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Belmont Ridge @ W&OD Trail - Bike Rules question

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by StevieD, Jun 19, 2011.

  1. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    so basically you're saying it's 'my problems are bigger then everyone elses'

    It's my opinion darwin will fix both the bad drivers and cyclists here and the setup isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be.

    Reminds me of the whining over the merge onto Rt28 near the airport.. 'the ramps are too close!!' or maybe it's just not dumbed down enough for some people.
     
  2. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    Huh?, no I'm saying that first off this topic is about BELMONT RIDGE because that is the road that is the SUBJECT of this thread and it's what we're discussing and that people need to OBEY THE LAW and stop at stop signs and yield the RIGHT OF WAY.

    Your statement in quotes makes no sense and has absolutely nothing to do with what I posted. BTW, I have no problem merging onto 28, do you?

    Bicyclists are not pedestrians. Bicyclists have to follow the same rules as other vehicles when on the road.

    Will I intentionally hit someone, of course not, but everyone has a responsibility to make the intelligent, lawful decision. Coming to a complete stop in the middle of Belmont Ridge because a bicyclist is at the stop sign is just plain stupid.
     
  3. mwb2218

    mwb2218 New Member

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    Some people completely fail to realize that as a pedestrian, cyclist, or whatever you are on the trail that once you begin to cross this intersection you may not even have enough time to get across before a car speeds down from BRR from the south, heading north (especially if you are going west on the trail). You can adequately see cars coming from the north, but not from the south. I've seen it times and times again. A father and his kids were riding their bike got off to stop, looked both ways and started to cross the intersection. It takes time to cross w/ 2 little kids. As the family was crossing cars were coming from the south and if they didn't stop, they would have hit the family. So please just keep this in the back of your mind as everybody complains about people stopping here (especially all of these evil cyclists!!!!) . By no means, is it the fault of the family, its just a matter of dangerous circumstances of the intersection.
    I'm shocked by the amount of anger people have towards cyclists sometimes. There was a recent incident in South Riding where a car was deliberately trying to run a bunch of very well respected cyclists off the road. Chill out people!!!! You will get to where you need to even if you have a 15 second delay as you wait to pass a cyclist on the road.
     
  4. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    amen mwb. If more people rode bikes they would understand...
     
  5. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Yes, it would be the fault of the family. The bike path has THE stop sign and just like it would be for car traffic, it is the biker/runner's responsibility to cross when safe.

    Yes, it is a dangerous intersection.

    And this is NOT about disparaging bikers, it is about obeying traffic signs.
     
  6. jim

    jim New Member

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    To be clear, per the Virginia code, a cyclist is not a vehicle when on the W&OD:

    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-904
    A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard or scooter, motor-driven cycle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

    You are correct that a cyclist is a vehicle when on a state highway:
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-100
    "Vehicle" means every device in, on or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a highway, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. For the purposes of Chapter 8 (ยง 46.2-800 et seq.) of this title, bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds shall be vehicles while operated on a highway.

    Agreed.
     
  7. Silly Yak

    Silly Yak Member

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    This is why I mountain bike. Crashing through the wood is soooo much safer.
     
  8. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    I think there is a rise to the south of this intersection so you can't see cars coming over that hill which makes it tricky, esp if you have to corral your kids and get them across.
     
  9. Silly Yak

    Silly Yak Member

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    When heading towards Leesburg on the trail, it can be very difficult to see traffic coming from the left. It would be nice if the speed limit was lowered to 25mph right there, so that drivers will slow down to the mid-50s.
     
  10. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    I drive Belmont Ridge frequently enough and I have to say that the vast majority of drivers do the speed limit or only a bit above..
     

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