[Steve O]

@PotomacCyclist 72493 wrote:

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Can I be on her team?

[Steve O]

Ranting here.

What’s the deal with 11 pages of comments re: ice and snow trail conditions after a relatively small storm? Does AAA have a forum where drivers are still posting problems with snow and ice on highways days after the storm is gone? Do they have to get out of their cars and walk them across dangerous sections? No, of course not. Yet, here we are, treating this like it’s BAU.

Somehow we have got to change this. Normal should be trails get cleared just like streets. We shouldn’t be seeing Facebook posts from BikeArlington cheering about 1/2 mile of salt on one tiny section of trail as though Arlington County should win a Nobel Prize or something. Why do we accept this unacceptable state of affairs?

It’s frustrating. It’s been a topic of discussion at BAC meetings since as long as I can remember, yet this year Arlington has essentially thumbed its nose at cyclists and peds who want to actually go somewhere–like work or a metro station or to run errands. WTF?

[Steve O]

@Mikey 71758 wrote:

Wow, now I have to title all of my rides “Steve O Rocks – Daily Commute. . .”

Looks like we already have a winner!

[Steve O]

I will make whichever date we choose work. Screw my job and my family; this is Freezing Saddles!

[Steve O]

@KelOnWheels 71221 wrote:

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/horrifying_full_body_spandex_santa_claus_suit

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I hate it when my wife posts pics of me on the Internet. These are supposed to be private moments!

[Steve O]

Hi,
I will take on the role as Czar of Pointless Prizes for Best Ride Titles. Same as last year.
If I’m motivated, I will make certificates again and award a few pointless prizes at the happy hour.

Bribes and pandering are encouraged.

[Steve O]

@dasgeh 71186 wrote:

Are we doing the multiplier for people on the bike? Because we might be starting the year with a Kidical Mass Arlington ride…

THAT is a great question!! I think there ought to be a bonus for a “freezing trailer” or “freezing childseat” What say, Commissioner Cannon?

BTW – I say that without any possible personal benefit; my kids are 14 and 20 (. . .and not interested in riding in a trailer).

Also BTW – I’m in.

[Steve O]

As President of RUB (Remove Useless Bollards), I strongly oppose the use of bollards to deal with this problem before first trying signage, paint, design changes and other non-dangerous solutions.

[Steve O]

At the BAC meeting we had a very enlightening discussion about creating and maintaining facilities not for us crazy-ass cyclists who already do it, but for the uncounted thousands who will hopefully start in the next few years. The concept of building separated cycle tracks and other facilities that I don’t need, since I’m an urban guerilla cyclist already, needs to somehow be communicated to our leadership. They see the miles of bike lanes and other facilities that have already been built as excellent amenities for the “cycling community.” Yet if we want to double or triple the number of cyclists, then we have to go beyond what we are already doing and push the envelope.

A lot of us will make do with less than perfect conditions, but if we really want to double or triple the number of cyclists, then things like clearing the MUPs and the bike lanes–proving that the County is serious about making cycling a preferred mode of travel for all sorts of cyclists, including newbies–is an imperative, not a nicety.

[Steve O]

Yes, I was at the BAC meeting last night, and I was pleased to take part in the discussion. This morning I posted this message to the BAC list serve. This is a repeat of a message I sent almost four years ago, so if you remember it clearly, you may move on to the next message.
Steve
=================

Hi BAC,
For those of you who may not have had the opportunity or have forgotten my rant from 2010 posted on this list, here it is again. I think everything I have written here still applies (which is disappointing, since it’s now four winters later. One would hope progress would actually occur). I would be curious to ask the lawyers in the room about the liability associated with the known hazard of the Custis luge.

From Feb. 18 2010. Enjoy!
==================================

Prepare yourself; I’m about to rant.

Supposedly Arlington is the model TOD community: bicycle and pedestrian friendly, excellent transit service, smart land-use decisions, etc. I hear at our meetings that we are going to strive to move up from Silver to Gold designation from LAB. Here it is, eight days after the snowstorm and not one flake of snow (now ice) has been removed from any of the key (and in some cases essential) ped/bike commuter corridors. The part of the Custis Trail shown on the blog post noted earlier will still have ice on it a month from now (bet you lunch on that) unless action is taken. In fact, I am certain that the bike/ped counts on Mar. 11 will be impacted by the fact that significant sections of the trails will still be either impassable or difficult to use.

The Car-Free Diet campaign promotes Arlington as a place to live without a car, because of all these supposed amenities. Yet someone who lives in parts of Rosslyn without a car has no–zero!–options for getting to the Metro (okay, taxicab; one). What are they to do? Walk on Lee Highway? Risk injury on the Custis luge?

