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Thank you.

As a civil servant working on policy, I know it is as important to hear from supporters as well as critics. Seems like there are some good ideas proposed. Even a short note of support can be important.

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PART 2

Crossing the Bridge West Side
• Cyclists come to west end of the 14th St bridge and are forced to take a sharp curve to the right. While the curve itself is not problematic, it is a blind curve – visibility of traffic coming up the ramp is obscured creating a risk of collision. Further, because of the wall / fence, bicycles cannot lean into the curve as would be required. This creates a dangerous and unpredictable situation.
• Bicycle traffic then comes down a hill where it is confronted with a T in the path. Up river and Down river both require an dangerous 90 degree turn. While NPS has added some asphalt to the intersection in response to cyclists comments, cyclists can still be seen jumping the path and biking over the grass in order to avoid the turn. This causes environmental damage and is dangerous. This T in the path needs to be revised to accommodate bicycle commuting traffic.
• Cyclists at this point have two choices: they can go up river over a mile to the first possible destination – well its not actually a destination – but the Memorial bridge. Its approximately two miles up river before a cyclists can actually enter Arlington. Down River is not much better; approximately 1.5 miles down river is the first access into Crystal City. Arlington’s proposal to have a bridge at the end of the 14th Street bridge that leads into Arlington would greatly facilitate bicycle traffic, reducing travel times, and creating greater incentives for bicyclists.

AA-2 Action Alternatives 2: Construct separated bicycle/pedestrian crossing of the Potomac River and add a grade-separated bicycle crossing of GWMP as proposed by Arlington County
Currently the bicycle infrastructure in the 14th Street bridge corridor is highly used, and its use is increasing dramatically. Capital Bikeshare traffic crossing this corridor is now almost constant. Regular bike commuters continue to grow, with traffic even in the middle of winter being regular and constant. During peak season and on weekends the existing bicycle infrastructure is already not adequate. As we look into the future, the growth of cycling traffic, and the desirability of encouraging bicycle traffic as congestion reducing and environmentally friendly, we should be concerned that the existing infrastructure is not adequate.
If the option of expanding the current bridge has been ruled out, that an addition bicycle crossing of the river would seem to be a necessity to handle anticipated and desired increased bicycle traffic. As Arlington has suggested, and as discussed with the above option, great care should be given to how such a bridge would terminate on either side of the river, including how traffic can safely cross Maine Ave, and how traffic can enter Arlington.

AA-3 Create integrated (DC-VA-NPS) bicycle system, including signing for commuters and other destination bikers.
Additional signage is prudent. Generally, experience cyclists know how to find bicycle routes using google maps and other resources, such as those provided by WABA.
What, however, is critical, is the collision between bicycle traffic and other forms of traffic, particularly tourist traffic. These are highly congested corridors. Washington, D.C. is of course the Nations Capital, and the National Parks are the pride of our city. The Cherry Blossoms create a tremendous draw to the area at its peak, while even during regular times, tourists enjoy this area. There also a high number of locals and tourists who enjoy Hains Point.
Well marked routes through this area can help alert those unfamiliar with the area to expect and yield as appropriate to bicycle traffic. Where tourists and bicycles share the same routes, signs can encourage proper etiquette, such as walking on the right, signaling when passing, and when signals are given, step to the right.
This corridor experiences a high mixture of traffic: buses, cars, taxis, pedicabs, bicyclists, pedestrians, locals, tourists, and workers. As these mix together, signage can help each participant to know where they are suppose to be and how they can navigate through safely and successfully.
Google maps provides a great resource for those who want to bike to know where the bike lanes are. The constant stream of bikes provides great notice to others that biking is an alternative through this corridor. Signs can help the non-bikers who are unfamiliar with the area know where the bike routes are.

These recommendations will make the bicycle infrastructure better, and improve safety.
Better bicycle infrastructure will mean that the bike routes are more closely associated to where the bicycles want to go. A bridge into Arlington at the west end of the bridge will open an entire new area of destinations for cyclists. Safe intersection crossings also mean faster intersection crossings, as cyclists would no longer wait for lights that they cannot trigger.
Better safer infrastructure and road crossings would mean fewer bicycle related accidents and fewer delays in traffic flows.
Better bike infrastructure, particularly on the east end of the bridge, will result in less confusion, and less of a gauntlet of run from path, to road, to sidewalk, to road, to sidewalk and through tourists.
All of this will improve bicycle access to SW Washington DC, particularly the Potomac Water front. Currently the Waterfront accesses the 14th Street bridge through Maine street, through narrow sidewalks, bad traffic lights, and dangerous crossings. The recommendations above would help address this.

