I'd be happy if the cyclists just pulled over to the side to the side of the road so that vehicles could pass safely.

There's no excuse for what the driver of the car did and I hope the cyclist is healing well and the gentlemen are over their shake-up, but the cyclists on the Parkway are a nuisance. There is no shoulder, so they drive in the lanes on a roadway where people typically drive 45-60mph. They make things dangerous for us all. I agree with the person above. The more skilled riders ride as though they're entitled to ride on the roadway by virtue of their skills....as if the bike path isn't good enough for them. Too bad if it's too crowded! There's no accommodation on the GW Parkway for cyclists. It's illegal. And it endangers everyone involved. It needs to be stopped. And, Jim Strang, as the owner of a chain of bicycle shops, you should be modeling safer, more appropriate behavior for cyclists young and old. It's your kind of elitist, entitled behavior that makes people angry. Again, no excuse for the driver's behavior, but the cyclists need to know they're courting all sorts of attention when they're out there driving in lanes meant ONLY for cars.

Adding to my comment above, if the cyclists need a place to ride their bikes at higher speeds, they need to choose a road with a shoulder. The GW Parkway is beautiful, agreed. But if they're really training for races, the view shouldn't matter. Find a road with a shoulder. People are distracted enough on the Parkway because of the beautiful view, the narrow-feeling lanes, the two-way traffic and all the other degrees of difficulty. We don't need to add more to the mix. I'm sure the cyclists will be shocked there's so little support for their side in this story, but this isn't a road for tourists. It's a functional highway that people use for their everyday commuting.

Agreed, the GW Parkway is illegal and unsafe for cyclists but does not excuse the behavior of the driver. On the other hand, cyclists do not have good alternatives in the Fort Hunt/Mt Vernon area for cycling on road. The bike path is NOT a reasonable alternative for road cyclists who are training for speed. The speed limit on the Mt Vernon path is 15 mph, much slower than most road cyclists and triathletes are capable of doing. The path conditions are poor for serious cycling because of uneven, cracked surfaces that will eat a bicycle with thin tires. The path can become overcrowded with runners, walkers, strollers/small children and sightseers. Most roads in the area have no shoulder for safer riding. Bottom line is that road cyclists do not have good safe alternatives. I have chosen to ride a hybrid bike on the bike path that affords more safety but cyclists should have better choices. Of course they could just ride in continuous 1.25 mile circles in Ft Hunt Park. Oh wait, NPS is planning to dismantle that road too. Cyclists can't win for losing. I guess we should all just be big and fat couch potatoes.

If you want to use your bicycle on the path on GW Parkway and you feel it's too crowded and dangerous, your right. Children are not being patrolled when riding w/their parents, they ride all over the path. You have walkers with ipods on not paying attention (and other bikers for that matter) And you have rollerbladers taking up 1/2 the path with their stride. I have found the only way to avoid this is not to ride on the weekends and find other times to go on the path. There is never an excuse to ride on the parkway when there is a path available. It's dangerous. Period. That's why I took up spinning. Maybe the park authority could make a lane on the path just for bikers? Or maybe people could be more considerate when on the path.

i can't even read these biker's should be responsible comments--no matter what anyone is doing they should not be purposefully killed. Period. That is completely sick. The level of criminal social pathology that someone exhibits by handling their anger around bikers on the parkway is truly sick. Also, this entire discussion of bikers versus cars has nothing to do with this incident. Again, don't kill people because you are mad that they are biking in a place that is off limits to bikers.

I do happen to agree that bikers should have more road rights, biking is great for our community. But as a biker, pedestrian, driver, roller blader and citizen who walks with elderly, young and disabled people I don't think any infraction or disagreement about the roadway warrants death. I hope they get that guy and he goes to jail. Also, make the roadways such as the parkway safe for bikers and stop making them into the I can't go fast on the road scapegoats.

Quoted from above "i can't even read these biker's should be responsible comments". You can not expect others to watch out for you. You must watch out for yourself. If these bikers noticed that
1) the car was speeding,
2) the car turned around then
3) came back from behind and
4) got in front of them and stopped short

 well, by golly, they should have taken the hint by step 2 and protected themselves. The world is full of crazies, and it is juvenile to expect "them" to act reasonably. You have to defend yourself against them. And it you don't, don't come crying to me about it.

No joke. If a car passes you by at 60mph, turns around and heads back at you, this is not a joke. It is a danger sign. You should respond to a danger sign by being aware and watching out.

It is not a question of "what if " some driver "gets mad at someone" else. It is a question of WHEN you see the next crazy coming after you, get out of his way.

I am not justifying the last crazy person, or the next crazy person. I am reminding people that there are ALWAYS crazy people out there. Not just sometimes, but always. Watch out for them. Stay out of their way.

PS. ALL crazy people SHOULD be taken off the road. I am happy to help. Think it will work?

