Friday, July 30, 2010
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood tries out Denver's new bike sharing system
According to the Fast Lane blog, Secretary LaHood and Mayor Hickenlooper checked out a pair of bicycles and riding them to another station. See an article about the event in the Durango Herald. The DC and Arlington system with 1,100 bikes at 114 stations will launch in the fall.
Gov. McDonnell to hold Fairfax town hall meeting
It's on the most western edge of the county bordered by the Dulles Toll Rd and Route 28. According to the WAMATA Trip Planner it's not served by public transportation. While I've never biked there, it seems pretty straightforward using Google Maps bike directions. What was he thinking? Was the meeting planned by the road lobby?
From the Governor's press release, "I have consistently found that the best ideas don't come from Richmond, they come from Virginians in communities statewide. We are focused on reforming state government to make it simpler, smaller and more efficient. To best accomplish this goal we must hear from the citizens who own that government, and who deal with it on a daily basis. That's why we are launching the 'Virginia Speaks' statewide town hall tour. It's your government, and we want to know how we can make it work better for you."
I guess he wants to hear from Virginians who drive. The meeting will be on August 25 from 7:00pm-8:30pm, CIT Auditorium, 2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 300, Herndon. Why not show up and give the governor one of your best ideas about getting people out of cars and onto bikes.
Labels: center for innovative technology, governor mcdonnell
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Cross County Trail closed at Dulles Toll Rd
Due to construction of the Silver line, the Cross County Trail (CCT) is closed at the Dulles Toll Rd and Difficult Run. At this point the trail passes under the Toll Rd and is adjacent to Difficult Run. There is very little room to maneuver construction equipment under the existing Toll Rd bridge. The equipment is being used to build a new bridge for the Silver line track.There were plans to close the trail earlier this year. At that time we were told it would be closed until November. Since then there has been plenty of time for the county and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which operates the Toll Rd and is constructing the Silver Line, to develop a detour. This is a heavily used trail that should never be closed without a detour. Would we close a major road with no options for motorists who travel on that road?
As we noted in the earlier post about the closure, there is a possible detour that requires riding on the Beulah Rd bridge across the Toll Rd. As a commenter noted earlier, Beulah Rd is a heavily traveled road, and the bridge over the Toll Road is narrow with no trail or sidewalk. Only experienced cyclists should use this route.
If you're headed north there is a dirt path leading from the CCT to Squaw Valley Dr. Take Squaw Valley Dr to L on Lozano Dr to L on Beulah Rd. Continue on Beulah Rd across the Toll Rd to L on Days Farm Dr just after the bridge. There are tennis courts located at the bottom of Days Farm Dr where a trail connects to the CCT. Map of possible detour.
To comment on the lack of a detour at this location contact the Park Authority trails coordinator. You can also complain to MWAA.
Update: MORE has a thread in their forum on riding the detour.
Labels: cross county trail, dulles metrorail
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Bike rap video from Amsterdam
Here's a fun bike video we happened across while reading Bakfiets en Meer (City cycling news and opinion from Amsterdam). The blog post title, This is Amsterdam and This is My Bike! is a common refrain in the video. The last image of a huge boom box on the back of a bike reminded me of Antoine's boom box trailer, minus the bubble machine:Labels: amsterdam
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Critical Manners in Vienna
We rode along the W&OD Trail to reach Clarks Crossing Road and a climb up to Beulah Road and back to Maple Ave. We obeyed most traffic signals and didn't disrupt traffic too much, although one motorist couldn't be slowed for even a few seconds on Beulah Rd and insisted on blowing his (or her) horn for an extended period. Given there was a solid yellow line on our side and the lane was too narrow to share, it wasn't legal to pass anyway.
From there we took a right on Maple Ave./Rt 123 and took over the outside lane. We were quite a sight, slowly cruising through Vienna, music blaring, bubbles flying, and curious motorists giving us plenty of room as the passed on the left. We had no problems as we made our way to Nutley Street and south to the Vienna Metro Station. We returned via a back route to/from the station through Nottaway Park and Tapawingo.
Thanks to Antoine for putting the ride together. Watch for notices about future rides at the Critical Manners Facebook page.
