[bobco85]

Wrapping up the extremely useful neighborhood bicycle route videos, I had to do one of Key Blvd. While the video technically starts on 13th St N at Quincy St, I consider it all one route from Ballston to Rosslyn. The route is pretty calm and comfortable for cyclists because of the traffic circles and cross streets having stop signs that allow for a smooth ride.

If there was an example that all neighborhood bikeways should strive towards, this would be at or near the top of the list.

[video=youtube_share;Ho-2cUYXTA8]https://youtu.be/Ho-2cUYXTA8[/video]

[bobco85]

Thursday is expected to be really hot and humid, so make sure you bring extra water. The refreshments at the end will also help (it is Port City Brewery, after all) 😎

Also, I’m adding a few blocks onto the route so that I can show folks something I think is really cool, but I won’t spoil it!

@bentbike33 162540 wrote:

But not the Wayne F. Anderson Bikeway?!?

My apologies! We will ride for about a quarter of a mile on the WFAB.

[bobco85]

It’s looking like I’ll be able to make this ride. I haven’t been to the water gardens yet, so I’m looking forward to it!

[bobco85]

@drevil 162583 wrote:

Since Boba is a gear nerd, I’m sure Bobco wouldn’t mind playing him. We’ve established Steve is evil and you’re always saying you’re the good guy, so y’all have your roles pretty much spelled out.

I pretty much defaulted into it by matching the first 3 letters, but yeah, I’m cool with being him. Also, officially having survived the Sarlac pit (it’s canon), I’ll let the others play with their glowy swords because I’ve got a friggin’ JETPACK!

[bobco85]

While riding on the Matthew Henson Trail this weekend, I got a chance to try out the upgraded crossing at Viers Mill Rd. In the past few years, there were 2 separate crashes where cyclists were killed while trying to cross (one crash was blamed on the cyclist, the other crash was infuriatingly dismissed because MD law did not specifically state that mounted cyclists have any rights when using a crosswalk).

For added context, Viers Mill Rd has a 45 mph posted speed limit and crosses the Matthew Henson Trail in a valley (traffic is coming downhill from both directions). The intersection with outdated imagery can be seen here: https://goo.gl/maps/3kAueS8HT2Q2

I have pics combining what was before versus what is there now. Before is on the left, After is on the right for each. I tried to get a similar spot for the old shot.

approaching the intersection on the trail from the north, a new sign for cyclists that reflects the “you don’t have pedestrian rights in crosswalks” judgement in the 2nd cyclist fatality case
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15097[/ATTACH]

new pedestrian crosswalk signal (walk/don’t walk) replaces the button triggering flashing yellow lights
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15098[/ATTACH]

no changes to the approach from afar
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15099[/ATTACH]

speed limit is still 45 mph
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15100[/ATTACH]

here you can see the HAWK-like new signal; the signal has a constant flashing yellow, but when peds/cyclists push the beg button, the light cycle goes faster flashing yellow, solid yellow, red
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In my experience going through this crossing both ways (I did an out and back on the trail), I noticed that drivers were confused as to what to do. They were stopping on the flashing yellow when I had a don’t walk sign and waving me through; they’re supposed to stop when their light turns red and I get a walk signal. I am concerned, however, by this because driver confusion leads to unpredictable behavior.

[bobco85]

@Judd 162574 wrote:

Steve and I have a very complicated Darth Vader – Luke Skywalker relationship.

So, that means we have either a Judd Offutt or Steve Lumberjack; which is it?

…the moment you typed that, you should’ve known the can of worms you were opening

[bobco85]

With the full moon being out, I declare this instance of Midnight Saddles to be:

Midnight Saddles: A Howling Good Time!

Thank you, again, Steve O, for leading us on a very entertaining route through the darkest parts of DC! We also checked out the brand-spanking-new Klingle Valley Trail, did some very-early-exploration of not-yet-open-it’s-totally-legal-to-ride-on bicycle infrastructure, and made Karen smile as we went to the highest point in DC. We also did much more, but I’ll leave that to the other lycanthropes on the ride to tell.

