[eminva]

Thanks for all the updates — when Dirt and I were searching for bikeable routes to the Silver Line last spring (or winter?), we deemed Lewinsville too beginner-unfriendly, so we didn’t include a route from that direction. I need to get out there again now that the situation has improved. Need a month of Sundays . . .

Liz

[eminva]

And Dickie didn’t stop smiling even when I almost ran him off the trail with an ill-advised pass just west of the W&OD/Custis intersection. What can I say; more than a month and a half away from the commute and I misjudged closing speeds. Thanks for being forgiving!

Liz

[eminva]

Liz

[eminva]

Liz

[eminva]

They already had names.

Exu
Murphey Candler
The Blue Beast
Uttanasana

Liz

[eminva]

@culimerc 92092 wrote:

I’ve seen listings for 15 passenger vans. My thinking was that we could take out the last -2- rows of seats in order fit the bikes, sideways w/out frt wheels.

We’re staying in B&B’s along the way, so luggage will be at a minimum. I’d like to keep the number of vehicles to a minimum if at all possible.

Where are you going to put the seats then? Don’t you have to turn them in in Pittsburgh with the vehicle?

[eminva]

Hello –

kayakcindy and I rented a minivan from Enterprise and returned it in downtown Pittsburgh for our GAP trip a couple of months ago. There were only two of us so we were able to roll our bikes right into the back without even needing to remove the front wheels. For seven of you, I would think cyclingfool’s approach would be best.

And yes, cyclingfool, you can do it exactly as you are speculating. The Enterprise office downtown is right near the trailhead. They have a key drop if you get there after hours. See Strava. We didn’t quite make it to camp before dark, although if we’d left DC a bit earlier, or stopped for fewer photos, we certainly would have.

Liz

[eminva]

@MattAune 91907 wrote:

I am interested in the Romin. how much?

Private message sent. Thanks.

Liz

[eminva]

Thanks for the catch, all. I’ll let him know. It probably should be in the title.

Liz

[eminva]

I’m willing to commute with him in the morning as long as necessary. I can detour a bit on my way into DC. We will try different routes, but we won’t repeat anything he’s not comfortable with.

Thanks everyone. Looking forward to the day when Tyson’s is fully bike and pedestrian friendly. But not holding my breath.

Liz

[eminva]

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!!

My husband is selling his shoes on eBay. Let me know if you are interested and save the shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Specialized-Road-Bike-Shoe-/390901939164?pt=US_Men_s_Athletic_Footwear&hash=item5b03923bdc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pearl-iZUMi-Mens-X-Alp-Cycling-Shoe-/390901934217?pt=US_Men_s_Athletic_Footwear&hash=item5b03922889

Liz

[eminva]

Excellent post. You have a mixture of heart pumping adrenaline rides and bucolic rides through the woods.

The FABB blog also links to maps with routes to get to the Silver Line stations in both Tysons and Reston:

Bicycling and the Silver Line

Dirt and I mapped out the routes to the Tysons stations and reconnoitered them earlier this year. They are deliberately beginner friendly, so feel free to pass these along to less intrepid commuters who are considering a mixed mode commute using the Silver Line.

How do you find riding on Route 7 across the beltway? My son is starting at Marshall High School next month and we live in Vienna. He can either take the W&OD and work his way to Idylwood and Route 7 or ride to Tysons and then over the bridge on Route 7. Both have their downsides and there is no really great option, of course.

Thanks.

Liz

[eminva]

Hello and welcome — like Steve, I am an LCI and teach classes with WABA. I would second his recommendation that you take City Cycling rather than Adult Learn to Ride. CC splits the group in two — mostly self selected, so you can sort yourself into the group working on basic skills. LTR is for those who truly never learned to ride at all. There is a long, long waiting list for that class. There will be instructors at CC who will work with you where you are. Have fun!

Liz

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[eminva]

I travel through Vienna metro on average four times a week (two mornings and two evenings). I spoke with an officer who was canvassing about a week before this initiative started. He was at the intersection on the north side of the station (Virginia Center Lane) so I think they are focusing on a number of areas around the station which might account for the high statistics. He said at that intersection, they were focusing on drivers who turn right out of the metro kiss and ride without yielding to pedestrians. Indeed, this week I saw a squad car on two different afternoons parked well down the road (near the I-66 on ramp) intercepting motorists that failed to yield. No officers were close enough to the intersection — at least when I came through — to ticket jaywalking pedestrians there.

Liz

[eminva]

@dasgeh 89793 wrote:

How about insisting that school systems (especially ones that teach every child to swim) teach every child to ride a bike? In elementary school. I’m looking at you, APS.

Bike/pedestrian safety throughout the public school curriculum, starting in Kindergarten, as well as skills lessons on walking, biking and using transit. It fits into the curriculum in many subjects.

Don’t know about APS, but it already is part of the curriculum in Fairfax County. A widely, perhaps universally, ignored part of the curriculum. But in the curriculum nonetheless.

As a League Cycling Instructor, I’ve long been mystified by the gap in bicycle education between bike rodeos for tots and Traffic Skills 101. I don’t know why the LAB doesn’t develop a model curriculum for older elementary, middle school and high school that could be adopted and put in place by schools. It should be complete enough that PE teachers could pick it up and teach it with no extra effort. I guess the LAB has a lot on its plate and chooses not to expend its limited resources on that demographic.

Liz

[Author]

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