Saturday, April 30, 2011
Childhood obesity conference
 | ||
| Fionnuala Quinn and Rick Holt |
We met many people who were interested in trying to get more kids to walk and bike to school and for short trips in their neighborhoods. They need better bike education and they need better facilities. The Safe Routes to School program is a comprehensive way to address both issues and it was mentioned many times during the conference. It will take time to transform our car-dependent communities into walkable/bikeable areas, but it's possible and we need to start now.Labels: obesity, safe routes to school
Thursday, April 28, 2011
VDOT Six-Year Plan public hearing May 4
The Commonwealth Transportation Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP or Six-Year Plan). The meeting is Wednesday, May 4 at the new VDOT District Office, Potomac Conference Center, 4975 Alliance Drive, Suite 1N201, Fairfax, VA 22030 starting at 7 p.m. This is a chance for cyclists to ask for better bicycle facilities in Northern Virginia.Maintenance of our roads and trails continues to be a problem. It's embarrassing how poorly our roads are maintained, with crumbling pavement and unswept debris that is a hazard to motorists and bicyclists, and vegetation blocking sight distance in many places. The FFX Co Parkway trail has never been repaved. It has grass growing in cracks and has no wayfinding signage in several places where the trail diverges from the parkway. We shouldn't be widening roads and building new infrastructure unless we can repair our existing roads and trails.
According to the VDOP bike/ped policy:
Maintenance of bike lanes and paved shoulders will include repair, replacement, and clearance of debris. As these facilities are an integral part of the pavement structure, snow and ice control will be performed on these facilities.
For sidewalks, shared use paths, and bicycle paths built within department right-of-way, built to department standards, and accepted for maintenance, VDOT will maintain these bicycle and pedestrian accommodations through replacement and repair.
VDOT also needs to fully fund bicycle improvements in the Tysons area (Tysons Metrorail Access Improvement project (UPC 100469)). In the SYIP only $19M of the requested $56M is being funded through 2017. Only $4M of the needed $14M for preliminary engineering in 2012 will be funded even though the Silver line Metro stations will open in 2013. In order for Metrorail to be successful, access to the stations needs to be improved for all modes. The county now has a plan for future bike facilities in Tysons and these should be funded before the stations open.For sidewalks, shared use paths, and bicycle paths built within department right-of-way, built to department standards, and accepted for maintenance, VDOT will maintain these bicycle and pedestrian accommodations through replacement and repair.
It's also time VDOT hired a bike coordinator and finalized the State Bicycle Policy Plan. It's inexcusable that the coordinator position has been vacant for nearly a year and a half.
If you cannot attend the public hearing, please provide comments at: six-yearprogram@vdot.virginia.gov. See the public meeting schedule.
Labels: six year plan, vdot
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bike/Car/Bus Challenge
To prove that bicycling is a good option for short trips we've challenged some local officials to compare travel time for bike/car/bus for a 3 mile trip to the Reston Town Center. Starting near South Lakes HS I will be bicycling on roads and trails. Delegate Ken Plum will drive his hybrid car, and Kathleen Driscoll McKee will take the bus. We'll compare travel times and we'll compare the cost of the trips, including the direct cost of the trip (breakfast for me, gas for Del. Plum, and bus fare for Ms. McKee), the cost of annual maintenance (bike/car), and other indirect costs such as "free" parking and air pollution. See our news release for more info:
Bike/Car/Bus Challenge to be held on Monday, May 2, 2011
Reston, VA, April 26, 2011 - Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20 at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. To promote traveling by bicycle, on Monday, May 2, several residents of Reston are holding a bike/car/bus commute challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to compare the cost and travel time of the three modes during a typical short commute within Reston. For short trips, bicycle travel time compares favorably to car and bus travel times, and the cost of the trip is much less. National surveys indicate that nearly 50 percent of all trips are 3 miles or less.
The event will begin at 8:15 a.m. on May 2 and will last approximately an hour. The participants will leave from Cobblestone Lane in south Reston and travel to the Reston Town Center Pavilion, slightly more than 3 miles away. Each participant will be timed. The motorist must park in long term parking, as if he is going to be working at the Town Center for the day, and walk to the Pavilion. The bicyclist must also park and lock his bike and walk to the Pavilion. The bus rider’s time includes walking to and from the bus stop. People can choose their own route and must obey traffic rules.
