Ken writes in (several weeks ago)
A new bike path on the *south* side of Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) from Pershing Drive entrance to Fort Myer down to Rosslyn is now (apparently) open! The “Road Closed” sign has been removed, as has the porta-potty.
The north side path opened several weeks ago, but it’s less than ideal. There are several dangerous crossings (Fairfax Drive, 10th Street, Courthouse Road); moreover, it dumps you onto the north access road for Route 50, which is in horrible condition. However, the south side path is fantastic. It’s been (unofficially?) open since [August 26th]. To enter the path, travel on the Pershing bike lane toward Fort Myer and cross Route 50 at the light * and you can proceed downhill – with no traffic crossing the path! – all the way to the south access road for Route 50. There’s a stop sign at Queen street (AKA Rhodes Street), but that’s the only stop between Pershing and Rosslyn. This is a wonderful time-saver for Arlington commuters, and it feels very safe!
On the (rough) graphic below, the red line is the north-side path, and the black line is the south-side path.
* Technically, Pershing crosses Route 50 in two places – the east crossing is at Fort Myer and it crosses again at Arlington Forrest about 4 miles to the west. Weird, huh?
I like the trail on the south side (black), but it has some tricky parts that can be dangerous if not paying attention.
When eastbound, where the trail ends and forces a merge onto the access road at Rolfe, the merge is narrow, cyclists are going downhill at a good clip and there's an intersection with a blind sidewalk on the right. That adds up to speed, little time, and looking left when there's equal danger from the right.
When westbound at the end of the trail the crossing of 50 can be dangerous. With the green, cyclists have a channelized crosswalk. Westbound cars stop for the red, but cars using the right turn only lane fly through that red light without even thinking of the brakes. With the stopped cars blocking line of sight, a cyclist is going to get Millbanked pretty badly pretty soon.
Posted by: Brendan | September 18, 2014 at 10:31 AM
That's not Pershing in your map. It's 10th St N.
Posted by: babakm | September 18, 2014 at 11:10 AM
Gotta say I don't agree that the crossings on the new North Side path are dangerous. The sight lines are extremely generous.
Would I have preferred grade separation from the ramps? Absolutely. But these crossings are far better than (for example) the crossing of the 50 >> Washington Blvd Ramp which is narrow and not T'd up like these new ones are.
Posted by: Chris Slatt | September 18, 2014 at 11:39 AM
Have to go try this out. It's not on my route, but I can always go grab a beer at the Quaterdeck, then go the long way.
Posted by: DE | September 18, 2014 at 03:15 PM
@Chris - Agreed that the new north side trail is not bad. I ride it ever day with my kid in the babyseat. It just requires some patience.
It is indeed much better than the unimproved portion through the Wash Blvd interchange.
Posted by: jonglix | September 19, 2014 at 01:22 PM
Sorry if I screwed up the map. Could have sworn that was Pershing...
Posted by: Ken Schellenberg | September 20, 2014 at 09:07 AM
Actually, Pershing Drive doesn't cross Route 50 in Arlington Forest. That intersection was eliminated when they put Route 50 under George Mason Drive. (It was a dangerous intersection.) You can cross at Henderson Road or George Mason Drive, but Pershing Drive ends at the access road on both sides of Route 50.
Posted by: 5555624 | September 23, 2014 at 03:55 AM
No, South Pershing Drive (and Henderson) DO CROSS Route 50 in Arlington Forrest.
Posted by: Ken | September 23, 2014 at 07:23 AM