tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512161457156890632024-02-19T03:21:39.054-05:00W&OD Trail ReportWe have invited frequent W&OD Trail users to report what they see during their use of the trail. Our hope is that it may benefit other users. It is the same information that gets passed on at intersections and water fountains as people meet and thoughtfully share what they've seen. Weather, activities, and life move quickly so accept this information as a cautionary rather than as factual.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger323125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-269366644550189832017-05-18T08:00:00.002-05:002017-05-18T08:00:46.555-05:00Stray dog near Hunter Mill RoadKeep your eyes out for a stray chocolate lab along the trail near Hunter Mill Road. I saw him this morning around 8:30. He's pretty old, with a grey muzzle, and seems very gentle, but wouldn't let me close enough to grab his collar and check his tags. He ended up disappearing into the woods on the north side of the trail, near the backs of some houses, so hopefully he was on his way home. I just want folks to keep an eye out just in case he's still lost.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091258691699601116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-2752674292074791952016-04-14T06:08:00.002-05:002016-04-14T06:08:56.913-05:00Trail event Wednesday, April 27<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, sans-serif, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.875rem; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The Reston Bicycle Club has gifted Fairfax County with a new automatic bicycle and pedestrian traffic counter for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in REston</div>
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Officials from Fairfax County and the Reston Bicycle Club will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 27. The event will be held near the intersection of the W&OD and Old Reston Avenue at 10 a.m.</div>
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The counter, valued at $7,000, was purchased to help collect information about pedestrian and bicyclist traffic, Fairfax County officials said.</div>
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“The counter provides an opportunity to better document the usage of these modes of transportation, and will support the county’s planning and investment in future bicycle and pedestrian improvements,” said Adam Lind, Fairfax County Bicycle Program Manager.</div>
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“We really appreciate this generous donation and look forward to monitoring the growth in bicycle and pedestrian trips for years to come.”</div>
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The county is in the process of planning <a href="https://www.restonnow.com/2015/12/08/supervisors-ok-millions-for-transportation-improvements-for-reston-herndon/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #008cba; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="blank">pedestrian and bike </a>improvements for Reston as it morphs into a transit-oriented community. One of those improvements is to take the W&OD <a href="https://www.restonnow.com/2016/03/18/heres-why-wiehle-overpass-wont-open-until-2021/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #008cba; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="blank">over the congested intersection</a> at Wiehle Avenue via a bridge. The plan has been approved but will not open for about five years.</div>
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Reston will also welcome Fairfax County’s first <a href="https://www.restonnow.com/2016/03/22/reston-to-have-15-bikeshare-stations-when-it-opens-this-fall/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #008cba; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="blank">bikeshare system</a> later this year.</div>
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-38698244640349453412016-01-06T13:50:00.000-05:002016-01-06T13:50:18.417-05:00Tree Cutting along trail<div class="yiv3664780723MsoNormal">
From <span style="background-color: white;">Paul Gilbert, </span><span style="background-color: white;">Executive Director NVRPA</span></div>
<div class="yiv3664780723MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="yiv3664780723MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452090049668_57439">
"Dominion
Power is doing some cutting of vegetation along the W&OD in the area between
Vienna and Reston. Some tail users have complained and some reporters have been
asking some questions about this.</div>
<div class="yiv3664780723MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452090049668_57442">
</div>
<div class="yiv3664780723MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1452090049668_57443">
"This
happens every few years. Dominion has the right to cut trees that are growing
