Alexandria schools - why so bad?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's almost as if driving those streets multiple times per day everyday for the last 6 years can give me a good idea of what the changes have and haven't done to the traffic flow. What they haven't done is created the OMG MASS GRIDLOCK that the SUVS-UBER-ALLES crowd claimed, nor has it even really had a noticeable impact on travel times for anyone who isn't flying or impatient as all get-out.

My neighbors and I would be happy to begin keeping logs and posting them. The road redesign has had an appreciable negative impact on our lives. 3 weeks ago it took me 47 minutes to go from TC to the bottom of Prince Street. I was running a car pool. We were using Waze. I should be able to get a bunch of 14 year-olds, loaded with gear, a distance of less than 2 miles in less than 47 minutes at about 4 in the afternoon. Just because YOU have nothing better to do PP doesn't mean the same holds true for the rest of us.

4 in the afternoon is rush hour. We live in a city. People who work are commuting. Should people stay off the road so no one is late for crew?

Crew? No. 47 minutes to go a couple of miles in a small city is outrageous. That you don't think so signals how far out of touch you are with the people who live here, who work here, who shop here and who eat at restaurants here. I know families who live in my part of Alexandria who refuse to go to Old Town or Del Ray because there is no parking and there is horrible traffic. Now here you and people like you are consigning kids to battle it every day several times a day to get back and forth between classes? Kids who have few resources and who already are feeling under siege because they've been tracked into a vocational education program? You make me embarrassed that you have any affiliation with Alexandria.

Take a breath. I'm in no way in favor of the satellite campuses idea. Who wants kids to sit in traffic every day to get to school? Multiple times, even? It's ridiculous, and I agree with a lot of what you've said. But you're conflating several different issues, all of which you've got a lot of anger about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's almost as if driving those streets multiple times per day everyday for the last 6 years can give me a good idea of what the changes have and haven't done to the traffic flow. What they haven't done is created the OMG MASS GRIDLOCK that the SUVS-UBER-ALLES crowd claimed, nor has it even really had a noticeable impact on travel times for anyone who isn't flying or impatient as all get-out.

My neighbors and I would be happy to begin keeping logs and posting them. The road redesign has had an appreciable negative impact on our lives. 3 weeks ago it took me 47 minutes to go from TC to the bottom of Prince Street. I was running a car pool. We were using Waze. I should be able to get a bunch of 14 year-olds, loaded with gear, a distance of less than 2 miles in less than 47 minutes at about 4 in the afternoon. Just because YOU have nothing better to do PP doesn't mean the same holds true for the rest of us.

4 in the afternoon is rush hour. We live in a city. People who work are commuting. Should people stay off the road so no one is late for crew?

Crew? No. 47 minutes to go a couple of miles in a small city is outrageous. That you don't think so signals how far out of touch you are with the people who live here, who work here, who shop here and who eat at restaurants here. I know families who live in my part of Alexandria who refuse to go to Old Town or Del Ray because there is no parking and there is horrible traffic. Now here you and people like you are consigning kids to battle it every day several times a day to get back and forth between classes? Kids who have few resources and who already are feeling under siege because they've been tracked into a vocational education program? You make me embarrassed that you have any affiliation with Alexandria.

Take a breath. I'm in no way in favor of the satellite campuses idea. Who wants kids to sit in traffic every day to get to school? Multiple times, even? It's ridiculous, and I agree with a lot of what you've said. But you're conflating several different issues, all of which you've got a lot of anger about.

Way to be dismissive, PP. Which issues are being conflated? I'm a DP dying to know!!! BTW there are a lot of us who are really angry about what is happening in Alexandria right now. The traffic is the tip of the iceberg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's almost as if driving those streets multiple times per day everyday for the last 6 years can give me a good idea of what the changes have and haven't done to the traffic flow. What they haven't done is created the OMG MASS GRIDLOCK that the SUVS-UBER-ALLES crowd claimed, nor has it even really had a noticeable impact on travel times for anyone who isn't flying or impatient as all get-out.

My neighbors and I would be happy to begin keeping logs and posting them. The road redesign has had an appreciable negative impact on our lives. 3 weeks ago it took me 47 minutes to go from TC to the bottom of Prince Street. I was running a car pool. We were using Waze. I should be able to get a bunch of 14 year-olds, loaded with gear, a distance of less than 2 miles in less than 47 minutes at about 4 in the afternoon. Just because YOU have nothing better to do PP doesn't mean the same holds true for the rest of us.

