[JorgeGortex]

BTW: I am officially adding this to the forum lexicon: Parking Llamas. With hats off to Dickie.

[JorgeGortex]

@donkeybike 48110 wrote:

I have complained numerous times–since the blockers are often right in front of the COURTHOUSE, I don’t get why they cannot enforce. Already had one shouting match with a Sysco jerk.

Excellent question. What good is there if the Police and meter patrol cannot handle the people within a block of the courthouse and police headquarters!

Although, as I think about these llamas and trucks… its no different than heading through Georgetown on K Street in the morning. The Do Not Park right lane is always parked in by delivery trucks.

[JorgeGortex]

I was inspired by your letter dasgeh. Here is the one I just sent to the county and ACPD:

Dear public officials,

As a native Arlingtonian and current resident I was greatly concerned to hear of the recent violence that occurred on our multi-use trails. It is my observation over the last few years, following the news and reports, that violent crime is on the rise in my home town. The increasing affluence the county benefits from is now drawing an element to our streets that has a total disregard for common decency, civility, and laws. This is most disconcerting to me, and so I am writing to urge that aggressive and proactive common sense actions be taken by the county.

ACPD has a good rate of responding to crimes and assisting those in need, but police presence has not increased at the same rate as the rise in crime. It is ironic to me that I address this in reaction to violence against cyclists, when I believe that an increased bicycle and foot ACPD presence is what is needed. Although cruisers can get to locations quickly, they are not as effective at patrolling trouble areas, areas that are harder to access, and places criminals tend to lurk. ACPD needs to be given the resources to expand the number of officers and specifically patrols on foot and bicycle supporting a 24/7/365 program (or as reasonable based on need).

Local trails, the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor (especially now fight prone Clarendon) as well as Pentagon City, and other locations would be greatly served by a more up close and personal ACPD presence. Officers assigned to these regular patrol areas would get to know the trouble spots as well as the community better. The community in turn would get to know the ACPD. Those elements bent on causing trouble might be more inclined not to if they know a ACPD officer could be rounding the corner at any time. Residents might also feel safer and knowing the same.

The diversion of funds from other public projects will make a lot of sense when, god forbid, another attempted rape, sexual assault, armed robbery, etc. occurs and is successful. But at that point it is too late. Aquatic Centers, trolley systems, bike lanes/trails, commerce and restaurants are all important but only if your citizens feel safe enjoying them. The best defense, as they say, is a good offence and so I urge you all to act before another serious crime takes place. The responsibility to act proactively and with prejudice is yours. Please do so before another taxpayer, father, wife, child, or citizen is impacted by the thuggery threatening our county, our home.

Sincerely,

George K.

[JorgeGortex]

The post from the county crime email blast that I get every week:

REPORTS

ARMED ROBBERY, 04/02/13, 1300 block of N. Vernon Street. At 10:20 pm on April 2, two unknown subjects knocked a man off his bicycle on the Custis Bike Trail. The subjects then brandished a handgun. Both subjects fled the scene by foot. The victim was transported to Virginia Hospital Center with injuries that he sustained during the attack. The first suspect is described as a white male, around the age of 25, approximately 5’8” tall and 185 lbs. Suspect one was wearing a dark puffy winter jacket and dark pants. The second suspect is described as a male of an unknown race, approximately 6’0” tall and 200 lbs. Suspect two was wearing a dark jacket and dark pants at the time of the incident.

BRANDISHING FIREARM, 04/02/13, 1200 block of N. Abingdon Street. Shortly after 10 pm on April 2, two subjects attempted to knock a victim off his bicycle and block the Custis Bike Trail. The victim was able to ram one of the suspects back and break through to safety, but noticed one of the suspects brandishing a firearm. After the victim got to safety, he was able to report the incident to police. However, the suspects had already robbed and attacked another victim at a different location on the same bike trail.

###################

Scary. Glad you are OK Two Wheels. First incident is right near the neighborhood where I grew up and where my family still lives. This is very disconcerting to say the least. Arlington’s affluence is attracting the worst elements.

JG.

[JorgeGortex]

@Steve 45555 wrote:

@JorgeGortex 45549 wrote:

Lot of 5am wake-up calls in our sport.QUOTE]

Yea, my old roommate here is the head women’s coach at George Mason. His wake up times were earrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrly.

No doubt. When you have to get to the Occoquan for practice in the morning its always an early day! Tell him I said hi (from George). I coached a couple of his girls that rowed for me at West Springfield in HS.