Bruce Wright, Chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, will ride his bicycle, Del. Ken Plum will drive his hybrid car, and Reston Association President Kathleen Driscoll McKee will ride the bus. "I'm confident I can get to the Town Center before Ken and Kathleen. On a bicycle I'm not affected as much by congestion on the road," said Bruce. "Plus, I'll have fun, save money, and get a workout at the same time." Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins has been invited to meet everyone at the Town Center.
The cost of maintaining a bike is around $200/year. By comparison AAA estimates that the cost of maintaining a car is about $8,000/year, more than most people spend on clothing, health care and entertainment combined. Driving also has many indirect costs as well. Nationwide, motorist user fees pay for about half the cost of building and maintaining roads. All of us pay for the rest of the cost. Most of us also pay for “free” parking by paying higher prices for goods and services. The cost of one structured car parking space is around $15,000. The cost of a bicycle rack is approximately $300 installed. Transit costs are more difficult to quantify, varying by type and usage.
For more information contact Bruce Wright at 703-328-9619, chairman@fabb-bikes.org.
Resources
Bicycle trip planning:
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/
Walk Score: http://www.walkscore.com/
Ride the City DC Metro: http://www.ridethecity.com/dc
Transit:
WMATA’s Trip Planner: http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/tripplanner/
Reston, VA, April 26, 2011 - Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20 at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. To promote traveling by bicycle, on Monday, May 2, several residents of Reston are holding a bike/car/bus commute challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to compare the cost and travel time of the three modes during a typical short commute within Reston. For short trips, bicycle travel time compares favorably to car and bus travel times, and the cost of the trip is much less. National surveys indicate that nearly 50 percent of all trips are 3 miles or less.
The event will begin at 8:15 a.m. on May 2 and will last approximately an hour. The participants will leave from Cobblestone Lane in south Reston and travel to the Reston Town Center Pavilion, slightly more than 3 miles away. Each participant will be timed. The motorist must park in long term parking, as if he is going to be working at the Town Center for the day, and walk to the Pavilion. The bicyclist must also park and lock his bike and walk to the Pavilion. The bus rider’s time includes walking to and from the bus stop. People can choose their own route and must obey traffic rules.
Bruce Wright, Chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, will ride his bicycle, Del. Ken Plum will drive his hybrid car, and Reston Association President Kathleen Driscoll McKee will ride the bus. "I'm confident I can get to the Town Center before Ken and Kathleen. On a bicycle I'm not affected as much by congestion on the road," said Bruce. "Plus, I'll have fun, save money, and get a workout at the same time." Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins has been invited to meet everyone at the Town Center.
The cost of maintaining a bike is around $200/year. By comparison AAA estimates that the cost of maintaining a car is about $8,000/year, more than most people spend on clothing, health care and entertainment combined. Driving also has many indirect costs as well. Nationwide, motorist user fees pay for about half the cost of building and maintaining roads. All of us pay for the rest of the cost. Most of us also pay for “free” parking by paying higher prices for goods and services. The cost of one structured car parking space is around $15,000. The cost of a bicycle rack is approximately $300 installed. Transit costs are more difficult to quantify, varying by type and usage.
For more information contact Bruce Wright at 703-328-9619, chairman@fabb-bikes.org.
Resources
Bicycle trip planning:
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/
Walk Score: http://www.walkscore.com/
Ride the City DC Metro: http://www.ridethecity.com/dc
Transit:
WMATA’s Trip Planner: http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/tripplanner/
Update: See Dr. Gridlock's blog post on the challenge
Wright is hoping that the Reston competition will encourage commuters not only to participate in the annual Bike to Work Day on May 20 but also to consider biking as a realistic alternative to motor vehicles.
He says the annual cost of maintaining a bike is about $200. (Which tells me he maintains his bike a lot better than I maintain mine.) By comparison, he says, it costs about $8,000 a year to keep a car, citing an AAA estimate.
"Wright has challenged me several times now to set up one of our Post "Which Way?" commuting features as a bike vs. car competition, and I do plan to take him up on that."
