Tip O' The Hat: ArlCo Fixes W&OD & Columbia Pike Crossing

There is a problem when your "Bike Friendly Community" sign is surrounded by orange pylons.  As previously reported, for what seemed to be months, that was the situation where the W&OD trail crosses Columbia Pike.

Before 

The crossing of the W&OD of Columbia Pike is new and improved, with the approach of the trail to Columbia Pike enhanced.  Cyclists now approach almost perpendicular to Columbia Pike, greatly improving sight lines east and west.

New and Improved

 

Ideally, bicycle traffic and car traffic would be separated, with no contact occurring between the two. That is a dangerous intersection.  Four Mile Run can be taken as an alternative path, dipping underneath Columbia Pike.... but it too is so steep as to be dangerous. Other W&OD crossings of major roads involve bridges either going over or going under roads. And while the improvements are magnificent, some of the legacy structures from the previous design remain.

One of the greatest assets of "Bike Friendly Arlington" is the Arlington Loop: W&OD - Custis Trail - MVT.  This creates a cyclist loop much like the beltway made a traffic jam loop around Washington, D.C.  The Arlington Loop makes it easy for anyone to get almost anywhere in Arlington, without riding on the road too much.  It is a great asset and it is wonderful that Arlington is making these types of investments.

How I Beat Asthma by Bicycling

Okay, first of all, you dont beat Asthma.  You control asthma.  Asthma sucks.  Anyone who has it can tell you how it feels like having an elephant sit on your chest.

I was diagnosed with asthma as a kid.  I was allergic to cats. Fine with me; I didnt really like cats.  Had these knock out pills I took any time I had an asthma attack.

Life went on.  I grew old.  And then maybe 12 years ago, my asthma went terrible.  Went from never using my inhaler to using it multiple times a day.  The doctor I went to see said that technically I was dead - that's how bad my lungs were.

The doctor had me take an allergy test; I failed the test.  I was allergic to everything (well, at least I reacted to everything).  Doctor said I was a disaster.  He gave me a big bag of powerful medicine and put me on monthly allergy shots.

Life went on. And I didnt get better.  I am one of those guys who always ask questions.  Whenever an allergy / asthma doctor was on the radio, I would listen.  I read a lot.  I listened a lot.  And I paid attention to myself.

And I didnt get better.  And I asked my doctor, I said, "you know, you have been treating me for a long time, and I havent gotten better.  What is the deal?"  He said I should come in for more testing. 

Sure.

I was getting sick of testing.  I was getting sick of testing, and allergy shots that didnt do anything, and bags full of medicine, and a doctor who didnt seem to be making me better.

And finally I had enough.  I stopped all of medications; I stopped the allergy shots; and I did three big things:

Triggers:  I paid attention to my triggers.  And though I did not want to admit it, my trigger was a hockey locker room.  I cant tell you what it was.  Mold.  Bacteria in bags that were never emptied.  Just general stench.  But hockey rinks made triggered me.  I stopped going in hockey rinks; I stopped having allergic reactions.

Salt: I was sitting at a party.  And it turned out the guy I was sitting next to was a doctor.  I am not the type to hit people for free advice, but he was offering it.  He asked, "is there a time you ever feel good."  I said yeah, at the beach.  He hit me upside the head.  "Salt water through your sinuses.  Get your sinuses clean and you will feel better."  I started using a neti pot.  Yeah, its weird.  But it is great to have clean sinuses.  It has been huge help. I feel like I can breath.

Cycling: I had not yet controlled my asthma but at this point I was doing a good job.  I was looking for something else to get me all the way home.  I listened on the radio to someone talking about using yoga to help control asthma.  The person said yoga is effective because of the breathing, which increases your lung capacity.

Sounded like aerobic exercise to me.  Having ended my career as an ultimate frisbee player, I decided that I would cycle - every day.  Good hard aerobic exercise.  Forcing air in.  Forcing air out of my lungs - as well as any mucus that might come up.  Make the lungs healthy.



These three things have made the world of difference.  Gone is the bag of drugs.  Gone is the steroid treatments.  Gone is the allergy shots.  Gone is the constant visits to a doctor's office who could not make me well.  I feel better than I have felt in, well, about 12 years.

If you have asthma, it is on you to take responsibility, and work this out with your doctor.  Asthma is a serious medical condition. 

Dont be satisfied with being ill - ask questions and listen to smart people.  If your doctor isnt making you well, consider getting a different doctor. Change your lifestyle.  Keep a journal and see if you can figure out your triggers.  Most importantly: Live healthy - really healthy (get enough sleep, eat good foods, take your vitamins, get away from pollution).  Experiment with a neti-pot. Finally, consider exercise; make your lungs healthy by using them.  

