Bicycle dis-incentive

How silly is this?!

On a recent weekend -- when the humidity was low and the weather was GORGEOUS -- Bob and I made a trip on bicycles to Great Falls and back to Arlington.

At the entrance gate to the Great Falls park, all vehicles pay an entrance fee. Cars pay $5 each, while each bicycle pays $3. So Bob and I paid $6, but if we had driven there in a car, it would have been a dollar less. If we'd been a family of four? Fuhgeddaboutit.

Shouldn't we be incenting people to ride bikes around here? Vs. incenting us to drive.

By the way, riding in the park was very nice -- lots of trails, though some were pretty rough from  Hurricane Hanna rains, and all wonderfully shaded. Peaceful and quiet.

(Note to self: pay attention next time and be sure to read the part in the bicycle tour guidebook that says "hilly.")

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Diana Sun is Director of Communications for Arlington County, a walking commuter, bicylist, and happy resident of the urban village of Clarendon.

Comments

[Allen Muchnick]

Is anyone writing to the park superintendent to protest the relatively high fee per bicyclist?

[Avocado]

I can't believe it costs more for bikers. That's just sleasy.

[Kfc]

Not only is it ridiculous to charge cyclists an entrance fee, the long road leading to the entrance of the park is anything but bicycle or pedestrian friendly. Pedestrians and people on human powered machines should be given free access to the park. A shared use entrance trail (walkers, joggers & cyclists) should be installed, and at least half of the enormous parking lot within the park should be given back to nature.

[David]

That is very odd. I wonder if it's because bikes can wear down the trails more? Anyway, at least you rode there instead of driving there. Good for you and stay slim!