There is no excuse for the driver's action and I wish the person who was hit a speedy recovery. However, the cyclists on the Parkway are a nuisance. They make things dangerous for us all. There's no accommodation on the GW Parkway for cyclists. It's illegal. And it endangers everyone involved. It needs to be stopped.

Why weren't the cyclists ticketed??? Did the police feel sorry for them because they were hurt and scared? I'll try that someday if I get pulled over for speeding or driving my car on an un-authorized road.
And, 'good job!' to the the injured cyclist. You probably saved your own life by laying your bike down. Speedy recovery.
To the driver of the "Caddy"...your'e going to jail a-----e.

In DC Beach Drive is closed to cars on weekends so cyclists, rollerbladers, etc., can better enjoy Rock Creek Park. Has anyone considered dedicating a section or lane of the parkway to recreational use on weekends? The trail is barely adequate for handling weekend crowds. I live off the Parkway and on weekends it would be no problem for me to use Route 1 and Fort Hunt Road for driving north to south.

That said, I commute on the Parkway every day and am often dismayed by both drivers and cyclists. There is no reason for a cyclist to ride on the road on a weekday commute when there is ample space on the trail. At the same time, drivers routinely go 60+MPH, way too high. Both drivers and cyclists need to use more common sense and check their sense of entitlement; if that does not work, the police need to enforce.

I am a cyclist (who has ridden on the Parkway perhaps twice in the past 10 years). I agree that the riding on the Parkway is illegal and that is the reason I don't personally ride there. What I do find interesting is the sense of 'entitlement' that the non-biking drivers express. Since anyone who tries driving less than 10 miles OVER the speed limit on the Parkway is a traffic hazard it is obvious that these same drivers who complain about the bikers breaking the law are speeding (breaking the law) every time they use the Parkway - - Oh, I know - - you folks who have commented are all part of the 1% who impede Parkway traffic by actually travelling the speed limit, right?? Also, (although not technically illegal) the Parkway was NOT intended to be used a a route for commuting. Perhaps it should revert to its intended purpose and commuters should be ticketed for using it making it once again safe for bikers to use - - but, I know, that sounds like the idea of a radical, selfish biker . . . . .

"Suggesting that bikers commute 30-40 miles to ride on the WOD Trail is a selfish and ludicrous suggestion as well."
Selfish and Ludicrous here: A few other training quality bike paths have been mentioned here. WOD is a 45 mile trail that starts in Shirlington. A round trip is a good 90 miles plus any "commute" to get to the trail. I was first introduced to century day trips by a 65 year old lady. If you have to work out on crowded pedestrian filled bike paths or car filled roads with no curb, - please use the gym. Do not jeopardize other people's safety just so you can be arrogant and rude.

It's a national parkway, run by the National Park Service. It is supposed to be a scenic recreational roadway. The fact that drivers use it as a speedway for commuting is against its original purpose. Cyclists should be allowed on the road. Horses too. It's National Park Service land, not a speedway for a bunch of raging suburban bullies in 2 ton vehicles. Attempting to kill someone with your car is attempted murder just as much as shooting a gun.

I'm stunned by the implication from several comments that the cyclists are to blame. Trying to kill people with your car is a criminal act, plain and simple. Any implication that the cyclists deserved it because they weren't following the rules makes as much sense as saying its OK to shoot drivers who run red lights or speed on the Beltway.

George - I am well aware of the location of the WOD. It is where I personally do my fast riding, but I have the advantage of spending most weekends in Reston - most Mt. Vernonites do not. My commment about driving 30-40 miles was based on your suggestion of: "between Ashburn and Percyville (sic) on the W&OD bike trail there is 20 miles of low use, mostly flat, bike trail". Based on that comment my 30-40 miles was actually conservative - not ludicrous. BTW - How far would you be willing to commute to get to your gym - - or wherever you go to exercise?
I notice you are silent to the suggestion that the Parkway be taken back for use as it was originally intended - - really seems like you as a commuter are the selfish one who uses the parkway as your convenient method of commuting rather than as a National Park designed and constructed for pleasure and to connect Mt. Vernon and Olde Towne Alexandria. Name another National Park that is used as a major commuting artery.

Want to know why bikes aren't allowed on the Parkway. This is it. When a bicycle can travel as fast as an automobile then I'll be more than happy to accommodate them. Until then keep your wheels on the "bike path." This might be the most serious incident, but not the first involving cars and bikes on the Parkway. As l,on g as I've lived here, the Parkway has never been a scenic, recreational Roadway. It is one of the major commuter arteries in our area and to say otherwise is silly. Would you ride your bike on the Beltway? What about Route I. No. Why? Because you would probably be killed. And, Keith, you and I agree on most things, but never this.
Bikes aren't allowed on the Parway. I in no way condone the "alleged" actions of the driver, but I am sure there is more to this story than is reported.