4 in the afternoon is rush hour. We live in a city. People who work are commuting. Should people stay off the road so no one is late for crew?

Crew? No. 47 minutes to go a couple of miles in a small city is outrageous. That you don't think so signals how far out of touch you are with the people who live here, who work here, who shop here and who eat at restaurants here. I know families who live in my part of Alexandria who refuse to go to Old Town or Del Ray because there is no parking and there is horrible traffic. Now here you and people like you are consigning kids to battle it every day several times a day to get back and forth between classes? Kids who have few resources and who already are feeling under siege because they've been tracked into a vocational education program? You make me embarrassed that you have any affiliation with Alexandria.

I sort of want to suggest that the kids would have gotten there faster on bikes...but I'm not sure you'll like that idea! -cyclist mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's almost as if driving those streets multiple times per day everyday for the last 6 years can give me a good idea of what the changes have and haven't done to the traffic flow. What they haven't done is created the OMG MASS GRIDLOCK that the SUVS-UBER-ALLES crowd claimed, nor has it even really had a noticeable impact on travel times for anyone who isn't flying or impatient as all get-out.

My neighbors and I would be happy to begin keeping logs and posting them. The road redesign has had an appreciable negative impact on our lives. 3 weeks ago it took me 47 minutes to go from TC to the bottom of Prince Street. I was running a car pool. We were using Waze. I should be able to get a bunch of 14 year-olds, loaded with gear, a distance of less than 2 miles in less than 47 minutes at about 4 in the afternoon. Just because YOU have nothing better to do PP doesn't mean the same holds true for the rest of us.

4 in the afternoon is rush hour. We live in a city. People who work are commuting. Should people stay off the road so no one is late for crew?

Crew? No. 47 minutes to go a couple of miles in a small city is outrageous. That you don't think so signals how far out of touch you are with the people who live here, who work here, who shop here and who eat at restaurants here. I know families who live in my part of Alexandria who refuse to go to Old Town or Del Ray because there is no parking and there is horrible traffic. Now here you and people like you are consigning kids to battle it every day several times a day to get back and forth between classes? Kids who have few resources and who already are feeling under siege because they've been tracked into a vocational education program? You make me embarrassed that you have any affiliation with Alexandria.

I sort of want to suggest that the kids would have gotten there faster on bikes...but I'm not sure you'll like that idea! -cyclist mom

Unless there is a true bike trail, not shared one. The number of cyclists get injured and killed is rising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's almost as if driving those streets multiple times per day everyday for the last 6 years can give me a good idea of what the changes have and haven't done to the traffic flow. What they haven't done is created the OMG MASS GRIDLOCK that the SUVS-UBER-ALLES crowd claimed, nor has it even really had a noticeable impact on travel times for anyone who isn't flying or impatient as all get-out.

My neighbors and I would be happy to begin keeping logs and posting them. The road redesign has had an appreciable negative impact on our lives. 3 weeks ago it took me 47 minutes to go from TC to the bottom of Prince Street. I was running a car pool. We were using Waze. I should be able to get a bunch of 14 year-olds, loaded with gear, a distance of less than 2 miles in less than 47 minutes at about 4 in the afternoon. Just because YOU have nothing better to do PP doesn't mean the same holds true for the rest of us.

4 in the afternoon is rush hour. We live in a city. People who work are commuting. Should people stay off the road so no one is late for crew?

Crew? No. 47 minutes to go a couple of miles in a small city is outrageous. That you don't think so signals how far out of touch you are with the people who live here, who work here, who shop here and who eat at restaurants here. I know families who live in my part of Alexandria who refuse to go to Old Town or Del Ray because there is no parking and there is horrible traffic. Now here you and people like you are consigning kids to battle it every day several times a day to get back and forth between classes? Kids who have few resources and who already are feeling under siege because they've been tracked into a vocational education program? You make me embarrassed that you have any affiliation with Alexandria.

I sort of want to suggest that the kids would have gotten there faster on bikes...but I'm not sure you'll like that idea! -cyclist mom

I've been pondering your suggestion. I am confused so maybe you can help me sort it out!

