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c0dyb t1_jdsvp9l wrote

shoulda got a video clip

16

isawafit t1_jdswdio wrote

Crossed the bridge via 66 an hour back and commented how there were so many cars just parked all over, the shoulder, pulled up on grass between roads, whatever folks felt like doing!

203

rlpw t1_jdswr7x wrote

We need this energy everyday

276

RoleFizzleBeef t1_jdsyofy wrote

They usually park on the shoulder of 395, too. No clue if anyone is doing that today though.

110

SDC83 t1_jdszpvv wrote

I know it is always packed at the cherry blossom festival but I don’t recall the car issue being this absurd in the past?! Maybe I just forget how it was in the before times. Seriously though, why aren’t they closing the roads to anyone without a disability placard or shuttle busses? Seems like there are solutions here.

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sporkityfork t1_jdt3l59 wrote

Meanwhile the metro was perfect... I was laughing at the car chaos today.

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charliewestrick t1_jdt3txi wrote

well, from what ive been reading on this subreddit...not like they'll actually have to pay them

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corndogblaster t1_jdt57p5 wrote

I saw them doing this on 395 the other day. Literally almost blocked the merging ramp. Why do people think they can just do whatever the fuck they want?

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EastoftheCap t1_jdt6c9h wrote

They parked on a highway to look at fucking trees.

128

ahoypolloi_ t1_jdt81oc wrote

Replying to sporkityfork (#2,380,184)

Same! We got there before noon and left just a bit after. Didn’t even bother skipping Smithsonian stop. Trains running seemingly constantly, zero issues getting in or out. Car-brains gonna car-brain I guess

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MFoy t1_jdtb6k8 wrote

Replying to SDC83 (#2,379,644)

Two things:

Pent up demand because people couldn't drive down for a few years, and although there were some crowds, plenty of people did stay home

Also, the weather was fucking perfect this afternoon. Just gorgeous outside.

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SluggingAndBussing t1_jdtbfvt wrote

Replying to MammothBobcat251 (#2,381,036)

Something tells me they tried to use Smithsonian.

Edit: I happened to make several trips on Blue between Eisenhower Ave and Foggy Bottom today and there were no issues. A few of the trains were decently packed but only one or two were near regular rush hour level, as far as I could tell. I didn’t see a huge crowd of people waiting to board at DCA or anything.

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chipmunksocute t1_jdtcrwa wrote

Replying to MFoy (#2,381,271)

But still. Lile the insane backup alllll the waybaround Hains Point is something Ive never seen seen anything close to and Ive been here for decades, come out a dozen plus times to the cherry blossoms. This shit was something else today and I really want to know why. It was super crowded last year but like normal tons of walkers around tidal basin and way quieter on Hains Point but it was batshit today.

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PhoneMak2 t1_jdtdvk5 wrote

It’s a solution to DC Carjackings. Never ending Gridlock.

21

moonbunnychan t1_jdtg590 wrote

Replying to DCmetrosexual1 (#2,381,484)

To be fair, it's a fairly long walk from any of the metro stops to the tidal basin. I took the bus from the metro and that was also a terrible idea because of how bad traffic was. I ended up waking back.

−22

SecretJeff t1_jdtl9mh wrote

It must be the new metro fare gates scaring people from jumping on

7

DCGinkgo t1_jdtmbr0 wrote

Replying to Eroc17 (#2,382,176)

This. Remember last week the weather wasn't great either except for Thursday. Pent up demand. Basically if you don't get to the Tidal Basin by 10 crowds were insane.

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sqfreak t1_jdtml24 wrote

Replying to kevin_from_illinois (#2,379,573)

When I drove by, it didn't look like it. There were also people unloading in the middle lane (because the right lane was all parking) on the transition from 14th Street to the bridge, so there was only one travel lane.

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Roho_Kitnam t1_jdtna10 wrote

Replying to RoleFizzleBeef (#2,379,509)

Yep, they were. Southbound lane on the bridge. Saw a dad pushing a stroller with kids trailing behind, meandering north in a 395 travel lane. Folks were parking and climbing the rail to walk back north in the bike/walking path. Lunacy. Not a cop in sight.