Labels: critical manners, town of vienna
Critical manners ride this evening
If you're up for a casual ride this evening check out the Critical manners ride leaving the Soundry in Vienna at 7pm.Friday, July 23, 2010
While Fairfax zeros out bike program operating funds, Arlington raises $1million
From TheWashCycle summary of the June Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting (emphasis added):David Goodman presented a draft FY 2011 Pedestrian and Bicycle Programs Funding plan. The decal fee for vehicles will be increased by $8 to $36, and this money is dedicated for bicycle and pedestrian safety and infrastructure improvements. This earmarking of funds is unprecedented and equates to approximately $1 million - $600,000 for arterial improvements, $100,000 for technology enhancements (ped/bike counter, auto bike detectors), $100,000 wayfinding, and $200,000 for infrastructure/installation of bike sharing system.
That's what's available for next year. This is work that is already underway (Are we envious? Yes):Dave Kirschner reported on paving projects including:
- Sycamore – from Fairfax County line to Williamsburg Circle – is being resurfaced, paved and painted. This includes sharrows and bike lanes. Sharrows will be in the center of the lane.
- George Mason – from Columbia Pike to Glebe – lane signage, sharrows in center lane which will connect to bike lane, Northbound
- Arlington Mill Drive - ???– bike lane and parking lane
- Quincy Street – from Glebe to Lee Highway - bike lane improvements, bike lanes, sharrows
- Fairfax Drive – from north of Washington Boulevard through Ballston - sharrows
- Army-Navy Drive – Entrance to Joyce Street, parking/bike lane, this is a long terms project
W&OD Trail closures at Dulles Toll Rd bridge
Beginning in August, there will be intermittent closures of the trail at this location during construction of the rail bridge. According to the press release below, the trail will be closed for "approximately 15 minutes or less" for placement of steel girders. Work will also be done this Fall that will entail trail closures at night. We'll try to find out more details; this is a critical commuting route used by many cyclists at night. Yes, we know technically the trail is closed after dark but it's still used by many people to get back and forth to work.
We're hopeful the August closures are less than 15 minutes. There is an easy detour shown in orange on the map. The construction site is at the blue marker. To bypass this site, you can use Sunrise Valley Dr to Wiehle Ave back to the trail (or the reverse if traveling west to east). There are sidepaths on these roads if you choose not to ride in the road. Here's the press release from the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project:
Intermittent Closures of W&OD Trail Expected Early August as Rail Bridge Construction Accelerates—The section of the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail beneath the Dulles International Airport Access Highway and the Dulles Toll Road near Reston will be closed for short periods during several weeks in August.
The closings are necessary because Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project construction crews will be ramping up work on the new bridge that will carry the rail tracks, which will run in the median of the airport and toll roads, over the trail. Crews have been working on the bridge for several months and trail users have encountered some detours.
During the first week of August, crews will start site preparations for hanging and placing large steel girders on the ridge over the trail. The girder placements are currently scheduled to begin on or about Tuesday, Aug. 10. The steel girder erection work will be done during daytime hours because there are overhead power lines at this work site that would be difficult for workers to see at night.
The trail will only close temporarily when the steel girders are lifted and installed. Closures are executed to last approximately 15 minutes or less for each girder.
The affected section is located between Wiehle Avenue and Hunter Mill Road, where it crosses under the Dulles International Airport Access Highway (DIAAH) near the trail's mile marker 16. Because the future Metrorail line will run down the median of the DIAAH, this bridge is being built to support the tracks over the W&OD Trail.
Drivers in this area may also experience lane closures along the airport highway when large equipment and materials are moved to that work area prior to the steel erections.
All motorists and trail users should stay alert and use extreme caution while traveling through this area.
After the erection work is completed, crews will be building the bridge itself. Most of that work will be done at night and will require full closures of the trail. A schedule will be released later this fall and the work is expected to be completed before Thanksgiving.
The closings are necessary because Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project construction crews will be ramping up work on the new bridge that will carry the rail tracks, which will run in the median of the airport and toll roads, over the trail. Crews have been working on the bridge for several months and trail users have encountered some detours.
During the first week of August, crews will start site preparations for hanging and placing large steel girders on the ridge over the trail. The girder placements are currently scheduled to begin on or about Tuesday, Aug. 10. The steel girder erection work will be done during daytime hours because there are overhead power lines at this work site that would be difficult for workers to see at night.
The trail will only close temporarily when the steel girders are lifted and installed. Closures are executed to last approximately 15 minutes or less for each girder.
The affected section is located between Wiehle Avenue and Hunter Mill Road, where it crosses under the Dulles International Airport Access Highway (DIAAH) near the trail's mile marker 16. Because the future Metrorail line will run down the median of the DIAAH, this bridge is being built to support the tracks over the W&OD Trail.
Drivers in this area may also experience lane closures along the airport highway when large equipment and materials are moved to that work area prior to the steel erections.
