[mikoglaces]

@rcannon100 144405 wrote:

#CrossIsComing! But first… something completely different!

The Clare & Don’s Beach Shack Beer Garden will have free Fair Winds Brewing Howling Gale IPA and Quaside Kolsch–brand new in cans!–with your cash donations benefiting MORE’s local trail-building projects. ).

Gravel and free beer! Kolsch!!! I have entered my son Nolan and me in the tandem race. He’s too young too drink so I’ll have to drink enough for both of us.

[mikoglaces]

Me: Riding to work on the Custis, descending the hill between Rte. 66 and the apartment buildings just before Lee Highway.
You: Called “on the left”, and pulled up alongside m, but didn’t pass. Then there was oncoming traffic, and you rode on the yellow line.
Me: Cussing you out and pointing out what you did was unsafe.
You: Claiming I “wouldn’t let you pass.” That I sped up to keep you from passing.

Really? I get passed all the time. By guys who know how to pass. I don’t “let them pass.” They go faster and they pass. Yes, I sped up because we had just crested a hill.

I thought that was it but wait for it.

Two minutes later:

Me: On the Custis along Lee Highway, crossing at the light just before the Intersection Of Death.
You: (the same You as above): making unannounced “pass” on my right in the crosswalk, forcing me to the left as we go onto the sidewalk from the crosswalk.
Me: Out loud: “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
You: dropped back due to slower cyclists on the right anyway. But of course you shoaled us all at the red light at the IOD.
Me: Cussing you out the whole time you were waiting for the light.
You: You are a menace. Learn how to pass safely before you hurt someone.
Me: To all the other cyclists at the light: I am sorry you had to listen to me cussing non-stop for 2-3 minutes.

[mikoglaces]

@chris_s 133262 wrote:

Keep telling the County Board you appreciate it. I have it on good authority they are being bombarded by cranky folks who don’t think “bike trails should be getting plowed before all of the residential streets are clear”

countyboard@arlingtonva.us

I just wish the’d done the whole length of the trail.

[mikoglaces]

I rode this afternoon from d.c. On Wilson Blvd. to Washington Blvd. to Fairfax Dr./Lincoln St. All very passable. I got off the bike to get a good look at Custis where Washington crosses it, near Glebe. It clearly had not been plowed, though there has been traffic on it.

[mikoglaces]

@accordioneur 133202 wrote:

A combination of sidewalks and carrying the bike. Access @ the end of Powhatan St. is pretty clear. I was inspired by seeing you out on Saturday!

So W&OD from Powhatan to Custis is clear, and then Custis is passable to George mason, is that right? I rode from Dunn Loring on streets, in Arlington Washington Blvd and Clarendon, and they were passable but it’s gonna be much worse tomorrow during rush hour .

[mikoglaces]

@accordioneur 133202 wrote:

A combination of sidewalks and carrying the bike. Access @ the end of Powhatan St. is pretty clear. I was inspired by seeing you out on Saturday!

So W&OD from Powhatan to Custis is clear, and then Custis is passable to George mason, is that right? I rode from Dunn Loring on streets, in Arlington Washington Blvd and Clarendon, and they were passable but it’s gonna be much worse tomorrow during rush hour .

[mikoglaces]

@Steve O 133186 wrote:

I don’t know. I only tried that one spot and then carried my bike back to the street. Boomer also indicated clear, but his picture is way out at Van Buren, and I don’t believe he actually rode it in. No one I know has tried to ride it east of the U of ED. Eyeballing from the Harrison Street bridge seemed to indicate the same condition as shown in this photo in each direction as far as I could see (which isn’t all that far).

Thanks.

[mikoglaces]

@Steve O 133165 wrote:

The Custis Trail east of the Underpass of Eternal Darkness has 3-4 inches of snow. Not rideable for me, but possibly with a fat bike or mountain bike with low gearing and knobby tires. It will be hard work, even if you can ride it, if they don’t clear it a little more.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10617[/ATTACH]
(photo taken at Harrison St.)