Bullying behavor is a expression of power. Cyclists used to be able to use those roads, but the bullies seem to have won, and the law changed to reflect their power. Cyclists and pedestrians are fine with certain highways being restricted for high-speed car and truck traffic only. However, it's a shame that those restrictions are now going up on national parkways. Local roads should be shared peacefully. Just slow down and enjoy the ride. You'll feel better, you won't kill anyone, and you'll get to your destination almost as fast.

Wow - I am shocked at some of the bashing going on both sides of the fence in these responses (especially talking about selfish suburban commuters - really??? Come on....don't most people in this area commute? - especially to Fort Belvoir and Old Town). The guy who allegedly committed this act is wrong in doing so, absolutely. But...as of the current Park Police/NPS regulation states -NO BIKERS are allowed on the GW Parkway roadway. It's extremely dangerous for bikers and drivers who ARE obeying the laws. If bikers have a problem with it, address it with your local political leaders. I understand you have an issue with not having a place to ride your bicycles locally at high speeds, but guess what.....there are lots of sports enthusiasts who have to travel for their passion (including hunters, rock climbers, etc)....it's just part of life. You either deal with it, change it, move or find a new passion. Just my thought.

There's no excuse for the actions of the automobile driver, but why these cyclists weren't ticketed astounds me.

The law applies, or it should be repealed. Selective enforcement is bound to cause issues.

Richard Campbell--The law that prohibits bicycles on the parkway is a new one, passed in the last couple of years. Also VA State Law allows bicycles on roads with speed limits greater than 35 mph as long as the bike has proper reflective gear. Check out the VDOT page on bicycle laws and educate yourself before posting ignorant comments. And yes, you are required to share the other roads with bicycles allowing 2 feet between your car and the bike.

What it comes down to is that the man in the car was wrong. The cyclists were wrong. Both broke the law. And whether cyclists like it or not, the fact is they're not welcome on the GW Parkway, they're not wanted on the GW Parkway and they're not allowed on the GW Parkway. For their own safety. Whether it's intentional or not, they're risking their lives being out there. And if they're hit, they played a role in that simply by being there. Again, no excuse for a person purposely endangering them or hitting and running. That person should be found and caught. But I can't sit here and think "oh poor victim cyclists" when they were out there knowingly breaking the law and knowingly putting themselves in danger. Again, these are not ignorant people. One of the owns a chain of bike stores. He knows what he's doing when he brings people out there. Simply by being there, they were all taking a risk with their lives. There is a personal responsibility involved in being there under those conditions. If they want to court danger and decide that cycling at 20-25 mph on a road that, right or wrong, has cars going 45-60 and there's no shoulder or wiggle room, is worth the risk, then they need to deal with the consequences. This is what happens. They should have been ticketed. And the man in the car should be found and prosecuted. EVERYONE was in the wrong here.

anonymous (in the /. sense) S, no, we weren't allowed on the parkway in 1970 for Earth Day, and not since. Park Police have told me emphatically for at least ten years that bicycles aren't allowed.
Va driver's manuals always stated that bicycles were restricted to 35mph or less. You seem to want the last word, so how about ponying up some facts?

Here's a link to info from NPS re cycling on GW Parkway (it was included in the story as well): http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/parkmgmt/upload/No-Bikes-on-Road.pdf

Richard Campbell--
I don't get the /. sense but anyway you have two different points in your response. First you ask about the parkway. You can refer to this Washington Post article http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/can-cyclists-drivers-safely-share-a-parkway-national-park-service-says-no/2011/08/18/gIQABMXCIK_story.html
Note that the article states that the Superintendent reconfirms the policy that was instituted in 2007. Also in this same article is that WABA's position that bicycles operate safely on similar roads and that there is no evidence that they cannot do so on the parkway.

Second, you ask about the VDOT laws please check out the following http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/bk-laws.asp#Where You can look at the sections that say where to ride and equipment. Note that under equipment, there are special rules for bicycles riding on roads after dark and where the speed is over 35 mph.
Please take some time to review the law and update yourself and feel free to pass along the correct information to others so that we can all benefit from fewer road rage incidents.

Perhaps some of my comments were misconstrued. I was not defending the bikers who were clearly in violation of the current law. I also indicated that I personally obey the current law (effective 2007) and that even prior to that I only rode on the parkway 2-3 times. Most of my comments/questions were rhetorical and directed at the few who don't don't believe bikers should have rights or suggest that they should have to travel considerable distances in order to ride. It is fairly obvious that 90% + of those who use the parkway do so at speeds that put them in violation of the law. It is also true that the parkway **IS** a National Park and was constructed for recreation, enjoyment and relaxation - - not as a main commuting artery. Unfortunately, it has been taken over by commuters and because of the congestion in Northern Virginia that is unlikely to change. For that reason it is not likely that bikers will be allowed on the parkway unless a separate lane is added (which is just as unlikely). I can accept that, however, it peeves me that a few folks feel it is selfish for bikers to want to have a safe place to ride (the bike path is not) while they are the ones who have selfishly **taken over** a National Park intended for recreation so that they may have an easier commute and proceed to drive on it in such a manner that it is no longer safe for it's intended purpose.

