Accident on Mt. Vernon Trail (07/07) Near National Airport

That’s terrible to hear about yet another accident on the MVT near DCA. The area on the MVT near the Crystal City Connector on both sides is not good for passing because the sight lines are not there. Northbound or southbound, one just can’t see far ahead enough to safely make a pass, and combining that with a somewhat well-used turn-off at the CCC can make for a dangerous situation.

I hope we can find out more information as to the cause of the crash. I’d like to know exactly what contributed to the crash.

@Arlingtonrider 142765 wrote:

This is so sad to read about and so unnecessary if everyone would be a little more thoughtful of others. I hope that those who want to go faster will consider using alternate routes, such as the back way around the Pentagon to Boundary Drive or Eads.

I will be showing the 14th St Bridge->Boundary Channel Dr->Eads route in my upcoming SafeTrack video, so hopefully that will help guide people on a less-crowded route.

@JanaeBixby 142760 wrote:

Does anyone know if the three (??) cyclists were ok today after an accident on the Mt. Vernon trail (along the airport) at the intersection where you turn off for Crystal City to go down towards the pedestrian bridge tunnel? The accident was where the split is from the main trail. It was extremely crowded during the afternoon rush today (due to Safe Track??) and I was in a long line of bikes passing along, but it looked like at least 3 people were involved, one on the ground with serious injuries and I heard what I think was at least 3 ambulances just after passing it. Hope everyone made it out (relatively) ok, but not so sure. I think I passed the accident some time between 5:30 and 6:00 pm.

Everyone please be safe with so many (unexperienced or non-regular) bikers on the trail. Have patience and don’t create unsafe passing situations!

That spot is problematic for a couple of reasons. You have riders building up speed for momentum to get up that quick rise by the water park. But the trestle is one big blind spot, you won’t see walkers until you enter the tunnel and then it’s too late. Then you have riders who ignore the slow warning sign as they leave Crystal Drive. That’s where I get on as I head into the District for my morning commute. I take the sign literally and I pray that there isn’t a cyclist passing a walker at speed heading in my direction!

@JanaeBixby 142782 wrote:

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I actually think this could be improved if they would pave the desire trail and put up yield signs for those coming up from Crystal City. It’s unpredictable to know if someone is going to follow the desire path or the pavement. Paving will make movements more predictable.

• S-bound MVT to CC will take current desire path – no need to slow for hard right turn
• S-bound MVT straight will bear left to stay on the path
• N-bound MVT will have no change to current conditions
• CC to s-bound MVT will continue as current
• CC to n-bound MVT will use newly paved path. This is where signage will be necessary to warn of possible conflicts

As long as the desire line exists, it will be taken, so better to pave it and make it as safe as possible than to pretend that people will stay on the pavement. Someone once suggested that a bush could be planted there to eliminate the use of the line. I do not like this idea, as it will make sight lines even worse.

(I feel the exact same way about the desire line at the 14th St. bridge, FWIW)

@Steve O 142794 wrote:

Someone once suggested that a bush could be planted there to eliminate the use of the line. I do not like this idea, as it will make sight lines even worse.

(I feel the exact same way about the desire line at the 14th St. bridge, FWIW)

I think the clear solution here is multiple bollards, Steve O. Come join the bollard dark side.

I agree with Steve O. It would create a similar path setup that occurs at the connection to Four Mile Run further south although the sight line going south isn’t too great.

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@Judd 142802 wrote:

I agree with Steve O. It would create a similar path setup that occurs at the connection to Four Mile Run further south although the sight line going south isn’t too great.

Yup. It’s incredible how many very dangerous blind corners and turns there are on this trail between gravelly point and old town that would be pretty much solved by simply pruning trail side branches below say 10ft and taming a few bushes.

@Steve O 142819 wrote:

Yes.
OTOH, if memory serves, there used to be bushes alongside the trail between the trail and the Parkway itself, at least in a few spots. Those bushes served to shield southbound riders from the oncoming headlights of cars on the parkway. They were removed and never replaced. Does anyone else remember this?

Before my time here but I wished for a hedgerow last week as I rode northbound at night and had several instances where I was completely blinded by traffic from the Parkway. Perhaps some vigilante shrub planting is in order.

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I normally ride roadways or the W&OD out west. Weekend before last was my first time riding the MVT, and I had no issues with other riders(okay, there was one that made a pretty silly pass), but I was more surprised by the number of people stopped, having conversations in the middle of the trail, walking their dog on the trail, etc… Really?!!?!?