MVT paper shreds

[creadinger]

Has anyone else noticed this, or commented on it?

Every now and then I notice lots of little shreds of paper on the MVT between about Crystal City to just past Gravelly Point. They're about 1in x 1in and about a week ago, all the sudden the MVT was loaded with them. If someone is handing out fliers, I can conceive of maybe a few people tearing them up and then being a-holes and littering, but for there to be so much it seems systematic. Unless, everyone who walks on the MVT is an a-hole. I dunno....

Where does this stuff come from, or am I crazy?

[cyclingfool]

You're not crazy. I see the same thing, too. I'm not sure I've noticed it around CC or Gravelly Point as much as I have at the VA side of the 14th St Bridge. I've often wondered the same thing as you, but I've been too lazy to stop and pick up a few pieces to even see what the writing on them is about.

[83(b)]

Could it be from a commercial lawnmower running over litter?

[creadinger]

Could it be from a commercial lawnmower running over litter?

That's a decent theory. I don't know if they're been out mowing yet this year. A lot of times though, I find the pieces are pretty uniform in size and shape and tend to be grouped together in bunches, at least until the wind spreads them around. I don't know if a mower would do that.

Anyway, it's nice to know I'm not crazy at least. I'd love to hear more theories about this too.

[Harry Meatmotor]

i've noticed this phenomenon for at least 3 years now. I believe it's a homeless person dropping the torn up paper. I've witnessed the same homeless person a few times last year pushing a shopping cart up the MVT very early in the morning, stopping for a few moments, then moving on about 50 feet, then stopping again. Though I didn't actually see paper falling to the ground (it was dark - 5:30-5:45 am), this could be an explanation.

[creadinger]

i've noticed this phenomenon for at least 3 years now. I believe it's a homeless person dropping the torn up paper. I've witnessed the same homeless person a few times last year pushing a shopping cart up the MVT very early in the morning, stopping for a few moments, then moving on about 50 feet, then stopping again. Though I didn't actually see paper falling to the ground (it was dark - 5:30-5:45 am), this could be an explanation.

This theory seems more in line with what I see on the ground. If true however, this is a problem! That's littering on a massive scale! Because it's not like it happens just once in a while. Has anyone else seen this person, or this actually happening? Next maybe, I will pick up some pieces to see what exactly is being chucked on the ground. From the bike, it looks like torn up fliers for bars and stuff like that.

Was it weekends or weekdays? I begin my commute around 5:30 (on good days), so I don't usually get to the MVT until 5:45 or so. I haven't noticed anybody though.

cyclingfool - you're right, I forgot that I see them all the way up to the 14th St. bridge area, even on the ramp up to it.

[Rootchopper]

It's definitely not from a lawn mower. I saw it this morning at the intersection of the 14th St bridge ramp and the MVT. Clearly done intentionally.

[consularrider]

This has been an issue for several years and I believe there was an earlier thread on the forums.

[creadinger]

This has been an issue for several years and I believe there was an earlier thread on the forums.

I'm not surprised. Well, seeing as how it's been going on for years, maybe now finally people are tired of this idiot throwing trash all over the place and we should try to stop it.

[KWL]

My theory is it's some poor sap with OCD who works at National Airport and lives in D.C. Walking home and compulsively tearing and discarding paper. The scraps start at National and end (on the MVT anyway) at the ramp to the 14th Street Bridge. It's a whole lot more benign than the tacks spread all over the same section a few years ago.