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[deleted] t1_jdtrb5g wrote

Swear to god it's like these morons have never heard of Metro

15

moonbunnychan t1_jdtvfxy wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,383,594)

It took me about half an hour to walk back yesterday, although granted some of that was thanks to crowds. Probably would have been closer to 20 otherwise. So doable, but not what I would call close.

−6

PikachuThug t1_jdty4vp wrote

the sad part is there’s ample parking .5 or so miles away but ppl want convenience

1

DontDoomScroll t1_jdtyt3a wrote

Replying to EdgarAllenFro (#2,384,240)

"Trains run on time and address crime" sounds fascist to me.

>Mussolini may have done many brutal and tyrannical things; he may have destroyed human freedom in Italy; he may have murdered and tortured citizens whose only crime was to oppose Mussolini; but 'one had to admit' one thing about the Dictator: he 'made the trains run on time.'

Just a dash of jest in what I am expressing

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pro-laps t1_jdu2vhm wrote

Spoiler alert, none of them have to actually pay those tickets

2

Frankishism t1_jdu4jf0 wrote

Replying to strangechicken (#2,383,993)

Not today, maybe Saturday? From my perspective, Metro was on point. Rush hour schedule all day, good signage and guidance from staff for the tourists. The only snag was getting back into the metro station with a small wait when the platforms were too packed with people leaving, but Metro moved the huge crowds really efficiently today.

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noideawhatisup t1_jdu8hjx wrote

It wasn’t just the cars/drivers that were insane. Cyclists were just going whenever and wherever they pleased without checking blind spots or anything. Pedestrians, I’m guessing mostly out of towners, were just hopping into the middle of major streets to get that perfect pic. Crosswalks? What are those? Apparently the cherry blossom admirers believed they all had mutant-like force field powers today. Either that or they just didn’t give a single fuck about their lives or the lives of the drivers they’d ruin all to get a picture of some goddamned trees blooming.

(Edit: Sorry for the rant; my blood boiled at several points today while driving and while walking my dog).

−2

MammothBobcat251 t1_jdunctm wrote

Replying to melody_elf (#2,383,381)

If you read through this sub and look at the Washington problems Insta you will see that many people had the same experience with metro today. Certain lines at certain times were a hot mess. Lucky you you didn’t get caught in that.

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Valuable_Ad481 t1_jduq9kx wrote

It was absolute chaos down there. no one gave a single shit….

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Gilmoregirlin t1_jduqnx2 wrote

We were at the National Theater yesterday for a show. I live in Kaloroma. It took me an hour to Uber over there, and that's after 6 drivers cancelled. I walked home. It was nice weather and happy to be healthy enough to do it, but my God it was a mess down there yesterday. No way I was going through that again and paying 50 bucks.

−6

ProvenceNatural65 t1_jdurlsj wrote

Guys this is the purest time of DC, where people sit for hours in traffic just to see TREES. I love it.

14

rlpw t1_jdusbyr wrote

Replying to noideawhatisup (#2,385,734)

When there’s more people on the sidewalk than people in cars - they should walk in the streets. If I were biking (I was) or walking (at some point I was too), I would just walk between and through cars because they weren’t moving anyway 😂

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orangeineer t1_jduvoy0 wrote

They know they could have parked at any park and ride, then taken a metro into the mall, right?

8

studyhardbree t1_jduzw3e wrote

Replying to strangechicken (#2,383,993)

People in Japan wait in lines to access the metro like civilized people. It’s almost like we could do the same here, but we won’t because Americans are entitled to whatever they want whenever they want. Metro is accessible and should be used for things like this. Parking on the interstate is psycho.

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dassketch t1_jduzy5g wrote

Replying to noideawhatisup (#2,385,734)

Gawker event happens every year at roughly same time every year. You: shocked and appalled at that you can't just drive through the middle of said gawker event in a timely manner. Even though that area is rife with traffic at the best of times!

