I recently came across this video, even though it was made last year. It's a fun one of bad bike lanes. The winner was in Silver Spring! After seeing the video, I thought I would nominate one of my own:
Ever since I have moved to the DC area, I have loved this sign on the Roosevelt Bridge, but I've never gotten a photo of it. The way I was able to get this photo was because the Roosevelt Bridge was closed to automobile traffic for the pre-inauguration concert on Sunday, January 18, and I was walking across the bridge to get there. There is actually no way to reach this "Beginning" of the bike route from Virginia. It is located on the downstream side of the bridge about where the bridge starts to cross Roosevelt Island itself. Below I have attached a satellite photo that shows where the sign is and the "beginning" of the potential route--smack in the middle of a grove of trees positioned inside a tangle of highways (click on photos for larger view).
I guess if you are used to starting your bike rides via helicopter drop, then this would work for you!
Good luck!!
=======================
Steve Offutt, Arlington
Hey, DC has done its part by signing a bike route to the Virginia side of the Potomac. The existence of this nominal "bike route" may help create at least one real bike and ped connection from Arlington when the Roosevelt Bridge is eventually rebuilt.
This is not really the stupidest sidewalk because it at least provides an escape route into DC for motorists who get stranded on the bridge.
Posted by: Allen Muchnick | February 22, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Wow, when I first saw this, I thought your point was going to be that it said "bike route on sidewalk" and the sidewalk is so narrow and crowded. But you normally can't even get to the sidewalk? Pedestrians either? I think that deserves an award for stupidest sidewalk.
The Mt. Vernon Trail connects to the walkway on the other side of the bridge, right? So at least there is a way to cross.
Posted by: Scott | February 22, 2009 at 11:18 AM