You know, the funny thing about this dynamic is that they cyclists leave the bike bath because others are too slow and get in their way. Then they go to the Parkway where they're too slow and get in everyone's way.

While what the driver did was absolutely inexcusable & completely awful, the bikers are also in the wrong here. The 'no bikes' law is there for a reason, & they take their lives, and the lives of others, into their hands when they break the law. I myself have nearly gotten in a very bad accident on the parkway because of a biker in the road. I was going the speed limit, and came around a turn and was right up on the biker since I couldn't see him around the corner, but the guy driving behind me was tailgating me and there was another car in the left lane. I had to slam on my breaks and pray the guy behind me didn't rear end me, and it was a near miss. Bikers seem to think that they're not hurting anyone by being in the road, but it's not the case. They need to stay on the bike path and stop endangering others with their selfishness. I realize the path can be busy, but there too I have nearly been injured by bikers who go top speed and REFUSE to say "on the left." If they would just let me know they're coming, I would make sure both myself and my dog were well out of their way, but that is even too much for them to handle, apparently. I'm the person yelling ON YOUR RIGHT to the bikers on the parkway all the time. If bikers would just follow the laws, it would be a lot safer for everyone. And, I bike too, I often commute to Old Town on the parkway. However, I do hope that driver is caught, since he shouldn't have left and it's scary that he might have actually targeted them.

I never heard anything about this accident on any news station I listen to or watch. Makes me think this wasn't as dramatic as it was being made out to be.

Dave - You correctly state that the 'normal' speed on the Parkway is around 55 mph which only serves to reconfirm my comment that 90% +/- of those who use it are breaking the law when they do so which contributes significantly to making the parway unsafe. I have no records as to the major cause of accidents on the Parkway and neither do you. I do understand the frustration of those 'impatient' folks at the intersections you mentioned as the flow of traffic (due to extensive use by commuters) can cause unacceptable wait times to enter the roadway safely. On the other hand those folks who get inpatient are most likely also part of the problem as they are most likely commuters themselves. The only way to make those intersections safe if to install traffic lights - - which probably would be done if the road was as a commuter route. Bearing in mind that with Very Few Exceptions we are all biased to believe that our driving actions are safe and knowing you and myself as I do I would suggest that we have both been guily of being one of those "impatient drivers making left turns . . . . "

It looks like the Bronx River Parkway opens a seven-mile stretch to cyclists for a few hours on some Sundays: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=215394145157341

Regardless of any laws, all disputes between 200lbs of flesh and 3000lbs of steel traveling at 50mph are to be avoided at all costs.

Drive defensively, no matter what you drive. You will be in the minority, but you will be in the right.

And to all who have expressed their need to insult me by name:

Others will not always act right. Do not endanger yourselves because you believe others should act right. They wont always.

Tierney - I've lived here since 1971. Yes, it has been used as a commuter route for as long as I can remember as well. Of course the volume has increased ten-fold over the past 40 years. That doesn’t indicate proper use or intended purpose. The Parkway was originally built in 1932. ( NPS website: "The first segment, Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, stretches from Arlington Memorial Bridge to Mount Vernon and was completed in 1932. As the first modern motorway built by the federal government, it popularized advanced highway engineering and landscape design features and strongly influenced parkway . . . country.")
I doubt that commuter traffic was a top priority back then. Mt Vernon was sparsely populated and few of the residents would have commuted ‘ALL THE WAY’ to a job in DC. Much of the area was still farmland. Logically those farmers probably had trucks and perhaps prohibiting commercial vehicles was an early attempt to keep 'commuter' traffic off the road as the farmers would have used the Parkway to transport goods to Alexandria.
The construction of the parkway would also indicate it was not intended as a commuter route. Commuter routes are built to allow easy exit by cars with flats or other mechanical failure. These are normally many closely spaced intersections (i.e. Route 1) or, shoulders wide enough to pull out of traffic lanes (i.e. Beltway) or both. The Parkway has neither of those features - it is a poor and unsafe choice for commuters.

The posted speed limit is 45 MPH around Collingwood Drive. If you are driving 46 MPH you are breaking the law. Period.

The only reason that there is a "no bicycle" law on GW Parkway is because for some reason, the NPS cannot (or refuses to) properly enforce existing laws against careless, improper or reckless driving on the Parkway. Instead of moderating the safety of the Parkway, or, god-forbid, asking drivers to exercise a little more caution, they simply ban cyclists. Even though they are not the root of the problem. But that's about par for the course for NPS.

