I agree that bicyclists are out of control in Arlington. All the trails, e.g., W O & D trail are too dangerous for pedestrians. So are many congested sidewalks, including those in the Ballston-Rosslyn corridor, Shirlington Village, Westover Village, and Columbia Pike in the neighborhoods around Four Mile Run. Neighborhoods I once visited.
I live in Cherrydale. I stopped walking on the trails last year. Last week I was almost hit by a guy riding a racing bike on the sidewalk on Wilson Blvd near the former NSF building. Enough. If County Government wants to allow free-range bicycling on sidewalks, I'm not walking in those neighborhoods. Bikeshare is the worst. Bikeshare's corporate motto has to be Safery Last. I took a photo of a Bikeshare rental station and as you can see there's no safety information at all. Much less a helmet vending box.
As for the police enforcing traffic ordinances related to bicycles forget it. They're too busy writing tickets for people who operate motor vehicles. How many? I discovered ACPD is on-track to write 30,000 this year.
So if the County wants me to shop in "vibrant" Ballston, forget it. I'm starting to order more from wonderful Amazon and signed up to have groceries delivered from Giant. Which only leaves driving out to work on I-66 in the morning and in to Arlington at night
Thanks for your blog.
Ted, Cherrydale
24 comments:
Add Glebe Road between Washington Blvd. and Rt 50 to the list.
No reason the County (owner of the bikeshare stations and the bicycles) or Capital Bikeshare (which operates the franchise) can't install a bicycle helmet locker. Bicycles are inherently dangerous machines of and by themselves.
I only visit to area of Westover Village between the post office and italian store early in the morning on weekdays.
Bicyclists are urban village idiots. BTW they fight any attempt to make wearing helmets mandatory for adults.
Biggest urban village idiot is the Arlington Transportation VIP who rides his electric cargo bike on the sidewalk.
Another reason anyone considering buying a home or condo in Arlington and living here long-term should consider other options.
Forget about retiring in Arlington...our taxes will be going sky high starting next year to pay for the Progressives' extravagances....like tens of millions more for bicycles...bicycles...bicycles.
Sidewalks are already crowded with people walking and running for exercise. Open space is being re-purposed for dedicated playgrounds and playing fields.
If you are considering alternatives to living in Arlington stay away from cities and counties that have embraced "New Urbanism" aka "Smart Growth".
If Arlington's police department has the resources to write 30,000 traffic tickets ever year for owners and operators of motor vehicles it has the resources to write tickets for people on bikes running stop signs and traffic lights at high speed.
Agree that pedestrians should stay off the trails.
I want Capital Bikeshare to stencil identification numbers on the frames of Bikeshare bicycles so in the event I'm hit while walking on a sidewalk at least witnesses will have a description of the rider and ID # of the bicycle.
Speaking of avoiding Ballston, who / whom in Arlington County Government was responsible for the idiotic deal with Forest City, owner of the old Ballston Common Mall, that's going to make Foreest City's new mall named Ballston Querter a worse zoo than Ballston Common?
Stay off the trails...bicycle-bicycle accidents are becoming more frequent
Enjoy freedom of movement now...once the U.S. population hits 400 million, within 30 years, Greater DC will be like Greater London.
Could have sworn I visited this blog before but apparently I didn't. Thanks for the informative topics.
LOL..trail walkers have worn a path next to the paved trails to avoid the bikester bozos.
Problems with Bikester Bozos? E-Mail their Mom -- libby.garvey@arlingtonva.us
No more shopping in Westover Village and Shirlington Village for me on weekends. Not a question of if I'd be hit by a bicyclist, but when.
Sue the County and Bikeshare when you're hit...
Lately the idiots on bicycles have been running stop signs without slowing down and waving to motorists and pedestrians as they zoom through intersections.
Almost hit in a Fairlington crosswalk by a bozo on a racing bike who not only didn't slow down at a stop sign but didn't look to the left and right.
Last two weeks step-on electric scooters have become a big meance to pedestrians.
Electric scooters suck..was almost hit by two this week.
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