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The Rosslyn Monolith was showing counts today!

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@arlcxrider 218271 wrote:

As passed by US Senate would institute DST year-round, effective Nov. 2023. Still awaiting House action.

Those 8:30 sunrises in Dec. and Jan. are going to prove popular, I’m sure. In DC the latest sunrise under EST is 7:27, which lasts for 14 days between Dec. 29 and Jan. 11. The earliest sunset is 16:46 — I’m not sure moving it to 17:46 represents that much of a “win,” after having stumbled out of bed 3 hours before sunrise.

In effect you’re trying to adjust your longitude to correct for a problem created by latitude, and that is beyond the jurisdiction of the US Congress.

They tried this once before, in 1974, and it was widely panned. The reason it “feels” better (and season depression lifts) this time of year is there is more daylight, not because the hands of the clock are pointing at a different number.

Some of the northern states situated near the western edges of the current time zones (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, the Dakotas, etc.) might feel pressure to move one time zone west, so this permanent shift will have achieved nothing.

Thank you for posting this. I am very unhappy. It is astronomically incorrect and, as an early riser, very depressing. I have written to my Representative to request a no vote when it gets to the house and let my senators know that I am unhappy with their vote (it was unanimous. Ugh).

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4MRT updates noted this morning (all in the area that overlaps with W&OD, so many might not have noticed the issues):
1. The ford just north of the Arlington Mill Community Center (near the stairs) was not actually overflowing today or last week. Barely. The water level was probably less than an inch below, but it was below.
2. The bridge near Glen Carlynn Park that washed out a couple of years ago near the dog park, while not yet open, is in place (big signs blocking it but metal structure and wood decking is there. No idea if it is fully attached and likely not inspected). So, I am guessing soon. Nice to see that progress and it was pretty quick once they started

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@consularrider 214892 wrote:

Are we the only two playing anymore?

Even if you were, please keep doing it! With little ability to travel, this is the next best thing. We are able to get to know NYC and Madrid (and surrounding areas) a little bit more. And, personally, both are cities I know (having grown up just outside one and frequently visited the other) and hope to see again (or anywhere!) soon.
Thank you both for posting all these photos!

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Rode an Arlington Loop this morning with 4MRT instead of W&OD where they overlap. Generally clear, but a couple of trouble spots:
Custis:
* I-66 Glebe exit overpass was frozen melt, i.e., smoother ice, on downhill side, but I expect that to disappear as temps and sun appear.
*Overpass along I-66 over spout run was the usual frozen melt, but passable.
MVT:
*Trollheim was remarkably clear, not perfectly clear, but much better than I expected. Wood side to side much of the time and the snowy/icy patches had trails through them – ALl but two were to the wood and those two weren’t long sections and could be ridden over.
*Airport bridges had southbound lanes clear except at southern ends, but short and passable.
4MRT:
*ford just north of Arlington Mill completely flooded (the arrangement of boulders has been bad lately and seems to get this one blocked after every rain)
*trail along/through Glenn Carlyn park is crunchy with footprints (lots of tarmack, but logs of ice too) – expect to melt as temp rises
*trail just north of rt-50 (the hill) is crunchy with footprints – expect to melt as temp rises (north side gets little sun, however)

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Pre-treatment is occurring on Arlington trails. Around 8 am I noticed a LOT of salt on the Washington Blvd trail (the one between Rt 50 and Towers Park), it almost felt like riding on gravel. Around 9 am the bike lanes on S Hayes-18th were treated and they were treating Eads – I nearly caught up with the vehicle, but he turned south on 4MRT and I turned North (or is that east and west at that point?). I presume other trails will be done as the roads are also being treated. So, depending on what happens on Sunday and Monday, we may not be in bad shape for riding.

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Trek Clarendon (formerly Revolution) and Spokes Ballston are the two LBSs I use. Yes, they are near each other, but there are reasons and times to go to each one. Having them both be fully Trek does have its disadvantages, but I have Trek bikes.
I am a big fan of small businesses (I have worked for a few who got purchased by big places and all went to crap), so when Trek bought Revolution I was very concerned about the staff. At the time I chatted with the guys there, and still do. It sounds like Trek is still privately held, so while national, it (in my mind) isn’t as bad as some giant faceless corporation who cares only about its share holders (as I have experienced). Several of the staff in Clarendon now were there while it was Revolution and say that they do like it so hopefully those at Spokes will too (I will note that there has been a Trek van parked at or near Spokes for over a year, so this news isn’t too surprising). Both are good locations for bike shops. Maybe they will each focus on different bike styles (kids, adults, road, hybrid, mountain, etc.) so that there is a reason to keep both and they have reasonable amount of traffic. Additional repair folks would be a good thing too.
I hope it works out for all – them and us.

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Rode an Arlington Loop today (and Tuesday), with 4MRT instead of W&OD where I could. Today was much improved over Tuesday, although all bridges still an issue.
Trollheim: Someone (or multiple someones) have roughed up Trollheim so that I could ride slowly over large sections (my tires are 38s) and not slip when I needed to walk.
Airport bridges: The little strips at the airport bridges have been widened and someone has chopped up a large portion of the southbound side of the south bridge so that it is very ridable.
4MRT fords: On 4MRT, the ford just north of the Arlington Mill Community Center has water flowing over it. The Ford on the south side of Glen Carlyn park has ice, but the edges are clear enough for walking – or riding if you are daring enough to possibly fall in the water. Others were all clear or with small bits of avoidable ice.
W&OD bridges: People have been clearing narrow paths on the two bridges between Glen Carlyn and Rt 50. Someone has cleared, to the wood, a portion of the wooden bridge at the end of the Bluemont trail (I noticed this yesterday). Someone has cleared a narrow path on the wooden bridge just south of the Custis turn-off.