I regularly use Mt Vernon trail for jogging, walking or leisurely cycling (below 15 MPH), and I am scared of fast moving cyclists. Compared with the Parkway, the Trail is very narrow, has no shoulders, and the users do not have adequate protection from the impact of a 200 lb object traveling at 30 mph. Cyclists should not be on the trail.

Of course none of this really matters as there is absolutely no excuse -- read no excuse -- for anyone to intentionally assault others, especially for no reason. If you see a group of cyclists on GW Parkway and wish to report them for breaking the law, then call 9-11 and a dispatcher will send a squad car out to the area. Do not use your car to break their bones.

Um, DAVE, could you clarify please? You said "...the Parkway is 45 from Belle View to MV so 55 is not necessarily breaking the law."

If the speed limit is 45, how is 55 "not necessarily breaking the law."? I thought those were LIMITS, not suggestions.

Steven that's an interesting proposal re opening up the parkway, similar to Bronx River Parkway, for limited use to cyclists and others for a few hours on some Sundays during the year. If anyone requests it from the powers-that-be, pls let me know.

The FCPS do mention the crash:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/traffic/bike_crashes_2011.htm

I sent a note to the FCPS as well.

I’ve been a regular participant on the Sunday morning Old Towne ride but was not there when the vehicular assault incident occurred. My response to the road closure is to petition the Park Service for a Saturday/Sunday morning cars-yield-to-bikes-in-the-right-lane policy. The Parkway is, after all, part of our National Park system, for which multiple uses should be accommodated. That competitive cyclists are to be excluded seems a bit odd, especially given the long history of using the Parkway on weekend mornings for cycling, the virtual absence of other local cycling venues suitable for group rides, and the large number of cyclists desperate for a place to ride as a group. The message seems to be that we should just go away. Note that the Park Service closes the Parkway completely for hours at a time for running events.

Under ordinary circumstances (a viable alternative route) competitive cyclists would avoid the Parkway, but it just happens to be the feeder for a very nice ride that goes through Fort Belvoir all the way out Mason Neck, a tranquil rural setting. Even there, however, motorists routinely express their anger at our presence. Many on this page have pointed out how dangerous the Parkway is, yet during the 5 years I’ve been doing the Sunday morning ride I can’t recall a single car/cyclist accident, although I’m told a recent car/cyclist fatality is what prompted the closure. One effect of the bike closure will be to shift cyclists to Fort Hunt road, which is far more dangerous even if the speed limit is lower; it has way too many intersections and driveways that feed into it and is extremely narrow in places. Our courageous National Park officials, when faced with a fatality, didn’t even bother to try to balance multiple uses or assess safety tradeoffs. Instead, they banned cyclists from the Parkway wholesale. It is apparently not their concern if cyclists are injured at a higher rat

rate on someone else’s roads.

I’d like to address the claims that competitive cyclists are arrogant or elitist. What we are is a) competitive with one another, and b) safety conscious under the circumstances we face. Common rules of cycling safety dictate that the rider should take a position on the right side of the road that gives him or her space on both sides in case something unexpected happens. If storm grates occur every 100 yards, the rule is that you maintain a steady position a safe distance from the curb that does not require you to move suddenly to the left when approaching a grate. This “ride a straight line” rule may come off as a show of arrogance to those who don’t understand the dangers. Ditto the rule for riding around a corner on a narrow road with a blind turn or hilltop. The rule is that you move out into the road to prevent motorists behind from passing until there is a clear view. If you don’t do this a passing car confronted with an oncoming car will move over on you without hesitation. Again, this may appear as arrogance, but it’s established safety procedure and similar to the rules slow-moving farm vehicles follow. Competitive cyclists know these rules and understand that one cannot be timid or indecisive about following them. . . . Sometimes we do dumb things, but so do motorists. It strikes me as a fairly simple thing to accommodate both groups with a bit of understanding and civility.

Bruce – Great suggestion for the weekends if a total closure wouldn’t work. There will need to be a wide & thorough education campaign for that to work. If the parkway were opened up to leisurely cyclists in addition to competitive cyclists it could end up even more dangerous. Think about it - cars going 45+ mph, competitive cyclist going 25-30, those of us out for a good workout going 15-20 mixed with kids and families traveling at 5-10. For it to work, there would need to be a minimum speed limit (15 mph) and perhaps a lowered (say 35 and enforced) upper speed limit on the weekends. All great ideas – but I’m not sure that the NPS has the budget/manpower to police this. Just to clarify – I’m speaking only of the section from Old Town to the mansion – miles 0 - 8.