All motorists and trail users should stay alert and use extreme caution while traveling through this area.
After the erection work is completed, crews will be building the bridge itself. Most of that work will be done at night and will require full closures of the trail. A schedule will be released later this fall and the work is expected to be completed before Thanksgiving.
Labels: Silver line, W and OD Trail
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Transportation is a public health issue
USDOT Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood understands that Transportation is a public health issue. He's trying to make sure that our transportation policies don't have a negative impact on our public health in part by ensuring that all modes are on an equal footing. Actions to foster motorized travel shouldn't negatively impact other modes.
Here are a few quotes from his recent blog about a conference on this issue, "Keeping Kids Moving: "32% of children in the US are overweight or obese." and "This could be the first generation in America to live sicker and die younger than their parents."
Labels: safe routes to school
Critical Manners ride this Saturday
The Soundry "is a former auto body shop that has been converted into a public coffee shop, art gallery, and shared studio space for our member artists and musicians." It is also the site of Biketastic!, a bicycle-themed art show. Planned for Saturday, July 31, Biketastic! is a fund-raiser for Bikes for the World.
Labels: biketastic, critical manners, the soundry
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Reporting bike crashes, hazards, and thefts
We've been trying to meet with the police to discuss two recent bike crashes, on West Ox Road and on Sunrise Valley Dr in Reston. We've gotten very little information so far. We did have a short discussion with a public information officer. We also want to know who to contact in the future for information when there is a bike crash in the county.
The discussion brought up the larger issue of how bike crashes are tracked. From what we can tell, a bike crash is only reported if there is property damage greater than $1,000 or there is a personal injury. In this situation, a driver must stop if this has occurred. There appears to be no threshold to the severity of the injury. According to the information officer, the crash reporting system may be able to handle all reported bike crashes.
Besides asking for information about the two crashes, we've asked for a map of all bike crashes in the county in recent years. We're still waiting on both requests. Even with the map, we know that many crashes will go unreported.
The Cascades Bicycle Club based in Seattle has developed an innovative online application for bicyclists to report crashes as well as road or trail hazards and bike thefts. It's called bikewise and the application works anywhere in the world. We plan to start using it on a test basis. If you'd like to do the same, visit the bikewise site and report any appropriate incidents. Cyclists in Arlington and DC have already begun using it.
Labels: bike crash, bikewise, police
Friday, July 16, 2010
New bicycle advocates guide available
Below is the press release announcing the new guide:
Guide for reviewing bicycling facilities in road projects in Virginia now available
Reston, VA, July 14, 2010 - Virginia bicycling advocates have a new resource to help them review and comment on public road projects. The new guide, prepared by Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) in consultation with the Virginia (VDOT) and Fairfax County departments of transportation, outlines ways bicycling proponents can get involved in the process of designing, approving, building, and retrofitting roads to ensure that bicycling accommodations are integrated into the plans where needed. Although geared for Virginia, many of the ideas contained in the report could be applied to other locations as well.
As described in the guide, planning, approving, and constructing road projects is a long process that presents many opportunities for bicycling advocates to provide input into the final outcome. Readers will find helpful tips for speaking at public hearings and meeting with engineers. The easy to read booklet covers the basics of understanding engineering plans and also outlines various roadway features (such as intersections, roundabouts, wide curb lanes, and bike lanes) that could be shown in the plans. Design standards and guidelines, design and safety issues, and a checklist for each of these features help advocates review and comment on road design plans.
"As far as we know, no one has compiled material like this before," said Fionnuala Quinn, primary author of the guide. "I wanted to use my background in civil engineering to help demystify the road design process and to help people take advantage of occasions to incorporate bike facilities whenever roads projects are being designed. A crucial point to remember is that the earlier you provide input to the road design, the better your chances of having an effect on the final design. Besides the printed version of the report, we also plan to have an online version on the FABB web site that contains links to additional information."
Funding for the report came from an Advocacy Advance Grant from the Alliance for Biking & Walking. Funding for the grant was provided by SRAM, Planet Bike, Bikes Belong Coalition, and 42BELOW. Additional funding was received from the IEEE.
The report "Guide for Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycle Advocates," by Fionnuala Quinn and Bruce Wright, will be provided to major bicycle organizations in Virginia and to the Alliance for Biking & Walking. Copies are available free of charge upon request to finnbike [at] gmail.com or can be downloaded from www.fabb-bikes.org.
