good news/bad news re: Columbia road conditions

Odometer: 172 miles

While out driving today, I made a loop on Little Patuxent Parkway to check the road conditions. The good news is that LPP is fully paved and safe for scooter riding once again. Thank goodness, the giant hole that nearly swallowed my scooter whole has been patched.

But the BAD news is that Governor Warfiled parkway, which runs along the back side of the mall, is town to shreds, with entire lane stripped down to the foundation pavement. Once again, there is very poor signage in this area. I was headed to the mall on Twin Rivers Road and there was no construction signage whatsoever – an unsuspecting scooterist would have toppled head over wheel bearings straight into the middle of the intersection. The lip between paved and unpaved is nearly two inches. Approaching the intersection from another angle, there is an “Uneven Road” sign – but it’s several hundred feet past the point where the road is graded. Excellent planning, folks!

So, once again, Columbia scooterists BEWARE of poor road conditions around the Mall. For the time being, use Little Patuxent Pkwy to circumvent Governor Warfield Pkwy. I’ll post an update when the construction work is completed.

WARNING!! Little Patuxent Parkway Unsafe for Scooters!

Mileage: 160

Out for the longest ride I have taken so far (25 miles, most exciting!) I stumbled upon a significant danger yesterday: graded road. For you riders in Columbia, this hazard is located at the end of Little Patuxent Parkway, where the road crosses over Cedar Lane and forms a lovely 3ish mile loop at the end (see photo above).

This spot is normally one of my favorite places for riding, so I was disturbed yesterday to find that the road has been very roughly graded and not suitable for scooting. Even worse, the signage at this particular area is lacking – one sign saying “BUMP” really does not describe the poor conditions. In fact, I nearly bit it right into a huge hole right at the edge of the graded roadway. But thanks to the newly acquired “Quick Swerve” move that I learned in motorcycle safety class (more on that later), I managed to avoid disaster.

Be cautious in this area, scooterists! Above is a quick map showing you where I encountered dangerous terrain. I will keep an eye on it and post an update when the road project is finished.