[rpiretti]

RE: my above response…an email from the Smith’s Switch Rd W&OD office:

As I noted before the trail is a multi-use trail available to all; while the majority of users are cyclists there are a number of people who enjoy walking in the snow or skiing / snow shoeing. I have received several emails from people thanking me for not plowing the trail. Though they may not be as numerous as cyclists in terms of users they have as much right to use the W&OD as any other user group. I can only speak to the standards that we maintain along the W&OD; but I will say that the W&OD has the well-earned reputation of being one of the area (if not the nation) best maintained trail around. Our agency (the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority or NVRPA) budgets around $500,000 per year to maintain this standard.

As for areas of the W&OD that have been plowed there have been in the past some confusion on the part of local jurisdictions plowing their own trail systems and plowing ours (I will have to look into this matter since some jurisdictions hire outside contractors). In terms of not believing any treatments affecting the asphalt please consult this link below from a county engineer in Ohio; any number of websites concur in the formation of potholes as a result from salt treatment.

http://www.summitengineer.net/resources/learning/52-potholes

Additionally, the markings that we use are thermoplastic striping and not merely paint. These “thermo” markings are about three times as expensive as painted striping, but lasts about 3 times as long plus are reflective in nature which is of benefit to those trail users on the W&OD after sunset. We did purchase a snow blower that is in use today for the first time since we purchased it in 2010. The maintenance staff started here in Ashburn and has worked their way east into Reston where they will stop. Tomorrow they will resume in Reston and continue eastward toward Vienna/Falls Church. That along with the warm weather should help to melt away most of the remaining snow. As I believe I noted in my previous email we do put down sand in areas that receive minimal sun to help in traction; once the ice has melted we sweep away the snow.

I additionally asked if it would help to put some formal petition together and they welcomed that but told me that it was entirely reasonable for folks to resort to Metro and other means while they work on clearing the trail. But, there have been plenty of other chances for them to use the snow blower this winter. Like I mentioned above, they promised to pull the snow blower out for this big snow event and followed through so I’m glad about that. I thought this email served to answer some questions we all have. Apologies if these have been posted before.

Make no mistake I don’t like the idea of not plowing/treating the trail but given the answers above I don’t foresee their policies changing. I could talk to them further about a petition process if needed though. I’m not at all sure what others are doing for helping this situation as far as being in direct contact with them but this is pretty important to me so I sought out some answers I, myself had and maybe some other Vienna/Reston folks had..

Happy riding. I’m having the urge to go to Best Bunz tomorrow morning. What?!

[rpiretti]

I’ve been in touch with the WOD today and last week too so yeah the did snow blowers today and suppose to be blowing tomorrow into falls church. They promised this ahead of the storm and they followed thru so that’s good. I asked some other questions too that might benefit this conversation a bit. I can post that later once I can copy and paste.

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[rpiretti]

Thanks much!

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[rpiretti]

@americancyclo 77551 wrote:

I’d ride oak idlywood Barbour pinecastle dale Gordon’s broad west Lincoln Fairfax to get to clear roads near EFC.

Thanks!

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[rpiretti]

Thanks Dave, dabbling in doing a route from Vienna to Shirlington not using the W&OD to EFC and then the trail EFC onward. If not tomorrow, perhaps Wednesday. MELT SNOW!

[rpiretti]

Thanks Pete, and your updates too. Looks like you had fun out there today.

@Dirt 77454 wrote:

I rode from Bluemont to EFC Metro. That’s all I can report on. I know that nothing has been touched beyond the Arlington County line. Falls Church and Fairfax county don’t normally do anything to clear the trail. I think Arlington can’t clear stuff under some of the underpasses, and they can’t plow over the bridges.

[rpiretti]

So, the W&OD was cleared, awesome! But how much of it? I can only tell around East Fall Church Metro from the photos.

[rpiretti]

I couldn’t quite find the best place to post this but want to throw out something I wrote on my blog recently. I expressed my frustrations with the folks at the WOD on not clearing the trails and got a few more exact answers, although I am still frustrated just the same. I wonder if I am being whiny about this or perhaps most other folks (not in Arlington – Vienna/Reston areas) would enjoy the park pitching in more so folks can get to work w/o taking the Metro and being sidelined for upwards of a week. Love to hear what you think.

Do you think I should pursue this more? I planned on writing them back if so. I’m guessing other folks have done this route too.

http://velohaven.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/answers-from-wod/

[rpiretti]

Yep, went right down the trail. Saw Dickie this morning. He was in a daze and/or just didn’t notice me on a different bike.

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[rpiretti]

Saw one-eighth from the comfort of a bus last night. Couldn’t get the window down fast enough to yell.

[rpiretti]

First commute since the 16th of January today. It has literally been that long since I’ve felt safe to travel down the WOD. SAD!! Back-up bike today because the VO bike is in the shop. Hybrid cruisers down plane as well but I have fenders so that’s all that counts. Also, must have been construction day on the trail today. Past 4 work stations going on full of trucks and field equipment. Happy riding everyone.

[rpiretti]

Saw Dirt this morning on Park St in Vienna. Was getting out of my car and yelled his name. “Dirt!” My wife wondered who he was, “famous bike guy”, I replied.

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[rpiretti]

Gotta ask…What the hell is the deal with Tuesday’s being the coldest day of the week?! This thread is amazingly still spot on every week by title alone. Haha

[rpiretti]

Pretty dusting of snow in Vienna this morning. My kind of snow – no slick trail but pretty to look at.

[rpiretti]

Totally get this, happens to me a lot there.

@jnva 74877 wrote:

Missed connection from this morning on virginia lane. This has happened to me twice. I take the lane because I’m doing the speed limit but still get passed.
http://youtu.be/jEne4jhjfrE

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