Dave - Just a couple of points here -
1. You seem outraged that the cyclists weren't ticketed but see it as your right to drive 10-12 miles above the speed limit simply because the police don't enforce the actual speed limit. You can't have it both ways - - why only 'strict' enforcement when it doesn't inconvenince you. If I recall a few short weeks ago you were one of those (including myself) who argued that the police were too strict on speed enforcement on Old Mill Road - is my memory failing me?
2. You 'thanked' me for a suggestion (which would NEVER occur - taking commuters off the Parkway) that would add a few miles to your daily commute. Yet you didn't seem to object when it was suggested that bikers could commute to Ashburn/Purcellville for their rides. I could hear you squawk if someone suggested closing Mt Vernon Country Club so you had to drive elsewhere to play golf.
I don't deny defending my positions (and will make rhetorical statements to make a point and stimulate thought) but I at least try to look at issues from the other persons perspective.

Keith:
You and I will never agree on this. Yes, I drive 10-12 miles above the speed limit (usually the speed of traffic). Don't blame me for that reality. By the way, what do you think is safer: me traveling 10-12 miles over the speed limit or you traveling 20-25 mph under it. If I drove 20-25 mph on the Parkway they'd pull me over for obstructing traffic. And, sadly, the bicyclists should have been ticketed. Check out this website: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/traffic/bike_crashes_2011.htm and then preach to me about who's causing the accidents. It also appears to me that drivers are ticketed more often than bicyclists. Actually, I would love to go down RTE 1 as it is 4-5 miles shorter, but unfortunately it is 30 minutes longer. If the bicyclists have to commute to Purceville or Ashburn to SAFELY AND LEGALLY participate in their competitions or rides then so be it. Every Saturday or Sunday morning I am stuck behind bicyclist riding 2 abreast on MV Hghwy. Because it is LEGAL for them to ride there I stick behind them (while a line of 25 cars) piles up. I drive all the time to play golf.
Defend your position all you want because it will not change the fact that for the time being bikes are not allowed on the Parkway because the powers that be deem it that way. That being the case I'm not required to see any other side and I'm sure if you get a few thousand of your spandex clad buddies together you might be able to get it changed.

Dave and Bruce – I need to address both of your issues. Bruce, I hear all your reasoning for allowing bikes on the parkway, but I disagree. Parkways are limited access highways designed for cars – not for mixed use as you state. The road surfaces were not designed or intended for bikes, walkers, strollers, etc. The GW Parkway has no shoulder (OK – 12-18” wide with a storm grate) and a curb, making it impossible for a bicyclist to pull off to the right to avoid an accident. I would also venture to say that virtually all parkways disallow bikes (Google it – I couldn’t find any.) So – either look for a compromise (weekend dedication – sorry Dave, gotta go with that one) or lobby to upgrade the bike trail system to accommodate racing. And I’ll throw on more thing out: Highly competitive sportsman don’t have carte blanche to practice their sports anywhere they choose. In the metro area you can’t base jump from the Washington Monuments, rappel the Key Bridge, race a Formula 1 boat in the Potomac…..or bike on the Interstates or Parkways. It’s a little over an hour to rural roads in the Virginia and Maryland countryside. Make the drive - it’s far more compatible with your sport.

Continued: Dave, have you ever thought that the mentality of your “10-12 mph over the limit is part of the problem. Please let me know when you commute so I can stay off the parkway. This attitude of “everyone else does it – so it must be OK” is rampant of Washington drivers. Let me ask – do you also illegally “double stack” in the medians of divided highways like the GWMP? Do you cut corners and drive over & through the yellow and white cross hatched areas on highways? Do you stay in your lane (marked by dotted white lines) when turning from a multiple lane highway to another? Do you “roll through” (or ignore in the case of many cyclists) stop signs. I could go on, but I bet you and countless other readers disobey these laws daily and are to blame for numerous accidents, road rage, and high blood pressure. Bruce, this applies to cyclists as well. I travel throughout Fort Hunt/MV daily – on the parkway and residential streets. Just today a competitive cyclist on West Boulevard cut the corner in my lane at Alexandria Ave as I was making my (full) stop at the stop sign/line (near the stone bridge) – and then proceeded curse me out because it would have meant he would have had to take the turn at a reasonable speed. Sharing the road and obeying laws goes for all vehicular traffic.

Steve, reality is a reality. I obey all traffic laws. I move at the speed of traffic. I don't know if it's right or wrong and really don't care. It is what it is. I've almost been involved in numerous accidents on the Parkway none of which would have been my fault or related to speed. Please understand this: if it ever comes down to me or a bicyclist again, I will run them down without remorse. It is far more unsafe for a bicyclist traveling 20-30 under the posted speed limit than it is for me to travel 10 over it. BTW, I commute every morning between 5:30-6 and every afternoon between 3 & 3:30.

@ Dave - the speed of traffic is above the speed limit because police refuse to strictly enforce speed limit laws. Just recognize that for what it is... the "reality" is that you're getting away with breaking the law, much like cyclists who ride the Parkway on Sunday mornings.

