[PotomacCyclist]

Can’t they use the automated counters like the ones that are in place on other local trails? I think the Custis Trail has some of the counters. That would provide more data than just two days of manual counts.

[PotomacCyclist]

Pretty cool!

[PotomacCyclist]

Most of the balancing problems occur downtown and in the areas around Columbia Heights/Adams Morgan. In the morning, many people check out the bikes from Columbia Heights and ride to the downtown stations. In the evening rush hour, it’s the reverse. So downtown stations tend to be full in the morning rush hour, and empty at the start of the evening rush hour.

CaBi is trying to add more vans and employees to help with rebalancing. They also sponsored a summertime contest to encourage CaBi users to contribute to rebalancing the bikes, but I don’t know how effective that was.

More importantly, CaBi will be expanding the system in the fall. They will add and expand many stations. They will expand the Metro Center station but I don’t think they are adding many other stations downtown. You can search online for Capital Bikeshare news to see the map of proposed stations and expansions. I don’t know what the exact timetable is. I probably wouldn’t expect to see many of the new stations and docks until October or so. Arlington will also expand their CaBi network, primarily in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. They will stretch out the schedule for their additions into the fall and winter. Maybe into next spring.

[PotomacCyclist]

Thanks.

(Just adding extra characters here, since the forum software won’t let me post a message of less than 10 characters.)

[PotomacCyclist]

I prefer the Chesapeake & Oreo towpath myself.

[PotomacCyclist]

There may be a detour around Gravelly Point in a couple years, but it involves moving off the MVT and into Crystal City. After heading north on Crystal Drive, cyclists and pedestrians will be able to take the soon-to-be-open trail on the esplanade in Long Bridge Park. However, the current construction will only take the trail close to the MVT, not all the way there.

Arlington’s bike projects plan includes an item for connecting the park to the MVT just south of the 14th St. Bridges and adjacent to the railroad tracks. But I fear that the connector bridge won’t be built for at least a couple years.

[PotomacCyclist]

@StopMeansStop 7575 wrote:

Tim Kelley is keeper of the swag (KoS). It gets distributed at Bike Arlington events like the fair and happy hours.

Do we have to answer questions three, ere the other side we see? You know, like the Keeper of the Bridge of Death? I do not wish to be cast into the Gorge of Eternal Peril. I am not aware of my favorite color.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMxWLuOFyZM

[PotomacCyclist]

National Cathedral and some Smithsonian buildings were damaged. The Cathedral suffered cracks in the flying buttresses and three pinnacles fell of the main tower. Some of the Smithsonian buildings suffered cracked beams. The Smithsonian Secretary said some of the buildings may also have foundation damage, but they have to check. The Smithsonian Castle might be the most vulnerable, since it’s the oldest of the buildings.

[PotomacCyclist]

Allowing Capital Bikeshare stations on the Mall. There are plenty of locations where a CaBi station could be placed discreetly without spoiling the aesthetics of the Mall. I don’t see how a low-lying CaBi station would damage the image of the Mall anymore than all of the cars and massive tour buses already do.

No more no-bid monopoly contracts like the one they gave to Tourmobile for decades. It sounds like Tourmobile will finally lose their no-bid monopoly on the Mall. That contract was used as a poor excuse to keep CaBi and Circulator buses off of the Mall or certain streets (Jefferson and Madison Drives), and also to hound bike pedicabs who try to operate near the monuments and memorials on the Mall. I don’t mind if something like Tourmobile operates on the Mall. But there’s no way that they should get a no-bid monopoly. And there’s no way that contract with a private company should bar services like CaBi and Circulator from operating on or near the Mall. That’s just plain ridiculous.

CaBi stations near the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, FDR/MLK Memorials, East Potomac Park and the Smithsonian museums on the eastern part of the Mall would greatly increase the quality of life for local residents, and make sightseeing much easier for many visitors. The stations can be set back from the memorials to maintain existing views, but still be close enough to be convenient. I don’t understand why a dilapidated Tourmobile kiosk is supposed to be more aesthetically pleasing than a CaBi station.

I’ll also put in a complaint about the network of trail crossings south of Arlington Memorial Bridge. The grade crossings of both the GW Parkway and Washington Blvd. are dangerous, for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. The numerous ramps and roads make it difficult to find a solution without spending a lot of money on a tunnel or a bike/pedestrian bridge. But if safety is a concern, then the bridge or tunnel option should be considered. A bridge would probably be safer than a tunnel (less opportunity for crime). If there are objections to the aesthetics of a bridge, I would counter that speeding cars and trucks in the middle of a park isn’t that aesthetically pleasing either. And yet NPS allows thousands of those vehicles on the GW Parkway and also in the middle of Rock Creek Park.

As long as we’re at it, I’d suggest a widening of the Mt. Vernon Trail at some point. It is much narrower than the W&OD Trail. The section south of the airport has a lot of blind curves. I’ve seen more than a few cyclists downed by crashes in that area.