near their transmission lines. In 2005 we entered into a Vegetative Management
Plan with Dominion related to the W&OD. The agreement is voluntary, but
Dominion has honored it. Some of the main provisions is that we cannot plant
trees that are expected to grow more than 15 feet tall directly under the lines,
and they will consult with us before cutting. We are sharing the management plan
with the report[er] who has asked some questions. I wanted to let you all know,
since this is something you may hear about?"</div>
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Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-89160534053900897312015-12-30T15:07:00.003-05:002015-12-30T15:07:56.872-05:00Stoddard Offers W&OD Trail ‘Green Street’ Master PlanSee Falls Church News Press Article at http://fcnp.com/2015/12/29/stoddard-offers-wod-trail-green-street-master-plan/Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-37931000754010780192015-11-25T06:20:00.000-05:002015-11-25T06:20:18.430-05:00From the archives: When the W&OD Trail was going to connect to the Appalachian Trail<!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStart|**|-~--><br />
<div id="ygrp-text">
<span>The following appeared in the washcycle.com It seems there were plans to
extend the trail beyond Purcellville to Bluemont. They were shelved and revived
several times and are still on the books. </span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<h3 align="left" class="yiv6844248327entry-header" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 10px 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #2b8732; font-size: 12.8pt;">From
the archives: When the W&OD Trail was going to connect to the Appalachian
Trail</span></span></h3>
<span></span><br />
<div align="left" class="yiv6844248327entry-content" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 18px; margin: 10px 15px;">
<div class="yiv6844248327entry-body">
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">The W&OD railroad used to run from
Alexandria to Bluemont, Virginia; but the trail only runs from the
Arlington/Alexandria boundary to Purcellville. At one point in the late
80's-early 90's it looked like the trail might extend along the remaining west
end of the ROW all the way to Bluemont and the Appalachian
Trail.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="color: #403610;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">When the trail was<span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1988/11/03/wod-completed/7009c042-3bc7-43c5-bf16-514f89776e1c/" rel="nofollow" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #765301; font-family: Verdana;">"completed" in
1988</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">, the park authority stated that they had "plans to extend the
W&OD seven miles farther to Bluemont and the Appalachian Trail." The section
from Purcellville to Bluemont was admittedly a bit different from the rest of
the railroad, as it had been abandoned in 1938, 30 years before the rest of the
line was. Nonetheless, in 1988 they stated that</span></span></div>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">The park authority plans to extend its
W&OD Trail to Bluemont and the Appalachian Trail, which follows the border
between Loudoun County and Clarke County.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="color: #403610;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Two years later,<span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1990/11/08/trail-clears-hurdle/73f01306-aace-471f-81b7-5d8eef5061a3/" rel="nofollow" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #765301; font-family: Verdana;">the Park Authority
stated that they hoped</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><span style="color: #403610;"><span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span>to have the seven mile
extension completed in 3 years.</span></span></span></div>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">Park Authority Executive Director Darrell
Winslow said money may not be the biggest hurdle in making the plan a reality.
Rather, finding land for the skinny extension -- an eight-foot-wide paved path
and room on either side for drainage -- could be the toughest challenge, he
said.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">The Park Authority began trying to complete
the W&OD trail by asking the Loudoun government to amend its Rural Land
Management Plan to indicate that the extension might be built from Purcellville
to the Clarke County line, west of Bluemont.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">That request received unanimous approval
from the Planning Commission on Oct. 24 and has been forwarded to the county
Board of Supervisors. In addition, the Park Authority must submit detailed plans
and receive a commission permit -- similar to a permit issued to a public