He says the annual cost of maintaining a bike is about $200. (Which tells me he maintains his bike a lot better than I maintain mine.) By comparison, he says, it costs about $8,000 a year to keep a car, citing an AAA estimate.
"Wright has challenged me several times now to set up one of our Post "Which Way?" commuting features as a bike vs. car competition, and I do plan to take him up on that."
Labels: bike to work day, bike/car/bus challenge
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Alexandria hotel to offer Civil War bike tour
Starting on June 4th Hotel Monaco in Alexandria will be offering a tour package to their guests this summer that includes a bike tour of Civil War sites:Civil War Bike Tour Package
For history buffs that like to take a more active role in exploring Civil War history, this hotel package is a perfect fit. The Alexandria Civil War Bike Trail officially launches on June 4, 2011, and includes major stops such as Fort Ward, Fort Worth, Fort Elsworth, and Alexandria National Cemetery.
Package includes:
* Deluxe accommodations
* Printed map of the Alexandria Civil War Defenses of Washington Bike Trail
* Complimentary use of the hotel's Phat Cycle Bikes for the trip
* Healthy Snack Pack for two
* Alexandria "Key to the City" Pass
This offer can be booked online using the Book Now link above, or by calling (800) 368-5047 and referencing rate code "CIVIL". This offer is subject to availability.
Fairfax County received funding to produce the "Sully District Historic Sites Bike Map, a guide to family-friendly bike routes that highlight Civil War and historic sites in western Fairfax County" but we haven't heard if any progress is being made on the project.For history buffs that like to take a more active role in exploring Civil War history, this hotel package is a perfect fit. The Alexandria Civil War Bike Trail officially launches on June 4, 2011, and includes major stops such as Fort Ward, Fort Worth, Fort Elsworth, and Alexandria National Cemetery.
Package includes:
* Deluxe accommodations
* Printed map of the Alexandria Civil War Defenses of Washington Bike Trail
* Complimentary use of the hotel's Phat Cycle Bikes for the trip
* Healthy Snack Pack for two
* Alexandria "Key to the City" Pass
This offer can be booked online using the Book Now link above, or by calling (800) 368-5047 and referencing rate code "CIVIL". This offer is subject to availability.
Labels: alexandria, bike tour, civil war
Monday, April 25, 2011
Potomac Heritage Trails workshop on May 4
"The workshop, focusing on the PHNST from Mount Vernon to Locust Shade Park in Prince William County, is aimed at public land managers, trail and transportation planners, and PHNST stakeholders, both public and private. The workshop is free, but registration is required.
Labels: nvrc, phnst, potomac heritage national scenic trail
Friday, April 22, 2011
Vienna Town Council at-large candidates discuss the need for bike lanes
Vienna residents will choose three at-large Town Council members on Tuesday, May 3. The four candidates running for these positions are Hamid R. Barahmand, Laurie A. DiRocco, Carey J. Sienicki, Howard J. Springsteen. DiRocco and Springsteen are current members of the council.Erica Hendry of the Vienna Patch has posted video clips showing the candidates answering various questions posed by the audience. Hear what they have to say in response to the following question: 9. Has the Town worked hard enough to implement bike lanes/routes? Excerpts from their answers:
Barahmand: My suggestion is, when I was living in Canada, sidewalks were a little bit wider than our sidewalks and they were shared with bicyclists.
Sienicki: I think it's very important to identify bicycle routes so that people who are now using streets to get to and from Metro areas, for children to get to and from schools, I think it's very important to identify within the town safe routes for them to use.
DiRocco: I think bicycle lanes and routes are part of a healthy community and I think it's important to have them in our town. I hope the Bicycle Advisory Committee continues to recommend places that it's appropriate for continuing to have bike lanes and bike routes throughout the town.
Springsteen: I was very pleased that the Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Transportation Safety Commission worked very hard at the route down Courthouse Road. I will continue to work through them and take their recommendations.
To see the other video clips scroll to the bottom of the page.Sienicki: I think it's very important to identify bicycle routes so that people who are now using streets to get to and from Metro areas, for children to get to and from schools, I think it's very important to identify within the town safe routes for them to use.
DiRocco: I think bicycle lanes and routes are part of a healthy community and I think it's important to have them in our town. I hope the Bicycle Advisory Committee continues to recommend places that it's appropriate for continuing to have bike lanes and bike routes throughout the town.
