8 years after Washcycle introduced - Facebook your Commute

Today, my calendar reminds me, is the 8th Anniversary of the launch of this blog. Hurray for it.

And now, tomorrow both the government will be shutting down and Obamacare will start meaning that the apocalypse is upon us. I take no credit/blame.

For cyclists, the shutdown of the government is not without impact. WABA informs us that 

if the federal government shuts down tomorrow, the National Park Service intends to close many of its properties, including regional trails, to the public.  We have been provided very little detail, but we have seen preparations for closure on the Capital Crescent Trail.  All or part of the heavily-commuted Rock Creek Trail, Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, and George Washington Memorial Trail are on NPS property.  While we cannot provide additional information on the impacts to these trails because NPS has not been in contact with us, please be prepared for the possiblity of closures in the event of a federal government shutdown.

I was talking to my neighbor about the shutdown and he was disappointed that Gray was declaring all DC government employees as exempted. He felt like piles of trash on the curb would make a nice visual of the inanity of shutting down the government and of DC's lack of budget autonomy. His idea was that we should "Facebook Our Trash". That if everyone in DC started putting photos of their piled up trash on Facebook that people would notice - sort of like the way that old people started asking me what the human rights campaign logo was when everyone started making it their photo to show support for gay marriage. He quoted the line from Hotel Rawanda "We must shame them into sending help" (which may be over the top for piled up trash). 

Anyway, if trails are closed tomorrow that isn't really a DC home rule issue, because the same kind of thing will be playing out elsewhere as well, but it is kind of a stupid impact of a failure to pass a budget and so if people want to take photos of their new trail-less commute (or the cars piled up behind them as a result) and put them on facebook or twitter (#openmytrail) that might help soothe the pain and draw attention to the importance of trails - though it probably won't convince Congress to pass a budget.

Also, DDOT is painting the New Mexico Avenue climbing lane this week. So all is not lost.

Comments

[Casey Anderson]

Thank you for your service to the community (and I don't mean just bicyclists, I mean to everyone in the DC area). You have made a huge impact.

[SJE]

Thank you for your service.

re closure of NPS facilities: is the NPS closing the GW and BW parkways?

[JeffB]

This morning the CCT had a half-hearted road block that was easy to side step just inside the DC line.

Ironic that the NPS would take active steps to close trails but leave the roads in there jurisdiction (e.g., George Washington Parkway) open for business as usual.

P.S. - sent you a picture of the CCT closure.

[SJE]

I am still seeing people exiting off the trail onto K St in Georgetown.

[Purple Eagle]

SJE, I was wondering the same thing. If they close the Mt. Vernon Trail, they better close the GW Parkway too.

[GlennS]

Oh, I thought that was just a CX obstacle the NPS had setup on the CCT so we could get extra practice before this weekend's race in Hyattsville.

[Upside]

Thought: Gray should have just shut off all street lights completely. Now if there's anything that would have impacted/pained congress persons more, it's creating traffic chaos this way. And think of this - more people possibly biking as a result?

[GlennS]

On a serious note, the barrier NPS put up across the CCT is low enough that I would be worried someone going down the trail at speed early morning/later night might not notice it in time.

[Jonathan Krall]

Congrats on 8 years! Thanks!