why are cars allowed in the National Arbortetum? Why? Why? WHYYYY?

[Anonymous]

Born and raised DC native here, OP is 100% correct and cars should be banned everywhere in city limits. Go fill your diapers about it, suburban car-addicted boomers. You’re wrong and no one likes you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a mile one way from the visitor center parking lot to the Asian Collection, so you're at 2 miles round trip with a hill before you even step foot into the paths. There are plenty of people who cannot walk that, and it's not because they are lazy AF.

it’s half that distance from the NY Avenue lot, and you could leave open the lots on the eastern end too, just restrict driving to between the lots. A trolley would make the rest accessible. Also I question how much value there is seeing everything from a car anyway - seems better to park and have thoughtfully designed accessible paths for walkers, wheelchairs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Born and raised DC native here, OP is 100% correct and cars should be banned everywhere in city limits. Go fill your diapers about it, suburban car-addicted boomers. You’re wrong and no one likes you.

ok stop trolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:90% of the year this argument is pointless because there are simply not that many people at the park. If you walk, you don't deal with many cars and they mostly go slow. And most of the people who drive are simply doing it to reach the more far flung areas of the park and are respectful of low speed limits and look out for pedestrians and bikes.

It's just that in the spring, you get lots of people who visit the park infrequently (including tourists) showing up to see the most crowded part of the park and not observing any of the unspoken rules of the arboretum, like minimizing driving. If you go there a lot, you know that you can park at the visitors center and walk to almost everywhere you want to go on accessible trails. The only real exception are the Asian gardens which are a bit of a hike if you have mobility issues, children, or limited time, so many people will drive over there if that's the focus of your visit.

But no one drives, parks to look an "an azalea" then drives to look at a dogwood, etc., as a PP mentioned. That kind of behavior, and accompanying entitlement, only happens during azaleas and to a lesser extent on summer weekends. For those of us who have been visiting the Arboretum for years, especially if you live in NE where it is more accessible than the mall or waterfront areas, this really isn't an issue most of the time. Like everything in DC, you just have to learn to work around the tourists and crowds in the high season. It's one of the costs of living in this lovely city with so many free amenities.

It seems to be working out fine for most of us, present OP excluded.

It's not working out fine for me. I've been in the area 20 years, and I've never been to the Arboretum, because the transit/walking/biking access is lousy.

It's wildly implausible that the transit/walking/biking access (that you somehow know know all about despite never having been there) has stopped you from visiting over the last 20 years. Among other things, you could have gone at an off peak time if you were really interested in going but somehow turned off by the access.

PP you're responding to. How would going at an off-peak time improve the transit, walking, or biking access? I know about the transit, walking, biking access to the National Arboretum, without having been there, thanks to the Internet, for example: https://www.usna.usda.gov/visit/hours-and-directions/

and also from looking at a map.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because the park is very large. If you mean that they should ALSO have better walking trails that can be safely accessed WITHOUT the use of a car (meaning without having to walk on the edge of the road), I completely agree with you. Right now the park has trails that are most accessible by car, which is very American, and not pedestrian-friendly.

yes, i woudl love more trails like the fern trail! But the arboretum is so big. If you park at that far lot most of your time will be spent getting to a certain point. I understand having a few parking areas scattered around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:90% of the year this argument is pointless because there are simply not that many people at the park. If you walk, you don't deal with many cars and they mostly go slow. And most of the people who drive are simply doing it to reach the more far flung areas of the park and are respectful of low speed limits and look out for pedestrians and bikes.

It's just that in the spring, you get lots of people who visit the park infrequently (including tourists) showing up to see the most crowded part of the park and not observing any of the unspoken rules of the arboretum, like minimizing driving. If you go there a lot, you know that you can park at the visitors center and walk to almost everywhere you want to go on accessible trails. The only real exception are the Asian gardens which are a bit of a hike if you have mobility issues, children, or limited time, so many people will drive over there if that's the focus of your visit.

But no one drives, parks to look an "an azalea" then drives to look at a dogwood, etc., as a PP mentioned. That kind of behavior, and accompanying entitlement, only happens during azaleas and to a lesser extent on summer weekends. For those of us who have been visiting the Arboretum for years, especially if you live in NE where it is more accessible than the mall or waterfront areas, this really isn't an issue most of the time. Like everything in DC, you just have to learn to work around the tourists and crowds in the high season. It's one of the costs of living in this lovely city with so many free amenities.

