, the Anderson Trail.
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In fact, the trail running from the corner of South Glebe Rd and West Glebe Rd to Mount Vernon Avenue across Four Mile Run and along the Alexandria side of the stream to US-1 is named the Wayne F Anderson Bikeway. Other signs such as those at the north end of Commonwealth Avenue state this, too. But who is this Wayne F. Anderson?
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Born in 1925, Wayne Frederick Anderson was a native of Moline, Illinois and served in the Army during World War II. In the 1960’s, he spent 8 years as city manager of Evanston, Illinois, before moving to Alexandria, Virginia, to become its city manager. Here is an article written about him in the Chicago Tribune about this move:
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This is taken from an article in the Washington Post written about him when he died in 2003: “As Alexandria city manager (1970-1974), Mr. Anderson worked to balance land development pressures with quality-of-life concerns. He also worked to improve relations with the city’s black population, reorganized government departments and helped develop plans to revive neglected schools, neighborhoods and business districts.”

He also taught public administration at George Mason University from 1984-1993. He was honored in 1989 with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s George Washington Leadership award, an annual award given to outstanding community activists for their efforts to improve Alexandria.

Though his name has been mostly forgotten over time, perhaps by knowing his efforts we can remember his legacy better by promoting use of the Wayne F. Anderson Bikeway name as it passes through Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, at least.

[bobco85]

Please report it as soon as possible to them. I would recommend reporting it on the Call.Click.Connect site on the Alexandria, VA, government site here: https://request.alexandriava.gov/CCC/#tab=Find

When you report it, can you post the request number? I’m on the Alexandria Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, so I can try to expedite the response.

[bobco85]

@sjclaeys 162710 wrote:

What are the deets on bike parking?

You can try https://www.rackspotter.com/ which shows some of the locations Judd has mentioned.

[bobco85]

Aw, man, I really want to go on this, but stupid family is going to be in town starting the Saturday afternoon before. If they cancel, I will come on this!

…besides, it’d be nice to go on a long bike ride with you into MD without the shivering and hypothermia, although those were key aspects of it

[bobco85]

@Steve O 162691 wrote:

For the record, the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee also recommended elimination of the slip lane, but their recommendation was not heeded by traffic engineering.

Wait, let me play that back in my head: the traffic engineers concluded that keeping the slip lane was the safer option.
The traffic engineers concluded that keeping the slip lane was the safer option.
The traffic engineers concluded that keeping the slip lane was the safer option.
The traffic engineers…

(ILLOGICAL. ILLOGICAL. ILLOGICAL ARGUMENT OVERLOADING BRAIN. SHUTTING DOWN NOW)

[bobco85]

I took a week off doing this to celebrate Independence Day, but I’ve got a fresh new Tuesday Tidbit for this week!

Situated between Aspen Hill and Wheaton-Glenmont in Montgomery County, MD, and extending off a part of the Rock Creek Trail is the 3.6-mile long Matthew Henson Trail. It can be accessed directly from Rock Creek Trail just north of North Bethesda.
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More interesting, however, is the person for which this trail is named. Matthew Henson was the first African-American Arctic explorer.
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Born in 1866 in Charles County, MD, to free parents (neither parent had been a slave), at the age of 12 he went to Baltimore and became a cabin boy on a merchant ship where he was taught to read and write by Captain Childs.

At age 21, he met explorer Robert Peary while working at a clothing store, and Peary recruited him to accompany him on a trip to Nicaragua to survey the potential for a canal. Impressed by Henson during this trip, Peary made him his first man and started to take him on trips to the Arctic.

It took 8 attempts with Peary’s expeditions to Greenland which included many interactions with the Inuit (Henson fathered some children along the way), but Matthew Henson finally reached the North Pole in 1909.

He has gotten many awards including Honorary Member of the Explorers Club, Congressional Medal, and U.S. Navy medals, and was even invited to the White House by President Eisenhower. He was also featured on a postage stamp with Peary.
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After his death, his remains were moved from his original grave at Woodlawn Cemetery to Arlington National Cemetery via a decree by President Reagan. His grave has a special tombstone and is next to the grave of Robert Peary. The building for the Earth Conservation Corps at Buzzard Point in DC is named for him.

[bobco85]

I’ll be there! (I could’ve sworn I already posted I was coming, but oh well)

[bobco85]

@Greenbelt 162553 wrote:

[IMG]https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/19983473_1411529538913759_3569340698989550507_o.jpg?oh=2a03306a83e8de0cd260268645b2e0e2&oe=59CF8073[/IMG]

@drevil 162562 wrote:

@consularrider 162605 wrote:

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I love these 3 pics in particular!

[Author]

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