Thursday, May 22, 2008
Cyclists speak out for bike facilities at HOT lanes hearings
Over half of the speakers at last night's public hearing on the Beltway HOT lanes project spoke out for including bicycle facilities on the HOT lanes bridges that will be reconstructed as part of the project. Dranesville Supervisor Foust noted that the project is a once in a generation opportunity to provide bicycle and pedestrian access across the Beltway, which has been a barrier to bicycle travel since the late 1960's.WABA president Douglas Stewart and I both noted the importance of including on-road facilities on the bridges. Others pointed out that Route 7 has no on-road facilities and the off-road sidepaths, while providing access over the bridge, will be dangerous given the high speed traffic entering and exiting the HOT lanes and the Beltway. We think the message was clear; citizens demand transportation alternatives, including bicycle facilities on all our roads.
VDOT and Fairfax County have agreed to a number of bicycle accommodations (see Exhibit N, Attachment 3-1A), and displays showing these facilities were posted at the open house before the public hearing. We will continue to monitor this project to ensure that the bike facilities remain a part of the project.
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