It seems to be working out fine for most of us, present OP excluded.

It's not working out fine for me. I've been in the area 20 years, and I've never been to the Arboretum, because the transit/walking/biking access is lousy.

It's wildly implausible that the transit/walking/biking access (that you somehow know know all about despite never having been there) has stopped you from visiting over the last 20 years. Among other things, you could have gone at an off peak time if you were really interested in going but somehow turned off by the access.

PP you're responding to. How would going at an off-peak time improve the transit, walking, or biking access? I know about the transit, walking, biking access to the National Arboretum, without having been there, thanks to the Internet, for example: https://www.usna.usda.gov/visit/hours-and-directions/

and also from looking at a map.

It has terrible transit--a dedicated arboretum bus and zoo bus are two things the city should look at (like the Circulator, but for nature spots and the Zoo). My spouse and I were just discussing this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mile one way from the visitor center parking lot to the Asian Collection, so you're at 2 miles round trip with a hill before you even step foot into the paths. There are plenty of people who cannot walk that, and it's not because they are lazy AF.

it’s half that distance from the NY Avenue lot, and you could leave open the lots on the eastern end too, just restrict driving to between the lots. A trolley would make the rest accessible. Also I question how much value there is seeing everything from a car anyway - seems better to park and have thoughtfully designed accessible paths for walkers, wheelchairs, etc.

Have you actually been to the Arboretum? Real question.

No one views the arboretum from their car. None of the features are readily accessible by car. And no one views the Asian Collection by car in particular! It is on a steep hill and you climb down a path with lots of steps toward the Anacostia. A major reason people (including me) usually drive there is that once you are there, there is tons of walking involved. Walking from the NY Ave lot is feasible but will easily eat up a lot of your visit time walking along access roads with no sidewalk.

There are 3-4 areas in the park where people usually park: Visitors Center, Capitol Columns, Asian Collection, NY Ave. in my experience, cyclist most often use NY Ave because it’s not that close to anything and is kind of ugly, but it’s a great place to load and unload bikes. Most people park at the Visitors Center because from there you can walk most places in the park, plus it is useful to park near restrooms. The Asian Collection is rarely busy because people don’t know about it — I’ve never seen the lot full, even during high season. It’s not uncommon for me to just drive straight there if I’m visiting during a busy time with my kid, because we can happily spend 60-90 minutes over there and then get in the car and leave while avoiding the crowds. She is way too young to walk there from either NY Ave or the Visitors Center, walk around, and then walk back. I am certain the same is true for many older people as well.

I do think it’s silly when people park at the Capitol Columns because they are walkable from the Visitors Center which has a much larger lot and is more central. But tourists often do it. Shrug. It really does not account for much traffic except during the high season. I’d be fine with them getting rid of that lot, but I actually think they use it when people rent it out for events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:90% of the year this argument is pointless because there are simply not that many people at the park. If you walk, you don't deal with many cars and they mostly go slow. And most of the people who drive are simply doing it to reach the more far flung areas of the park and are respectful of low speed limits and look out for pedestrians and bikes.

It's just that in the spring, you get lots of people who visit the park infrequently (including tourists) showing up to see the most crowded part of the park and not observing any of the unspoken rules of the arboretum, like minimizing driving. If you go there a lot, you know that you can park at the visitors center and walk to almost everywhere you want to go on accessible trails. The only real exception are the Asian gardens which are a bit of a hike if you have mobility issues, children, or limited time, so many people will drive over there if that's the focus of your visit.

But no one drives, parks to look an "an azalea" then drives to look at a dogwood, etc., as a PP mentioned. That kind of behavior, and accompanying entitlement, only happens during azaleas and to a lesser extent on summer weekends. For those of us who have been visiting the Arboretum for years, especially if you live in NE where it is more accessible than the mall or waterfront areas, this really isn't an issue most of the time. Like everything in DC, you just have to learn to work around the tourists and crowds in the high season. It's one of the costs of living in this lovely city with so many free amenities.

It seems to be working out fine for most of us, present OP excluded.

It's not working out fine for me. I've been in the area 20 years, and I've never been to the Arboretum, because the transit/walking/biking access is lousy.

It's wildly implausible that the transit/walking/biking access (that you somehow know know all about despite never having been there) has stopped you from visiting over the last 20 years. Among other things, you could have gone at an off peak time if you were really interested in going but somehow turned off by the access.