Springsteen: I was very pleased that the Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Transportation Safety Commission worked very hard at the route down Courthouse Road. I will continue to work through them and take their recommendations.
Labels: town of vienna
FABB at Vienna Green Expo
There was a good crowd at the Vienna Green Expo last night, several of whom bicycled to the event. It was held in the Vienna Community Center adjacent to the W&OD Trail. We gave out lots of county bike maps, signed up a few people to receive our bi-monthly newsletter (next edition due May 1), and talked about bike routes in the area. The best quote of the night was from a man who commutes from Vienna to Ballston. He and his family biked to the event. When speaking of his commute he said that "working is what I do between bike rides." That's a great way to look at your commute. As we often say, cyclists are the only people we know who usually like their commute to work.We were interviewed by a Courtney Collins from WAMU 88.5 and a short segment appeared on this morning's local news segment of Morning Edition. We also spoke with Erica Hendry of Vienna Patch.
Labels: town of vienna
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Bike to Mason Day today
 |
| Bruce Wright and Josh Cantor |
 | |
| Rick Holt of PW Co on the left |
At mid-morning a group of Prince William County cyclists appeared, led by Rick Holt of the GMU Human Resources office. Rick is organizing bike commuting and bicycle skills classes that are being available to faculty and staff for the first time this year.
Nick Turner is pictured on the right with his prototype velomobile that he designed and built himself. Nick was a GMU student for a couple of years but left to gain some very practical real-world skills by building the pedal-powered car that he hopes to market some day.
 |
| Nick Turner and his velomobile |
Labels: bike to mason day, gmu
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Biking in our Region on The Kojo Nnamdi Show
Be sure to catch The Kojo Nnamdi Show tomorrow at noon to hear about Biking in our Region. Shane Farthing, Executive Director of WABA,Eric Gilliland, General Manager, Capital Bikeshare, and Chris Eatough, Program Manager for Bike Arlington are the guests. Kojo is off tomorrow so Diane Vogel will be the guest host:The weather's warming up for those who prefer to get around the Washington area on their bikes. New lanes and trails are making the streets safer for cyclists, and the Capital Bikeshare is expanding its footprint. Whether you're a daily bike commuter or a weekend warrior, we've got tips on staying safe and having fun.
Labels: bikearlington, chris eatough, eric gilliland, shane farthing, waba
VA Tech student from Burke attends Velo-City conference
The Velo-City conference is in its 31st year and strives to "encourage cycling as part of daily transport and recreation," according to its website. Attendees viewed cities showcasing their bicycle-friendly policies, and advocates sharing policy and procedure ideas.
She also blogged about the conference for LAB. Let's hope Lyndsay returns to this area to help make cycling a daily transportation option for everyone in Fairfax.Labels: lyndsay mckeever, velo-city
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Ride to Provide at Reston Town Center on Saturday
The W&OD Trail will be a bit more crowded west of Reston this Saturday, April 23. The Ride to Providewill start at the Reston Town Center in the morning with 10, 20, and 35 mile rides on the W&OD Trail.The primary goal of Ride to Provide is to raise awareness and money to support youth programs across America and the underprivileged and abandoned children in parts of Africa. All net proceeds from Ride to Provide will benefit the programs and serve the mission of Lorenzo Alexander's ACES Foundation as well as hundreds of orphaned babies, poverty-stricken women and children in parts of Africa by providing safe homes, loving environments and access to education.
Labels: ride to provide, W and OD Trail
Monday, April 18, 2011
Capital Crescent Trail tour
We started in Reston and decided to take a few miles off of the round trip by using Metro from Vienna to Silver Spring and starting at the furthest east end of the trail. Thinking that Metro wouldn't be very crowded at 11am we were surprised to see the station packed with people, mostly young people. Oh yeah, Spring break! With our bikes we squeezed into one of the cars near the end of the train and headed to Metro Center. As an aside, the bike parking on the north side of the Vienna station was completely full, with 2 bikes at every U rack and a few bikes locked to light poles.
