[DrP]

@n18 209105 wrote:

There are some photos from Dec 2020 at the bottom of this page:

http://inside.transform66.org/about_the_project/wod_trail_bridge.asp

I am not sure if it’s open or not, as I didn’t go there in recent months.

I can say that as of Tuesday morning, 3/2/21, it still wasn’t open. However, it is close. They look to be finishing up the fencing on the rails to keep people from falling off the bridge. Not sure if it will be this week or this month given the pace of everything, but it is really close.

[DrP]

[cross posting the main contents]
At 7:15 am today, there were two cars that had left the GW parkway between trollheim and boundary channel (it happened before then, but not likely too long before). I am not sure what happened. One had travelled across the trail and was in the trees and shrubs. The other was on the trail with tow cables. Not sure if both went off at once or if one was getting ready to be pulled up when the other went over or was it being towed, broke loose and ended up on the trail. Police were present and one tow truck. And the car traffic was backing up quickly.

[DrP]

At about 7am the trails could be treacherous. The rime wasn’t too bad in terms of being slippery, but all the re-frozen melt was bad. If we freeze again tonight, these areas might be a problem:
– Custis on the bridge over spout run.
– MVT in several places: the trail cross-over in the Roosevelt parking lot (the plow had pushed a large lump of snow/ice onto the southbound trail lane – northbound was passable yesterday morning, but clearly some had melting and this morning it was solid ice. Exactly where you need to turn. Ouch. They need to plow all the way off both the road and trail), Columbia Island from the north end to the GW Parkway crossing (i.e., the usual places, although extended at each), bits and pieces soudn of the humpback bridge to the airport, the area by the economy parking at the airport.
– 4MRT in a few places: (I didn’t attempt the hill going under Columbia Pike, it could be clear, but I suspected ice because it is always we there), the area around the south ford of Glen Carlin, the area around Carlin Springs Rd. (north side of the hill and the whole access from W&OD until underneath Carlin Springs Rd.

The cars found it bad too. There were two cars had left the GW parkway between trollheim and boundary channel. I am not sure what happened. One had travelled across the trail and was in the trees and shrubs. The other was on the trail with tow cables. Not sure if both went off at once or if one was getting ready to be pulled up when the other went over or was it being towed, broke loose and ended up on the trail. Not the easiest to get around since the trail was quite icy there and the grassy hill quite steep.

[DrP]

@Alcova cyclist 207058 wrote:

Surprisingly not much different after a sunny day touching 50 degrees. Trollheim was maybe a little better, with a foot-wide single track in each direction clear except for a few 10-20′ stretches of slush + packed ice. Made it through on 40c road tires without feeling too squirrely. The airport bridges are starting to melt off, but still single-track for long stretches. Everywhere else is pretty much clear edge-to-edge. Melt still flowing over the trails all over, so beware morning ice (though it’s supposed to stay above freezing Thursday night).

Another 12 hours of above freezing may have helped since your ride.

Less snow and ice than yesterday, but not all gone.
Different route today: Custis – MVT – LBJ Grove – around S side of Pentagon – Columbia Pike – Washington Blvd Trail – trails through Lyon Park – Ballston – Ballston Connector

Differences from yesterday (or new):
Custis: Bridge over spout run wet with melt, but essentially clear. Rest of trail clear, including many access trails
MVT: Trollheim is MUCH better, but not clear. Areas about 1ft wide in each direction clear to wood in most places, but some slush and some hard icy bits still present. Bridge after that (over boundary channel) completely clear. A tiny bit of the ice sheets left, but mostly melt.
LBJ Grove area: bridge clear on side not in shadow from the railing – that side patchy snow/ice/slush. The landing on the Pentagon side is only clear where cyclists would go from the bridge to the ramp.
Wash Blvd Trail: clear except wooden bridge, which is patchy icy-slushy, and half the trail north of the 2nd st overpass (in the shadow).
trails through Lyon Park: mostly clear, a few small patches that are icy-slushy and two very large areas that are bumpy-icy and walking recommended/only option (rear tire slipped several times as I tried to pedal and chose to walk before I fell).
Ballston connecter: Mostly clear, a few areas in shade were bad, but only on half the trail, so can easily avoid.

[DrP]

Did an Arlington loop this morning starting pre-dawn, so still below freezing, with 4MRT instead of W&OD for most of the way where they “parallel” each other. As the temperatures increase today, many areas will be wet rather than icy. Larger rutty areas will likely become slushy, but still an issue.

