Who said anything about putting the onus on pedestrians to lobby for money for sidewalks?

Sidewalks shouldn't be something you have to lobby for. Streets should have sidewalks. The city transportation budget should go to making sure that all streets have sidewalks.

And safe biking infrastucture also shouldn't be something you have to lobby for. Streets should be safe and comfortable to bike on. The city transportation budget should go to making sure that all streets are safe and comfortable to bike on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And the Seminary can grant an easement for a sidewalk on their land to make the sidewalk less costly. No one is going to use it expect residents of VTS. Also, why does the city need sidewalks in that location as opposed to the many, many other sidewalks that would cost a fraction of the money and are desperately needed, but not installed because they aren't in the budget?

I walk on Seminary nearly every day so please don't tell me about my concerns. I am one of the ONLY pedestrians I ever see during my (nearly) twice daily walks. Staff f'ed up that design.

City already repaved the west side so no "keep it at 4" anytime soon. Because they don't really care about safety. I suspect you aren't involved in city traffic and safety related issues or you would already know that.

Sidewalks on both sides are a standard part of every road.

Ah, I know which poster you are. Sigh.

So I assume by your response that you think our priority should be use that $1.5M to get a sidewalk on at least one side of Alexandria streets where there are no sidewalks at all and residents have been waiting years for money. I can’t imagine anyone like you would disagree that those are the streets we should prioritize. Especially the ones were school kids are walking in the road itself to get to school.

The priority should be greatly increasing the proportion of the total transportation budget that is spent on sidewalks, so that sidewalk projects don't have to compete against other sidewalk projects for the very small pot of sidewalk money.

Yeah, I know. You have said the before. Look, it’s pretty obvious that people like you care more about bike lanes than you do about pedestrian safety. Otherwise you would also be outraged that the city is requesting $1.5 million grant for sidewalk that nobody is going to use when there are actual streets in Alexandria that do not have sidewalks at all and in which children are walking in the street. At least you make it clear where your priorities are.

PP: The city should spend way more money on sidewalks.
You: "People like you care more about bike lanes than you do about pedestrian safety."

No.

Me: the city should use the $1.5M grant to fund the backlog of missing sidewalks in areas where there are no sidewalks.

Anyone who disagrees with that and puts the onus back on pedestrians to lobby for money for sidewalks where those sidewalks are not linked to a bike lanes has their priorities backwards. And anyone who does not understand the underlying situation should not lecture others on it. I have debated with the prior pp before. That poster is not an Alexandria resident and has admitted they don’t know the issues involved. Their response is always “if you are unhappy, lobby for more money” as if that hasn’t been done for YEARS. But you know what hasn’t been done for years? Getting a $1.5M grant for a sidewalk for about 1/4 of a mile where there is a sidewalk on the other side of the street and the city spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to add four pedestrian islands and will soon add four RPBs to help the very small community at the Seminary, who predominantly live and work on campus, cross the street on occasion.

Refusing to acknowledge that the city is applying for a grant to remedy a bad decision on their part (putting a sidewalk in the street itself) when there are very serious pedestrian safety concerns on others roads in Alexandria makes it clear that pedestrian safety is not a priority for that poster. Anyone who cares about pedestrian safety would want the city to spend that grant on streets that are completely missing sidewalks, particularly those near school walk zones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And the Seminary can grant an easement for a sidewalk on their land to make the sidewalk less costly. No one is going to use it expect residents of VTS. Also, why does the city need sidewalks in that location as opposed to the many, many other sidewalks that would cost a fraction of the money and are desperately needed, but not installed because they aren't in the budget?

I walk on Seminary nearly every day so please don't tell me about my concerns. I am one of the ONLY pedestrians I ever see during my (nearly) twice daily walks. Staff f'ed up that design.

City already repaved the west side so no "keep it at 4" anytime soon. Because they don't really care about safety. I suspect you aren't involved in city traffic and safety related issues or you would already know that.

Sidewalks on both sides are a standard part of every road.

Ah, I know which poster you are. Sigh.