Fortunately the Red Line train to Silver Spring was not crowded. We rode around downtown Silver Spring while Kerie tried to find landmarks from her youth. It wasn't easy given all of the development that has occurred there since the arrival of Metro, but she finally found the former locations of The Hecht Co., JC Penney, and the Hot Shoppe.
The Silver Spring metro station has probably the worst bike parking of any Metro station I've seen. There was one bent U rack with a carcass of a bike locked to it, and a few other bikes locked to the nearby railing. Pitiful.
It's an easy ride from the station to the start of the Trail using Second Ave, Grace Church Rd and other side streets. The route was well-marked as long as you know that the CCT is called the Georgetown Branch Trail at this point.
We didn't get that far, stopping just past Key Bridge to watch debris float by on the river. Then we headed up to M St to get to the wide sidewalk on Key Bridge and crossed over to catch the Custis Trail in Rosslyn and on to the W&OD Trail and back home. From Silver Spring to Reston was a total of 35 miles. If you haven't ridden the Capital Crescent Trail, it's highly recommended but we suggest going on a weekday as we've heard it's as crowded as the W&OD Trail on a nice weekend.
Labels: bethesda, capital crescent trail, silver spring
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Bike Route Survey for the Town of Vienna
The advisory committee is asking cyclists to give them "feedback on where we need to add bike routes in the Town of Vienna." To do that you can take the Bike Route Survey.
We took the survey and suggested several signed bike route: from Vienna to the Dunn Loring Metro station; a route parallel to Maple Ave using Church St and Windover Ave; and a route from the W&OD Trail to Tysons using Church St, Ayr Hill Ave, Creek Crossing Rd, and Fairway Dr. Many of these routes are on the Vienna Bike Route map produced by Fairfax Co DOT in consultation with the Town Council. The map forms a good beginning on identifying potential signed bike routes throughout the Town.
Labels: town of vienna
FABB at Clean Fairfax Earth Day/Arbor Day
It was a wet day at the Fairfax Co Government Center for Clean Fairfax Earth Day/Arbor Day. Fortunately the organizers moved the event inside. As a result of the rain there were many fewer visitors than expected. Despite the rain several people stopped by the FABB table and picked up maps and other bike literature, signed up for the FABB newsletter, and talked about riding in Fairfax. Many people said they would ride more if conditions were better. It's a common theme when we are out talking to the general public. People say they want to use their bikes but they don't feel safe riding on the roads. Most of our streets were not designed for cyclists, and novice cyclists feel especially vulnerable. The main reason we teach the Cycling with Confidence class is to help cyclists learn the skills needed to ride in traffic. The county needs to do much more to encourage people to ride by providing safe, convenient bike facilities.
We had a good conversation with the representative from Inova who was at the table next to us. Inova is sponsoring Let's Move the Needle on Childhood Obesity, and we discussed the importance of kids using active transportation. It's a lifelong activity and helps them become independent at an earlier age. Kids who learn about the rules of the road when young become better drivers as they get older. They also learn they don't have to drive everywhere to get around. We plan to have a table at the event and hope to meet others who want kids to be able to use their bikes for transportation and to get exercise.
Update: See the article Going Green? It's in the Bag about the event.
Labels: clean fairfax, earth day, inova, obesity
Bike commuting seminar at GMU
Five GMU faculty/staff took our latest bike commuting seminar on Friday. GMU is making great strides in becoming a more bicycle-friendly university. The entire length of Patriot Circle now has either bike lanes or shared lane markings (sharrows). Bike parking is regularly being added and several new bike shelters are in place with new racks to be installed in the shelters this month and next. 
Labels: bike commuting, bike to mason day, gmu
Thursday, April 14, 2011
FABB and WABA join forces
What does this mean? We will now be able to work more closely with WABA to advance bike advocacy in Fairfax County, including being able to raise funds. We are a volunteer organization and have struggled at times to find funding for the hosting of our website, paying for insurance for group rides, printing promotional materials, purchasing needed equipment, and paying for other miscellaneous expenses. Now supporters of FABB can donate to WABA/FABB to help cover some of the cost of these expenses.
We're excited about this new partnership and look forward to working closely with WABA to expand bicycle advocacy in Fairfax.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Bike commuting seminar at AOL
Conditions between the W&OD Trail and the campus are not great, especially for inexperienced cyclists. There are no bike lanes or trails between the two locations. There is a shopping center located near the campus but many people drive the short distance at lunchtime. With bike lanes or a good paved trail it would a short trip by bike or on foot.
