What's the Safety Solution for the W&OD Trail?

By Mary Ann Barton

What's the Safety Solution for the W&OD Trail? The multi-use trail continues to see crashes; a cyclist and jogger were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a recent crash in Falls Church.
Photo caption/credit: The Washington & Old Dominion Trail; Patch file photo

Every so often, there's another story in the news about serious crashes and resulting injuries between cyclists, joggers and even drivers on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. On a recentSunday, a jogger and cyclist were sent to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after colliding on the trail in Falls Church.

Even cars are occasionally creating havoc on the trail.

The trail is one of the recreational jewels of the Northern Virginia area — a multi-use 44-mile pathway that stretches from Arlington to Purcellville. Named for the W&OD Railroad, which operated from 1859 to 1968, it's often jammed on the weekends, when you can expect to see cyclists, joggers, walkers, families, skateboarders, dogs and even horses.

Some see problems with joggers wearing earbuds who can't hear cyclists' warnings; others say cyclists are riding too fast or blowing through intersections.

What do you see as the main safety problem(s) on the trail? And what can be done about it?

Also read: 

• Car Hits Bicyclist on W&OD Trail
• 2 More Cars Spotted on W&OD Trail
• Car Travels the W&OD Trail, Again
• Bicyclist Recovering From Serious Injuries After Hit and Run on W&OD Trail