I wonder how people who live near massive stadiums handle peak sports ball season. You know, with the milling crowds of people walking everywhere. How dare they?

You sound like the kind of person who would unironically complain about a protest - "that's a shame, but do they have to complain about that here, where it inconveniences me?"

6

BoxFish2977 t1_jdv1o62 wrote

I'm not an idiot but I got a parking ticket for $100 as did about 20 other cars. A friend was here from Chicago for her bucket list visit to the Cherry Blossoms. We parked on Thursday afternoon in a zone where the parking signs were very far away (in fact I didn't even see the sign until we were leaving). I pulled into a spot being vacated by another car. Turns out it was a bus waiting zone, not a car parking zone. As we were leaving we warned the people who were trying to get our spot, and another car that was just pulling into a spot in the same zone. I guess that's the price of admission to the Cherry Blossoms!

−6

noideawhatisup t1_jdv47ks wrote

Replying to dassketch (#2,389,179)

Awwww. Thanks for making such an assumption. I’ve actually lived by several large sports stadiums throughout my years on this fine planet. Most people seem to understand they can get hit by cars if they go in the streets in those big cities. Not sure why you think DC should be different than LA, Anaheim, Seattle, or, oh wait, Chinatown in DC… they are way worse down by the blossoms.

And I fully support peaceful protests, especially when people don’t litter. Littering is not friendly. Which is something else that the oh so lovely cherry blossom tourists do a shit ton of.

Have a lovely Monday and enjoy the sun!

−6

toaster404 t1_jdvetjw wrote

Replying to Valuable_Ad481 (#2,387,831)

I had a different experience. Rode my e bike N from Mt. Vernon area - larger than usual number of people on the Mt. Vernon Trail, but not really any unusual behavior, the usual inattention, but most people behaving as one does on a multi-use path. That was true all along the way. Memorial bridge had a few more clueless than usual, but not much more than peak tourist, and better behaved than peak tourist. Parked at the kit festival, only moderate confusion, and all were polite enough. Even law enforcement acting rational. Rode up Constitution, nobody cared that I lane split. A few more oblivious peds than usual, but I'm careful. Parked by Natural History and played with dinosaurs. Nobody screwed with my bike, security let me in without a search. Then across the mall, down L'Enfant towards the Wharf - cars parked in the bike lane. I laughed, figure they all got tickets. Crossed over to East Potomac, a few unaccustomed to bikes and walking rationally, but not many, and we worked it out. Park Police dude said the point was looking good and traffic blocked, so I rode around the loop. Took some off roading, but easy and fun. The my girl is cute and needs pictures, instagram, and gotta fish people were there. Some cool bicycles. Then across 14th st bridge - that was the most zooish, but everyone behaved, and the police had just arrived to handle the parking on the ridge. Laughed about that with some folks. Then back home. Pretty easy, over all, considering the thousands of people. Having the cars immobile actually made it easier!!

Overall, one of the more entertaining trips of late. And I have to wonder about the intelligence of anyone trying to get in using anything but a bike or feet.

3

mikeydhakid OP t1_jdvfch1 wrote

Replying to BoxFish2977 (#2,389,421)

I’ll be the first to say that DC street parking signs are often contradictory and/or entirely illogical, but considering that meter parking is free on Sundays, you must’ve been parked in a strict no-parking area for them to have ticketed you (and twenty others)

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Valuable_Ad481 t1_jdvi4wm wrote

Replying to toaster404 (#2,391,675)

we parked in crystal city by the treatment plant and rode up MV trail and crossed at 14th. the MV had its normal amount of tourist traffic on a nice day. once we crossed the bridge it was a shit show around the tidal basin. we ended up lane splitting and going against traffic since the sidewalks were at a crawl. multiple motorists were pissy even though they weren’t moving and there was no risk of us hitting their cars. we went up 14th and then over to georgetown to hobo drink some beers by the river. that side of town was its normal warm day self.

1

Gilmoregirlin t1_jdvpbl7 wrote

Replying to SoonerLater85 (#2,393,119)

And by the time I walked to those metro stops road the escalators and waded through all of the crowded and sweaty trains I could have walked home!!!!! But you know the thought never crossed my mind to take metro lol.