This is the second of several bike commuting seminars planned for various locations in Northern Virginia. They are made possible in part by a grant from the Transurban-Fluor Community Grant Program. The AOL event was organized by the Loudoun County Office of Transportation Services and AOL provided the venue and great support. If you would like to schedule a seminar at your workplace, contact us at chairman@fabb-bikes.org.
Labels: AOL, bike commuting, loudoun county
Monday, April 11, 2011
Allen Muchnick receives award from Arlington Co Civic Federation
 |
| Allen Muchnick receiving his award from Mark Antell of ACCF |
Labels: allen muchnick, arlington county
AASHTO thinks bike/ped facilities requirement is "undue burden on states"
At last year's National Bike Summit USDOT Secretary LaHood announced new Federal policy recommendations to state DOT's to ensure that bicyclists and pedestrians are treated as equals with other transportation modes. See our earlier blog entry about the announcement.Now the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) thinks that this requirement is an "undue burden on states." From a supplement to an April 1 letter from AASHTO to USDOT:
The law clearly states that bicycle and pedestrian facilities shall be considered where appropriate. However, FHWA guidance has embellished the law from "consider where appropriate" to a must include condition unless not doing so can be justified. Furthermore, it states that "there must be exceptional circumstances" for not providing such facilities. This regulation presents an undue burden on states to justify exceptional circumstances when not including provisions for bicyclists and pedestrians in a project.
Recommendation: FHWA should rescind their guidance on the meaning of "due consideration."
AASHTO doesn't say why this is an undue burden.
Recommendation: FHWA should rescind their guidance on the meaning of "due consideration."
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Letter from Superintendent Dale on Safe Routes to School
In February FABB met with the FFX Co Board of Supervisors to ask for better support for parents who want their kids to walk and bike to school, primarily by supporting an area-wide Safe Routes to School grant application. The outcome of the meeting was summarized by Chairman Bulova:Chairman Bulova said she would like to come out of the meeting with a decision on how to proceed. It was suggested that staff develop criteria for selecting schools and present to the Board, and that DOT and FCPS meet to develop some operating procedures to figure out how to facilitiate the grant process. At a later date the larger SRTS community, such as the police, Health Department, other health advocates, and others can become involved in the process. From the letter:
This resulted in a letter from County Executive Griffin to School Superintendent Dale:I am requesting that a meeting be set up with your office in the next several weeks, so that we can discuss how best to staff a Fairfax County SRTS Program grant application process. I strongly recommend that for the Fairfax County SRTS Program to be successful, you and/or the School Board need to direct FCPS staff "from the top down" to make the SRTS Program a FCPS priority.
Superintendent Dale responded:It is our intent to begin working with parent organizations to determine how we might begin to address the issue of parent decisions regarding Kiss and Ride in the hope that collaboratively we might begin to encourage parents to allow their children to walk or ride buses to schools. We will keep you informed of these efforts.
Finally, FCPS is in favor of formalizing the current ad-hoc process of the SRTS process. It is suggested that OSS, FCDOT, VDOT and the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) form a review team for potential SRTS infrastructure projects. Currently, there is a draft SRTS infrastructure grant application (submitted March 25, 2011) for Terra Centre Elementary School that could be a pilot For such a process.
We plan to continue to work with all of the groups above to try to encourage kids to walk and bike to school and to educate them on how to safely interact with traffic.Finally, FCPS is in favor of formalizing the current ad-hoc process of the SRTS process. It is suggested that OSS, FCDOT, VDOT and the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) form a review team for potential SRTS infrastructure projects. Currently, there is a draft SRTS infrastructure grant application (submitted March 25, 2011) for Terra Centre Elementary School that could be a pilot For such a process.
The Dale letter contains some interesting facts about how kids get to school from a Kiss and Ride Survey. "The majority of designated walkers (60%) and a significant number of designated bus riders (39%) use Kiss and Ride." In other words, 39% of the seats on school buses that Fairfax Co. taxpayers are paying for are empty.
The county also funds construction of sidewalks, within 1 mile of elementary and 1.5 miles of high schools, built specifically to provide safe walking routes to school.
