Clarendon Cycles

Clarendon Cycles: Rolling Through the Winter

Ride through the winter? Yes you can. Just be careful about it.

Icy roads and snowy paths. They’re not here yet, but they’re coming. We almost had them this past weekend. While riding in Arlington’s winter conditions does require a bit of extra effort and care, it’s still quite doable. There are plenty of great resources for learning more about winter riding. A couple of years ago I wrote about dealing with extended darkness, the potential for slick surfaces, and extra debris on the streets. The Washington Area Bike Forum continues to be a great place for Arlington-specific cold weather clothing and equipment advice. There’s plenty of discussion of the question of when to use studded tires (ice) or big knobby tires (snow) for the neophyte at the forums. I’m done belaboring the plowing issue — well, …

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Clarendon Cycles

Cycling’s Challenge: The Windshield Perspective

Arlington County temporarily shuts down a major walking/cycling commuter route with no detour.

No doubt many regular readers of this column will be expecting me to tee off on last week’s inexplicable and unannounced closure of a very busy part of the Custis Trail — with no detour. It sent cyclists and pedestrians onto Lee Highway against traffic. The drivers themselves had no warning that the lane in front of them would be filled with cyclists and pedestrians simply trying to get to their own destinations. It was more than half a day before the county, in response to complaints, put a detour in place. Some, quite understandably, see this as a failing of Arlington County to follow through on its promise to be a cycling- and walking-friendly community. And, I suppose, in a way it is a failure. But it’s not a failure of intent. I’m …

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Clarendon Cycles

Arlington's Cyclists: Still Stuck With Snow

Almost three years after a major snow storm closed Arlington's main commuter trails for more than a week, the county still doesn't have a plan to deal with snow on our trails.

Clearing snow from Arlington's primary trails became a topic of public conversation again last week. Arlington County's Department of Environmental Services (i.e., the department of transportation) hosted a public chat on Facebook about Arlington's snow plowing and removal plans. Among other things, DES staff explained how they prioritized streets, who was responsible for sidewalks, and which streets depend on VDOT for plowing. When a number of Arlington residents — myself among them — asked about Arlington's plans to clear trails, DES said they had no plans to clear trails, and that in any event, it was the responsibility of the Department of Parks and Recreation. In other words, we've had zero progress on the matter since the last time I…

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Commutes Could Get Longer for HOV Drivers on I-66

A ramp connecting I-66 to I-495 will close on Friday, Oct. 12.

Depending on the way you get to work, your morning commute may be getting a little bit longer starting in a few weeks. The HOV ramp connecting the eastbound lanes of Interstate 66 to the Capital Beltway will close following morning rush hour on Friday, Oct. 12 and re-open later this year as an Express Lanes ramp. A spokesman for Virginia Megaprojects explained in a press statement, "HOV-drivers affected by this new traffic pattern are urged to follow highway message signs that will be in place along I-66, approaching I-495.  Drivers should expect additional delays in this area for several weeks, and should allow extra time in their commutes." For details about the Express Lanes, how they work and when they are planned to open for drivers, …

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Clarendon Cycles

Arlington’s Bike Month Events

May is nationally celebrated as Bike Month, and Arlington’s in on the action. From events encouraging commuting by bike to lazy recreational rides through the city, there’s something for everyone.

The first major Bike Month event in Arlington was Bike to School Day, which took place on Wednesday this year. Across Arlington County, some kids did what they do every day — they rode to school. Others joined with their peers to form bike trains to school. Arlington’s generally compact school districts and multiuse paths make getting to school by bike a smart option for lots of students. This Sunday, Bike DC will provide a chance for a car-free ride through both Washington and Arlington. Several thousand cyclists will roll along a closed circuit that starts near the National Mall, heads up Rock Creek Parkway, comes back down and across the Roosevelt Bridge, heads up the George Washington Parkway, and drops back down to the Air Force …

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Arlington Deserves Better Connections to the Mount Vernon Trail

The northern and southern reaches into Arlington are well-connected to the Mount Vernon Trail, but that isn’t enough.

One of the most popular multi-use trails in the Washington area is in Arlington’s front yard – the Mount Vernon Trail. Popular with tourists and locals, it’s a haven for runners, cyclists and those out for a simple stroll. Unfortunately, getting to the  Mount Vernon Trail from Arlington can be a rather dangerous affair. To get to the trail’s northern terminus without driving, you must navigate the problematic Lynn Street-Lee Highway-Custis Trail intersection. Unfortunately, this is the only connection from northern Arlington.  The next connection to the trail occurs near Memorial Bridge. Because Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery sit between this connection and the rest of the county, it’s not a very practical connection for most …

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Bike to Work Day and Bike D.C. Come to Arlington This Weekend

Cyclists will be hitting Arlington's streets this weekend. And anyone can be a part of it.

Friday will be the D.C. area's Bike to Work Day, with more than 10,000 area residents opting for their bikes as their means of getting to work.  In the hopes of giving hesitant commuters some encouragement to try it out, the sponsors are providing "pit stops" with food, speakers and entertainment.  Arlington will have three pit stops this year: Rosslyn, traditionally the biggest pit stop in Arlington, will include stunt rider Mike Steidley among its entertainment.   Riders are asked to register for Bike to Work Day here (it's too late for the t-shirt, but registration will get you a raffle ticket – and it's free).  There are, of course, many pit stops outside of Arlington – you can pick your preferred pitstop when you register. Bike to …

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