At the last BAC meeting I had a discussion with Kevin Stalica about clearing the trails, particularly the sections near Rosslyn, Ballston and EFC that provide Metro access to hundreds and hundreds of people.
He is clearly in an uncomfortable position, being saddled with responsibility to clear transportation facilities, but expected to do so with Park funds. Park funding will always be lower priority, and as long as the trails are treated as a recreational amenity, that’s the treatment they will receive. (He later forwarded me some information about the liability law regarding snow clearing. I’m no lawyer, but the way I read it, now that the Custis luge has been publicized as a significant hazard, the County has an obligation to fix it or could risk being sued for negligence.)

This has to change. With Jay Fisette in our camp, I think we need to push on having the key sections of the trails that are used significantly for transportation to become the responsibility of the Transportation Department for maintenance and upkeep. Prioritization should be based on the number of PEOPLE who use these facilities, not the number of cars. (Hello Arlington, isn’t this what it’s all supposed to be about?) Yes, that would mean the Custis Trail would get priority over my street.

That said, if a small vehicle plow had been dispatched immediately after the snow stopped and before it was tramped down, it could have cleared a 5-foot wide path on the 17 miles of Arlington Loop (I know,
some of that is NPS, but who cares) plus the section from the Custis/ WOD intersection to EFC in 4-5 hours max. At $100/hour, it would have cost under $500 total. No salt or chemicals needed. If you clear
down to the pavement right away, it dries out on its own. By now it would be totally usable. (And as some have intelligently pointed out, if you clear 1/2 the trail, the other half remains for the skiers for much longer–everyone wins.)

If someone tries to clear the Rosslyn part of the Custis now, it will take many hours and big-time treatment, costing thousand of dollars. Clearing all the trails would take days. I can hear the whine already, “We doe-on’t have the muh-uhny to do it.” A few years ago I was in New York a couple of days after a large snowstorm. I stayed on the west side near Ground Zero. I could see the West Side trail (or whatever it’s called) totally cleared as far as I could see, and one cyclist I talked to said it was cleared all the way up. The streets were still a mess. Somehow NY has figured out a way to prioritize that route for the thousands of peds and cyclists who are dependent on it.

Dave Patton has documented the fact that a significant number of people are using the 4-Mile Run underpass at 395 for transportation; it’s necessary for them. Yet as far as the County is concerned, they may as well not exist. But better get that cul-de-sac with two houses on it plowed out; you betcha. How is this any better than Fairfax or Loudoun Counties? They haven’t plowed the W&OD either.

Personally, if Arlington applies for LAB Gold status without addressing this issue I will lobby LAB against it. No community should be granted status like that while neglecting their bike facilities and rendering them unusable for 10% or more of the year.

Rant ended. Have a great day.

Steve

[Steve O]

The answer to the Ski v bike problem is to plow half the trail (one side that is–not halfway to DC). That way the peds and bikes will walk and use the plowed side and the snowy side will stay that way for the skiers. Now it just becomes essentially impassable for everyone within hours. Walkers will continue to walk on the fresh snow sections to avoid the ice until the entire trail is ice from edge to edge. We’ve all seen that happen.

But if half the trail is plowed, then all the walkers will walk on the plowed surface, leaving the unplowed snow fresh for the skiers. Win win.

[Steve O]

For those of you handing out lights on Monday, once you are done, just ride up the little hill to Courthouse and join the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting at 2100 Clarendon. All welcome, and we’d love to see you and hear how the light giveaway went.

[Steve O]

Perhaps I missed it, but I didn’t see any information on whether or not the motorist was cited and for what offense. I would hope failure to yield right of way, careless driving and failing to come to a complete stop as starting points.

[Steve O]

I’ve been using sks fenders for many years and am pretty happy. I would not have a bike for everyday use or commuting without fenders. Once you’ve used them, you’ll not want to go back to naked tires.
I just installed them on my new bike last weekend–just in time for the rain! I could probably improve them by adding mudflaps, but they make a pretty huge difference on days like the last few. Good luck.

However, they can’t be easily taken on and off for your races. Well, actually when I think about it, if you take the wheels off and remove the fenders all in one piece, you might be able to do it in under 10 mins. Putting them back on and getting them adjusted might take a bit longer. With practice, who knows?

[Steve O]

The circus of danger that this intersection is needs to eventually be fixed. The sooner the better. Contrary to a contention I made in a post on GGW (http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12248/redesign-could-improve-dangerous-rosslyn-intersection/#comment-117365), I no longer think someone will get killed there. Crashes are likely to be lower speed, resulting in injuries and property damage, but unlikely to be fatal.

For those of you who have not read my proposed solution to this problem, I still think it is an elegant idea that does not require building a new tunnel or bridge.
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12248/redesign-could-improve-dangerous-rosslyn-intersection/

[Author]

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