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And you can listen here: http://wamu.org/news/15/03/04/why_is_arlington_considering_slashing_its_budget_for_alternative_transit

Except… this is the 01:30 audio excerpt- Gillian isn’t heard here (boo-hiss on WAMU’s part).

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Thank you. But what about the section between S Courthouse and the Washington Blvd bridge?

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Henry, thank you for posting the advisory. Helpful not only for JBM-HH access, but also for Ft. McNair access, where I ferry my wife to/from her job (making it work as a one car family, folks).

Now that Ft. Myer access is tightening, we need to deal with alternatives. For those of us in South Arlington, specifically the Columbia Pike corridor, there are two “long ways around” to DC, either the Rt 50 path around the north side of Ft. Myer, or the Four Mile Run Trail with a trip through Pentagon City/Crystal City and/or the MVT airport section (which I really don’t like). Columbia Pike is the most direct, but as Dasgeh pointed out, it is not remotely safe. The two Bike Boulevards are good only are far as S 9th and S 12th exist. East of Courthouse? Big problem. Once upon a time, I could slam into the big ring and fly downhill keeping up with traffic. Two “Guardian Angel- workin’ hard for you” moments (nearly wiping out on bad pavement, in heavy traffic) cured me of that. Even when the Washington Blvd. bridge is completed, and pavement is fixed, it will still be problematic, even for the bravest. We’re going to need to do something about that.

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@consularrider 109703 wrote:

Yes Tim, how can we volunteer?

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IXWsN9IZ3Ae8F26BMFDLhRiYtzADEUdSAQUmWAKW-u8/viewform?c=0&w=1

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I think a number of us were not aware that the ride was capped at 50 riders (I understand why- only so much Pi to go around, and other logistics). So by the time I sold my wife on the idea of doing this ride… oops, too late. And 200 riders would be way more than any of the stores could accomodate, so… Sounds like 2 ride marshals, at least. If you you need a referral for moi, contact Dasgeh.

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Guys! SOLD OUT???

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Who has jurisdiction over the Route 50 trial as it winds around the north side of Joint Base Myer? Today it looked *no better* than the MVT (meaning ridable only with dedicated snow tires or a fat tire bike).

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The Trek got something new:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7914[/ATTACH]

For the first time since my commuting days with The Bicycle Exchange, fenders. For a more civilized experience when it rains. These are by SKS Germany. Called Commuter II on the packaging, they appear on the SKS site as Bluemels. SKS has of course taken over the highly regarded ESGE Chromoplastics fenders, but earlier, they aquired the British brand Bluemels. (Bailey Garfield @ Papillon Cycles had thought that the brand disappeared forever.) Same laminated plastic over aluminum construction, at a lower price point comparable (or under) to the Planet Bike Hardcore fenders. Still has the emergency quick release on the front wheel. My experience will testify that is important.

Available at Papillon Cycles and elsewhere.

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[ATTACH=CONFIG]7829[/ATTACH]

Today, 3717 Columbia Pike, Arlington. Anyone care to guess?

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@dkel 108355 wrote:

‘Muurrr-i-caaaahhh!!!

Um, riding shotgun?

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Don’t discard anything. You won’t be overdressed tomorrow. Back to 20’s.

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@mstone 107229 wrote:

You’d be surprised; I’ve found that to not be as true as you might like to think. Apparently the red arrow interacts in a confusing fashion with the god-given right to turn right at any time.

That [sigh] is more correctly “The god-given right to do what I want.”

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A thought on the signal array: Perhaps moving the [no right turn] sign to the right of the signal? Or adding a [green straight only] or a [red right arrow] signal light to the array? I hope someone from the traffic signal dept. will be at the ABAC meeting Monday. This is still a high risk crossing.

Regardless of how you mark it, there will always be a-h’s who don’t think the sign applies to them. Case in point- I was once stopped at a red light in Shirlington, plainly marked with a “No Turn On Red” sign. Motorist behind me was so obnoxious about wanting to turn that I said “screw it’ and moved left. She went right against the light, and was promptly caught and pulled over by Arlington County Police. Ah, justice. Enjoyed discreetly.

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@dasgeh 107185 wrote:

I am a super conservative rider (not risking any falls at the moment), and I take the tr daily. It’s really not that bad unless you have to pass someone, and then it’s not that bad if you slow way down. I was on it Friday night, and didn’t have any issue. Of course, riding a bike that weighs north of 50 pounds probably helped.

On this evening, which one?

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@Starduster 102522 wrote:

Christmas has arrived. My wife now has a Breezer Uptown EX-LS, fresh from Papillon Cycles. Just the type of bike she wanted all along. The old bike just didn’t have that personality. *It* (the Schwinn Essence in the [ATTACH=CONFIG]7226[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7227[/ATTACH]second photo) is now with Larry Behery @ The Old Bike Shop, probably already on the sales floor.

Now, my original intent was one with a dynohub. That didn’t happen, but I have a Euro lighting solution soon. After I’ve run my mouth for so long, I *should* practice what I preach, non?

Putting my money where my mouth is- Busch+Muller Ixon Core headlight and a Busch+Muller Toplight Flat S Permanent, which fits the rack perfectly.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7729[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7730[/ATTACH]

An on-the-road image is available here, at http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/headlights.asp, or http://www.bumm.de/innovation-original/lichtvergleich-scheinwerfer.html. Light on your path of travel without having to *cover your light* to keep from blinding your fellow riders. My point all along.

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