You have to realize that the danger you pose to other people on the road is dependent on your speed relative to *them*, not relative to the posted speed limit. There is nothing inherently unsafe about a vehicle traveling 20 under the speed limit if most other vehicles are traveling 20 under the speed limit. Unfortunately, most vehicles travel far above the speed limit (in addition to exercise other careless driving practices), which means that they pose a danger to slower vehicles, even those that are traveling very much within the posted speed limits.

Instead of banning cyclists -- which is antithetical to federal and state law, the design of the road, the design of local trails, the needs of the community, and the National Park Service's stated mission -- the NPS could instead work to reduce the average speed of drivers on the Parkway to make it safer for everyone who uses it.

"Check out this website: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/traffic/bike_crashes_2011.htm and then preach to me about who's causing the accidents."

Even though the data seems quite even to me (55% to 45%) -- not really enough to determine that bikes pose such a danger that they need to be banned -- what this data doesn't show is that these collisions represent fewer than 1% of traffic accidents in Fairfax county -- so you tell me "who is causing the accidents." Close to 99% are being caused by drivers running into each other.

The data also doesn't reveal how police are determining fault for bike-driver collisions. I can't speak for Arlington or Fairfax counties, but the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington DC has publicly acknowledged that its officers have erred in determining fault in collisions. In its studies, the MPD concluded that officers were not interviewing cyclists involved in crashes, were not reporting missing statements, did not understand the regulations or traffic codes governing the 55+ miles of bike lanes in the city, did not understand the traffic codes for roads and streets without bike lanes, had lapsed in issuing citations to motorists, and were receiving complaints of having a pro-motorist bias. http://www.scribd.com/doc/66822720/Police-Complaint-Board-MPD-Bicyclist-Report-Recs

Countywide Bicycle Transportation Master Plan Public Open House
Help set the course for making Fairfax County a bicycle-friendly community
by attending a Public Open House:
Thursday, November 17, 2011
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
South County Government Center
8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309
2nd Floor, Conference Room 221 A-B
Attend a meeting and give your input on:
* What streets and roads need to be bicycle-friendly?
* Where should there be on-road bike lanes, off-road trails, and/or
other approaches?
* Where are the difficult or unsafe locations to bicycle?
* How can cycling be made safer for young people or novice
cyclists?
* How can cycling for short trips, like running errands, shopping,
or going to the park or playground be made more attractive?
A flyer for this project is attached in PDF format.
For more information (including additional meeting dates/locations), visit
the project web site at: _www.tooledesign.com/fairfax_
(http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/offsite/?pg=http://www.tooledesign.com/fairfax) .

From FCPD (part 1 of 2 as it has too many characters for one post)
Dear Mr. Campbell, :

In** Virginia**, bicyclists and motorists basically have the same
rights, responsibilities and duties, and the laws governing traffic
regulation apply equally to both.

Many jurisdictions in Northern Virginia require the use of bicycle
helmets. Fairfax County is one of them. Fairfax County Code Section
82-6-38.1 defines the use of a protective helmet while operating a
Bicycle: Any person under the age of fifteen years of age shall wear a
protective helmet that meets the standards promulgated by the American
National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation while
riding or being carried on a bicycle on any highway, sidewalk, or public
bicycle path.

Virginia code requires that every bicycle ridden between sunset and
sunrise must have at least one white headlamp visible for at least 500
feet.

The bicycle must have a red reflector mounted on the rear visible for at
least 600 feet.

Additionally, on roads with a posted speed of 35 mph or higher, the
bicycle must be equipped with at least one red taillight visible for at
least 500 feet. Taillights may be steady or flashing, are allowed under
all conditions and may be attached to either the cycle or rider.

For more detailed information regarding laws for bicycling, rights and
duties, and riding/safety tips, visit the VDOT's bicycle site:
www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/bk-laws.asp

(Part 2 of 2)
Having said all this, I must emphasize that the George Washington
Parkway is not subject to Virginia Law. As a National Park, the GW
Parkway is part of a **Federal** reservation and subject to Federal
Code. For your convenience I have included a link to the applicable
federal regulations covering the GW Parkway.

http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/parkmgmt/upload/REV0611_GWMPCompendium-6-20.PDF

Page 12 covers rules regarding bicycles and it appears to me that bikes
are prohibited on the roadway. However, any more specific questions
about the GW Parkway would need to be addressed to the U.S. Park Police.
Their public information office can be reached at 202-619-7163. Ask for
Sgt. David Schlosser.

-------------------------------
PFC Bud Walker
Public Information Office
Fairfax County Police
703.246.2253

Thank you Bud Walker

I've asked Sgt. Schlosser for more information on both the cycling/car incident as well as more general information about the parkway for a follow-up story.