utility -- along with any other permits required by the Loudoun zoning
administrator, county officials said.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">Park Authority officials first must decide
where they want the trail extension to go. The linear park follows the right of
way of the defunct Washington & Old Dominion Railway between Shirlington,
near Interstate 395, and Purcellville. But the portion of the train line's old
path that is west of Purcellville is privately owned and probably unavailable
for the trail extension, park officials said.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">The agency said it may try to find a new
path through the rolling hills or, more likely, it may try to persuade the
Virginia Department of Transportation to let it use part of the right of way
along Route 7, which connects Purcellville and Bluemont.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">The Park Authority has budgeted about
$168,000 to acquire land and has pegged roughly $300,000 to build the extension
over several years.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #403610; font-size: 9pt;">The agency hopes to extend the paved trail
from its current terminus in the center of Purcellville through the village of
Bluemont and to the top of the Blue Ridge at Route 601. Winslow said a short
unpaved footpath would extend from that point to the Appalachian
Trail</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="color: #403610;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">It's not clear what happened but
obviously the W&OD was never extended. Still, there is reason to keep hope
alive. The extension made it into<span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><a href="http://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/333" rel="nofollow" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #765301; font-family: Verdana;">Loudoun County's 2003 Bicycle and
Pedestrian Master Plan</span></a><span style="color: #403610;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span>and Virginia's<span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.thewashcycle.com/2008/02/virginia-outdoo.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #765301; font-family: Verdana;">2007 Outoors Plan</span></a><span style="color: #403610;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span>was mentioned as recently
as<span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/80789" rel="nofollow" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #765301; font-family: Verdana;">2012 by the County's Parks,
Recreation and Open Spaces Board</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><span style="color: #403610;"><span class="yiv6844248327Apple-converted-space"> </span>.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span><br /></span>
</div>
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-55658443086785932592015-08-13T05:48:00.002-05:002015-08-14T05:22:42.394-05:00Trail Event, Sunday, August 23<div style="height: auto; overflow: hidden;">
<div style="margin-left: 90px;">
<div>
Sunday August 23rd Reston Century Event from 6:30
AM to 5 PM. Approximately 1200 riders start at Reston Town Center. The portion
of the W&OD used for this event is from Grace Street in Herndon to Ashburn
Road (westbound leg) and returning from Leesburg to Reston Town Center via trail
in its entirety (eastbound leg). </div>
</div>
</div>
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-52329617608891602402015-07-16T05:19:00.003-05:002015-07-16T05:19:57.008-05:00<br />
The W&OD trail was noted as 1 of 7 great urban escapes by National Geographic. See<br />
<br />
<a href="http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/15/rails-to-trails-america-7-urban-escapes/">http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/15/rails-to-trails-america-7-urban-escapes/</a><br /><br />Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-34021558627970841252015-06-27T08:06:00.002-05:002015-06-27T08:06:37.480-05:00Trail Event- Sunday, June 28th<div style="height: auto; overflow: hidden;">
<div style="margin-left: 90px;">
<div>
Woman's Run</div>
<div>
Sunday, 28 June 2015 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 7px;">
08:00 AM to 10:00 AM <br />Reston-Herndon</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="height: auto; margin-top: 30px; overflow: hidden;">
<div style="color: #888888; float: left; width: 70px;">
Notes </div>
<div style="margin-left: 90px;">
Womens’ Run will be
using the trail between the Reston Y and Herndon. There is a possibility of up to 400 participants </div>
</div>
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-69382666168170356702015-06-26T12:18:00.005-05:002015-06-26T12:18:55.998-05:00Trail Events July 4 & 51. On July 4th, PVTC will have a foot race in Vienna. Expect people on trail,
Vienna heading west towards Hunter Mill Road and back between approx 7:30 and 9:00 a.m.
