[Starduster]

Interested. Let me see how I feel after my ride the night before (Papillon’s Monuments at Night Ride Redux).

[Starduster]

*This* item of note- A full bridge closure on Memorial Bridge was scheduled for this weekend, and postponed. Now happening the weekend of the 22nd: https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2018/09/lane-closures-for-arlington-memorial-bridge-work-postponed-due-to-florence/

This is a FULL bridge closure to start the critically needed replacement of the old rusted-out (and artfully disguised) drawspan.

Hoping the NPS will not start their bike trail work past the 14th St bridge *until* the 24th, as promised.

[Starduster]

@LhasaCM 181053 wrote:

Fair point. You have to break some eggs to make a cake or however that goes. I think part of the problem is the messaging with the graphic. Without reading the press release, it wasn’t clear to me that (a) they say that they are putting in the runnel (so it’s not just stairs) but that (b) it’s scheduled for 10 weeks with one completely closed.

What I don’t know is how effective a runnel is on those stairs; seems to be much longer than the short one on 34th in Georgetown (part of getting from the canal to M Street), and that is challenging enough for a heavier/larger bike. Also, a bit more notice would be nice given the number of commuters and others who use it (I’m only occasionally there).

Have they said anything about signage on the VA side? It’s one thing from DC to see that option and to be able to determine right away if it’s doable. It’s another altogether to cross the bridge and end up surprised…

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

I will report back on the Virginia side markings next time I ride through there (which might not be until next Saturday morning). OK, the runnel is less than ideal. But… this stretch was so hazardous anyway- too many ways for a cyclist to trip up on the wooden curbing and go straight down into George Mason’s memorial, or accidently riding the Ohio Drive stairs… The improvements are more than worth the hassle.

There is an advisory sign at the Jefferson Memorial end. If there is one for the Mt. Vernon Trail, we’ll be good…

[Starduster]

Starting Monday September 24? I am running my Monuments at Night Redux through there… just in time.

Using the stairs to get to/from the bridge? Don’t like that AT ALL.

[Starduster]

@komorebi 180998 wrote:

As Judd said, there’s no shortage of parking. See http://villageatshirlington.com/parking/ for driving directions and more info about the various garage and street parking options.

Actually, 4 garages. On a Sunday morning, this should not be an issue.

[Starduster]

@huskerdont 180934 wrote:

I’m always aware of the tendency for drivers to lose it and go off the parkway when I ride just south of Trollheim, so I ride quickly and am ready to take (probably ineffective) evasive action. I think a guardrail would be a good idea here. But regarding the road design there, I don’t think the road itself is the problem. Roads will always have curves. The problem is that people fly through there at well over the designed speed, even in wet weather.

The speed limit is *supposed to be* 40mph. In reality, everyone is closer to 55.

I agree, I would feel safer with a barrier. Sad reality is that in the eyes of *some* in power, someone must die to justify the need.

Also, I have noted elsewhere that NPS is using alternatives to wood that maintain the “boardwalk look”. Behold a walkway to Assateague: [ATTACH=CONFIG]18358[/ATTACH]

[Starduster]

@Steve O 180788 wrote:

I am reasonably certain that the breakaway feature on the SKS have saved my butt twice–once at pretty high speed. My front fender ended up destroyed in that case, too. I do not know what would have happened if I had had a non-detachable metal fender, but I am pretty certain it would have stopped my front wheel cold and I would have done a spectacular and injurious endo at about 25 mph. I am very pleased I am alive and well to talk about it.

I will *testify* to the value of a breakaway mount. Currently on the Olde Trek are SKS Commuter fenders, with breakaway release up front. 25 or so years ago, during my Bicycle Exchange days, the fender setup was a plastic set by Zefal, no breakaway. On that day, running Specialized Tri Cross 27×1 3/8 tires ( a cross tire before its time). I was almost all the way to the Wheeler Ave warehouse, traversing a dirt cut-through, when the lugs of the tire found a way to snag the fender stay. Wheel locked, and I went face-first into the ground with impressive suddenness. On hands and knees, 5 second killer headache and seeing stars, and was greeted by the cutest first responder ever, a neighbor’s Yorkie. Lick lick… Picked myself up, reinserted lens into glasses, walked bike and I rest of the way to work. Helmet did its job. Rather amazingly, I proceeded to do my workday, delivering bikes as far south as Fredericksburg. I really truly wasn’t all there- it was a really weird twilight zone. Welcome to the world of a concussion. Did it. Somehow. Jim Helwig was nice enough to drive me home that evening.