So I assume by your response that you think our priority should be use that $1.5M to get a sidewalk on at least one side of Alexandria streets where there are no sidewalks at all and residents have been waiting years for money. I can’t imagine anyone like you would disagree that those are the streets we should prioritize. Especially the ones were school kids are walking in the road itself to get to school.

The priority should be greatly increasing the proportion of the total transportation budget that is spent on sidewalks, so that sidewalk projects don't have to compete against other sidewalk projects for the very small pot of sidewalk money.

Yeah, I know. You have said the before. Look, it’s pretty obvious that people like you care more about bike lanes than you do about pedestrian safety. Otherwise you would also be outraged that the city is requesting $1.5 million grant for sidewalk that nobody is going to use when there are actual streets in Alexandria that do not have sidewalks at all and in which children are walking in the street. At least you make it clear where your priorities are.

PP: The city should spend way more money on sidewalks.
You: "People like you care more about bike lanes than you do about pedestrian safety."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And the Seminary can grant an easement for a sidewalk on their land to make the sidewalk less costly. No one is going to use it expect residents of VTS. Also, why does the city need sidewalks in that location as opposed to the many, many other sidewalks that would cost a fraction of the money and are desperately needed, but not installed because they aren't in the budget?

I walk on Seminary nearly every day so please don't tell me about my concerns. I am one of the ONLY pedestrians I ever see during my (nearly) twice daily walks. Staff f'ed up that design.

City already repaved the west side so no "keep it at 4" anytime soon. Because they don't really care about safety. I suspect you aren't involved in city traffic and safety related issues or you would already know that.

Sidewalks on both sides are a standard part of every road.

Ah, I know which poster you are. Sigh.

So I assume by your response that you think our priority should be use that $1.5M to get a sidewalk on at least one side of Alexandria streets where there are no sidewalks at all and residents have been waiting years for money. I can’t imagine anyone like you would disagree that those are the streets we should prioritize. Especially the ones were school kids are walking in the road itself to get to school.

The priority should be greatly increasing the proportion of the total transportation budget that is spent on sidewalks, so that sidewalk projects don't have to compete against other sidewalk projects for the very small pot of sidewalk money.

Yeah, I know. You have said the before. Look, it’s pretty obvious that people like you care more about bike lanes than you do about pedestrian safety. Otherwise you would also be outraged that the city is requesting $1.5 million grant for sidewalk that nobody is going to use when there are actual streets in Alexandria that do not have sidewalks at all and in which children are walking in the street. At least you make it clear where your priorities are.

Simple solution, don't use Seminary to drive through Alexandria! More lanes just invited more drivers on the road. Give it a few months and all those drivers will decide the slowdown isn't worth it and go around and we'll get a new equilibrium.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And the Seminary can grant an easement for a sidewalk on their land to make the sidewalk less costly. No one is going to use it expect residents of VTS. Also, why does the city need sidewalks in that location as opposed to the many, many other sidewalks that would cost a fraction of the money and are desperately needed, but not installed because they aren't in the budget?

I walk on Seminary nearly every day so please don't tell me about my concerns. I am one of the ONLY pedestrians I ever see during my (nearly) twice daily walks. Staff f'ed up that design.

City already repaved the west side so no "keep it at 4" anytime soon. Because they don't really care about safety. I suspect you aren't involved in city traffic and safety related issues or you would already know that.

Sidewalks on both sides are a standard part of every road.

Ah, I know which poster you are. Sigh.

So I assume by your response that you think our priority should be use that $1.5M to get a sidewalk on at least one side of Alexandria streets where there are no sidewalks at all and residents have been waiting years for money. I can’t imagine anyone like you would disagree that those are the streets we should prioritize. Especially the ones were school kids are walking in the road itself to get to school.

The priority should be greatly increasing the proportion of the total transportation budget that is spent on sidewalks, so that sidewalk projects don't have to compete against other sidewalk projects for the very small pot of sidewalk money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And the Seminary can grant an easement for a sidewalk on their land to make the sidewalk less costly. No one is going to use it expect residents of VTS. Also, why does the city need sidewalks in that location as opposed to the many, many other sidewalks that would cost a fraction of the money and are desperately needed, but not installed because they aren't in the budget?

