District unsure how to combat fence cutting on the MBT

An MPD representative met with ANC5E last week and made four points about the MBT.

• Do not use the trail alone; ride in pairs and “be aware”
• MPD will not patrol using cars (leaving policing only up to bike officers)
• The trail has “bad lighting” and fences are in disrepair (cut open by ne’er do well criminals)
• Holes in the fence will not be repaired, as criminals will only cut them open again

"Not using the trail alone" is almost equivalent to "don't bike commute" since most bike commuters ride alone, but it if safety is a concern than numbers help.  

Much of the post linked to is concerned about the "criminals" cutting the fence. Based on observations done before the MBT was built, I suspect most of the fence cutting is actually done by people who are looking for a direct route to the Metro station. This is yet more reason why the bridge connection is needed, though I suspect some people will still prefer the on-ground route so this problem won't entirely go away. But the only criminal behaviors the fence cutters are likely involved in are the fence cutting itself and tresspassing. 

CSX has some federal financial incentives to reduce rail deaths (I don't recall what those are, but I read an article about it once) and so they're interested in reducing tresspassing, but endlessly repairing a fence is probably not appealing. They could hire a security guard and put him on a lifeguard stand right at the spot where the Metro station is, but that's probably not worth it either. 

There is also some concern that MPD is saying "you're on your own" which I'm not reading either. Leaving cars off the trail is a good idea. But that doesn't mean there is no patroling. MPD later writes

We actively patrol the MBT, and we have done so for at least two years. We patrol it with mountain bikes, segways, and occasionally, cars (we don’t do this often, given the size of the Trail).

We are committed to having it be a safe place for all riders, runners, walkers, baby-stroller pushers, and so on. We encourage people to use the Trail, because the more people who use it, the safer it will be.

We have been very aggressive in trying to make this a safe environment, and I think the near-absence of crime along the Trail speaks to the success of our efforts.

We do tell people, at every meeting we go to, that if you can walk, bike, run, or push baby strollers in pairs or groups, you will probably be less likely to be the target of any criminal activity than if you do so alone, and I think this is where Sgt. Queen may have been misinterpreted. This is true across the city and it’s something that all cops tell all residents: don’t walk alone, especially at night, if you can walk with a buddy or in a group.

Please, use the Trail, and feel good about being there.

When people are motivated, fences just can't keep them out.  I propose a moat filled with sharks with friggin' laser beams on their heads. 

Comments

[SJE]

Whats the latest with the "bad lighting"?

[Jonathan Krall]

When people cut fences to get access to trails, the correct response is to install an access point (usually a short trail connection to a nearby neighborhood street). I thought people wanting to use trails for biking and walking was a _good_ thing.

[Michael H.]

We can only get ill-tempered sea bass here on the East Coast.

[IMGoph]

Don't say anything about the lighting. People will get angry.

[washcycle]

Jonathan, this is a little bit different. Railroad tracks are kinda dangerous and there's good reason to try and keep people from crossing them at uncontrolled points.

[Toll]

MPD had a car patrolling the trail around 7pm Friday night.

[Think a Little]

"We have been very aggressive in trying to make this a safe environment, and I think the near-absence of crime along the Trail speaks to the success of our efforts."

Not from what Ive heard....now if you couple that with a near absence of use due to crime, and a conspiracy of under-reporting by MPD then you might be getting somewhere

[Dan]

I believe the fence cutting is people trying to cross the same way as before the double row of fencing was installed. There is some bad faith on the part of the railroad and the District on this, concerns about how people would cross were dismissed with the rationalization that the bridge would be there soon. Years later, it is still not.

[JJJJ]

washcycle ...then make it safe by making it a controlled crossing. Many trails have pedestrian sized gates and flashing lights for crossings.

[Dave]

"We actively patrol the MBT, and we have done so for at least two years. We patrol it with mountain bikes, segways, and occasionally, cars (we don’t do this often, given the size of the Trail)."

I bike the MBT most weekdays - probably 300+ days in the past two years, going and coming, and in those 600+ trips down the trail I think I've seen
(1) a patrol car 2 or 3 times;
(2) bike officers 5 or 6 times;
(3) Segway officers zero times.

Perhaps they patrol "more actively" outside of morning/afternoon commute hours?

Having lots of people on the trail is the key. I was encouraged by the number of people I saw biking, running, and walking on the trail during the dark cold days of winter, and expect it to be hopping as warmer weather arrives.

[washcycle]

JJJJ, I'm positive CSX would never agree to make this an at-grade rail crossing, and I doubt DDOT would even support that. Though, I'll concede that over the years of numerous illegal crossings here there have been zero deaths or injuries.