Is it just one section. Earlier poster ginacico posted Custis was clear. Trying to plan Monday commute. Washington Blvd to Clarendon Blvd if Custis impassable.

[mikoglaces]

@chris_s 131910 wrote:

It’s a local ordinance. Here is Arlington’s:

Bicycle lane. Where the County Board has by ordinance designated a bicycle lane for the
exclusive use of bicycles, a motor vehicle may cross a bicycle lane for the purpose of entering or exiting adjacent
property, for making a turn, or for the purpose of parking, but no person shall stop, stand or park a motor vehicle in a
bicycle lane, nor shall any person drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane for a distance of more than one hundred
(100) feet.

It looks like Arlington has not kept up in designating bike lanes in the ordinance as they have been built, so I don’t think they could actually enforce that provision for any bike lane striped in recent years.

Thanks for citing the law.

[mikoglaces]

@dasgeh 131849 wrote:

That page is cool and all, but not the law. VA Code is the law. VDOT has some interpretations. BikeArlington, while wonderful, isn’t even a governmental organization.

I agree. I just have to say I am surprised to learn that there’s no VA law that expressly states that bike lanes are exclusively for bikes, except where there’s a need to cross them (i.e., right turn). Could a car just drive on the bike lane (assuming no bike in it) for miles? It doesn’t seem right though I can’t find any statute saying so. What if a car comes into the bike lane suddenly (as often happens for example when I am riding on Williamsburg Blvd and car swerves into bike lane to go around car waiting to make a left turn notwithstanding that I am in bike lane), driver has a right to do that? That is, he has a right to enter the bike lane and drive on it to pass cars? If he hit me, it appears I cannot argue that he was driving in a bike lane prohibited to cars because VA law doesn’t say it is prohibited. I could argue negligence, but driver will of course say he didn’t see me. I can see what the law says but find it shocking really.

[mikoglaces]

@dasgeh 131802 wrote:

If only it were so cut-and-dried. Va Code 46.2-100 states:

Cars have to be legally allowed to enter bike lanes to turn right. I think it makes sense that cars are legally allowed to enter bike lanes to avoid obstacles, so long as they do so safely (turn signal, look, give right of way, not hit cyclists).

I’ve heard ACPD (Arl) state that cars are allowed to drive in bike lanes for 100 yards. I don’t think they have any authority to support that.

There may be a law that prohibits the avoidance of speed bumps, but that may only apply to crossing the double yellow.

Looks like you are right that it’s not cut and dried. Va Code 46.2-100 says what it says, but it’s only a definition. Most bike lanes are too narrow for a car to fit within. Another page on this website states: “Motorists may not drive, stop or park in a bicycle lane. Drivers may cross a bicycle lane to access on-street parking but may not stop or stand in a bicycle lane for any reason.” http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/biking-in-arlington/bicycle-facilities/#Lanes

[mikoglaces]

@Emm 131765 wrote:

you: cars driving down E. Monroe in Del Ray
Me: behind the cars, watching them avoid the newly-ish installed speed bumps by swerving into the bike lane, and almost hitting a cyclist (who was very visible, and luckily slammed his brakes to avoid the car entering his lane.)
you: didn’t even appear to realize you almost hit someone with your SUV…

I’ve noticed this alot lately. Some of the new speed bumps on E. Monroe in Del Ray are not as smooth on their incline or something, so even at really slow speeds (5-10 MPH) they knock and jolt your car around bad. Cars are now swerving into the newly installed bike lane to avoid the speed bumps. Anyone know the legality of this? I highly doubt Alexandria Police will enforce this even if it’s illegal, but I’m curious…

Of course it’s illegal to drive a car in the bike lane. I would hope the police would enforce if brought to their attention. Sounds very dangerous.

[mikoglaces]

Is this a supported ride? Food/drinks?

[mikoglaces]

I nominate this thread for best and worst thread ever on this forum. I can’t help coming back to it, but I feel dirty every time I do.

[mikoglaces]

@baiskeli 128020 wrote:

If that is the case, it seems this has already been settled by the authorities.

Not really. Not unless the authorities act to enforce. Seems like they haven’t done so.

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