−1

Gilmoregirlin t1_jdvpmzb wrote

Replying to sagarnola89 (#2,392,341)

When I called the Uber in the morning I did not realize how bad it was going to be. Normally its a short reasonably priced trip and by the time I did it was too late to take metro or walk or I would have been late.

1

toaster404 t1_jdvucvh wrote

Replying to Valuable_Ad481 (#2,392,198)

I had no interactions with motorists. Didn't do the tidal basin, though. That's always been weird for me on a bike.

On the other hand, I may be so inured to motorists that I don't notice. Park police even said I could ride against traffic, so long as I was safe. I'm safe.

At this point, I wonder about the intellect and sensibility index of people who drive into an entirely known and predicted traffic disaster. Wouldn't be surprised if the narcissism and entitlement indices were high.

On the other hand, on Hains Point and the Mall everyone seemed to be getting along and having a great time. In some areas, contact highs might have been possible!!

2

DontDoomScroll t1_jdw3xtg wrote

Replying to EdgarAllenFro (#2,392,162)

I am not a liberal, I am opposed to liberalism, I am opposed to both capitalism (exploitive) and democracy (authoritarian).
You kinda have to be pro capitalism and pro democracy to be a liberal.

I am no Marxist either. Nor a defender of States.

1

fwillia t1_jdw3yam wrote

Replying to sunshowered (#2,380,597)

Can confirm. Walking across the bridge, I saw a man parked in the right lane, dressed in a suit, putting his kid into a stroller. With a wall dividing the highway from the path, the only way to get to the Tidal Basin was to roll into oncoming traffic.

3

TellMeYMrBlueSky t1_jdw8igb wrote

Replying to MammothBobcat251 (#2,381,467)

Could also be whatever car he got on. I took the Blue from Alexandria to Smithsonian around 5pm yesterday and sat in the front car of the train. My car never got more than half full but at almost every stop from DCA to Smithsonian as we pulled into the station the driver would announce "Folks on the platform move to the ends of the train where there's room. The middle cars are completely full." We sat for probably 5-10 minutes tops at DCA but otherwise there weren't any other holding delays on my train.

But holy shit that crowd coming into Smithsonian around 6pm! Like a sardine can! They didn't even bother with fares. All the fare gates were locked open and a mix of MTPD & station agents (like 4-6 at least) directing the crowd (and probably trying to avoid a crowd crush)

4

BoxFish2977 t1_jdwmzh6 wrote

Replying to mikeydhakid (#2,391,743)

Yeah I’m not dumb and yeah I parked illegally. I don’t know why you replied as you did. Just giving warning to others to look very very closely even if there are a lot of other cars parked doesn’t mean it’s legal just means we are all lemmings. And it was Thursday. Not Sunday.

−1

niteharp t1_jdwo28q wrote

$450/sq.ft! = 875 sq.ft. 2bd/1ba condo WALK to EFC Metro. Basically walked to the Tidal Basin. This is one of the many reasons I love my place.

−1

600George t1_jdwov2m wrote

Yesterday afternoon the toll into DC from Pentagon City on the 395 Express lanes was $11.05! and people were paying it because the regular lanes were not moving. At that point, just park in Crystal City and walk over the bridge.

1

Valuable_Ad481 t1_jdxfy3u wrote

Replying to toaster404 (#2,394,029)

to be fair…. most of my road rides happen in the ‘burns or national forrests so i see very few if any pissy people. could of been a normal amount for a high traffic event.

the obvious city dwelling pedestrians were orderly and knew how to react around a crowd and cyclists. the lack of self and situational awareness was super high for the none city folk. higher then i had ever seen it before.

it feels like the vast majority of people forgot how to exist in public during the pandemic without being a nuance for others.

1

OctoberCaddis t1_jdznl45 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,390,739)

Yo I live in DC, use Metro, and would love if the city addressed crime (which has legitimately exploded the past few years) and made trains more efficient (though Metro is pretty great compared to many other US transit systems).

0