The only portion of the route I took that had separate bike lanes was on King from TC to Janney's Lane. At 19-21 mph (the speed of traffic that day), traffic was definitely exceeding the speed of any potential biker in the separate bike lanes. After Janney's Lane, any bikers would need to merge into car lanes. I find it difficult to see how a biker could get to the destination faster UNLESS the biker did NOT obey the laws of the road.

Now we all know that a big part of the concern about bikers is that they are flagrant in their violation of the laws of the road. The only way I can see that a biker could possibly arrive faster at the destination is if she or he willfully flouted the laws. I certainly hope that you are not advocating that we not only allow 14 year-olds to violate the law and, indeed, we encourage it!?!

Really, cyclist mom? That is an appalling model you are setting for your children and that you are claiming I should set for mine. No thanks. Although your argument definitely elucidates for me why I have no respect for bikers. Yuck.

[Anonymous]

KABOOM! Someone just hit the ball out of the park. Shame on Cyclist Mom.

[Anonymous]

Agreed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's almost as if driving those streets multiple times per day everyday for the last 6 years can give me a good idea of what the changes have and haven't done to the traffic flow. What they haven't done is created the OMG MASS GRIDLOCK that the SUVS-UBER-ALLES crowd claimed, nor has it even really had a noticeable impact on travel times for anyone who isn't flying or impatient as all get-out.

My neighbors and I would be happy to begin keeping logs and posting them. The road redesign has had an appreciable negative impact on our lives. 3 weeks ago it took me 47 minutes to go from TC to the bottom of Prince Street. I was running a car pool. We were using Waze. I should be able to get a bunch of 14 year-olds, loaded with gear, a distance of less than 2 miles in less than 47 minutes at about 4 in the afternoon. Just because YOU have nothing better to do PP doesn't mean the same holds true for the rest of us.

4 in the afternoon is rush hour. We live in a city. People who work are commuting. Should people stay off the road so no one is late for crew?

Crew? No. 47 minutes to go a couple of miles in a small city is outrageous. That you don't think so signals how far out of touch you are with the people who live here, who work here, who shop here and who eat at restaurants here. I know families who live in my part of Alexandria who refuse to go to Old Town or Del Ray because there is no parking and there is horrible traffic. Now here you and people like you are consigning kids to battle it every day several times a day to get back and forth between classes? Kids who have few resources and who already are feeling under siege because they've been tracked into a vocational education program? You make me embarrassed that you have any affiliation with Alexandria.

I sort of want to suggest that the kids would have gotten there faster on bikes...but I'm not sure you'll like that idea! -cyclist mom

I've been pondering your suggestion. I am confused so maybe you can help me sort it out!

The only portion of the route I took that had separate bike lanes was on King from TC to Janney's Lane. At 19-21 mph (the speed of traffic that day), traffic was definitely exceeding the speed of any potential biker in the separate bike lanes. After Janney's Lane, any bikers would need to merge into car lanes. I find it difficult to see how a biker could get to the destination faster UNLESS the biker did NOT obey the laws of the road.

Now we all know that a big part of the concern about bikers is that they are flagrant in their violation of the laws of the road. The only way I can see that a biker could possibly arrive faster at the destination is if she or he willfully flouted the laws. I certainly hope that you are not advocating that we not only allow 14 year-olds to violate the law and, indeed, we encourage it!?!

Really, cyclist mom? That is an appalling model you are setting for your children and that you are claiming I should set for mine. No thanks. Although your argument definitely elucidates for me why I have no respect for bikers. Yuck.

I am not cyclist mom, but "no respect for bikers"? Really? We can only afford one car, so DH rides his bike to and from work. I would think you'd be thrilled, since his doing so alleviates the congestion you're worried about. What should we do? Our one car is a sedan; the fact that you were hauling kids and gear in a carpool indicates you're driving a larger, more expensive car. I envy you; I wish we could afford that. I'm sorry his presence on the road--dodging distracted drivers swerving into bike lanes and blowing through crosswalks--creates a problem for you.

[Anonymous]

Way to make assumptions PP. I am glad to know that you perceive my Honda CRV as large and expensive! Also your husband isn't alleviating any congestion if he is obeying the laws, which is the whole point of my first post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Way to make assumptions PP. I am glad to know that you perceive my Honda CRV as large and expensive! Also your husband isn't alleviating any congestion if he is obeying the laws, which is the whole point of my first post.

