[brendan]

@PotomacCyclist 2918 wrote:

What annoys me even more are people who pass when they clearly see oncoming bike traffic. They expect cyclists in the other lane to veer out of the way, even though the person passing is on the wrong side of the dividing line. This happened frequently last year. The passers can clearly see me riding toward them and yet they continue with their pass and ride almost directly at me.

Since when does passing give someone an absolute right to go the wrong way on the trail? It’s like there’s some sort of unwritten rule about it now.

Yeah, I’m on the same page. If I am approaching a slower cyclist or pedestrian from behind and my target solutions are fuzzy due to oncoming bike or pedestrian traffic patterns (highly fuzzy if any pets or children are involved) I just slow up and wait it out, then announce the pass and go. I’ve hardly ever passed someone when doing so means I’m lined up or nearly lined up between the passee and oncoming traffic of any sort. I like to give myself a wide berth, esp. since I’m on the big dummy most of the time. The couple times I had, it was just poor judge of timing on my part (e.g. oncoming cyclist was going substantially faster than I had initially estimated, live and learn).

This behavior can, of course, be a surprise to someone following me too closely. I think I need some “I brake for…” bumper stickers…

Brendan

[brendan]

Now if they’d only update their website…

Brendan

[brendan]

@Erik Kugler 2806 wrote:

This weekend we’ll have 5 rides – I’ve added the 60 mile (metric) “Rough & Tumble” which leaves at 8.30a on Sunday. All I can say is bring a tough bike and be ready to climb some hills 30 miles in. It’s a combo of hardpack, smooth rolling hills, and a few steep climbs.

Don’t see it on the website calendar yet…

Brendan

[brendan]

I suppose there’s a conflict here between “desire lines” and the existing infrastructure. There may be no easy & cheap fix in this case, but someone with Arlington or the NPS (depending on jurisdiction) should consider taking this on as a project…

Brendan

[brendan]

@OneEighth 2765 wrote:

From a path users perspective, what doesn’t make sense is the transition across the parking lot. 90 degree turns aren’t realistic or safe in this instance.

Hear, hear. I haven’t come up with a solution, so perhaps not too helpful, but what’s there now, with or without the barriers, is pretty bad.

Brendan

[brendan]

Yup, there are several ways to traverse or parallel the rosslyn-courthouse-clarendon-ballston corridor. They all involve some effort, but each is useful for certain situations. I live right dab in the middle (on wilson, equidistant from courthouse and clarendon metros).

If I’m leaving from a place nearer to central DC/capitol hill, I often take the washington mall-washington monument-memorial bridge-arlington cemetery-iwo jima-parallel road west of 50-bridge-courthouse-clarendon route as well.

[brendan]

Before the rise of the automobile, the street used to be a pedestrian space as well. As a previous poster said, they are our allies.

[brendan]

Longer, perhaps more useful reply lost via “click reply, type in long reply and then click the + Reply to Thread button instead of Post Quick Reply button”. Doh.

I’ve graduated from door zone riding to lane splitting on M Street to get through the traffic. It’s legal for cyclists in DC, as long as it is done safely. Granted, depending on how much madness is happening around you in Georgetown, in certain situations lane splitting may become unsafe and hence may not be legal (temporarily). Either way, don’t lane split yourself into a trap, and watch out for frustrated drivers, unsignaled lane changes, inebriated drivers and the ubiquitous unsigaled taxi U-turns, often from the right lane. Usually see at least two of those every late night I pass through there…

Brendan

[brendan]

@CCrew 2507 wrote:

Custis is worse coming home as far as the hills are concerned. Optionally you can ditch the Custis at Veitch and take the Wilson to Fairfax bike lanes to pick up the trail again at the Glebe/Fairfax intersection (by CACI). That leaves the remaining Custis pretty much all downhill.

Aside from not being able to avoid the rosslyn hill no matter what route you take going west (streets or custis), I usually skip the rest of the hilly Custis Trail between Courthouse (Veitch) and Ballston and ride the bike lanes/surface streets to hook up with the Bluemont Junction trail, which meets the W&OD/Four Mile Run trail.

Coming east from W&OD, you still have a relatively steady climb from W&OD to Ballston on the bluemont, but it’s exactly that which is required to get there (read: easy). Custis is fun to start a ride with, but I was usually heading home from a 76-mile loop ride when having to make the decision between custis and bluemont…and bluemont won every time.

Directions from veitch to bluemont park area on w&od/four mile run: http://bit.ly/ebdkN4

(this is similar to what CCrew recommended, but with bluemont junction trail connecting from the fairfax/glebe intersection instead)

Brendan

[brendan]

Ok, clearly I missed the sign regarding which signal to follow. I would swear there was at least one block without signs…but my vision prescription is a bit out of date and the signs are kind of small…so I’ll just say: my bad. Still, I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been confused.

[brendan]

I’d bet the google bike routing will give you some pretty good directions that take you W&OD to Four Mile Run to Mt. Vernon Trail north to Memorial Bridge and along the mall to capitol hill. Just remember to double check the status of the Memorial Bridge repairs, last time I checked the standard route takes you on the southern side of the bridge which was close off for repairs. I meet folks north east of capitol hill and/or near the navy memorial from time to time, and I love riding the memorial bridge -> lincoln memorial -> reflecting pool -> ww2 memorial -> washington monument -> mall route to 7th and/or the capitol. Very pretty ride.

[brendan]

@jrenaut 2357 wrote:

I might get little pedestrian safety cards printed up and hand them out to people who don’t seem to understand basic traffic laws.

I’d suggest a three parter (pedestrian, cycling and auto sections) and just suggest they read the pedestrian part. Of course, if one is also breaking the rules right then (you weren’t, but I’ve been known to…), I’d hold off on handing it out at that time.

Brendan

[brendan]

Anyone ride MVT today (in the rain)? I’m planning a ride tomorrow, want to make sure my assumption that the warmer weather and rain finally cleared it off is correct…

[brendan]

This past fall the deer were out thick on the W&OD. I’d come to expect them on the C&O, but not so much the W&OD side, had to increase my SA. And don’t get me started about the Kamikaze bunnies.

Brendan

[brendan]

Dirt – temperatures in the mid 50s this afternoon, perhaps some helpful melt will occur? Good luck!

[Author]

Posts