[gothedistance]

Sorry for my extremely tardy response. Thank you for pointing out that the link to the photo didn’t work. I guess the original file size was too large and it was rejected by the system. I have uploaded a scaled down version of the photo. It appears that the system accepts this image.

Jerry Cowden

[gothedistance]

@Tim Kelley 70198 wrote:

FYI–You are right, my understanding is that the temporary zig-zag ramp is in ADA accordance and not built with bikes in mind. The bike ramp alongside the stairs are intended for bikes.

Ah, it sounds as if you’re saying there is straight ramp right next to the steps. I never noticed it. I assume the ramp is not intended to be ridden down? In other words you walk down the steps while you guide your bike down the ramp?

[gothedistance]

Sigh. The closure is yet another example of the second class status accorded cyclists. The detour offered is time-consuming and undesirable, and that brand new zigzag bicycle ramp at the end of detour is an abomination with its narrow path and tight turns (I’d be astounded if that ramp were designed with any input from cyclists). How come we keep letting traffic engineers and planners get away with abusing us?

[gothedistance]

I’m very annoyed by this this change even though it will only affect me on occasion since I no longer bike through Ft. Myer daily. The one-way restriction on passing through Arlington Cemetery is bad enough, and now they add insult to injury by limiting evening access to the Wright Gate. Budget constraints notwithstanding, Ft. Myer can do better than this if it wants to. If there were decent alternatives to Ft. Myer that didn’t require me to ride on dangerous roads or go way out of my way I would use them and forget about Ft. Myer with all its red tape and restrictions. As far as I’m concerned, though, neither Columbia Pike nor Arlington Blvd. currently offer a safe and convenient alternative to Ft. Myer.

Comment no. 6 (see above) about Ft. Myer issuing permits to cyclists is one potential solution. Another might be to simply make an exception to the 6 PM cutoff for cyclists. I understand comment no. 9’s logic, but I’m having the opposite reaction about the number of cyclists. If the number of cyclists passing through Wright Gate after 6 PM is so small (and it probably is) then the additional workload they would impose on the security guard(s) would be insignificant, so why not let them come through? If the number of cyclists passing through Wright Gate after 6 PM is large (and I would be very happy to hear that), then this does indeed present a workload issue for the security guard(s) but it makes a compelling argument that Ft. Myer needs to find a better solution to the problem. I’m tempted to make a Freedom of Information Act request to find out how many cyclists actually pass through the Wright Gate daily between 6 and 11 PM. I know they must have this information because the guards record my driver’s license information in a log virtually every single time I present myself at their Gates.

Ft. Myer really needs to hear from us on this.

[gothedistance]

@Tim Kelley 812 wrote:

So I’m curious what have you feel you’ve learned from the whole experience? In the future will you wait at red lights or will you take a quick glance behind you before heading through?

I would like to think that I’m always open to discussion and am willing to change when reasons to change are persuasive. So I would like to ask you this question, Tim. Are there any circumstances under which you would go through a red light on your bicycle?

[gothedistance]

Thanks to everyone for their comments thus far. Here is some additional information.

The reason I didn’t see the policeman (who was on a motorcycle) was because he was BEHIND me waiting at the traffic light as well.

The intersection was S. Glebe Rd. and Walter Reed Dr. It was a weekday and the time was the early afternoon (well before rush hour).

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