[And they are currently working on the footings for the bridge that was swept away a few years ago between 4MRT and the parking lot at Glen Carlyn near the dog park. I presume this means a replacement is coming]

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Custis, Ballston connector and Bluemont were basically clear this morning (1/10). The bike lanes on Fairfax Dr and Quincy were basically clear except for a few areas where slush froze too much and a few “ice & snow bollards” at intersections. W&OD from Bluemont to the Custis was mostly clear except for bridges, which were ice packs.

Anyone know what Custis over Spout Run (behind Lyon Village) is like – is it the usual ice rink? How about Mount Vernon Trail, especially Trollheim? Yesterday’s rain and warmer temps seem to have cleared a lot out, but definitely not all.

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@DrP 212541 wrote:

Custis (at least some portions, but I assume all) was plowed, but lots of areas with frozen slush patches (where people walked before it was plowed), some on slopes, like western side of George Mason underpass. In some areas very difficult to pass, especially in the morning as the melted bits re-froze. Pleasantly surprised that the Ballston connector was plowed and mostly passable – worst on I-66 overpass, but clear areas there. Fairfax drive was plowed to two lanes in each direction and some of the bike planes were clear, but not everywhere and definitely not at intersections. Quincy protected bike lanes were not plowed and had detritus from lane/parking clearings.

Yesterday’s warm temperatures helped to melt the frozen slush patches on the Custis. There are a few left, but generally easy to get around. And the plowing went to the East Falls Church station (trail from basketball court to Sycamore/I-66) and end of 4MRT (N. Van Buren St). W&OD was not plowed SE of the Custis or after 4MRT – roads are clear to get to the intersection of I-66, US 29, Rt237, but the new overpass looks like an ice pack. Riding back and forth on Custis/W&OD stretch was a nice way to get a few miles in without too much worry.
Tonight’s snow will probably make this a problem again, but at least for the Custis, plowing and melting might make it all passable soon. W&OD will likely be a mess for well into next week.

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Custis (at least some portions, but I assume all) was plowed, but lots of areas with frozen slush patches (where people walked before it was plowed), some on slopes, like western side of George Mason underpass. In some areas very difficult to pass, especially in the morning as the melted bits re-froze. Pleasantly surprised that the Ballston connector was plowed and mostly passable – worst on I-66 overpass, but clear areas there. Fairfax drive was plowed to two lanes in each direction and some of the bike planes were clear, but not everywhere and definitely not at intersections. Quincy protected bike lanes were not plowed and had detritus from lane/parking clearings.

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@Henry 212007 wrote:

It appears to be counting and generating its daily Tweet. It’s been reported and David Patton is checking on why the display is dark. Will post update when I get it.

In other words, we have Top Men working on it.

Henry

Excellent! Thank you, Henry.

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So the project to re-pave the Bluemont Trail (not the bit between Bluemont and Wilson as I think many were discussing above) has started in earnest today (there were “trail closed” signs all last week, but the trail never seemed closed). Today the bit from Wilson to N Emerson was completely closed and re-rounte and they closed the trail down to Illinois (I think that one). They claim they will be done in a week to 10 days. They are re-routing in three batches, but no idea how long each will be.

https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Projects/Project-Types/Parks-Projects/Bluemont-Junction-Trail-Milling-and-Repaving?BestBetMatch=bluemont%20trail|d2f86bd7-6525-489c-b1eb-fbe9efd2bbfb|6244aa32-b2d4-441b-b20e-1096256a4671|en-US

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@GP_Slowride 211601 wrote:

We are getting into the headlight required part of the year again for both sides of the commute and there are noticeably more bike commuters on the W&OD and Custis trails this year over 2020. I noticed something this year that I haven’t in previous years.

Early morning commuters (generally between 5am and 6:30am): These cyclists seem to have shaped beam headlights, cover their light with their hand, or turn it off as we approach. This seems almost universal minus a few users (like one has three or four headlights and another who has a blinky red light on the front of their bike).

Evening commuters (generally between 5:30pm and 7pm): A MUCH larger percentage of cyclists with ultra bright headlights and/or strobe flashing lights especially between Rosslyn and the W&OD on the Custis trail. There are some cyclists who cover or turn off their light but many keep that high beam on full blast/strobe even in areas where the trail is well lit.

I thought this was an interesting observation.

This year I have noticed that in the morning there are a lot more ninja pedestrians and cyclists on Custis and the MVT than there used to be. No lights or reflective bits, in fact, usually wearing black or dark gray (and the recent set of full-pack camouflage troops walking on the MVT is particularly bad, although a few have taken to wearing a small red light – keeps their night vision but I can see them before I run into them), and yes a few cyclists too. I have come close running into them, which is especially a problem because so many coming towards me have decided that walking (or biking in one case) in my lane is just fine. I also find a lot of cyclists who turn into ninjas, especially on the Custis. I see that there is a cyclist coming towards me on a curve way ahead of me. Then the light disappears and so I assume they left the trail, but suddenly they are in front of me with a completely covered light.

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@DCAKen 211443 wrote:

At one of the first public meeting about this closure, someone asked about the possibility of using a traffic lane for ped/bike access instead of the posted detour on 19th Street. The Park Service said no, stating that drivers can’t be expected to adjust to this type of temporary change in their driving patterns.

???But drivers are asked to do it all the time for all the other detours they do. And they completely closed the road through the park for a similar length of time. Grrr.

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