I participated in group rides on the parkway on weekend mornings for 20 years before the NPS put up the “no bikes” sign. I always felt it was as safe, or safer than other area roads. There are two lanes in each direction. Our group never had any close calls or incidents in all those years. I also live along the parkway, and have never felt nervous when driving on the parkway and passing a cyclist.
What I have found dangerous is the continued, rampant speeding on the parkway during rush hour and motorists treating it as if it were a highway. Speeding makes entering the parkway hazardous because there are no acceleration lanes. In cases where motorists need to make a left turn off the parkway (like at East Boulevard), there is the danger of being rear ended. Most of the accidents and close calls I have seen involve cars turning onto the parkway. I do not understand why the National Park Service cannot take control of this situation. Portable speed cameras are used regularly throughout the area and are effective in slowing traffic to the speed limit. The National Park Service should use these cameras, take back control of their parkway, and make some allowance for cyclists on the weekends.

NB – Many parkways (NY & Ct) have made left turns illegal or put in turn lanes, and they all have center guardrails – unfortunate realities that reduce the enjoyment and convenience of these overburdened roadways. Speeding is but one of the issues. Disobeying lane markings at intersections is an even more serious problem. There is room for one car at a time in the median spaces. The lane markings painted at Tulane, Belle View and Belle Haven are regularly ignored causing havoc during rush hour. We’ve urged the NPS to consider traffic lights, pedestrian overpasses, etc, at the north end of the section below Old Town, but NPS rules and budgets prohibit such. I agree that weekend allowances (closings or sharing) for bikes is overdue; however, commuter bicyclists should still be prohibited. We’ve all suddenly come up on them at dawn and dusk. Roadways with no shoulders and 9’ wide lanes (Virginia primary and secondary roads must be 11’+ with shoulders) were not designed to share with bikes. Too many cars and not enough space doesn’t mix - regardless of speed enforcement.

No one blames the bicyclists for a deliberate hit and run incident by a car. Many have suggested ways to help prevent such incidents in the future. They are not accusing the cyclists of causing the incident. Yet the reality remains, If cyclists (or anyone) exposes themselves to risk . . ., then once in a while the uncalled for and unwanted will manifest itself. This is just reality: realizing it is a step towards maturity.

I guess I have to ask this as a rider and racer in this area. I ride at over 25 mph when I train. The trails now have speed limits and the type of speeds we all reach make the trail impossible to train on, so where can I do a 4 hour ride at over 25mph and not encounter cars. You give me a reasonable place and I'll go there. So for now I will continue to train on the roads of Md, N. Va and DC. We don't all have elitist attitudes and we don't all disrespect the laws of the road. I was recently hit and run on NY Ave where a driver ran a red light and struck me and kept on driving. I guess we have to stop riding in the city now too. I guess somehow, that was the cyclists fault.

And to follow up on another persons post, I don't have the time to drive an hour or more to do a 3hr ride and drive home. Especially when there are plenty of roads in my back yard in DC where we can all drive or ride and not kill each other if drivers just had a bit of patience. Cause really that's what it is all about. If you're in a hurry to get somewhere you should have left a few minutes earlier. A woman once told me to get on the sidewalk, she was late for church. How was that the cyclists fault. The road was River Rd in MD. I may have impacted her commute another 10 seconds cause she had to drive a little bit around me. She spent 30 second telling me what the laws of the road were. She was completely wrong. I have every right to be on the very same roads unless otherwise posted.

It does not surprise me that people have written in with their own views on what the "Rules of the Road" are, probably without ever having looked at or studied the "Highway Code" for Virginia or anywhere else.
The fact that some people believe that cyclists are dangerous would depend if the cyclist was in fact doing something dangerous and not just trying to proceed on the road. It is the motorists responsibility to see what is ahead and adjust their possition on the road to be safe. If a motorist sees a cement block in the road would they just drive into it because it was in the way? When a motorist attacks a cyclist.......the motorist is the one who is dangerous.
That is why they install a steering wheel and brakes on a car, so that one can slow down, stop or manouver round an obstruction.
There is no justification for bullying and ill manners.
For all those who want to make up their own laws, may I suggest you read the "Highway Code".......there you will find that bicycles are given the same right to be on the roads as motorists (unless otherwise posted) and must obey the same rules as motorists.
Lastly, motorists have no more right to mow down cyclists who may be violating a road rule than they do in purposely trying to hit a pedestrian who may jay walk or cross on a red light, or to drive into another car/truck that may be in their space.
Use some common sense.
Someone must know the driver of the Gold Cadillac.

There is a $10,000 reward available for information about the incident between the bicyclists and the gold Cadallic on the GW Parkway. More information is here on Fort Hunt Patch: http://forthunt.patch.com/articles/10-000-reward-offered-in-purported-hit-and-run-on-gw-parkway