Comments on: VIDEO REPORT: Police Enforce Stop Signs on Bike Trail

By: vlfrance

vlfrance — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:04:42 +0000

The stop signs are important for safety.

Commuting cyclists can slow down too. The path is mainly for recreational use and is not a roadway. I agree, however, it’s safest for all to have commuting cyclists on the path and fortunately they use it generally when it’s not heavily populated.

A family friend biking in Florida ran a stop sign on a trail (I know, not Falls Church, but same concept) and has been in the hospital in critical condition for several weeks after being hit by a car. It happens.

By: LFS

LFS — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:38:50 +0000

RCH, I’ve only twice seen bikers on the trial. One was Fairfax County cop, and the other was doing wheelies while reving his engine and clearly violating the law. Now cyclists I see all the time.

But the conflict with cyclists and pedestrians cuts both ways. I’ve done a lot of cycling and a lot of walking and running on the W&OD. As somebody who has cycled the W&OD both for commuting and recreation, I can tell you that there are plenty of pedestrians who simply don’t watch where they are going. I’ve had many episodes where I was coming up behind a pedestrian and yelled “Passing on your left” only to have them move directly into my way. Many pedestrians flat out ignore the passing calls and the bicycle bells, so it comes as no surprise to me that some cyclists simply give up doing it — especially when giving the warning makes matters worse.

But I guess Falls Church wants to strengthen its reputation for being hostile to outsiders. In addition to “Don’t park here. Don’t drive here.” we can now add “Don’t cycle here.”

By: John Murphy

John Murphy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:05:40 +0000

I’ve lived in the neighborhood for almost 20 years and have had way too many close calls as a pedestrian and as a driver at the Grove Avenue trail crossing. A little more enforcement is a good thing if people choose to ignore the posted stop signs and endanger themselves and others.

It is not just the stop signs on the trail. I worked in the mid-1990s to get speed humps installed. Speed limits are also the law. Don’t get me started on enforcement of the posted turn restrictions …

By: RCH

RCH — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:01:30 +0000

I happily live along the W&OD and have witnessed two incidents of bicycles striking pedestrians and any number of near misses. What some of the cyclists seem to not understand is the concept of sharing the trail. Some even seem intent on terrorizing the pedestrians, many of whom are “up in years” and are not nearly as nimble as the riders. There are also dozens of adults with baby strollers, tots on bikes and on foot, and the (minority) banzai-bikers do nothing to enrich the experience of these facility users. I hear bikers complain about the rudeness of scofflaw motorists who nearly sideswipe them, run them off the road, tailgate them, etc. Perhaps those same bikers should extend the courtesy they expect from motorists to the pedestrians they encounter on the W&OD.

As regards using the W&OD for commuting purposes – more power to those riders willing and able to bike to work. However (comma) if the W&OD were not there, they would be riding the surface streets and subject to the rules of the road by which motor vehicles must abide. They’d be stopping (supposedly) at red lights, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, etc. Motorists are bound to stop for all stop signs regardless of whether there is approaching traffic from other directions, whether it is the dead of night, etc. The same strictures apply while riding on the W&OD. Stop at the stop signs. It’s simple, really. Obey the laws.

By: Hendrik

Hendrik — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:50:18 +0000

I love the “Required By Law” sign added beneath the Stop signs on the trail. Apparently stopping at all other Stop signs is NOT required by law. Hey, the trail users have been warned that THESE Stop signs count.

Once again the Falls Church Police Dept gives itself a black eye. Shouldn’t they be out on Broad St ticketing people who are late to church driving 27 mph?

By: EKT

EKT — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:33:12 +0000

SFF, you are more than welcome!

By: SFF

SFF — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:26:27 +0000

I’m glad I saw this story–I’m getting ready to go out on the W&OD right now for a training ride, and I’ve been one of the cyclists who doesn’t completely stop at the signs! I don’t blast through them without looking, but I know that I should be making a “legal stop” at each one. Worse than the stop signs along the FCC stretch are the ones down near the beginning of the trail near Shirlington, where you parallel the road that has the traffic lights — who wants to stop when the light is green? Yes, it’s a pain to have to stop and start so much, and yes it’d be nice to have some Yield signs instead, but it’s true the law is the law.

EKT, thanks for the link.

By: EKT

EKT — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:51:31 +0000

In reading these responses thus far, I would like to add my voice, and suggest where we can find guidance. As one who rides both for recreational and commuting purposes, I have found this link invaluable.

http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/bk-laws.asp

There you will find current information regarding bicycling and walking laws and safety tips for highways and trails in Virginia (trails link is at the very bottom of the page).

By: LFS

LFS — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:32:31 +0000

With so many stop signs on the W&OD bike trail, it is nearly useless for commuting. A better system needs to be worked out… perhaps using yield signs or other measures as Andy Rankin proposes. BTW, I’ve been nearly hit twice on W&OD crossings while cycling and I was obeying the signs.

Don’t the police have higher priorities? What about staking out that string of daytime burglaries? What about closing that year-old car jacking case?

By: Susanna

Susanna — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:27:10 +0000

I also agree with TFC that stop signs are not negotiable. Had many incidents where the bikers just cruise through the stop signs without stopping at them.