Custis: Clear except for melt-refreezing in a few spots. Spout run had a bit of refreeze, but oddly the yellow line was mostly clear. Longer access trails typically not in good shape.

MVT From Roosevelt Island to 4MRT: Mostly extremely clear other than refreezes (standard ice sheets present). Trollheim is well, as expected. Clear in the patched under I-66, but otherwise snowy-icy-crunchy, but passable (I was on 38s). Bridge just south of that passable, with care. Bridges at airport have a “lane” (~1ft wide) in each direction that are clear, except for refreezes, but passable with care.

4MRT: Clear until just south of Glen Carlyn Park – where the access from S. Arlington Mill Rd enters above the ford. At that point it is a icy, rutty mess. Recommend walking (tried otherwise and failed). Had to walk until it flattened out again on the other side of the ford – then escaped up to W&OD. Did go back to 4MRT just before Carlin Springs Rd (trail just north of Rt 50 and up hill was not cleared) and past the frisbee golf – that area was fine.

W&OD: small regions I was on it were just fine, including bridges.

[DrP]

Since it looks like the snow may be finished for the time being, what are the trails like? (I see other asking similar questions)
Is MVT passable between Roosevelt Island and 4MRT?
Did they re-clear parts of the W&OD between Columbia Pike and Custis?
If MVT is a mess, any idea about the trail along the cemetery and washington blvd (actually, both trails)?
I probably cannot get a real loop in, but maybe a modified one?

I can answer that the Custis is pretty clear, although there are small ice slicks where melt run-off has re-frozen and access trails are not clear (Ballston Connector is a “foot-rutty” mess and slick in many spots, others I passed were similar)

[DrP]

@DrP 206054 wrote:

Thank you, Henry.
However, this all assumes that one has a smart phone or any cell phone with texting ability. I spent a lot of time on the phone (landline) with them today (partially because their phones kept disconnecting). Some folks thought I needed a new key and others just the verification, but either way I would need the verification. They have recently changed their system and require verification by texting a cell phone some information. They cannot fathom anyone not having such capability (while I know many like this – and in the 30-50 year old range, done by choice, not inability to understand). I requested to escalate the issue, but I have my doubts that it would ever be resolved. I will keep trying, but I am very unhappy. And that they didn’t e-mail me (which ability they clearly have) to let me know I needed to fix this before I ended up walking 3 miles home. I never received earlier e-mails about this – I checked last night since I save all those.

Apparently if you are persistent (days, hours on the phone, and multiple e-mails asking for escalation), someone there knows that it does not need to be a cell phone with texting capabilities. You can use a landline and tell it to call you with the code (just wait on the web page for the “resend code” and “call me” buttons). I went through the process and my account recognizes me now. I will try to check out a bike soon to see if it is completely solved. Of course, I needed a bike last Thursday, Friday or Saturday and earlier today… but hopefully I can use it in future!

[DrP]

@buschwacker 206124 wrote:

Hello all, I come seeking your expertise regarding the puncture in my rear inner tube pictured below. This is the second time I’ve gotten a puncture like this and I’m at a loss regarding preventing them. This puncture occurred last night after inflating to 70 psi, the maximum limit on the tire.

For background, I ride an ebike as a general purpose errand runner, with Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires and a puncture strip between the tube and tire. I’ve inspected the tire and found no punctures and likewise have inspected the rim tape and found no exposed spokes. Moreover, I took my bike in to my LBS for a puncture like this just last month and as part of their tune-up they put in a new tube.

Any input on the cause is most welcome – I used to ride this bike in the same configuration 17 miles daily to and from DC for my commute and never once experienced a flat like this. Now with the pandemic, I ride it hardly at all by comparison and have gotten two flats in a short amount of time. My best guess is the puncture strip may be pinching or abrading the tube. Has anyone experienced something like this before?

When you say “Puncture strip” do you mean something like rhinodillo strips? If so, then that is likely the problem. I had three flats in 2 days due to that. The strip was cracking longitudinally and when I went over bumps, the crack would open, the tube would go in and either another bump or just pressure would push air in and it would pop. When just feeling the strip, it isn’t obvious, so I didn’t realize that was the cause. I took it out and started inspecting in closely and found the cracks. I stopped using them entirely and got better tires.