For more information on the guide, contact Fionnuala Quinn, finnbike@gmail.com, or Bruce Wright, chairman [at] fabb-bikes.org, 703-328-9619. FABB is a grassroots initiative in Fairfax County, VA, affiliated with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), aiming to make bicycling an integral part of Fairfax County's transportation network. Visit us on the web at www.fabb-bikes.org.
Update: What others are saying about the new guide: Reston, VA, July 14, 2010 - Virginia bicycling advocates have a new resource to help them review and comment on public road projects. The new guide, prepared by Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) in consultation with the Virginia (VDOT) and Fairfax County departments of transportation, outlines ways bicycling proponents can get involved in the process of designing, approving, building, and retrofitting roads to ensure that bicycling accommodations are integrated into the plans where needed. Although geared for Virginia, many of the ideas contained in the report could be applied to other locations as well.
As described in the guide, planning, approving, and constructing road projects is a long process that presents many opportunities for bicycling advocates to provide input into the final outcome. Readers will find helpful tips for speaking at public hearings and meeting with engineers. The easy to read booklet covers the basics of understanding engineering plans and also outlines various roadway features (such as intersections, roundabouts, wide curb lanes, and bike lanes) that could be shown in the plans. Design standards and guidelines, design and safety issues, and a checklist for each of these features help advocates review and comment on road design plans.
"As far as we know, no one has compiled material like this before," said Fionnuala Quinn, primary author of the guide. "I wanted to use my background in civil engineering to help demystify the road design process and to help people take advantage of occasions to incorporate bike facilities whenever roads projects are being designed. A crucial point to remember is that the earlier you provide input to the road design, the better your chances of having an effect on the final design. Besides the printed version of the report, we also plan to have an online version on the FABB web site that contains links to additional information."
Funding for the report came from an Advocacy Advance Grant from the Alliance for Biking & Walking. Funding for the grant was provided by SRAM, Planet Bike, Bikes Belong Coalition, and 42BELOW. Additional funding was received from the IEEE.
The report "Guide for Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycle Advocates," by Fionnuala Quinn and Bruce Wright, will be provided to major bicycle organizations in Virginia and to the Alliance for Biking & Walking. Copies are available free of charge upon request to finnbike [at] gmail.com or can be downloaded from www.fabb-bikes.org.
For more information on the guide, contact Fionnuala Quinn, finnbike@gmail.com, or Bruce Wright, chairman [at] fabb-bikes.org, 703-328-9619. FABB is a grassroots initiative in Fairfax County, VA, affiliated with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), aiming to make bicycling an integral part of Fairfax County's transportation network. Visit us on the web at www.fabb-bikes.org.
- "Road Design Decoded: An Advocate's Guide to Transportation Projects" from the Alliance for Biking & Walking
- "A FABBulous guide for Bicycling Advocates" from the League of American Bicyclists
- "New Guide for Reviewing Bicycling Facilities in Road Projects" from Virginia Bicycling Federation
Labels: advocates guide, alliance for biking and walking, fionnuala quinn
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Draft 2010 Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is in the process of updating the 2006 Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. This Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital Region identifies the capital improvements, studies, actions, and strategies that the region proposes to carry out by 2035 for major bicycle and pedestrian facilities. This plan is an update to the 2006 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital Region, which was the first all-new regional plan specifically for bicycle facilities since 1995, and the first-ever regional pedestrian facilities plan.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital Region is intended to be advisory to the CLRP and TIP, and to stand as a resource for planners and the public. In contrast to the CLRP, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan includes both funded and unfunded projects – projects in this plan may not yet have funding identified to support their implementation.
We haven't had a chance to review the plan yet. If you would like to comment on the plan you can visit the Draft 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan blog and post comments there.The Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital Region is intended to be advisory to the CLRP and TIP, and to stand as a resource for planners and the public. In contrast to the CLRP, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan includes both funded and unfunded projects – projects in this plan may not yet have funding identified to support their implementation.
The CLRP bike projects list is being updated. The projects listed in Fairfax County are woefully out of date. We understand county and VDOT staff are in the process of updating this list. We'd like to see some on-road bike facilities listed. This is yet another reason for completing a county bicycle master plan.
Labels: bicycle plan, clrp, mwcog
Comment on Virginia's Long Range Transportation Plan
The Bike Policy Plan is still in draft form, and now that the statewide bicycle coordinator position is vacant, progress on completing the plan is slow. Even when complete, the bicycle policy plan will contain few concrete facility recommendations. It is a policy plan that addresses VDOT policies, programs, outreach, and data collection.
