[dasgeh]

@mstone 191535 wrote:

I’m not there, someone moves a scooter I’m done with, I get a fine…how does that in any way increase public safety? Should we also prosecute people for manslaughter if someone else steals their car and hits someone?

More importantly, it would discourage scooter use, which would (according to the research Va Tech did in Arlington) increase the number of Uber/Lyft rides.

Same team, people, same team.

[dasgeh]

@DrP 191539 wrote:

The new Custis Trail in Rosslyn was open this morning (closing the sidewalk) between Oak and Lynn. I must say, that for brand new asphalt, it was very bumpy. I fear it will quickly get worse and be filled with puddles on days like today. Also, at all the road vehicle crossings (entrances to the Marriott and streets) the eastbound side dips into the “ramp” (Curb cut? I am sure there is a better name for this) and often not smoothly. I expect many wheeled vehicles to swerve to avoid those. It didn’t look completely finished, so maybe it will be improved?

What’s finished is just half of the trail. What was the trail will be improved, and I expect that a final layer will be put over both halves when they’re both ready. Kinda like a double layer cake – you get the first layer ready, but you don’t make everything smooth and pretty until both layers are together.

[dasgeh]

An surprising number of women quoted in the article.

[dasgeh]

@mstone 191452 wrote:

If they just invent scooter classes it would fix that problem, that seems to be the plan for ebikes/little electric motorcycles.

We don’t really need multiple classes – just “meet these requirements and we’ll treat your scooter like a bike”

[dasgeh]

Glad it wasn’t worse.

If I could require scooter companies to do three things, they would be:
1) Make the scooters reflective/easily seen at night (i.e. not all black)
2) More substantial kickstands, so these things don’t fall.
3) Sweep the trails every [day/week] to get scooters whose batteries have died — it makes sense that this sweep would grab all of the scooters, and not be single-company based.

[dasgeh]

@sjclaeys 191355 wrote:

This answered a question I had about what are the criteria for installing a PBL. If the cite is handy, that would be great. Otherwise, I can search for it. My subjective impression is that the current strategy is to push for PBLs almost wherever there is road resurfacing. Having objective criteria to identify where PBLs would be most effective seems to be a better approach.

May I refer you to page 47 of Arlington’s own Bicycle Element of the Master Transportation Plan, adopted unanimously by the County Board in April of this year. Conveniently, the Board added language saying that those NACTO guidelines are the MINIMUM acceptable facility (see page 49). The current repaving seems to be part of project 3-05 in the plan, which specifically calls for a PBL on Quincy (page 57).

So yeah, none of the plans are 100% compliant with the new Bike Element, though it seems like option C is with the exception of this one side of this one block.

[dasgeh]

@dbb 191358 wrote:

Last night about 7 on the MVT, between the Gravelly Point porta potties and the Roaches Run bridge. Found a set of panniers that seem to have tired of being carried. Contents resembled what many of us carry, laptop, lunch bag, the day’s clothes, wallet and keys. Pretty much all the stuff you’d have to lose to make your night suck.

Although there was a driver’s license, there was nothing containing a phone number. Lucky that the keys had a Gold’s Gym tag and the staff at the gym were willing to contact the rider and give my phone number.

Bag with all the stuff was reunited with owner so it ended well.

Pro tip – put the info that is on your Road ID on a laminated card in your wallet (and your backpack/panniers if your wallet is elsewhere). Might cause less drama.

You are such a good person to track the owner down.

[dasgeh]

@consularrider 191315 wrote:

Yeah, it’s a little bizarre since mile post 0 for the Custis is at the Bon Air I-66 underpass (not even at the intersection with the W&OD), but there are still signs for the Custis until you hit Van Buren at Benjamin Bannaker Park. Go figure.

There’s been lots of talk about signage — I’ll be sure to bring this up.

[dasgeh]

We talk so much about the Arlington side of the Key Bridge (and Arlington is – very slowly – working towards improvements there), but yes, the DC side is a mess. Have you looked at goDCgo to see whether there’s a vision for that area?

[dasgeh]

@Starduster 191305 wrote:

Dasgeh? All my bike shop friends? What say you?

I’d be surprised if the numbers hold true in this region.

Also, we need safe places for kids to ride. Traffic gardens/learning loops at all schools. Safe routes especially to schools, libraries, parks, ice cream.

[dasgeh]

@ChristoB50 191286 wrote:

There’s a big “gap” of 66 with no trail running alongside it, between the FFX route and the start of the named Custis Trail near Patrick Henry… It would never occur to me to view that FFX route as a ‘continuation’ of the existing Custis (which itself, doesn’t even run the length of 66 while inside the beltway.)

It’s my understanding that the Custis Trail runs all the way to EFC, but is colocated with the W&OD west of Bon Air Park (Patrick Henry ish). That colocation is why Arlington can plow that section.

One advantage of keeping the name is establishing an expectation that the two indepedent segments will be joined.

[dasgeh]

Isn’t the trail next to 66 the “Custis Trail” ? why change it?

[dasgeh]

@zsionakides 191221 wrote:

This, plus VA’s contributory negligence laws are what concern me. If you ride in the regular lane and get ran over by a reckless driver, does the single fact you weren’t in the PBL limit your ability to collect damages.

Given that there are some circumstances where you would need to take the lane (PBL blocked, turning left), this seems unlikely.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t surprise me if some judge/jury in VA found contrib just for riding a bike at all, so there’s that. But that’s no reason not to put up a sign like Arlington did on Quincy.

[dasgeh]

@lordofthemark 191147 wrote:

Does anyone think that the presence of a bike symbol, but no scooter symbol, with the pointer to the bike lane means scooters are banned from those lanes? Clearly they are not.

The symbols mean – the lane on the right is a “bike lane”. It is open to all vehicles eligible to use bike lanes under Virginia Law and local codes – which means human powered bikes, ebikes, scooters – but NOT cars, motorcycles, etc.. The lane on the left is a general travel lane – it is open to all vehicles eligible to use general travel lanes under Va law and local codes – cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bikes, ebikes, escooters, etc.

So, fun fact, the Arlington County Ordinances relevant to bike lanes are 14.2-65 & 65.1. I’ll leave it to you all to read it and form an opinion as to whether scooters are allowed in bike lanes.

At the BAC meeting tonight, we’ll be talking about where ebikes and escooters should ride and whether there are sections of Arlington Code that should be amended…

[dasgeh]

In case you don’t read all the posts and double posts, we’ll talk about escooters (and ebikes and bike parking and Army Navy Drive) at the June 3, 2019 Arlington BAC meeting.

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