PP you're responding to. How would going at an off-peak time improve the transit, walking, or biking access? I know about the transit, walking, biking access to the National Arboretum, without having been there, thanks to the Internet, for example: https://www.usna.usda.gov/visit/hours-and-directions/

and also from looking at a map.

OP here. I didn’t even come here to talk about access, but let’s! Reopening the M street entrance would be the logical move. The trip there on bike or foot is terrible right now. Some day, a protected bike lane connecting NY Ave with West Virginia could also be a way to get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mile one way from the visitor center parking lot to the Asian Collection, so you're at 2 miles round trip with a hill before you even step foot into the paths. There are plenty of people who cannot walk that, and it's not because they are lazy AF.

it’s half that distance from the NY Avenue lot, and you could leave open the lots on the eastern end too, just restrict driving to between the lots. A trolley would make the rest accessible. Also I question how much value there is seeing everything from a car anyway - seems better to park and have thoughtfully designed accessible paths for walkers, wheelchairs, etc.

Have you actually been to the Arboretum? Real question.

No one views the arboretum from their car. None of the features are readily accessible by car. And no one views the Asian Collection by car in particular! It is on a steep hill and you climb down a path with lots of steps toward the Anacostia. A major reason people (including me) usually drive there is that once you are there, there is tons of walking involved. Walking from the NY Ave lot is feasible but will easily eat up a lot of your visit time walking along access roads with no sidewalk.

There are 3-4 areas in the park where people usually park: Visitors Center, Capitol Columns, Asian Collection, NY Ave. in my experience, cyclist most often use NY Ave because it’s not that close to anything and is kind of ugly, but it’s a great place to load and unload bikes. Most people park at the Visitors Center because from there you can walk most places in the park, plus it is useful to park near restrooms. The Asian Collection is rarely busy because people don’t know about it — I’ve never seen the lot full, even during high season. It’s not uncommon for me to just drive straight there if I’m visiting during a busy time with my kid, because we can happily spend 60-90 minutes over there and then get in the car and leave while avoiding the crowds. She is way too young to walk there from either NY Ave or the Visitors Center, walk around, and then walk back. I am certain the same is true for many older people as well.

I do think it’s silly when people park at the Capitol Columns because they are walkable from the Visitors Center which has a much larger lot and is more central. But tourists often do it. Shrug. It really does not account for much traffic except during the high season. I’d be fine with them getting rid of that lot, but I actually think they use it when people rent it out for events.

I mean, making the whole thing car-centric so people can drive from parking lot to parking lot is even more nonsensical. Consolidate the lots and only allow cars to travel around the periphery.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps this thread would benefit from a little history lesson:

https://dcist.com/story/17/09/12/arboretum-gate/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me guess OP. You are a millennial who doesn’t have a car and you live in one of the gentrified neighborhood in north east that is convenient walking or biking distance to the Arboretum. Am I right?

Bonus points for admitting that you are a fairly recent arrival to the district of Columbia and this is your first home that you’ve purchased

To add, just as you’re tired of cars in your new pandemic walking routine, people like me, who’ve been going there for years,
are so bummed that throngs of millennials have “discovered “ the once-quiet place. We’re dismayed that you clog it up consistently with off-leash rescue dogs and shouty loud preschoolers and babies climbing in the trees which is clearly inappropriate.

We have to coexist now and so do you

I have no issue with cars - as it is a large park - but boy, last time we were there, in March, there were unruly children trying to climb on every single freakin' tree! You can't do that in an arboretum, these trees are curated and part of the exhibit, so to speak.
FWIW, we've been coming to the place for many years and this climbing onslaught is a fairly recent phenomenon. When our kids were little, we didn't let them climb those trees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:90% of the year this argument is pointless because there are simply not that many people at the park. If you walk, you don't deal with many cars and they mostly go slow. And most of the people who drive are simply doing it to reach the more far flung areas of the park and are respectful of low speed limits and look out for pedestrians and bikes.

It's just that in the spring, you get lots of people who visit the park infrequently (including tourists) showing up to see the most crowded part of the park and not observing any of the unspoken rules of the arboretum, like minimizing driving. If you go there a lot, you know that you can park at the visitors center and walk to almost everywhere you want to go on accessible trails. The only real exception are the Asian gardens which are a bit of a hike if you have mobility issues, children, or limited time, so many people will drive over there if that's the focus of your visit.

