[huskerdont]

The fencing has been made more dangerous in the last week or so. Squeezing past used to be fairly easy, but they moved it over as far as they could, and yesterday I saw people climbing around and having to hold on to the fencing to keep from falling in the canal. It is  is really obnoxious that they made no pedestrian access. Also a bummer to lose this parking for kayaking Little Falls, but that’s at least something you can work around. Closing access from Brookmont is a real Richard move by the NPS.

[huskerdont]

I was impressed with the brushers the county used. (Moved aside to let them fly by on their way back.) They cleared better than plows, leaving just a little sheen in places that eventually sublimated. And they went across jurisdictions and cleared the downriver side of Key Bridge, up to the Whitehurst, which was very helpful since DC *never* does the damn bridge, and I’ve always disliked taking the lane on Key.

[huskerdont]

Scott to Oak, or vice versa, is the route I take much of the time anyway, especially home up the hill. If heading outbound, it’s right on Oak, left on 22nd St., brief left on Queen, right on 21st Rd, left on Rolfe, right on 21st Rd. again, left on Scott, right on 21st St., then left on Smyth or Troy to 20th where the trail is again. It sounds complicated because Arlington loves to put their same-numbered roads and streets right next to each other, but once you’ve done it, it’s easy. There are actually a couple of variations that can be done as well.

Some of you people likely have those mappy things on your phones mounted in front of you, in which case can just follow that.

[huskerdont]

I wonder if they’ll remove the abandoned moped that’s been there for months? And the downed tree.

This was one unnamed old man’s nature break spot, but I will prefer the completed trail for sure.

[huskerdont]

@lordofthemark 226111 wrote:

The project is done. The underpass is now permanently (?) back open, and the bike lanes on the bridge are quite good, and are being fairly heavily used.

It was closed for a bit yesterday afternoon while they were up doing something to the west underside of the bridge. Hopefully just a minor, temporary thing. It was open again approaching 7 p.m., but the cones were still around for potential future use.

[huskerdont]

On the Custis dip along 66 approaching Roslyn, note that the soundwall that was dangling dangerously close to the trail after the tree crushed it has now fallen completely into the trail. It’s at the very bottom of the dip so could be a bit sketchy if hit at speed. Luckily since Arlington didn’t clean up the tree debris, that debris washed into the drain and clogged it, causing a large puddle to form at the bottom. That’s what slowed me down, at least, so that I didn’t hit the wall at full speed.

I thought it looked a bit too big for one person to move, so rather than make things worse, I left it. At least where it is it is down flat on the trail.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30841[/ATTACH]

[huskerdont]

@Steve O 225938 wrote:

I have it under good authority that Bikenetic, Pete’s family, BikeArlington and scores of individuals were supportive of the posting of these signs. I’d be surprised if you can find anyone who knew Pete well who would agree with you.
As huskerdont points out in his note, what may be bureaucratically out of due process happens to also be wonderful. Sadly, there are those who believe bureaucratic senselessness should override wonderfulness.

“As huskerdont points out in his note…”

That won’t me (although I do agree).

[huskerdont]

Some of this depends on the temperament of your doggo. Our beagle did not like it. As long as we were under 9 mph he’d tolerate it, but over that and he’d try to claw his way out. The first time, before we knew this, I didn’t have him secured tightly enough, and he clawed through the mesh and jumped out. I turned around just in time to see him getting himself run over by the trainer wheel, with an accusing look on his face toward me. (He was alright.) If yours doesn’t seem mellow enough, it’s best to really tighten down the leash around whatever is in there to tie it to so that he or she can’t get out.

[huskerdont]

On February 11 I rode the portion from Nutley to just shy of Gallows (dodging glass, tree limbs, construction debris, gravel, perhaps the odd barricade). It was about like I thought it would be, perhaps a bit better: probably helpful for some commuters, but not something you’d do recreationally, except as a curiosity. I think those in the neighborhoods along the Interstate really missed an opportunity to have a trail they could use to run or hike along, maybe take the doggo for a walk–all things you won’t be seeing outside the sound wall.

[huskerdont]

Yes, the trail underpass is open, yet every day I see people still queued up at the light. It’s like the cage door is open now and people don’t notice it.

[huskerdont]

Excellent! Accotink running loops back in the mix for this summer, and MTB trail connection between the two parks without necessarily needing to hit Danbury Forest Drive.

The sign is a good joke. It’s like the one telling cyclists to dismount at the DCA exit that no person in the history of humankind has ever followed. When you post excessive and meaningless rule-ish things, people ignore even sensible rules, and peoples’ judgment sucks.

[huskerdont]

Yes, I’m only 6 ft tall on a 58 cm frame, but it would scarily close if I were to ride upright down the center line where their center lumber piece sits pointing endwise. A taller person could easily hit that, and the result could be very bad indeed. They do have police tape and streamers up, but going fast down the hill in the dark, these could easily be missed. This really doesn’t seem safe, and while I’m sure they’re trying to avoid a detour, a detour here would not be onerous.

[huskerdont]

At the new Glebe Road Bridge, note also that westbound they got the ADA ramp a bit wrong and you could easily flat if you weren’t careful. It’s not as bad as the East Basin Drive ramp in DC.

[huskerdont]

First ride through there last night. Amazing the difference, although strange to not have to pick a MTB line on skinny 25s. Thank you!

[huskerdont]

Great news. Let us use our new right responsibly.

I stopped to let a pedestrian proceed in a crosswalk on Virginia Avenue the other day, and he seemed flabbergasted, saying something about sometimes cyclists do stop. I’d like safe and polite behavior around pedestrians to become the norm rather than the surprising exception.

[Author]

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