[Steve O]

Hi Newbie,

I forwarded your note to a friend who rides from Arlington to the Capitol every day. Hopefully he’ll log in here and get in touch to show you the way in.

I used to take the the Custis to the river and down to the Memorial Bridge, past Abe and George and then along Jefferson all the way to 3rd Street. No traffic along the mall in the mornings. My friend takes the 14th St. Bridge and has a different route to the Capitol–I’m not sure what it is.

[Steve O]

Putting them at Metro stations doesn’t do any good unless they are also located at locations someone wants to ride to from the Metro.
I recommend filling in the existing gaps in the system before extending it out to places like Dunn Loring and Vienna. Unless a Metro stop has at least 5-10 other stations within a mile or so, it won’t do much good.

For Rosslyn/Courthouse, I recommend placing a stations no more than 1000 feet apart.

[Steve O]

The trail has not been touched by a plow or by any chemicals. It is almost entirely packed, glaciated ice–lumpy from the pedestrians. Someone with a mountain bike and studded tires could probably ride on it slowly, but you won’t make great time. Downhills might be dangerous, because it would difficult to stop.
IMO this is unacceptable from a County that claims to want to become a LAB Gold bicycling community–five day after the snow some sort of truck/tractor has been on my residential street three times, but not a single time on the #1 bike commuting route in the area.

[Steve O]

The trail has not been touched by a plow or by any chemicals. It is almost entirely packed, glaciated ice–lumpy from the pedestrians. Someone with a mountain bike and studded tires could probably ride on it slowly, but you won’t make great time. Downhills might be dangerous, because it would difficult to stop.
IMO this is unacceptable from a County that claims to want to become a LAB Gold bicycling community–five day after the snow some sort of truck/tractor has been on my residential street three times, but not a single time on the #1 bike commuting route in the area.

[Steve O]

You can also go half and half. Wear your work pants (protecting the cuffs as per Joe C.) but pack your shirt. That way you can wear a shirt you don’t mind sweating a little in. Then you only need to change your shirt when you get to work, and it will be fresher. In the warmer months you may need to sponge off if you don’t want to (or have) a shower. Also, keep deodorant at work.
I also found that in the warmer months if I didn’t have a meeting right away, I could check emails and do some other work for 20 minutes to cool down before changing into my fresher clothes.

I kept a couple of sport coats and ties at work permanently for those occasions when I needed them.

Also, keep extra underwear in your desk at work. I learned this lesson the hard way! Definitely something you don’t want to forget.

[Steve O]

I have fenders and have used the bike racks a number of times. The hook that rests on your tire can be placed on the front tire just ahead of your front fender and that will hold your bike in place. You don’t have to put the hook on your fender.
I have a road bike with fenders like these:

I also have a 3-speed “toodler” bike with old-timey chrome fenders and it works the same way.

This is a great question. Maybe I’ll take a photo next time.

[Steve O]

The most difficult trail of all for identification is the Four-Mile Run trail. This trail exists in at least four sections if not more. Personally I would suggest renaming some of those sections to reduce confusion. For instance, the section that runs through Madison Manor could be renamed “Madison Manor Trail.” That’s descriptive and easy to understand. People who are familiar with that part of the trail instantly know where it is. Many may not even know it’s part of the 4-Mile Run Trail, and it’s probably often identified as “the part of 4-Mile Run Trail that runs through Madison Manor.” Well, duh, just call it what it is–Madison Manor Trail. Similarly with the next section east – “Dominion Hills Trail.”

What do you think?

[Steve O]

Just checking in to see if anything has happened on this.

[Author]

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