Of note, the stainless steel fenders from VeloOrange and others are quite stiff to begin with. Much less chance of lateral wobble/bouncing. Also many will loop the fender stay around the outside of the fender (a pic of Das Kettler is attached). [ATTACH=CONFIG]18305[/ATTACH]

A branch, or a frame pump (which cycling movie are you thinking of?), inserted through the wheel… you’ll be in big trouble anyway. But the risks of something bad happening are greatly reduced.

[Starduster]

@Emm 180729 wrote:

You can also cut across the mall to 4th st SW (which has a bike lane), take it to I street (also has a bike lane), and take that to First street, and take that to Nat’s Park. This is the way I go from work. I street is pretty easy to bike on, and it minimizes the amount of stadium traffic you have to deal with compared to Steve O’s route which has you biking on the sidewalk around the stadium, which can sometimes get dicey.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18299[/ATTACH]

Have a great time!

[Starduster]

@Steve O 180727 wrote:

You could do this instead:
– Go across the mall to 4th Street.
– Take 4th all the way to P
– P to S. Capitol St.
– Cross at the crosswalk onto the apron around the park
– Circle around behind to get to the bike valet. (The map below puts you on the street, but it’s better to cross S. Capitol at P)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18298[/ATTACH]

Don’t sneer at us riff-raff up in the 400 level seats.

Quick advisory on 4th St SW down to P St SW- DC is digging for utility work. You will contend with steel plates for a short while.

[Starduster]

We got to say good bye to the parking lot race course. Just. In. Time.

The redevelopment (and rebirth) of the RFK Stadium campus begins: https://wtop.com/dc/2018/08/at-long-last-first-stage-of-rfk-redevelopment-breaks-ground/slide/7/

[Starduster]

I kept an appointment with Sen McCain this morning:[ATTACH=CONFIG]18273[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]18274[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]18275[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]18276[/ATTACH]

[Starduster]

I think the Army is determined to keep 4 lanes for motor vehicle traffic all the way to the Pentagon South Lot. And they simply carried the sidewalk configuration at the Washington Blvd bridge all the way down the hill.

Now, how the hell do we tell them that we are *not* playing a Zero Sum game with their burial capacity vs the protected bike lane from the AF Memorial down the hill to Joyce? I am fine with their preferred solution (the one that relocates their Operations Center). Not fighting *that*. When I talked to them, I was trying to sell our solution for the road configuration on a pretty stout hill.

ArlNOW did not do us a favor. Was anyone courageous enough to read the comments?

Hastily hand-written comments on a card will not be easy to read & do not help our cause. Share your notes, I will do the same. We need to present our case better by the 22nd. Merci.

[Starduster]

Steve O, kwarkentien, streetsmarts, Henry et al: Hope you got across the river before *these* marauding a******* appeared- https://wtop.com/dc/2018/08/a-dangerous-spectacle-at-least-3-of-150-atv-drivers-arrested-for-sunday-ride/

After I peeled off, it took maybe 10 minutes to complete my District Hardware shopping mission and roll westbound. I saw (and heard) a half-dozen of these fools on Maine. I was on the cycletrack, and for that moment at least, they didn’t screw around there. I went on my way back to the Pike without further concern. Only later did I learn what we missed…

[Starduster]

Steve O: Thank you. Ride was awesome, company was awesome, being at the ballpark was awesome, even if it was a “crash & burn” on the Nats’ part.

Now about that parking lot @ RFK- I rode out to the apex of turn 2 of a race track. 16 years ago, this happened- American Le Mans Series Cadillac GP: [ATTACH=CONFIG]18230[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]18231[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]18232[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]18233[/ATTACH] A midsummer nights’ dream of a race that delivered on everything except the promise of noise control. One & done.

[Starduster]

It *is* indeed a brave new world, with boundless confusion. First, the advent of the modern E-bike, in varying levels of e-assist to full throttle, such that every governing body worldwide has to reconcile that line when a bicycle becomes a motorcycle. Even StVZO (in its native German: Road Traffic Licensing Regulations) had to write standards for fast E-bikes. And then there are the electric scooters. When the current rules about scooters on trails were implemented decades ago, I don’t think battery-powered scooters even existed, except in someone’s dreams. I made note of this during the last ABAC meeting. And there were *maybe* a few brave/crazy skateboards powered by a 2-stroke gas engine, which could never be employed by a ninja. But they’re out there now, running fast enough to cause great concerns about speed differential and safety on the trails.

We must update our access and safety rules and perhaps even infrastructure to address emerging technology. Still, at the end of the day, if it results in fewer cars clogging the road… net gain.

[Author]

Replies