[JorgeGortex]

@Steve 45469 wrote:

I’ll say one of the coolest parts of my ride in today was a seing shell going down the Potomac. The sun wasn’t up yet, but the sky was starting to get a little color. The shell had a headlight on the bow going out over the water (which I’d never seen before). Hands were too cold for picture time, but it looked like a tracking shot in the open of a movie or something.

Either GW or Georgetown crews, or one of the club teams. Lot of 5am wake-up calls in our sport. Lots of people get to practice via bike. And a lot of rowers transition to cycling as another outlet for competitive juices. All shells out in the twilight hours (early or late) are supposed to have a light on the bow and stern so they are more easily seen. Many are using quality bike lights now that bright and energy efficient LED’s are becoming the norm.

And yeah, it sucks to get up sometimes… but there is nothing better than watching the sun come up over the water as you cruise past the monuments along the river.

[JorgeGortex]

@KelOnWheels 45543 wrote:

Mr. OnWheels is down in Mathews VA shooting a documentary about the high school crew team right now Cool stuff.

Tim Ulsaker’s (W-L HS alumni) Mathews HS Crew. Little school, with a small team, that consistently medals at big events and send kids off to college. Great stuff. Look forward to seeing the piece. Thanks for sharing.

[JorgeGortex]

@Tim Kelley 45458 wrote:

Copyright 1998! You’ve been at this awhile, huh? What’s your take on it happening in the next couple of years?

Tim, I have. It was my coach, Charlie Butt Jr., who dreamed of this project and started working on it before his death. So really, the copyright for the project itself should be 1991. That being said, the project has always moved and then stalled in fits and spurts. The biggest road block has always been the NPS. In the past year and a half I’ve seen the most forward progress that I’ve ever seen. The upper level administration for the the NPS park, GW Parkway, changed dramatically. This new group of administrators understands the need and positive impact this project offers the community and appears to be working within the guidelines to move things forward from their side. Arlington County has always been a supporter of the project and actively working with the NPS. So I think we will see some good things happening soon… but I doubt it will be built in the next few years. My guess is there is still another 10 years in this. I hate to say it, but I’d rather put it at the outside and be happily surprised. There is a lot of details to be worked out between the land owner, Arlington County, and the NPS, with input from the Foundation. Much like the increase in cycling in our area, interest in rowing has exploded across every demographic. Unlike cycling, there is simply no current space in our area for this sport to expand without the development of new facilities like the Arlington Boathouse.

JG

[JorgeGortex]

http://www.arlingtonboathouse.org

For more, and accurate, information.

[JorgeGortex]

@TwoWheelsDC 45359 wrote:

Screw the boathouse…build the Velodrome!!

Lovely. Very thoughtful post. Thanks.

[JorgeGortex]

It is indeed landlocked. However, the preferred option for the project would have one part, say locker rooms, classrooms, etc. on the slice we’ve been discussing, and equipment storage and docks below at water level. Users would access the lower area via the current bridge or a new, additional bridge. Details TBD.

[JorgeGortex]

Lovely. How thoughtful.

[JorgeGortex]

Shoot them full of holes if you like… but when you need them, they are there, and they are reliable. When my wife and five month old are out and about, it makes me feel just a little bit better knowing that if I can’t be there to help them in a car mechanical emergency situation, there is a reliable one like AAA who can. And none of that keeps me off my bike. I think energy and vigor are better directed at turning the pedals. Or lobbying them to change their lobbying stance. FWIW.

[JorgeGortex]

All,

I am pretty familiar with this little spit of land and its surroundings. It is indeed a mixture of private, state, and NPS. NPS had a service depot there, which is now gone. The private piece of land was once larger. When I-66 came into being, VA State took it as part of imminent domain to build the off ramps from 66 to Lynn St. They never used all the land. The land owner successfully sued for the return of the land they did not use. He then wanted to develop the parcel as a luxury apartment building. That was quickly shot down by the county. He then started negotiating on something smaller like condos or town homes. He did approach the Arlington Boathouse Foundation about working with them to build a structure that would accommodate their goals to build a community boathouse. The hurdles were still with the county who did not want anything private and large built on such a public site. Eventually the land owner gave up on developing the site and would now like to sell the property to the county and recoup a good portion of its value, which he has every right to. The owner and the county are still discussing. The boathouse foundation still would like to work with the county and the NPS to build a facility, using in part, that privately owned area. Hopefully someone will come to some sort of agreement so the project can move forward. Till then, its the little art project and home that could.

[JorgeGortex]

@vvill 42389 wrote:

I hope they made sure to put some grease on the pedal threads this time.

= never seize is your friend.

[Author]

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