Caboose area is start/finish/gather point.<br /><br />2. There will be a brief
(approx 1 hour, approx 1 mile) <b><u>trail closure</u></b> on the morning of July 5 in Reston because of the World Police Games half marathon. Event starting 8 a.m. No
detour!Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-61316847689797935142015-06-18T05:40:00.003-05:002015-06-18T05:40:43.813-05:00Ashburn Bicyclist Injured In W&OD Trail Crash Dies<div style="font-size: 12.0060005187988px; line-height: 15.0075016021729px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px;">
"A bicyclist who was seriously injured while riding on the WO&D Trail last week died Monday, June 15. <span style="font-size: 12.0048007965088px; line-height: 15.0060005187988px;">William S. Dudgeon, of Ashburn, was 55. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0036001205444px; line-height: 15.0045003890991px;">According to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, he was traveling on his bike at about 4:30 p.m. on June 9 when he attempted to pass a juvenile on the W&OD Trail just west of Ashburn Village Boulevard. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0036001205444px; line-height: 15.0045003890991px;">At that time the juvenile attempted to take a side path, and the juvenile’s bike clipped Dudgeon's bike, causing him to fall. Dudgeon was wearing a helmet. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0036001205444px; line-height: 15.0045003890991px;">He was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he died Monday. The younger bicyclist was not injured."</span></div>
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-18643714234640050412015-06-18T05:36:00.002-05:002015-06-18T05:36:43.737-05:00WOMAN SENTENCED FOR DRIVING CAR ON W&OD TRAIL<br />
<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 474px; padding: 0px 30px 12px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><div class="entry-meta" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #767676; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.3333333333; margin: 0px auto 8px; max-width: 474px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="cat-links" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 900; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://landauinjurylaw.com/theathleteslawyer/category/cases/" rel="category tag" style="border: 0px; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Cases - Athletic, Sports & Medicine">CASES - ATHLETIC, SPORTS & MEDICINE</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://landauinjurylaw.com/theathleteslawyer/2014/09/29/woman-sentenced-for-driving-car-on-wod-trail/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WOMAN SENTENCED FOR DRIVING CAR ON W&OD TRAIL</a></h1>
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<span class="entry-date" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://landauinjurylaw.com/theathleteslawyer/2014/09/29/woman-sentenced-for-driving-car-on-wod-trail/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #767676; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2014-09-29T04:24:56+00:00">SEPTEMBER 29, 2014</time></a></span> <span class="byline" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="author vcard" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="http://landauinjurylaw.com/theathleteslawyer/author/barbara/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; color: #767676; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">LAW SHOP</a></span></span></div>
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"Last year, we wrote about a woman who drove her car on the W&OD trail, hitting a cyclist and sending other trail users diving into the bushes for safety. <a href="http://landauinjurylaw.com/theathleteslawyer/2013/07/31/car-driving-on-wod-trail/" style="border: 0px; color: #24890d; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Car Driving on W&OD Trail">Click here</a> to read the full post.</div>
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At the time the driver was charged with driving while intoxicated and felony hit-and-run.</div>
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We have just learned that the driver reached a deal with Fairfax County prosecutors and avoided the felony charge. She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and hit-and-run, and was sentenced to six months in prison.</div>
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Disappointing Outcome</h2>
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Is six months in prison and a misdemeanor charge really the appropriate punishment for a woman who drives her car at speeds close to 50 mph for close to 5 miles on a trail designed for and used by bikers, walkers, strollers, rollerbladers, etc.?</div>
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The driver, who was drinking before getting behind the wheel, endangered the lives of many trail users, and raised fear in the local community about the safety of the trail.</div>
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According to Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau, the outcome is disappointing. Not only does the woman in this particular case get off somewhat easily with a misdemeanor charge, the message is sent that driving while intoxicated and causing injury is not serious enough to warrant felony charges."</div>
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Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-66090394286584464782015-05-04T04:30:00.000-05:002015-05-04T04:30:15.636-05:00Trail Event-Sunday, June 7thThe American Diabetes Association's Northern Virginia Tour de Cure