Spoke'n Word :: Diamond Derby Saturday! :: Bike Theft :: Bike Parking at Tysons Metro ::

• Crystal City Diamond Derby is this weekend.
• Arlington Fun Ride is next weekend.
• Bikeswell The Movie is Oct. 10th at Arl Cinema and Draft
• From the Arlington crime report: ATTEMPTED GRAND LARCENY (Bicycle), 09/15/13, 3600 block of S. Glebe Road.  A subject was seen at an apartment complex bike cage and was found in possession of burglarious tools. John Sears, 31 of Washington, DC, was arrested and charged with fail to identify, burglarious tools and possession of drug paraphernalia and held without bond.

• Bike parking at Tysons Metrorail stations, FABB

Concrete Falling from 66 Brdge over Lee Hwy @vadot @ArlingtonDES @ARLnowDOTcom #bikedc #bikearl

UPDATE:  VaDOT tweeted "Crews are cleaning up the debris and our Bridge Team is on its way to the site."   

Tip of the Hat to VaDOT and ArlingtonDES who are always VERY responsive.
-

Concrete appears to be falling off of the Hwy 66 bridge over Lee Highway in Lyon Village, Arlington.  

This is from the sidewalk on the north side of Lee Hwy, underneath the bridge.  Concrete is on the sidewalk, the bikepath, and the road.  Some of the chunks on the sidewalk are about the size of baseballs - if a cyclist hit these coming down the sidewalk they would likely flip.  There are other chunks up on the embankment that are as big as footballs.  

This is a dangerous situation.  I swept as much of the concrete as I could off the sidewalk and up to the side; no guarantee that more wont come down.

A report has been filed with VDOT here. And it has now been reported to Arlington DES.

Bikeumentary: BikeSwell Thur. Oct. 10 at Cin & Daft

BikeArlington invites you to the exclusive movie premiere of the "bike-umentary" of the year. BikeSwell - Smart Movement in Arlington, Virginia features local bike advocacy rock stars and highlights the triumphs and tribulations of making Arlington a premiere bicycle friendly community!

Date: Thursday, October 10thTime: 7pm - 9pmLocation: Arlington Cinema & DrafthouseRSVP: bikeswellmovie.eventbrite.com

 

Tickets are free but a $5 donation to the non-profit organization, Phoenix Bikes, is strongly suggested. With event assistance from the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee, the feature presentation will be followed by a panel discussion so you can learn more from some of the people involved in Arlington's "Smart Movement": There will be prizes raffled off after the film, donated by BikeArlington, the League of American Bicyclists, WABA and New Belgium Brewery. Phoenix Bikes has generously donated a bike that will be raffled off as the Grand Prize!

 

BikeArlington, in partnership with the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee, presents the "bike-umentary" of the year: BikeSwell - Smart Movement in Arlington, Virginia.

This film features local bike advocacy rock stars and highlights the triumphs and tribulations of making Arlington a premiere bicycle friendly community. The feature presentation will be followed by a panel discussion so you can learn more from some of the people involved in Arlington's "Smart Movement":

•Chris Eatough (Panel Moderator) - BikeArlington Program Manager
•Jason Berry - Director, Gripped Films
•Mark Blacknell - President of the Board, Washington Area Bicyclist Association
•Gillian Burgess - Founder, KidicalMass Arlington
•Edgar Gil Rico - League Certified Instructor, Hispanic Marketing Specialist
•Jakob Wolf-Barnett - Chair, Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee 

Hey Bike Orgs..... it's CFC time again... are you participating?

During last year's Combined Federal Campaign, it did not seem like bicycle organizations woke up to the campaign until well into it (and by that time fed employees had already decided who to give to). Well, its CFC time. If you are a bike non profit and you participate in CFC, NOW would be a very good time to announce that fact, provide you CFC number, and explain why people should give to you.

I mean, I'm just saying....

(I will try once again to compile a list of participating bike orgs, and circulate it)

No CABI for You! 12th & D St SW @bikeshare #bikedc

Source: Know your meme

It's been three long tough years.  We have seen CABI.  We have seen CABI pass us by.  CABI had a grand birthday party in our 'hood.  CABI came to our own CABI party when we became silver partners. CABI celebrated with us as we were designated a BFB. CABI came to our bike fair. CABI bikes pour through our streets.

Yet we remain a destitute neighborhood lacking service coverage. According to bikeshare best practice literature, a CABI station should be within 1/3 mile of its target audience.  And within 1/3 mile of 12th and D St we have exactly... NO STATIONS.  We are surrounded by stations.  All too far away to be effective.  

Hell, they even installed a 2nd station up on Independence ave before they gave us coverage.  

Why?!?!

I dont know, man.  I just dont know.

Hey CABI.  For a birthday present, can we talk about bringing a station down to 12th & D St SW.

Thanks. Happy Birthday anyway.