(left) we did some howling at the moon en route to the Lincoln Memorial; (right) drivers on Rock Creek Parkway apparently had literally chewed up this pedestrian sign
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(left) riding on Water Street (I think LSG’s rope light looked like a male buck as it leapt); (right) in the dark on the CCT
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15088[/ATTACH]

(left) a better angle on the dark CCT; (center) full moon over the Potomac River with a boat on it and GW Parkway in the distance; (right) crossing the railroad bridge over the C&O Canal
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(left) just past the railroad bridge; (right) a surprisingly well-lit tunnel near the reservoir
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(top-left) our destination was the Diner in chaotic Adams Morgan; (center) my super-delicious boozy Appalachian Breakfast milkshake; (right) the new light on the Washington Monument (actually not a light, it’s the full moon in perfect position)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15091[/ATTACH]

[bobco85]

@Starduster 162527 wrote:

Can finally commit. I’m there. Trust my lighting setup *totally*, this will simply be a test to see if I can hang with this bunch. Otherwise, past my bedtime…

Where on the Monument grounds do we meet?

At the Washington Monument itself, usually on east side (facing the Capitol). Look for the folks with colorful light set-ups!

[bobco85]

The last of the “Let’s Bike” videos that I filmed at the end of June, this one is of Commonwealth Ave in Alexandria. Commonwealth Ave is probably my favorite road to ride on in the DC area, and I often will ride its entire length along with Eads Street as an alternative to Potomac Yard Trail, Potomac Ave, Crystal Dr bike blocked lanes, and the infamously trafficked MVT. The only part I do not like is the choke point as it approaches the underpass at King St/Cameron St which gets especially congested during rush hour, but I love the rest of the route.

The video also shows Daingerfield Road because I wanted to show the connections to the Prince St bike lane and Duke St.

[video=youtube_share;JLl5g51dHuM]https://youtu.be/JLl5g51dHuM[/video]

[bobco85]

@CaseyKane50 162451 wrote:

Thanks for the video. It inspired me to take a ride on both streets. Did them in reverse and discovered that I should have gone to the left when the Doctor’s Branch Trail split. By going right I got to see Randolph and 16th before getting back to 12th.

Cool, what’d you think of it? I figure it’s a good example for comparison to the Wilkes Street Bikeway to see the advantages/disadvantages with the incorporation of the bicycle infrastructure on each. I am planning on doing a video of the Key Blvd bike route in north Arlington as another example of a neighborhood bike route in the area.

[bobco85]

And everyone will remember the time the family-friendly forum was used to advertise escort services. 😎

[bobco85]

Today’s combination of warm and wet weather meant a rain jacket and swimsuit were ideal commuter gear. I made a morning delivery to my parents’ house on my way to work, so I had my mom (who was so confused to see me in my swimsuit outside the house in the morning that she thought she was still dreaming) get a pic:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bobco85]

Having done a video for the Wilkes Street Bikeway, I think a video of two of the equivalents in Arlington would be good for comparisons (I think Key Blvd would also be another one to show). Here is a video I did of both 9th Street & 12th Street bike boulevards that are useful options for parallel routes along part of Columbia Pike. Like all my other “Let’s Bike” videos, the footage is shown at 300% speed.

[video=youtube_share;SH5-fYIcNhY]https://youtu.be/SH5-fYIcNhY[/video]

[bobco85]

@Starduster 162416 wrote:

Normally I would be running my own shop ride from Papillon Cycles on Saturday morning. But this is special enough that I don’t want to step on it. We can give you extra publicity on our social media pages.

Cool, that’d be great! I have no idea currently how many people are planning to join the ride, but I appreciate the offer.

Even if you want to still do a ride, you can always join us en route afterwards to get the rest of the historical facts. On that note, I’ve accumulated about 5 pages of notes on said historical facts that I am working to whittle down.

[bobco85]

I’ll be there! I haven’t yet ridden on the Klingle Valley Trail, so I’m looking forward to it.
@Steve O 162411 wrote:

Route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1656042854
(note this route will take us on the brand new Klingle Road trail. Also note that mapmyride does not know it exists, so that section of the route is incorrect)

In MapMyRide, you can uncheck the “Always Follow Roads” option when a trail/road isn’t recognized, plot out that portion, and then recheck it. The lines will be red, but the mapping will look more accurate.
@Steve O 162411 wrote:

Fun Quotient: 2.6 times funner than Bicycle Fun Club and equally as fun as Bicycle Fan Club

I am disappointed that you did not use the mathematical constant e (Euler’s number) which is approximately 2.7182818284. Then, you could have had a nice and neat mathematical formula of FQ = BFaCl = e(BFuCl)

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