Not PP (and not a cyclist) but you guys make no sense. Bikes are supposed to stay against the curb (except in certain circumstances, like turning) so cars can overtake them. They don't occupy the whole lane of traffic the way a car does. You can have 4-5 bikes and 3 cars lined up at a light in the same space as the 3 cars will take. How does that not mean less congestion than if those 4-5 cyclists were all in cars?

In a traffic backup, the bikes are allowed to pass on the right up to the light. They don't have to sit at the end of the line of cars, further impeding traffic and taking as long as the cars to get anywhere. Also, I believe in most of Alexandria it's legal for bikes to ride on the sidewalks, so kids can do that too if there are sidewalks and they're not full of pedestrians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Way to make assumptions PP. I am glad to know that you perceive my Honda CRV as large and expensive! Also your husband isn't alleviating any congestion if he is obeying the laws, which is the whole point of my first post.

Not PP (and not a cyclist) but you guys make no sense. Bikes are supposed to stay against the curb (except in certain circumstances, like turning) so cars can overtake them. They don't occupy the whole lane of traffic the way a car does. You can have 4-5 bikes and 3 cars lined up at a light in the same space as the 3 cars will take. How does that not mean less congestion than if those 4-5 cyclists were all in cars?

In a traffic backup, the bikes are allowed to pass on the right up to the light. They don't have to sit at the end of the line of cars, further impeding traffic and taking as long as the cars to get anywhere. Also, I believe in most of Alexandria it's legal for bikes to ride on the sidewalks, so kids can do that too if there are sidewalks and they're not full of pedestrians.

DP. It should NOT be legal (if it even is) for bicyclists to pass on the right up to the light. No one can see them if they are in the blind spot. They SHOULD have to sit at the end of the line of cars. They cannot have it both ways and then whine about car drivers being unsafe. They are using smaller vehicles that are much more difficult to see. The onus should be on THEM to have safer habits then they currently have just as with the difference between an 18-wheeler and a Prius. The guy driving the Prius should be very respectful of the 18-wheeler, who doesn't have as much maneuverability and line of sight. Instead, in Alexandria, the bicyclists are rude and break the laws every chance they get. I have never seen one stop at a stop sign or at a traffic light. The bicyclists in Alexandria bring nothing positive to the table. Our police force needs to begin writing tickets and get these fools off of the streets.

More to the original point of this part of the discussion, until traffic is moving more efficiently in Alexandria, it is not logical to believe that a multiple campus approach is feasible. Our first priority should be that students can get to and from the various campuses in a reasonable amount of time. Since even I can't get from one end of Alexandria to another in a reasonable amount of time I think it is highly doubtful that a child would be able to do it either.

[Anonymous]

Calm down, I'm not saying bicyclists should break the law. I don't know what streets you took and if there is an alternate route with more bike lanes or bike paths - Google map it for me if you want. I certainly would never recommend a child OR adult running red lights, that's the least charitable reading possible.

Im saying it's faster because I bike home 3 miles from day care with my kid in Alexandria, and take a slightly different route than the car so i can use safer roads and paths where I'm not sharing the road as much. When my husband leaves in the car at the same time (e.g. if we're both there for an event), I beat him every time. There simply isn't as much traffic on bike routes. If there is no safe route where you're not sharing it 100% with traffic, that's an argument for more bike lanes, not fewer.

[Anonymous]

"Calm down" Really? Since the post you're responding to is perfectly calm and well-reasoned it is difficult to give your post any merit. Sheesh. I'm with the other poster. It is hard to respect someone who is hyperbolic even in a discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Way to make assumptions PP. I am glad to know that you perceive my Honda CRV as large and expensive! Also your husband isn't alleviating any congestion if he is obeying the laws, which is the whole point of my first post.

This makes zero sense. And there is nothing anyone can say here that will inspire any empathy in you; you are quite committed to your anger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Way to make assumptions PP. I am glad to know that you perceive my Honda CRV as large and expensive! Also your husband isn't alleviating any congestion if he is obeying the laws, which is the whole point of my first post.

This makes zero sense. And there is nothing anyone can say here that will inspire any empathy in you; you are quite committed to your anger.

DP. Who also posted above. How on earth are you reading "anger" in the first message? Either you have reading comprehension problems or your EQ is way off. Although I guess you could just be a troll.