(www.diabetes.org/novatourdecure<http: novatourdecure="" www.diabetes.org="">) will be held on June 7th beginning and ending at the
Reston Town Center. The charity ride hopes to once again have 1200 participants take
part.<br /><br />The segmented
portions of our routes that are on the W&OD trail between Vienna and
Purcellville will be especially busy. Times range from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.<br /></http:>Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-30953479807905832222015-04-28T05:15:00.002-05:002015-04-28T05:15:36.897-05:00Trail Event on Friday, May 15th.<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; text-align: justify;">On Friday May 15, 2015 Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association invite you to join over 10,000 area commuters for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun, and healthy way to get to work. Attend one of 79 pit stops throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to receive refreshments, and be entered into a raffle for bicycles being given away.</span>Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-80829918382434090232015-04-18T04:17:00.002-05:002015-04-18T04:17:35.200-05:00Trail Event 0n Saturday, April 18thThe Ride to Provide will be taking place on the trail from 9:00am to 1:00pm
on 4/18/15. Start is at Reston Town Center and riders can do a 10, 20, 35, or 53
mile ride. Riders head west. Start times are staggered for different ride
lengths.Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-65137964837498927792015-02-02T08:11:00.002-05:002015-02-02T08:11:32.592-05:00Trail Event--Sunday, April 25<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.5499992370605px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333;">P</span>aul’s Ride for Life <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">– a fun bike ride for everyone!</em></strong></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">WHEN:</strong> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Saturday, April 25, 2015</strong></div>
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7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Registration open (packet and bib pick-up, onsite registration)<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Ride (rolling start)<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />11:30 a.m. Closing ceremony & raffle drawing</div>
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Rain or shine!</div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.5499992370605px;">Download the</span><span style="line-height: 17.5499992370605px;"> </span><a href="http://paulsrideforlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Fact-Sheet-Ride-Day-Handout-2014.pdf" style="line-height: 17.5499992370605px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Ride Day Fact Sheet 2014"><span style="color: black;">RIDE DAY FACT SHEET</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.5499992370605px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 17.5499992370605px;">and get all the information you need for the ride!</span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">WHERE:</strong> Registration, ride start and finish, closing ceremony, and raffle drawing are all at the <a href="http://www.restontowncenter.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Reston Town Center</a>on Democracy Street between Library and Explorer in front of The Bike Lane (bike shop) in Reston, VA. <a href="http://paulsrideforlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RestonTownCenter-MapListing.pdf" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Download a pdf map</a> of the Reston Town Center for location and parking garages.</div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ROUTE:</strong> Start at Reston Town Center on Democracy Street. All rides are out and back heading west along the<a href="http://www.bikewashington.org/trails/wad/wad.htm" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail</a>. The route is paved asphalt. The ride includes 10, 20, and 1/2 Century +2 mile options. Volunteers will be at several rest stops along the way to cheer you on and nourish you with goodies. We’ve even heard a rumor that cookies might be at every rest stop this year!</div>
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-34592253449707431002015-01-27T06:57:00.004-05:002015-01-27T06:57:51.573-05:00Trail Event--Sunday March 29th<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: auto; text-align: -webkit-center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><sup>7th annual</sup> Walter L. Mess<br /><big><big><big>W&OD TRAIL 5K</big></big></big><br /><big><big>Sunday, March 29, 2015 - 4:00 pm</big></big></span></b><br />
<big>On Washington & Old Dominion Trail from Oak Street to Shreve Road to Little Falls Street and back</big> <big>Start & finish at <a href="http://alpost130.tripod.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">American Legion Post 130</span></a>, 400 North Oak Street, Falls Church, Virginia. </big><b style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In memory of <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.nvrpa.org/uploads/Files/content/chair_emeritus.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Walter L. Mess, chairman emeritus</a> </span></span></b><b style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">of <a href="http://www.nvrpa.org/" style="text-decoration: none;" target_blank="">Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority</a> </span></b><br />