I walk on Seminary nearly every day so please don't tell me about my concerns. I am one of the ONLY pedestrians I ever see during my (nearly) twice daily walks. Staff f'ed up that design.

City already repaved the west side so no "keep it at 4" anytime soon. Because they don't really care about safety. I suspect you aren't involved in city traffic and safety related issues or you would already know that.

Sidewalks on both sides are a standard part of every road.

Ah, I know which poster you are. Sigh.

So I assume by your response that you think our priority should be use that $1.5M to get a sidewalk on at least one side of Alexandria streets where there are no sidewalks at all and residents have been waiting years for money. I can’t imagine anyone like you would disagree that those are the streets we should prioritize. Especially the ones were school kids are walking in the road itself to get to school.

Anonymous wrote:

And the Seminary can grant an easement for a sidewalk on their land to make the sidewalk less costly. No one is going to use it expect residents of VTS. Also, why does the city need sidewalks in that location as opposed to the many, many other sidewalks that would cost a fraction of the money and are desperately needed, but not installed because they aren't in the budget?

I walk on Seminary nearly every day so please don't tell me about my concerns. I am one of the ONLY pedestrians I ever see during my (nearly) twice daily walks. Staff f'ed up that design.

City already repaved the west side so no "keep it at 4" anytime soon. Because they don't really care about safety. I suspect you aren't involved in city traffic and safety related issues or you would already know that.

Sidewalks on both sides are a standard part of every road.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't need to be expanded but it should be returned to its prior state (a four lane road). The city of Alexandria should also focus money and resources on roads that are actually unsafe, such as the poorer, west end of Seminary.

We should also not be building sidewalks on a road itself. And if one community wants to add a sidewalk on one side of the road for their own use, they should provide an easement through their property for that sidewalk. The city should not spend $1.5 million of anyone's money (grant money included) to build a sidewalk over asphalt for a non-taxpaying entity. If we have to keep the dieted road as is, everyone is better off with a bike lane in each direction rather than leaving the "real" sidewalk on the south end of the road unbuffered and having east bound bike lanes that begin and end at random.

The Seminary existed long before Seminary Road was a 4 lane road. They should not have to pay for a sidewalk (which is open to all). Its the City's responsibility to provide sidewalks on both sides of every major street.

If you are so concerned that bike lanes end "at random" then you will push to fill the bike lane gap on King, near Janney's - it would only take removing a few parking spots. But I suspect your complaint about the quality of the bike lane on Seminary may not be made in complete good faith.

As for the west end of Seminary, I look forward to seeing the "keep it 4" people present actual plans to improve pedestrian safety there. Ones that do not involve simply discouraging pedestrians from crossing the street.

And the Seminary can grant an easement for a sidewalk on their land to make the sidewalk less costly. No one is going to use it expect residents of VTS. Also, why does the city need sidewalks in that location as opposed to the many, many other sidewalks that would cost a fraction of the money and are desperately needed, but not installed because they aren't in the budget?

I walk on Seminary nearly every day so please don't tell me about my concerns. I am one of the ONLY pedestrians I ever see during my (nearly) twice daily walks. Staff f'ed up that design.

City already repaved the west side so no "keep it at 4" anytime soon. Because they don't really care about safety. I suspect you aren't involved in city traffic and safety related issues or you would already know that.

Anonymous wrote:More bike lanes would help.

Troll score: 8

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't need to be expanded but it should be returned to its prior state (a four lane road). The city of Alexandria should also focus money and resources on roads that are actually unsafe, such as the poorer, west end of Seminary.

We should also not be building sidewalks on a road itself. And if one community wants to add a sidewalk on one side of the road for their own use, they should provide an easement through their property for that sidewalk. The city should not spend $1.5 million of anyone's money (grant money included) to build a sidewalk over asphalt for a non-taxpaying entity. If we have to keep the dieted road as is, everyone is better off with a bike lane in each direction rather than leaving the "real" sidewalk on the south end of the road unbuffered and having east bound bike lanes that begin and end at random.

