imported post
Shouldn't be any problem carrying on the W & OD (which, by the way, stands for the Washington & Old Dominion railway, in who's track bed the trail resides)
I used to bicycle the trail frequently, from Arlington toward Leesburg. Not in the same ride, of course. The trail's about 40 or more miles long. I, too became spooked in the more remote parts of the path, particularly beyond Herndon. There are places where there really isn't much around.
About 25 years ago, a young, female tennis pro at a country club in Chantilly went for a run in a more remote part of the path and never returned. I recall from news reports that a large pool of human blood was found near the path, and in her blood type, but as far as I know, her body was never recovered.
On another bike path on the eastern edge of Fairfax City, a neighbor of mine, young fit guy, was attacked by a large man. He escaped and ran away, but these bike and running paths in the area can be problematic. Easy for creeps to hang out and attack people. There isn't much access to these paths and many aren't wide enough for an emergency vehicle other than another bicycle. I do know the Fairfax County police have officers on bikes patrolling these paths, but there can't be enough of them.
The W&OD right near the Vienna, VA community center has been the scene of numerous flashers. I saw one many years ago standing right up against the community center building! No cell phones in those days, so the guy was long gone before police arrived.
I'll never go out on the W&OD or any of the other such parks unarmed.
