Lynn Street Esplanade and Custis Trail Improvements - 2018/2019

[bentbike33]

Note the absurd location of the beg button pole - right in the path of travel. Also encroaching on the queuing area, which can be one of the busiest in the whole DMV.
I'm all for accommodations as per ADA, but this pole needs to be moved about 2-3 feet to the south and off the trail.



<rant> This is just one more example of why it makes sense to bring 90% drawings to the BAC. We would have caught this before it was installed. The same thing happened up the hill at Scott St. Arlington County had to go back and pay to have the pole moved, a waste of taxpayer money. That money and time could have been saved if the people who ride bikes--and are actually appointed to help the county make bicycling better--had been given an opportunity to see the placement first. </rant>

While your point about letting actual cyclists review late-stage plans for cycling infrastructure is very well taken, when I went through east-bound this morning (admittedly at speed to make the walk signal at IOD) I did not find the beg button pole to be a problem. It certainly was a problem when riders had to cross over to the temporary trail as depicted in your pictures, however. Note that the old crosswalk paint no longer aligns with the new curb cuts. Seems to me the pole is just barely out of the new line of travel.

[Steve O]

While your point about letting actual cyclists review late-stage plans for cycling infrastructure is very well taken, when I went through east-bound this morning (admittedly at speed to make the walk signal at IOD) I did not find the beg button pole to be a problem. It certainly was a problem when riders had to cross over to the temporary trail as depicted in your pictures, however. Note that the old crosswalk paint no longer aligns with the new curb cuts. Seems to me the pole is just barely out of the new line of travel.

I got an email indicating that VDOT and Arlington are reviewing.
Did you go through when there were a lot of cyclists and pedestrians traveling in both directions?
Or when a person in a wheelchair was using the button?

Admittedly, I have not tried it since they opened it up, but it most certainly appears to be on the edge of the trail. If the trail is wider than the curb cut, then one might wonder why the curb cut is not as wide as the trail? Kind of defeats the purpose of making a wider trail, particularly right at the point where the most people--cyclists and peds--will be passing each other in both directions.

I can't think of any examples where a light pole or signpost is placed in the street--even at the edge where it's mostly out of the path of travel of cars. So I'm not sure why it's okay to put this pole at the edge of the path of travel if the people are riding bikes instead of driving cars.

[bentbike33]

Did you go through when there were a lot of cyclists and pedestrians traveling in both directions?
Or when a person in a wheelchair was using the button?

No and no. It was about 7am, no westbound users, I was rushing to make the walk signal, focusing on its timing, the Lee Hwy right turn lanes, and whether or not the trail entrance on the other side of Lynn had been shifted for construction purposes. The beg button pole was not a factor for me in that situation, and I'm pretty sure I remained well on my side of the new center line. Would it be better further from the main trail travel zone? Sure. Is it as bad as the original Scott Street beg-button pole location? No.

[dbb]

<rant> This is just one more example of why it makes sense to bring 90% drawings to the BAC. We would have caught this before it was installed. The same thing happened up the hill at Scott St. Arlington County had to go back and pay to have the pole moved, a waste of taxpayer money. That money and time could have been saved if the people who ride bikes--and are actually appointed to help the county make bicycling better--had been given an opportunity to see the placement first. </rant>

As an alternative, the BAC should review and comment on the design guidelines the county uses to identify the placement of stuff on trails, sidewalks, and similar places that may affect cyclists. If the guidelines are appropriately detailed, and there is a process where approvals to deviate from them is appropriately reviewed (and burdensome), it might be more self-correcting. Maybe the BAC should be consulted for deviations from the guidelines? At the core, you are right. The present process doesn't seem to be working too well.

[huskerdont]

I looked more carefully today and it is on the edge of the line going up from the curb cut. So, it's sort of out of the way going west, but eastbound it would be less so since the curb isn't guiding you way from it. With the amount of traffic that goes through there though, eventually someone will run into it.

[sjclaeys]

Admittedly, I have not tried it since they opened it up

I'd ride through the intersection as it is now before further judging the situation. While not 100% ideal, it really is not that bad and pales in comparison to other more dangerous infrastructure in Arlington County.

[dbb]

While not 100% ideal, it really is not that bad and pales in comparison to other more dangerous infrastructure in Arlington County.

Well that's damning with faint praise.

[huskerdont]

Saw a driver almost use the trail at the upper Marriott entrance Friday afternoon. Maryland plates. We're gonna need more bollards.

[Judd]

Saw a driver almost use the trail at the upper Marriott entrance Friday afternoon. Maryland plates. We're gonna need more bollards.

Needs a light pole in the middle to discourage car infiltration.


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[sjclaeys]

I'd ride through the intersection as it is now before further judging the situation. While not 100% ideal, it really is not that bad and pales in comparison to other more dangerous infrastructure in Arlington County.

Having now gone through the intersection both directions several times, I really do not think that pole is much of a problem given its position. Just pay attention and slow down.