Ice on the trail

January Ride
Originally uploaded by Eye Captain

Winter bike commuting won't really catch on until we maintain bike facilities the way we do roads. Maybe not every trail needs to be cleared after a snow, but the CCT at least.

Comments

[Jenny]

I think the Mt. Vernon trail, too -- it's a huge thoroughfare & usually terrible after storms. I've had winter commutes where I wound up walking several miles because I couldn't bike on the ice -- crazy! Kinda soured me on biking after snow/ice storms...

Maybe also the Custis/W&OD. Those & the CCT are the main thoroughfares in my book.

[anakcu]

If it goes below 32, I'll ride Nokian Hakkapeliittas to work. The advantage has been obvious on days where there has been snow on the trail, but they have also saved my butt on supposedly safe mornings when a patch of black ice appears out of nowhere. If the county is going to clear snow, they will also treat the trail. Studded bike tires seem like a lot more sustainable solution--fiscally and environmentally.

[Jay]

Our narrow trails with their numerous bottlenecks and bridges could not even handle a pickup truck push plow. Unless the trails were greatly improved, you'd have the same situation you have now; long clear stretches punctuated by sheets of ice.

Another vote for snow/ice studs, and a wish for plenty of frosty goodness.

[Mike doan]

Great picture! You can even see the blue of the "blue ice." Yes, Mt. Vernon Trail near Memorial Bridge is a constant hazard. Drainage problems keep water sitting on the path, where it freezes and thaws. On those days, I take Roosevelt Bridge instead of Memorial Bridge from Va. into D.C.

[Grendel]

I thought ISTEA was supposed to fund such treatment as suggested here?

[worktheweb]

They could easily service the paths with an ATV fitted with a plow -- and at minimal cost. If you plow it well enough you won't necessarily need to salt it. The biggest problem is the rutting that happens, especially on bridges. Not even studded tires will save you from getting your tire caught in the ruts and falling.

If studded tires aren't required for other forms of transportation (due to proper road maintenance), why should they be required of cyclists? They're great, and I have a pair, but a lot of people who commute on bikes don't have the money for $80 tires ... or bus fare ... or a car. This is a public safety issue, and it should be resolved.

[Contrarian]

Rather than complaining, there's no reason why trail users couldn't just salt the trail themselves. According to the Salt Institute website, the normal rate for highways is 250 lbs/lane-mile. You'd probably need no more than a third of that for a bike path. If every cyclist scattered 10 pounds of salt on his commute the trail would be clear in no time.

Of course, there's always the bike plow:
http://www-bdnew.fnal.gov/pbar/organizationalchart/peterson/snowplow_files/Bike_Plow.html

[washcycle]

I don't know about treating the trails from an environmental standpoint (I'm sure you don't have to salt them), but clearing 100 miles of trail 15 times a year has got to be cheaper than thousands of bike commuters buying studded tires at $100 a pair.

[anakcu]

Without studs, ice you can see is a whole lot better than ice you can't. Plowing without treating sets up the perfect conditions for black ice in the worst places--very slight downhill turns. If local governments did decide to do this, then $100 for a pair of studded tires would seem like a great bargain if only in terms of peace of mind.

[guez]

Why stop at environmentally irresponsible salt usage? If we really want to put trails on equal footing with roads in the DC area, we could add road rage, reckless driving in hazardous/crowded conditions, disregard for pedestrians... Wait: that's the Capital Crescent right now!

[VC]

I didn't mean no treating, I meant no salt. You can also use Calcium Magnesium Acetate and Potassium acetate. Both of which seem to have less environmental impact (but cost significantly more). Still we're talking about very small amounts.

http://www.stormcon.com/sw_0107_environmental.html

[Purple Eagle]

If you are going to get technical, the "no sodium chloride". Those other products are also salts.

[MB]

I've salted some areas on the WOD, in frustration. And don't feel particularly guilty about it.

That said, I almost always abandon the trails in favor of the road, when the weather goes bad. You know, better alive than right and dead. Ice falls are the worst.

[Jack]

Instead of drivers complaining about road conditions, maybe they should salt and plow the roads themselves!