In conclusion, the bicycle options are a vital park of the 14th St Corridor. The 14th Street bridge supports a tremendous volume of bicycle traffic. That bicycle traffic has a positive environmental impact. It reduces car traffic, reduces CO2 emissions, and reduces petroleum discharge (dripping oil) in the corridor and other car related debris. Bicycle infrastructure is cheaper to build on a per commuter basis, and it is cheaper to maintain.
In order to improve and increase bicycle traffic in the corridor, the bicycle routes at each end of the 14th Street bridge must be addressed. Bicycles need a safe route from the end of the bridge and into the city to the east side of Maine Ave. The more that bicycle traffic can be kept away from tourists and from motor vehicles, the better and the more the goals of this EIS can be achieved.

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I am very sorry to hear this. Not fun. Not a good intersection.

Please look at WABA’s Bicycle Crashes FAQ

Are there not traffic cams pointed at that intersection? I have no idea who would own them and if you could get the tape.

When I have been in accidents, one thing that helps is to take pictures of everything, and yes, get witnesses names. As witnesses, its always good to hand people our cards.

Not fun not fun.

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Storm was not suppose to hit till 3 pm. So I left at lunch to head up the W&OD for a round of golf at bluemont.

At approximately 2.15 I arrived home, having abandoned my plans, soaked.

Stupid weathermen. :p

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(yeah I’m a fair weather commuter. what are you gonna do about it?)

Laugh. Giggle. Point fingers. And then welcome you back!!!!!!!!

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That might explain why there was NPS police there when I biked by. Let’s home its not a sign that someone in fact is having a long bad day.

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Depends on where you end point is. The people I know from there commute in on the CCT

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Realtor recommendation sent through direct message.

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Thanks for all this!!!!!

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We haven’t quite firmed up the exact location where we will be gathering beforehand, but we will keep you posted

Did we figure this out? Our do we just come down and look for the funny looking people on bicycles?

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I bike down Lee Hwy on the North side, and swing onto the Custis Trail through the Lyon Village Shopping Mall /CVS parking lot. Its fine. Gotta watch for cars and watch for sand collecting on the sidewalk right before Lyon Village. You moving into those new apts is it the Bromptons? next to the Fire House?

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Welcome to Washington, you are moving to a great place and a good bike town.

Arlington is excellent:
* Mount Vernon trail along the Potomac
* Custis Trail along I 66 going west towards Falls Church
* W&OD trail from airport up Four Mile Run over to I-66 Custis Trail, and out to Fall Church, then Vienna

All excellent for commuting. W&OD goes out to Leesburg and is excellent for weekend rides.

Arlington schools are fantastic. I am guessing you are a young family; the elementary schools are great. The High Schools are some of the best in the nation, including HB Woodlawn (hippie high) and Thomas Jefferson which is a magnet high school that is a project of Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church and Alexandria I think.

Arlington has gotten smart growth right. If you are not on a bike, you will find public transportation will get you anywhere. The closer you get to a subway line, the higher the rent is going to be. But you probably can find something you can afford in Arlington, particularly as you look more towards south arlington, which is W&OD trail area.

Arlington has fantastic youth programs. TJ Community Center (not to be confused with TJ high school) is a gigantic indoor gym, indoor track, fitness center. For example, saturday nights they close it down, and give it to the teenagers, for roller skating. Then there is barcroft park, with its indoor gymnatics center. And there is Kettler ice rink with hockey programs.

Got a dog? Arlington has fantastic dog parks, including the increadible dog park along four mile run in Shirlinton.

Arlington is also one of the most ethnically diverse communities in the area (which to me is a real plus for raising kids)

I have lived in WDC all my life; I have lived in Arlington for 20+ years. It is changing a lot, becoming almost over developed. I have bike commuted at one point or another the entire time. I wear brown flip flops. Arlington is my town.

Arlington Rap: http://youtu.be/4T1RMuoQnKo

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Did I do the right thing?

I would not think twice about it. Cyclists are a good community; we look after each other.

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3) I love biking down the MV Trail from Roosevelt Island and watching the sun rise over the US Capital during the winter time

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I had a Fuji. Loved it. It was a great bike until, ah, that car ran it over. Otherwise I very likely would still be riding it today.

Where are you selling it. I sell on Craigslist. If you are doing that type of thing, then just reverse auction the bike. What do you think you could get for it? $200? Okay, put it on Craigslist for $400 the first week. Then $380 the next week. Then $360 the next week. Eventually someone will buy it.

And whatever the value of the bike is, is what someone will pay for it. So if someone is willing to pay $300 for it, solid. If you put it up for $400, you may get the response “well, no, but I will offer $350 for it” — and you still made a profit.

Of course, this is the “I have plenty of time on my hand strategy” (and since I am regularly unloading stuff, that’s my strategy). If you just want to unload it and fast, then you want to put it up for a much lower price.

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