The Seminary existed long before Seminary Road was a 4 lane road. They should not have to pay for a sidewalk (which is open to all). Its the City's responsibility to provide sidewalks on both sides of every major street.

If you are so concerned that bike lanes end "at random" then you will push to fill the bike lane gap on King, near Janney's - it would only take removing a few parking spots. But I suspect your complaint about the quality of the bike lane on Seminary may not be made in complete good faith.

As for the west end of Seminary, I look forward to seeing the "keep it 4" people present actual plans to improve pedestrian safety there. Ones that do not involve simply discouraging pedestrians from crossing the street.

It doesn't need to be expanded but it should be returned to its prior state (a four lane road). The city of Alexandria should also focus money and resources on roads that are actually unsafe, such as the poorer, west end of Seminary.

We should also not be building sidewalks on a road itself. And if one community wants to add a sidewalk on one side of the road for their own use, they should provide an easement through their property for that sidewalk. The city should not spend $1.5 million of anyone's money (grant money included) to build a sidewalk over asphalt for a non-taxpaying entity. If we have to keep the dieted road as is, everyone is better off with a bike lane in each direction rather than leaving the "real" sidewalk on the south end of the road unbuffered and having east bound bike lanes that begin and end at random.

Anonymous wrote:It’s under repair. And no, it doesn’t need expansion. Just less speeders.

+1 making it bigger would make it even more dangerous. No thanks

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s under repair. And no, it doesn’t need expansion. Just less speeders.

This. My Dad lives on a residential side street off of Seminary and people just don’t slow down or pay attention to a car making a turn. I’ve learned to turn on my signal well before his street, but I know that one day I’ll probably get rear-ended by some moron speeding and texting on their cellphone.

You haven't visited your Dad recently, have you? Seminary Road has been reduced to 2 car lanes. It is a parking lot. You can't get anywhere. People who live in neighborhood founded in part by Seminary are in essence stuck there because we can't get out because there are too many cars in our way.

A good friend of mine had to go from her house off of Seminary to Old Town on Tuesday. She finally got onto Seminary Road at 3:39. She arrived at her destination in Old Town, the destination was a total of 3.1 miles from where she turned onto Seminary, and it was 49 minutes later. 49 minutes to go 3.1 miles. That is insane.

Ain't no "moron speeding and texting" down Seminary Road cuz no one, moron or not, can get moving over 2-3 mph.

Getting in your car to go 3.1 miles to Old Town is insane.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s under repair. And no, it doesn’t need expansion. Just less speeders.

This. My Dad lives on a residential side street off of Seminary and people just don’t slow down or pay attention to a car making a turn. I’ve learned to turn on my signal well before his street, but I know that one day I’ll probably get rear-ended by some moron speeding and texting on their cellphone.

You haven't visited your Dad recently, have you? Seminary Road has been reduced to 2 car lanes. It is a parking lot. You can't get anywhere. People who live in neighborhood founded in part by Seminary are in essence stuck there because we can't get out because there are too many cars in our way.

A good friend of mine had to go from her house off of Seminary to Old Town on Tuesday. She finally got onto Seminary Road at 3:39. She arrived at her destination in Old Town, the destination was a total of 3.1 miles from where she turned onto Seminary, and it was 49 minutes later. 49 minutes to go 3.1 miles. That is insane.

Ain't no "moron speeding and texting" down Seminary Road cuz no one, moron or not, can get moving over 2-3 mph.

Seminary Rd. covers a long stretch - not just the part between the hospital and Old Town. My Dad lives off of Seminary west of Beauregard, and that section has a lot of speeders except during rush hours when it gets jammed. During the middle of the day, people fly through there.

The mayor and council do not not care about that part of the city which bleeds into Fairfax County. Mostly poor people and immigrants live in That area and have no political power. If your father lives in Goodwin House or Washington House, they are in the pocket of the octogenarian council member, Del Pepper.

This. I live and work in Old Town. I'm now able to leisurely ride my bike through your end of town while you wait 15 minutes to make a right turn.