In general, I think it would be useful to emphasize that the NPS is not seen as receptive to the needs of cyclists on NPS-administered areas. Why are cars supposed to be compatible with parklands but not bikes? Doesn’t make any sense to me. NPS should also rethink it’s policy of treating all parkland the same. There are major differences between grand, rural parks like Yellowstone, and a centrally located, urban area like the National Mall and East Potomac Park.

[PotomacCyclist]

Versus repeats each broadcast (in condensed version) at night. But they don’t have the all-day, multiple repeat coverage like they did with the Tour de France.

[PotomacCyclist]

I will say that there is a hidden danger spot on the south end of the underpass. There’s an informal dirt track shortcut at the south end of the MVT bridge, cutting down to the underpass. It’s very steep and unsafe. No sane road cyclist would ride down that shortcut. But I’ve seen a few runners take the shortcut. Even they can’t slow up, so when they exit at the bottom, they rush out at a quick speed, directly into the path of people exiting from the underpass.

Fortunately this has only happened to me once. I was almost through the underpass when some young woman came darting out from the side after running down that shortcut. It’s not like she was saving that much time by taking the dirt path, less than 500 ft. difference by going around the paved uphill loop. She was as startled as I was by the near-miss. Hopefully that was the last time she ever did that.

Even though I’ve never seen anyone do that again, I always keep an eye out on that shortcut, just in case someone else is running down that dirt path. I can’t see around the edge of the bridge wall. Instead, I slow up a bit so that I can react quickly if someone jumps out from that path.

The pathway is well-worn so I think a lot of people are still using it. It’s pretty crazy to me, given the fact that you can’t see if someone is coming up through the underpass.

You can see the dirt path on Google Maps.

[PotomacCyclist]

The last time I checked, Montgomery County only had that annoying online bike viewer map. It’s very clunky and slow-loading. And of course it’s useless when you’re out on the road. Even if you have a smartphone, it would take a very long time to load.

The PDF maps that are available are either outdated (2008) or so basic that they don’t show anything other than a general outline of the major trails (CCT, Georgetown Branch Trail and C&O towpath).

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/tsvtmpl.asp?url=/content/dot/transit/commuter/page6.asp#bikemaps

When it comes to bike info resources, Montgomery County is way behind Arlington and even D.C.

[PotomacCyclist]

I bring a couple single-pack antiseptic wipes in my bento box. I started doing that after I did a header over the handlebars on the Capital Crescent Trail in 2009 and cut my forehead. (I also bruised my cheek and slammed my shoulder into the ground pretty hard. But nothing was broken.) But I haven’t had to use the wipes other than a single occasion in early 2010 when I tried to hop a curb unsuccessfully and hit my knee on the sidewalk.

I’ve tried to learn from mistakes and modify my riding patterns to lower the risk of injury. While we can’t remove the risk of injury, we can do a lot to lower it. One change was to no longer do any faster riding on the bike/run trails, except on the western part of the W&OD. I save my fast workouts for Hains Point or other open roads.

I don’t do any real mountain biking, despite using a mountain bike much of the time. Extra first-aid items would be a good idea if you’re riding on technical off-road trails.

[PotomacCyclist]

I still say that I’ve experienced more problems with aggressive drivers than crazy cyclists (though there are more than a few of them out there). Maybe because I’ve spent more time on the roads than on the trails this year.

Too many cyclists think that the Mt. Vernon Trail, especially the northern section from Old Town to Rosslyn, is a good place for fast riding. It isn’t. Others think that they have the right to force people off of the trail on the other side of the yellow line simply because they want to pass someone on their side.

On the streets, I see the occasional jerk who zips through a red light in an intersection at midday. But most cyclists I’ve seen tend to observe red lights. Or at least slow up and look both ways before crossing.

As for drivers, many of them are respectful and mindful of others on the road. But a significant minority are not. The examples of dangerous and illegal behavior are numerous, from blatantly running red lights when they think no police are around, to speeding up for yellow lights, gunning it on the gas pedal when pulling out of a parking spot on a side street, passing cyclists within 12 inches even though the other traffic lane is completely empty, and so on. Much of the aggressive driving comes from taxi drivers who are always in a hurry. But I’ve seen aggressive SUV drivers. Clueless SUV drivers too. I’d also say that it’s rude and dangerous for so many car drivers to be talking on their handheld cellphones while driving. It’s now illegal in most if not all local jurisdictions. Surveys say that such behavior has decreased, but not in my experience.

Every group needs to do a better job. But I don’t see cyclists as having a higher percentage of dangerous behavior than in other groups. What percentage of drivers on the GW Parkway drive even close to the posted speed limit? If they aren’t speeding, many are tailgating, which causes problems when cars slow down or stop at the MVT grade crossings south of Memorial Bridge.

[PotomacCyclist]

Yes, there are some arrogant jerks in the cycling community. But there are a lot of jerks in every group on the roads, including drivers, runners, walkers, roller bladers and dog walkers. I don’t really see a monopoly on bad behavior from any of these groups.

[Author]

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