Bikes at National Harbor: Better too little, too late than never?

Bicycling

Bikes at National Harbor: Better too little, too late than never?

by Stephen Miller • July 1, 2009 1:06 pm

Last month, National Harbor was unprepared for cyclists and pedestrians accessing the waterfront resort via the new Wilson Bridge active transportation crossing. The sustained demand for bicycle and pedestrian access has led the property's management to make changes, including the installation of temporary dismount signage and makeshift bike racks where the crushed clamshell surface trail known as the Harborwalk reaches the "downtown" area of the complex. Developer the Peterson Companies says that permanent bike racks and dismount signage will be installed at this location by the end of July. In addition, Director of Marketing Rocell Viniard says that National Harbor security and event staff, who at the beginning of June weren't even aware of the existence of bike racks within the facility on Waterfront Street, have been trained on the new bicycle policies.

Hopefully, a temporary tie-up.

However, the developer still seems reluctant to pave the Harborwalk. Viniard tells me that "the Harborwalk will not be paved in the near future" nor has any decision been made to pave it, since the pathway was originally intended for leisure walks and jogs by hotel guests and residents. National Harbor management needs to realize that the Harborwalk is no longer a dead-end path. It's the connection between National Harbor and a first-class bicycle and pedestrian facility on the Wilson Bridge, with the potential to bring thousands of new customers from Alexandria and the Mount Vernon Trail. Providing these customers with substandard facilities indicates that National Harbor doesn't want their business.

1 comment — Share	— tags: bike parking, bike trails, Maryland, National Harbor, Prince George's

Trail signs should work like street signs (Jun 18, 2009)
National Harbor to cyclists, pedestrians: Drop dead (Jun 9, 2009)
National Harbor bus reroute deepens inequality (Apr 16, 2009)
DC USA: SmartBike yes (eventually), racks in garage no (Aug 25, 2008)
Donna Edwards: for better buses, against National Harbor (Jun 12, 2008)

Comments

On my ride earlier this week, I noticed the "temporary bike racks" and "bike riders dismount here" on the National Harbor property.

SHA has also "paved" their portion of the connection between the WWB trail and National Harbor. It's not asphalt per se...best way I can describe it is some sort of bituminous.

There's also a temporary, handmade sign where the National Harbor connection meets the WWB trail, directing users to National harbor or the WWB.

Lastly, TheWashCycle made note of a recent Dr. Gridlock foray on the WWB trail.

by Froggie on Jul 1, 2009 2:03 pm