[scoot]

Any chance she can find a sponsor for a Fort Myer AIE pass? Given the endpoint, that commute is just begging for an easy trip from Wright Gate to Henderson Hall Gate.

Info (not sure if it’s up to date): http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/maps-rides/arlington-cemetery-fort-myer/

[scoot]

Thanks for the map. The elevation data are no doubt a nod to the current administration.

[scoot]

@Judd 155317 wrote:

I’m counting 22 attendees so far.

Oooh, bicycles plus useless presidential trivia… how about 23?

[scoot]

Yesterday, a covered sign faced trail users just after they reach the north end of the TR parking lot coming from Rosslyn via the switchback overpass over GWMP. The sign is not yet exposed, but it appears that it will say “Walk Bike”.

[scoot]

Glad to hear you emerged unscathed from that minefield.

I assume you’re talking about 6th St S between Courthouse and Walter Reed? I hate riding on streets designed like that one. The bike lanes are entirely within the door zone, and the median prevents drivers from being able to pass you with a safe clearance unless you ride perilously close to the parked cars. Taking the lane feels like the safest option, but then drivers think you’re just being a jerk. My experience on 8th and 9th Streets is far more pleasant.

[scoot]

How about the SW corner of the parking lot? Still close enough for easy visibility and trail access without being so close as to be hazardous. Also a more pleasant experience for CaBi employees to rebalance than next to the toilets (though this station shouldn’t need much service)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]13641[/ATTACH]

[scoot]

@dasgeh 154153 wrote:

PLEASE let Arlington know you agree that this speed bump is dangerous for cyclists, and they should prioritize fixing it (des@arlingtonva.us – I’ve let them know, but more voices would help).

Thanks! Email sent.

[scoot]

@wheels&wings 154114 wrote:

Hi. I’m wondering if anyone found my rear light about an hour ago. I think it flew off my bike while riding over the rather abrupt first speed-bump on Key Blvd at Adams St. in Arlington (heading west away from Veitch). I went back to search for it five minutes later but without any luck. Did anyone pick it up? I would be eternally grateful… w&w

Sorry, I haven’t been through Key recently. I’m curious about that speedbump though. Is it new (as of repaving last year)? It’s poorly marked and very tough to see at night. I failed to notice it before riding over it on a CaBi one evening last fall, and I didn’t recall it having been there previously.

[scoot]

@Tim Kelley 153981 wrote:

As I was coming down the (one-way) hill on Wilson Blvd into Rosslyn near Rhodes street this morning

Perhaps you were the one going the wrong way?

[scoot]

Squirrels are the perfect storm and they have potential to cause a serious crash. Small and quick enough to get caught in your spokes, while also large and bony enough to lock your wheel. As one Chicagoan found out last year.

[scoot]

Whenever a squirrel gets too close to my path, I emit a sharp exaggerated throaty German back “ch” sound. This terrifies them and they scurry away from my bicycle as fast as possible. Without fail.

Come to think of it, humans might react likewise…

[scoot]

@Brett L. 151490 wrote:

I must say, that is a much more sensible location

From a don’t-obstruct-the-bike-lane perspective, yes. But I would guess that the sign impacted driver behavior more at the old location. Motorists are more likely to speed downhill approaching Braddock than when they’re entering the blind curve at the Park Place crosswalk.

[scoot]

@lordofthemark 150824 wrote:

If I am in a bike lane like that, and suspect ANY door opening activity, I will ride a bit into the buffer.

This is precisely my point.

Since you know the door zone is hazardous, you have learned to ride a bit into the buffer on a street designed like that. On Clarendon Blvd, I ride a bit to either side of the white line marking the left edge of the bike lane. Although I merge left whenever I see any turning vehicle blocking or parked vehicle encroaching on the bike lane within the block ahead (which means I end up taking the lane over half the time anyway).

At this point, I pretty much ignore paint everywhere: instead I ride wherever I feel safest. But there are a lot of new riders who will just ride right down the middle of a bike lane, wherever it is marked. That is why the buffer and bike lane should be switched.

[scoot]

Some good background on door zones and lane markings.

Edit: this video makes a strong argument for increasing the buffer distance to 5 feet.

[scoot]

@TwoWheelsDC 150793 wrote:

I St. SW is a great example. The parking lane is barely wide enough for cars, so nearly the entire bike lane is in the door zone. Frankly though, I St. is pretty much the rule and not an exception. The Clarendon Blvd. bike lanes in Arlington *almost* do it right, but the true buffer is on the traffic side not the parking side (I think it would be more useful on the parking side). There’s also some weird paint markings on the parking side that kinda look like they may be a door zone guide for cyclists, but I’m not sure of that…

+1.

Even on streets where we have space for buffers, they are often painted on the wrong side (separating the bike lane from general lanes) rather than where they are actually needed (to keep cyclists out of the door zone).

The second photo on the wikipedia dooring page shows exactly what should be avoided. Cyclists need to stay at least four feet to the left of any parked vehicle to be out of the door zone. So the right edge of a well-designed bike lane should be at least four feet away from the area marked for car storage. The vast majority of parking-adjacent bike lanes in our region are failures in this regard, and a cyclist is often wise to take the lane instead.

[Author]

Posts