W&OD gets plowed!!

[americancyclo]

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, which maintains the W&OD Trail, recently purchased a snow plow and they plan to plow the trail for winter bike commuters.

from: http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2011/...in-winter.html

so excited!

Now what about the Custis?

[Rootchopper]

I have always hoped that the Mount Vernon trail would be plowed. I was told once that this is not doable since so many of its wooden bridges are too flimsy to support the plow. Looks like I was misinformed.

[PrintError]

The post mentions something about "bike season." What is that? I thought every day was bike to work day.

[Dirt]

I've been plowed while riding on the W&OD. Added a bit of adventure to the ride. OH wait. That's not what you were talking about. Nevermind.

Cool news.

[jabberwocky]

Man, they would wait until I'm no longer commuting on it.

Good news for sure. Even with studs, the rutted icy mess that was the W&OD after any snow was never fun to ride.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

When I asked NVRPA last year I think they said it was a snowblower that mounts to one of their tractors. They were undecided at that time citing that people should have time to cross country ski for a couple of days before plowing. I think that waiting will make snow removal more difficult because the snow could melt and ice over. I also think that skiers can use the walking trail adjacent to the paved trail.

Either way I spent some time last January riding in tire tracks on the W&OD because it was the only part of the trail that was cleared weeks after a snow event.

[americancyclo]

As an XC Skier myself, I thought that reason alone for not plowing the trail was crazy. XC skiers only need about a foot and a half for nordic style skiing. You need more room for skate style, but since no one grooms the trails, that's a moot point. I'd like to think that bikes, peds, and skiers can all coexist in the same chilly temperatures, in the same space of asphalt and snow.

p.s. I was waiting for a 'plowed' joke. Thanks Pete!

[Greenbelt]

This is great. Last year I asked MNCPPC to plow, at least in areas that were easily accessible, and they said "huh?" They hadn't even thought that people might be using the trails for transportation. This year, I can call them and say the VA is plowing, and MD should get with the program!

[Dirt]

A little bird told me that Arlington is responsible for the W&OD and Custis in Arlington, so we might be SOL for having the non-hinterland sections of the local trails plowed.... though Arlington often sends a truck down the trail from near Sycamore St. to the Custis Trail turn-off. Sometimes down to Bluemont. They can't do too much further down because of the bridges. Falls Church shovels the first 10-20' around the intersections so we have a non-slippy place to come to a complete stop.

I hope we have enough snow this year to get out the skis a bit.

[jabberwocky]

Last year they did eventually plow after the big snowstorms. I think it was close to a month later, but some sections of the trail still had deep rutted ice and snow on it when they did. They ran the plow down the trail held an inch or two above the pavement (presumably so as not to rip up the surface of the trail). That worked fine; shallow snow and ice isn't difficult to ride, and once its down that low it melts off pretty quickly.