Waiting for the runners in 2007
Every year the Rock n' Roll Marathon comes around, and they put up the signs, but people are still surprised at the street closures. Don't be among those caught unaware. As in previous years, the run will shut down H Street between 4th and 13th for a matter of hours (you will want to check the full map for details because the course does snake around quite a bit). Road closures will likely be in effect between 7am and 2pm. Crowds often gather along H Street to cheer the runners as they pass by.
31 comments:
I'll tell you why I'm "still surprised"...it's because even though I plan based on the announcements, the streets are inevitably still closed earlier or differently than they say.
Some of us have to get to work and make plans based on their plans. I just wish they would stick to the plan and all the officers closing the streets would be on the same page.
Anon 12:51pm -- Exactly. I live inside the 'quarantine zone'; and despite allowing for time for this, I was late for a work commitment one year because the information they'd provided for how to get out of the area just didn't work. Every single year, for this marathon or for the National Marathon, what they tell us differs from how the cops think it's supposed to work. Now I just expect it to be a humongous goat rodeo and try to avoid any commitments on that day; but sometimes (like this year) I can't.
folks-- just don't plan to DRIVE on that morning. you're not actually "trapped in your homes." if you can't handle not driving for a few hours, I suggest moving to the suburbs.
Tom A...what don't you understand about having a job and needing to drive to work?
Are you really that small-minded you can't imagine any extenuating circumstances (of which there are a TON) where people may need to drive?
It must be nice to be so independently wealthy you don't need to worry about being any specific place at any specific moment, and don't need to put yourself in other people's shoes.
Please move to the suburbs. I'd rather have you judge me from there.
You better not plan to ride a bus that morning either, because the police detour the busses into circles. The police actually start closing streets around 6AM, so you need to plan to get out of the area by then.
I rarely drive, and don't own a car. DC is second only to NYC in people relying on public transit and not owning cars. It sounds like the suburbs are for you, and DC is for me.
I can't imagine living in DC and having to drive to work somewhere that is not transit accessible. If I got a job in Tyson's Corner, I'd probably move out there.
Every year people on this blog whine about the roads closing for this race. It happens once a year. Plan ahead. Leave your car parked where you can walk to it and avoid the running route. Just quit your complaining, please. Seriously, these people and their first world problems are laughable.
I've lived in dc for 15 years. According to you, dc should abolish public roads and go with dirt bike paths. Gimme a break. Having a car, living in NE dc, and driving to a hospital actually saved my life. Screw your bull crap ideals. Where exactly in DC is your little grotto?
One trick I learned from a neighbor a couple years ago is if you live inside of the race loop and need to drive that morning. Park your car the night before just outside of that loop and walk to it in the morning. Obviously this is easier if you live closer to the edge of the loop like I do.
This Tom A. Ding dong is either a troll, or 19 years old. And clearly no family in DC. If ur a loner, and u don't give a rat's arse, then sit around and complain about people that can afford cars and have to take care of business.
People like this "Tom" piss me off.
It makes me want to put holes in the tires of his shitty bike.
You, Tom, go live in Tysons and commute to your little job in DC. It fits your paradigm perfectly.
Buck up and make this a grand city for everyone.
Or.....
Just for you.
*gag*
I'm so angry right now. If I didn't have a car, *in dc*, I'd be dead. Love to hear opinions......
I don't have a car in DC and I'm not dead.
Anon 12:51pm -- You were late for a work commitment one year?
This is some marathon.
Thanks for thinking I'm 19! But, MANY adults in dc don't have cars. The figure I saw recently is just over 25%. We're not all crazy bike riders.
Like I said earlier, DC is 2nd to NYC in the percentage of people who don't own cars. It's not huge news that many people in DC don't own cars, and don't want to hear people whining about not being able to drive somewhere due to a race or a presidential motorcade.
@poo wrote:
I'm so angry right now. If I didn't have a car, *in dc*, I'd be dead. Love to hear opinions......
Hey, great job Tom! Mission Accomplished! Hahaha!