But no one drives, parks to look an "an azalea" then drives to look at a dogwood, etc., as a PP mentioned. That kind of behavior, and accompanying entitlement, only happens during azaleas and to a lesser extent on summer weekends. For those of us who have been visiting the Arboretum for years, especially if you live in NE where it is more accessible than the mall or waterfront areas, this really isn't an issue most of the time. Like everything in DC, you just have to learn to work around the tourists and crowds in the high season. It's one of the costs of living in this lovely city with so many free amenities.

It seems to be working out fine for most of us, present OP excluded.

It's not working out fine for me. I've been in the area 20 years, and I've never been to the Arboretum, because the transit/walking/biking access is lousy.

Have you been banned by Uber?
Honest question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:90% of the year this argument is pointless because there are simply not that many people at the park. If you walk, you don't deal with many cars and they mostly go slow. And most of the people who drive are simply doing it to reach the more far flung areas of the park and are respectful of low speed limits and look out for pedestrians and bikes.

It's just that in the spring, you get lots of people who visit the park infrequently (including tourists) showing up to see the most crowded part of the park and not observing any of the unspoken rules of the arboretum, like minimizing driving. If you go there a lot, you know that you can park at the visitors center and walk to almost everywhere you want to go on accessible trails. The only real exception are the Asian gardens which are a bit of a hike if you have mobility issues, children, or limited time, so many people will drive over there if that's the focus of your visit.

But no one drives, parks to look an "an azalea" then drives to look at a dogwood, etc., as a PP mentioned. That kind of behavior, and accompanying entitlement, only happens during azaleas and to a lesser extent on summer weekends. For those of us who have been visiting the Arboretum for years, especially if you live in NE where it is more accessible than the mall or waterfront areas, this really isn't an issue most of the time. Like everything in DC, you just have to learn to work around the tourists and crowds in the high season. It's one of the costs of living in this lovely city with so many free amenities.

It seems to be working out fine for most of us, present OP excluded.

It's not working out fine for me. I've been in the area 20 years, and I've never been to the Arboretum, because the transit/walking/biking access is lousy.

Have you been banned by Uber?
Honest question.

PP you're responding to. I've never taken Uber. I don't like the business model, I don't like what Uber has done to the streets (more cruising traffic, more drivers staring at their devices, more dangerous U turns), my phone is probably too old to even have the app on it, and for the Arboretum specifically, I'm not interested in a bus-to-Metro-to-bus-to-hirecar trip.

Also, "Why don't you take Uber?" is not an adequate response when the problem is lack of public transit access to a public facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:90% of the year this argument is pointless because there are simply not that many people at the park. If you walk, you don't deal with many cars and they mostly go slow. And most of the people who drive are simply doing it to reach the more far flung areas of the park and are respectful of low speed limits and look out for pedestrians and bikes.

It's just that in the spring, you get lots of people who visit the park infrequently (including tourists) showing up to see the most crowded part of the park and not observing any of the unspoken rules of the arboretum, like minimizing driving. If you go there a lot, you know that you can park at the visitors center and walk to almost everywhere you want to go on accessible trails. The only real exception are the Asian gardens which are a bit of a hike if you have mobility issues, children, or limited time, so many people will drive over there if that's the focus of your visit.

But no one drives, parks to look an "an azalea" then drives to look at a dogwood, etc., as a PP mentioned. That kind of behavior, and accompanying entitlement, only happens during azaleas and to a lesser extent on summer weekends. For those of us who have been visiting the Arboretum for years, especially if you live in NE where it is more accessible than the mall or waterfront areas, this really isn't an issue most of the time. Like everything in DC, you just have to learn to work around the tourists and crowds in the high season. It's one of the costs of living in this lovely city with so many free amenities.

It seems to be working out fine for most of us, present OP excluded.

It's not working out fine for me. I've been in the area 20 years, and I've never been to the Arboretum, because the transit/walking/biking access is lousy.

Have you been banned by Uber?
Honest question.

PP you're responding to. I've never taken Uber. I don't like the business model, I don't like what Uber has done to the streets (more cruising traffic, more drivers staring at their devices, more dangerous U turns), my phone is probably too old to even have the app on it, and for the Arboretum specifically, I'm not interested in a bus-to-Metro-to-bus-to-hirecar trip.

Also, "Why don't you take Uber?" is not an adequate response when the problem is lack of public transit access to a public facility.

But not liking the options is not the same thing as not having options.

[Anonymous]

Because some people are disabled and should still be able to drive through on the main roads to enjoy what they can. You want wilderness, go to Shenandoah.