Cyclists should send comments on the 2035 plan to statewideplan@VDOT.Virginia.Gov by the end of July. We suggest the following comments: 1. Fill the state bicycle coordinator position as soon as possible. The position is federally funded and there is no reason for it to be vacant. 2. Specific bicycle facility recommendations should be included in the plan. There are 7 pages of Northern Region highway recommendations and non for bicycling:
The following recommendations are suggested: Bicycle improvements to existing roads, especially U. S. Bicycle Routes 1 & 76, such as paved shoulders or restriping for wide curb lanes or bike lanes; construction of new regionally significant bicycle facilities; improved maintenance of bicycle facilities; and improved bicycle access to park and ride facilities, including better bicycle parking at those facilities. A plan for funding these improvements should also be included.
See the 2035 Virginia Surface Transportation Plan.
Labels: vdot, virginia surface transportation plan, vtrans
Friday, July 9, 2010
Gov. McDonnell proposes using enhancement funds for welcome centers
At their November 19, 2009 meeting the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) voted to adopt a new policy regarding the use of Transportation Enhancement funds. Instead of using funds for many non-transportation related projects, they would "Apply any funding for new projects to those that promote core transportation functions."Now Governor McDonnell wants to use these funds for tourist and welcome centers: "Regional Tourism and Welcome Center Partnership - Use transportation enhancement grants to further tourism outreach through the establishment of partnerships between tourism entities along Virginia's interstates. These grants will be used to develop scenic/historic highway programs such as locating commercial regional tourist/welcome centers at interchanges."
This is in direct opposition to the new CTB policy. We sent the following email to Commissioner Whirley, vice-chair of the CTB:
Commissioner Whirley,
Today I read that Governor McDonnell is proposing to use Transportation Enhancement funds "...to further tourism outreach through the establishment of partnerships between tourism entities along Virginia's interstates. These grants will be used to develop scenic/historic highway programs such as locating commercial regional tourist/welcome centers at interchanges."
I know that the CTB recently approved a policy to "Apply any funding for new projects to those that promote core transportation functions." To my knowledge, tourist/welcome centers were not included in that definition. Since enhancement funds play a critical role in developing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, it would be unfortunate if these funds are diverted to funding other non-core transportation projects. I urge you to continue to fund much needed bicycle and facility projects that play an important role in solving our congestion and air quality problems and lead to healthier Virginians.
Sincerely,
Bruce Wright
Today I read that Governor McDonnell is proposing to use Transportation Enhancement funds "...to further tourism outreach through the establishment of partnerships between tourism entities along Virginia's interstates. These grants will be used to develop scenic/historic highway programs such as locating commercial regional tourist/welcome centers at interchanges."
I know that the CTB recently approved a policy to "Apply any funding for new projects to those that promote core transportation functions." To my knowledge, tourist/welcome centers were not included in that definition. Since enhancement funds play a critical role in developing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, it would be unfortunate if these funds are diverted to funding other non-core transportation projects. I urge you to continue to fund much needed bicycle and facility projects that play an important role in solving our congestion and air quality problems and lead to healthier Virginians.
Sincerely,
Bruce Wright
Labels: commonwealth transportation board, transportation enhancements
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
July-August FABB newsletter now available
We've just sent out the July-August FABB newsletter. Topics from the newsletter include:- Comment on the 2035 Virginia Surface Transportation Plan (VSTP) before July 30
- The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the Tysons redevelopment plan that includes many bicycle recommendations
- The Tysons bike planning process will start in July
- The Guide for Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycling Advocates will be published this month
- Charlie Strunk, Fairfax Bike Coordinator, receives transportation award
- Fairfax bike sharing part of TIGER II grant application
Labels: fabb newsletter
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Reston Bike Club Wednesday social ride
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| RBC Wednesday Social Ride |
Our bikes have panniers and fenders and we use them for transportation. We carry stuff and we ride in all weather conditions. The bikes received some interesting reactions from some of the riders, most of whom had carbon road bikes. "What kind of bikes are those?" It's surprising how many people use bikes only for recreation.
As you would expect, the pace of the social rides is slower than most of the club rides although we moved right along. In any group ride it's almost impossible for the group not to get spread out, and while we planned to ride at the pace of the slowest rider, we still had to stop occasionally to regroup. It's also almost impossible for the group to stop at all stop signs. Like motorists, we rolled through many of the stop signs when no one else was at the intersection, although some of us at least made an effort to slow down.
It was an enjoyable ride; a little faster than we expected but we had a good time and discovered some new roads in the Ashburn area. We spent too much time on the trail but the route varies depending on the composition of the group and the trail is avoided when possible.
Labels: social ride; reston bike club