Oh, shoot. Sorry about that, I accidentally hit "Reply All"...
Tom A -- I know, as you've said, that you find this hard to imagine, but there are actually places *in DC itself* that are not really accessible by public transportation. By and large, this tends to be because buses aren't allowed to get any closer. I live and work in DC, and the closest I can get to my job by mass transit (bus, then train, then bus) is over a mile from where I park my butt.
You keep representing yourself like the typical commenter on WTOP or the Post's websites: you don't have a clue what you're talking about, but that doesn't stop you from being absolutely certain you're in the right and telling everyone such. When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
ro wrote: "One trick I learned from a neighbor a couple years ago is if you live inside of the race loop and need to drive that morning. Park your car the night before just outside of that loop and walk to it in the morning. Obviously this is easier if you live closer to the edge of the loop like I do."
Oh man. Now I do feel stupid. I do live near the edge of the loop, and for some reason this never occurred to me. This has only burned me once in the past; but it had the potential to burn me tomorrow, and I thank you very much for this idea, which I will be using.
God, stop whining people. Some roads will be blocked on Saturday. Plan ahead and deal with it. If none of the public transit options work for you, stay with another person who won't be as affected. If you absolutely must drive and there are no other alternatives, then call in sick. If one day off is going to bankrupt you, then clearly you have more severe problems and you probably should be tending to them rather than bitching on a blog about street closures.
Honestly I don't know how some people live without a car in DC. It really limits the places you can get to, and I do find that those people are the most judgmental about other parts of the city. I suppose it is their limited world view that goes only as far and fast as metro travels.
We live in the zone as well. Will we be able to cross H street going north to south?
@dave b.-- do you mean you can't understand how people can get by without owning a car? That would mean you can't imagine how people live with only Metro, Buses, taxis, uber taxis, bike lanes, bike SHARE, traditional rental cars, car2go, zip cars, etc. I assure you that many, many people do make it by without owning a car in DC, and they pay a lot of taxes that make it possible for you to drive and park your car.
Tom A. seems to have rubbed people the wrong way with his comments, but I agree with his general premise that you're not really "trapped in your homes" because you might be limited with car use for 5-6 hours Saturday morning. I do, however, see and understand the first point that was made, which is that they do a crappy job of enacting the street closure times, which does make things a lot more difficult.
I mean you can't really get buy without a car. The public transportation network in the DC metro area just isn't that extensive, and you really miss out in living here if you only travel to places where bus and metro go. It also seems to take hours to get to some places on public transport that only takes 10 to 15 minutes to get in the car. What if you want to go to Outback Steakhouse on a whim, or the bay, or the beach, or hiking ?
I suppose I am glad however that the carless/urban poor are excluded from these activities.
@David B(biatch)....I haven't had a car since the city towed it away back in '93. I have been living here for just over 7 years and I can get by just fine. If I need a car to go somewhere out, or to transport things I can always rent a car.
Not having a car means I don't ahve to worry about DC parking, gas, insur., etc. So I do a reverse commute, but if I was to drive, it would take me longer or about the same time, more of a hassle.
These marathons happen every year. Most people plan for them and adjust. I think a lot of people have begun to plan for the typical Metro weekend track work. I know I do.
Could only find a photo from 2007, eh?
CDwalksDC -
My beef with the R&R Marathon is the band's soundcheck at 6:30 a.m. a block from my house. I can avoid the running route. but I can't avoid amplified music coming into my home.
The city towed your car away? Hmmm....
@ DaveB:
"I suppose I am glad however that the carless/urban poor are excluded from these activities."
Surely you didn't mean it as bad as that sounds.
No. I meant it exactly the way it sounds
Guys,
My apologies, I didn't do a good enough job of watching the comments this weekend. David B. is not a real person. He's just a troll. Typically he confines his comments to rape jokes (which I delete). Ignore him. No real person is as moronic and nasty as that troll.
I own two cars here and live in the loop. I went out, got drunk, watched the marathon, drank more and then the marathon was over. My plan is similar next year. And the year after that. YMMV.
I think we need more marathons.
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