On Two Wheels or Two Feet

There is a website that bicycle riders might find useful or helpful or just plain interesting. It’s called bikewise and it’s run by the Cascade Bicycle Club out of Seattle, Washington. The basic premise, according to the "About Us" page on the site is the belief that "we can make biking safer and more fun by gathering good data on the things that sometimes go wrong." What could ever go wrong when riding a bike? Well, here, according to the site, are some of the categories they hope to track:

"Crashes: It's estimated that 75% or more of all crashes go unreported. We believe that by gathering detailed information on how and why crashes happen, we'll be able to ride smarter. Also, we hope that knowing where crash hotspots are will help us to identify issues with traffic behavior and road design.

"Hazards: How many times have you ridden past a dangerous sewer grate or overgrown vegetation and wished there were someplace to report it? Now there is. We aim to not only collect hazard reports, but to pass these on to the appropriate authorities. (Please note: we're still putting this part of the system in place.)

"Thefts: Tracking where and how bikes get stolen is a key part of making preventing thefts. We're currently working on other pieces of this system, so that if your bike does get stolen, you have a better chance of getting it back. More to come on that.”

As you can tell, the bikewise website is still very much a work in progress.  But they have lofty goals and some of their plans could encourage jurisdictions to change the way that they collect and manage data on bicycle-related incidents. And, yes, they do have sights outside of Seattle: "this site is meant to be useful anywhere in the world." Here is a listing of incidents reported to them across the United States.

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Now that the bridge trail is open is will be so easy to ride between Maryland and Virginia and to connect to so many really cool, scenic places along the Potomac. It will not however reduce commuter congestion across the Wilson Bridge as Channel 7 reported this past weekend... do those reporters think about what they are saying before they open their mouths? A five-foot high wall separates the trail from the cars and trucks on the beltway and there are several pull-off areas at which to take a break or just enjoy the view.

For those who want to give it a try there are some rules--actually several --that you need to be aware of:

• Hours of operation:  5:30 a.m. to midnight.
• Speed limit is 10 miles per hour.
• The trail is a multi-use facility for cyclists, runners and walkers.  Users must be considerate of others traveling at different speeds. Slower traffic should stay to the right. Cyclists must alert other trail users before passing.
• Trail users who stop must move to the side of the path to avoid impeding other trail traffic.
• A dashed yellow line separates directional traffic.
• The bridge drawspan may open periodically. Cyclists and pedestrians need to be pay attention to the lights, bells and signs near the bridge drawspan. The drawspan will not open until all traffic is a safe distance away.
• In an emergency, users should call 9-1-1. The closest and most appropriate responder from Maryland or Virginia will be dispatched. The Park Police Emergency Telephone Number is (301) 459-3232.
• The bridge trail and Maryland deckover are in close proximity to moving traffic.  It is illegal to throw debris or obstruct traffic in any way.
• Pets are allowed but must be on leashes and have proper licensing.
• Bicycle helmet laws will be enforced.
• Parking is available in designated areas only. No parking after dark.
  

Wilson Bridge photo: City of Alexandria's LocalMotion

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Steve Eldridge is a long-time reporter, observer and commentator on the Washington region's transportation issues. You can contact him directly by writing to: Steve@SprawlandCrawl.com. Unless otherwise requested, letters or portions of letters can be used within future columns. Letter writers will be identified by their first name and city/neighborhood.

Comments

[IMGoph]

agreed on the time closure bit. what if you're using the bridge for a bike commute, and you need to be out there at 5 a.m.? this sounds like something that will get struck down immediately if formally challenged.

[gibbo]

the restriction on hours of operation is NOT ALLOWED, if this account of how a similar policy in Oregon was handled is still germane, and I think that it is.

http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/08/fhwa-says-springwater-trail-closure-decision-must-be-reversed/

[Steve Offutt]

Thanks for the info on the bridge trail. I just took a ride on it today, and it is very nice. Two comments, though.
What's with the 10 mph speed limit? In my heyday I could exceed that on foot, as many fleet runners can (disclosure - I'm sure I exceeded it today on my bike, too).

Why does it close? The bridge isn't closed to cars between midnight and 5:30 AM, so why should it be closed to other modes?