www.SafetyAndHealthFoundation.org/wod<br />
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Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-1371597527074179722014-12-28T06:18:00.000-05:002014-12-28T06:18:00.511-05:00Trail to be cleared of Snow this winter<span style="font-size: large;">According to the FALLS CHURCH NEWS PRESS "<span style="background-color: white; color: #252324; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 23.3999996185303px;">The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority will clear the Washington & Old Dominion Trail of snow this winter, says Chris Pauley, the director of park operations. The trail, owned and operated by the park authority, runs through Falls Church and is widely used by bikers, runners, walkers, skaters, and dog walkers." See complete story at</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">http://fcnp.com/2014/12/23/in-case-of-snow-45-mile-wod-trail-will-be-cleared-f/</span>Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-69874810807198083342014-11-24T07:35:00.002-05:002014-11-24T07:35:36.313-05:00Trail Event November 27<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Giving Thanks
5K is on Thanksgiving morning. Expect more trail traffic in Vienna trail area
(west of Ayr Hill) between about 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Most of the course is on the trail, although it starts
on hilly neighborhood streets. Race supports wounded
warriors. </span></div>
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-26135711885122280112014-11-21T06:53:00.001-05:002014-11-21T06:53:19.987-05:00Trail improvements at Vienna Community Center<span style="font-size: large;">As reported in the November 20, 2014 Sun Gazette, ...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Trail Upgrades: Salgado [</span><span style="font-size: large;">Vienna Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Salgado] also updated the Council regarding plans to shift the location of the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Trail near the community center. The trail will be widened to 18 feet near the center and will have a 1.5-foot-wide gravel shoulder in some areas. Officials hope to add an S-curve to the trail shortly before it intersects with busy Park Street an add 6-inch-tall 'teardrop' islands in the middle of the trail on either side of the street."</span>Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-81932898471011595342014-10-22T06:36:00.000-05:002014-10-22T06:44:06.984-05:00Connector Trail to open Oct 25The Meadow Lark Garden Connector Trail is scheduled to open the weekend of October 25. This connector trail is near mile marker 14.5; between Vienna and Hunter Mill Road.
1.5 miles long, the Meadowlark Connector Trail provides a link to the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. This trail section is paved. Getting to the Gardens from the connector requires using a short road ssection. The 95-acre Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, open daily year-round. Walking paths wind around ponds, native trees, wildflowers, a butterfly garden, a Korean cultural garden, and many other visual sites. Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-10848728298605607372014-10-21T06:24:00.004-05:002014-10-21T06:24:55.873-05:00Trail Paving results in gravel detourPaving has begun from Crestview west and trail users from west being detoured to gravel at Sterling Road. Skinny tire bikes can't negotiate there well. Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-63310709685822501162014-09-01T09:54:00.003-05:002014-09-01T09:54:35.390-05:00Evening Trail Event--Tuesday, Sept 9thThe Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Herndon cordially invite you to attend a
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
to celebrate the Washington and Old Dominion Trail lighting project
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
8 o’clock in the evening
W&OD trail at the Herndon Caboose (near 765 Lynn Street, Herndon)
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-5875714005556986342014-08-15T11:44:00.002-05:002014-08-15T11:44:59.814-05:00Trail Event--Sunday, August 17Just a heads up on the Leesburg 5k/20k being held this coming Sunday 8/17 starting at 7:30AM. Runners will be using the W&OD trail between mm 34 in Leesburg and 39.5 at Paeonian Springs so the area will be extremely congested.
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-90808473975259959602014-08-14T05:44:00.002-05:002014-08-14T07:33:00.082-05:00Trail Event--Sunday, August 24 RBC Century
Date: Sunday August 24, 2014
Time: 6:30 am - 5:00 pm
Location: eastbound W&OD Leesburg-Reston
Notes: Sunday August 24nd Reston Century Event from 6:30 AM to 5 PM. Approximately 1200 riders start at Reston Town Center. The portion of the W&OD used for this event is from Grace Street in Herndon to Ashburn Road (westbound leg) and returning from Leesburg to Reston Town Center via trail in its entirety (eastbound leg).
Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251216145715689063.post-48482280078784244582014-05-05T11:18:00.003-05:002014-05-05T11:18:56.939-05:00Trail Event for May 24 Civil War hike in Reston from Wiehle Avenue to Hunter Mill Road. This is the monthly hike conducted by 12 Civil War enthusiasts from 9 AM to 5 PM.Jeff Heilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712358572395949735noreply@blogger.com