[DrP]

@Henry 206021 wrote:

DrP:

Looks like confirming of the phone number with your account is the answer. In early 2020 riders had to update their accounts (yes, there were more earlier emails to users about updating). We had to do this with the launch of ebikes, and because we had seen a big spike in stolen bikes in the past two years. This phone number verification was part of tightening the security measures.

Part of that process linked an existing member’s old key fob to their new account (identified via phone verification). If the account did not update or link the key properly, the key FOB would stop working. Members were allowed to ride for a period of time without upgrading due to Covid-19, but this was phased out late fall/early winter. Riders can link any unpaired fob to their account, but they must log in online themselves to add this.

Whenever a disabled FOB tries to unlock a bike, the phone number or email associated with the old account receives a notification, hence the 51 emails. We are also confirming that customer service should be directing riders with a key to add it to their account.

I’ve also attached a .pdf of screen shots to walk through the process. Hope this helps.

Of course, downloading the app will also let you unlock right away.

Henry

Thank you, Henry.
However, this all assumes that one has a smart phone or any cell phone with texting ability. I spent a lot of time on the phone (landline) with them today (partially because their phones kept disconnecting). Some folks thought I needed a new key and others just the verification, but either way I would need the verification. They have recently changed their system and require verification by texting a cell phone some information. They cannot fathom anyone not having such capability (while I know many like this – and in the 30-50 year old range, done by choice, not inability to understand). I requested to escalate the issue, but I have my doubts that it would ever be resolved. I will keep trying, but I am very unhappy. And that they didn’t e-mail me (which ability they clearly have) to let me know I needed to fix this before I ended up walking 3 miles home. I never received earlier e-mails about this – I checked last night since I save all those.

[DrP]

@LuisFilipe 205082 wrote:

How to not WormHole

https://www.arlnow.com/2021/01/12/two-rescued-after-cars-careen-into-potomac-river/

Well, this explains all the car debris on the MVT this morning.

[DrP]

@smb9600 202949 wrote:

There was patches of ice on the WOD today between Columbia Pike & the Custis Trail – its winter indeed!

Ice flows are coming!
Columbia Island is leaking like it was a couple of winters ago (south of Trollheim to a little south of Memorial Bridge). The past two mornings there was ice on the MVT where the water flows across the trail – likely melting once it warms, for now. If we get a spell of frigid temperatures like we did two winters ago, and it continues to be damp again, these will likely be big ice flows for a while.

[DrP]

So this morning I went by this circle and there were plantings all around it. Looks really pretty now and those shrubs are tiny now, but they will soon block any views trail users might have. This new traffic “feature” is a set of crashes waiting to happen. The circle is much too tight for any reasonable speed (three paths are downhill to the circle, so coming to a near stop is just super annoying). If the east bound users keep cutting to the left rather than going around to the right (I have seen school buses do this on the roads too, so no one knows how to use these circles. great), that is going to get bad.
Can we force the designers to use this regularly?

[DrP]

It has been a while since I was sure I saw the remains of one of these (there have been several cases of muddy tracks this summer and last, but since the appeared when the grass was freshly mowed, I was thinking it was the Park Service mowing the steep hill and slipping in the mud). That streak seems to have ended.
Some time before Wednesday (12/2) morning, a vehicle drove off the GW Parkway, taking the “End Roadwork” sign down and travelled on or across the trail leaving bits of glass and other car parts on the trail.

[DrP]

@dbb 202305 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]21678[/ATTACH]

Here is a shot from Friday morning. This is the uphill exit from the circle and evidence of folks cutting the corner (I’m of the position that these are inadvertent).

Not sure any cyclists were consulted in the design. If Arlington only had some group that would offer advice on such matters. Maybe they could call it a Bicycle Advisory Group, or something like that.

I agree that they are likely inadvertent. I have nearly had to do that every time I passed through so far. It is getting better and I start to brake earlier, but it is not at all a natural turn. They need a bit more asphalt there and in the equivalent location in the other direction.

[DrP]

@Henry 202095 wrote:

DrP, I forwarded your comments to DES staff, who said they are working with VDOT improving the detour signage. Thanks for providing this information.

Henry

Well, there are now two signs on Lexington to help guide, if one is on the sidewalk, and the “walk bike” sign removed, so some progress. There is nothing at the split at the top of the hill (when coming from the W&OD) and nothing to tell someone heading west that one needs to turn after the Wilson underpass – if I didn’t know, I would ride to the Custis trail then have to turn around and go back.

This should be done soon, right?

[Author]

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