[Starduster]

@darkwave 225599 wrote:

This has a very easy and obvious detour that would add about 10 seconds to one’s commuting time. left at the Vernon street exit off of the Custis. Right onto 15th St. Take 15th Street about 3 blocks, then right onto the Custis entrance just after Taylor Street and continue on your way.

The more I think about it, the more shocked I am that there’s not a detour AND flashing lights or something similar on the lumber. It felt low to me, and I’m a pretty short runner.

Here’s a map of that portion of the Custis:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]30739[/ATTACH]

[Starduster]

@Steve O 225398 wrote:

I do not know why this would prevent you from moving the barrel. The person in the car may very well see why you are doing it and be supportive. And if not, then what? You ride away, and he moves it back if he’s not too lazy.

Lessons learned from my father the Spy.

[Starduster]

I have another item to add to the repair list:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30688[/ATTACH]

This is the bridge over Boundary Channel that connects the Pentagon north parking lot with Columbia Island and Lady Bird Johnson Park. Approaching a severe state of decay. Who has juristiction here- The Pentagon Reservation or National Park Service?

[Starduster]

The Columbia Pike/Southgate detour angst updated:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30684[/ATTACH]

Thursday of last week. The signage directly on the sidewalk was gone, but the single most *unacceptable* part of this detour remains. No room for error on this ramp.

[Starduster]

@arlcxrider 225204 wrote:

Disappointing that the project was scheduled in such a way that 4MR trail users will have to navigate a high-volume street crossing for THREE MONTHS.

Yeah, I didn’t expect that. I don’t think we were told, even early on. The trail underneath will be blocked until they finish up and remove the temporary ped bridge. Rode by there today and will confirm everyone’s observations. Not ideal.

Also on the journey, at the end of S. Eads, at the “driveway”, a solitary traffic barrel stands sentry. A second barrel is tucked against the fence, awaiting deployment. I could do nothing with it because a guy was sitting in a parked car there. This is a job for another covert lumberjack…

[Starduster]

@Judd 225199 wrote:

Detour is going to continue to be in place for another three months.

Looks like one lane of motor vehicle traffic each way. Exposure to turning traffic, but limited. I can live with that to a point. Big question-when will they finish work underneath the bridge so that the trail route can reopen?

[Starduster]

@dbb 225163 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30634[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]30635[/ATTACH]

At the Dominion site on Glebe, it seems that the cone and barrel that had provided some warning that a curb face was in your future have been removed.

This crap shouldn’t be so damned hard.

OK fellow lumberjacks: What do we do now?

[Starduster]

@Judd 225157 wrote:

The International Society of Secret Lumberjack Masons have ways of identifying each other.

Something other than tribal colors?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]30631[/ATTACH]

[Starduster]

@Judd 225152 wrote:

Someone should buy that lumberjack a beer next week.

But wouldn’t that blow his/her cover?

[Starduster]

There are mirrors that clip to your eyeglass frames and those that attach to the helmet. I need the mirror. Period. My left eye is the more nearsighted one, which compromises sharpness of peripheral vision in road traffic. After decades of trying everything, on the bike or off, I run the Third Eye eyeglass mirror. I bent the mount slightly (heat in hot water and gently bend) to fit the temples of first my Bolle Parole sunglasses and the current Rudy Project Defenders. It hits the sweet spot of not being “too” large for me.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30629[/ATTACH]

[Starduster]

BikeArlington has just reported on FB that the boardwalk section is now officially open. Please report back here if that “Slippery When Wet” sign is simply “being prudent” or a genuine warning.

[Starduster]

@Boomer2U 224988 wrote:

Negative on any improvements to the Eads entrance to 4MR. The new fence line splitting the cut out entrance in half escalates the risk of hitting the high curb head-on upon entry as you have clearly documented. So keep your head up and eyes [emoji102] wide open!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is a lesson for all here: While I did get a quick acknowledgement from the powers that be on this project (and also for my two other letters regarding the Columbia Pike detour at ANC and the Doctors Run Trail), that by itself wasn’t enough. All three cases will require focused & directed lobbying efforts (otherwise defined as “making a nuisance of yourself”) to actually effect improvements we can safely ride.

[Starduster]

@Boomer2U 224956 wrote:

Open for Business (or commuting;-)

The new 4MR boardwalk at the electric substation east of the water treatment plant was open this morning and barricades were removed from both ends of the trail.

** UPDATE **
I may have posted too soon: the detour sign at the west entrance is now back up, but the barricades still removed from both ends of the boardwalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I cruised by here yesterday. Wasn’t open then. Any positive change at the end of S. Eads?

[Starduster]

@mrhappy_onabike 224923 wrote:

I helped Steve O find a traffic cone

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30551[/ATTACH]

Excellent work, sir!

[Starduster]

#dbb: “Moving with all *deliberate* speed”, as they say. Quite the lobbying challenge. How do we “encourage” a better response?

Is it FHWA or the Army, through ANC, dragging their feet?

[Author]

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