Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Stringfellow Road bicycle route
VDOT is proposing to widen Stringfellow Road between Route 50 on the north and Fair Lakes Blvd just north of I-66 to the south. This is an important future bicycle route connecting Fairfax County Parkway to the north and the Fair Lakes and the many public facilities along Stringfellow Road.FABB, WABA and others concerned about an on-road bike route on the road recently met with VDOT and Fairfax County staff to discuss the project. The current plan includes a wide curb lane as the on-road facility. While we would prefer narrower travel lanes and a 5-foot stripped bike lane, we will support the wide curb lane at the June 12, 2007 public hearing (see the events page for more details).
Cyclists should attend the June public hearing to speak out for this facility (See the VDOT Stringfellow Road Project page for background info). The current plan contains 4 travel lanes with the inside lane being 11 feet and the wide curb lane 14 feet. There will be a 10-foot multi-use trail and a 5-foot sidewalk. We feel strongly that the on-road facility is needed for bicyclists. Studies have shown that cyclists are safer on-road. For a discussion of this topic see the Wikipedia entry for Segregated cycle facilities. On-road cycling allows the use of existing roads that are connected and provide more direct routes to major destinations, especially given the incomplete and poorly maintained trail network in Fairfax County.
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