Traffic Alert for 8/19/2011 (Arlington, Leesburg: driving, toll road, road)

[Fern435]

Originally Posted by HokieFan

Agreed. I thought that was a pretty crappy comment. Just because they may not have been in DC on 9/11 doesn't mean they weren't personally affected.

A gracious DC/NoVA resident understands this naturally. Thank you.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by Fern435

So only people who lived here, actually SAW the smoke, and were PERSONALLY affected have the right to commemorate. The rest have no authentic reason to come to DC.

By all means, commemorate whenever you want. Just don't ask the rest of us to stay off of two major highways during rush hour just so you and your buddies can have them to yourselves. That's all.

[stpickrell]

I think they tried riding in the right lane the first year or two, but folks kept weaving in and out, etc.

[hilsmom]

any news on where they are currently? My last facebook update said they were in MD. I want to try to watch them pass through Reston.

[NoVA_Lurker]

MWAA (@dcairports) on Twitter

Just found that link which I believe is tracking the progress along the toll road. Trying to look at it from my phone and it appears they have entered the Toll Road in the last 5-10 minutes from the Greenway.

[stpickrell]

They went through Leesburg pretty quickly. I understand they're in Crystal City already. I think next year I'll have to pull my daughter from daycare for 30 minutes earlier in the day.

[HokieFan]

Moderator Cut

That's the second time I've seen the term "outsiders" in this thread and I take issue with that.

Would you be less outraged if it were a local group? Would it be less of a PITA if it were a group of "insiders"?

Frankly, I don't consider myself an "insider" just because I live and work here. And I certainly don't consider anyone who doesn't live here an "outsider". It's such a transient area, who's really an "insider". Plus, Washington, DC is their capital too and they have to get there either by coming through VA or MD.

Carlingtonian, I agree that it's frustrating and even wondered why they couldn't do it on a weekend when most commuters would be off the roads but I don't agree with "outsiders" vs "insiders".

[Alicia Bradley]

I worried that this would affect SO's and my weekly errand-running (you should've heard me complaining about it last night.. heh), but we didn't notice any worse traffic in the Fairfax City/Fair Oaks area today than on the usual Friday. We did make a point to be home by 2:00 p.m.-ish, though.

[Bigfoot424]

One thing to remember that this group has the right to use any public road they so wish. They can ride in large groups all year long if they want. If they were to do these rides without assistance from local and state governments then one can only imagine the mess that would occur. More accidents meaning even more tie ups. At least the way this was handled it will hopefully speed up the group and get them to their destination with a minimal amount of disruption.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

By all means, commemorate whenever you want. Just don't ask the rest of us to stay off of two major highways during rush hour just so you and your buddies can have them to yourselves. That's all.

I don't believe this group was looking to have the road to themselves. The organizers likely notified the police in the states where they were riding and the police/local officials likely stepped in to assist to make things run as smoothly as possible. And from all reports it worked. Drivers stayed away enough to allow the group to come through with little disruption.