What are some reasons for not walking? Their backpacks are too heavy, they have too many items to carry, bad weather, and because students want to get more sleep. Reasons for not taking the bus include after school activities, sleeping more, and the bus comes too early. When parents were given a list of ways to address some of these problems, and asked if it would affect their driving behavior, 61.5% of parents said they would still drive kids to school.
On a related topic, the study completed in 2007 on the possibility of later high school start times, known as the SLEEP study, contains a great deal of school transportation information.
Labels: safe routes to school
Kidical Mass in DC
The first ever Kidical Mass ride in DC is planned for April 23: |
| Riders with Wolfie's Bike Train |
Meet us at 10am on Saturday, April 23 across the street from Eastern Market Station for refreshments, a bicycle decorating party, and an opportunity for future cyclists to ride their pushbikes and tricycles in a protected area. Then we'll leave at 11am for a leisurely ride through Capitol Hill before ending at the Argonaut for brunch.
* 10:00am: Refreshments from Dessert Stations, bike decorating (supplies donated by SCRAP-dc), tricycle and pushbike riding for young riders
* 11:00am: Main ride begins. Prizes from BicycleSPACE will be awarded at the end!
* Start point: 8th St. SE & D St. SE
* End point: The Argonaut, 1433 H St. NE.
On a related note, Wolfie's Bike Train to Wolftrap Elementary School in Vienna will be riding on Friday, April 15th and Wednesday, April 27th.
Labels: kidical mass
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Keep Tysons Moving, by bike
Fionnuala and I attended the Keep Tysons Moving event early this morning. The purpose is to provide updates on construction of the HOT lanes and Dulles Rail projects, and to provide employers with information about the many transportation options serving Tysons. This is our third year at the event and each year there seems to be more interest in biking to Tysons.As Fionnuala mentioned on the FABB Facebook page, we met Dr. Gridlock, Robert Thompson for the first time. We had communicated once about including bicycles in his comparison of travel times, either comparing different routes or travel modes. He was interested but it never developed. He's still interested to so we'll continue to pursue the idea.
The event is held at Capital One, just inside the Beltway and north of Rt 123. Employees can see the Tysons Mall but can't get there on foot and crossing under the Beltway on123 on a bike is intimidating to say the least. We rode from Reston and Vienna, taking the W&OD Trail to Virginia Lane to Hurst St to Idylwood to Idyl Lane to Pimmit Drive. Then we crossed Route 7 and took the service road north along Route 7 which turned out to be a decent route that lead to Lisle Ave with just a small detour where the service road was blocked and could easily be re-opened just for bike/ped traffic. We then took Lisle to Cherri, Magarity, Holly Ridge and Old Meadow Rd which lead to Capital One. It took me an hour from Reston and it was a pleasant start to the day.
We learned about a new program offered by Fairfax Co. Employer Services Program, the Bike Benefit Match Program. The program is for large employers (100 employees on-site) who agree to participate for a year. The county will reimburse the employer for 50% of the cost of implementing the Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit. Employees receive the $20/month benefit and it only costs the employers $10/month for the first year, with Fairfax Co paying the rest.
We also learned about a new program offered by VDOT through NuRide: "Commuters can earn rewards for telecommuting, carpooling, vanpooling, taking public transportation, walking or biking. Commuters sign up for free at gotysons.org/nuride, and earn points for each car-free trip they record on the web site. Points are then redeemed for coupons, discounts and special offers from nearly 50 local restaurants and retailers. There will be weekly drawings to win $100 in free groceries from SHOPPERS."
We also promoted the Bike Commuting Seminar that we plan to teach on Friday, May 6 in Tysons. A light lunch will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, contact TYTRAN (703-799-5394, info@tytran.org) or Bruce Wright, chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) at chairman@fabb-bikes.org, 703-328-9619.
Labels: Tysons
Monday, April 4, 2011
Vienna Town Council approves Courthouse Rd bike route
Over the past several months the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee has been working on a proposal to create a signed bike route between the W&OD Trail/downtown area and the Vienna Metro station. The first phase of that route begins at Vienna Elementary School, proceeds along Locust Street and continues on Courthouse Road to Nottoway Park. Tonight after a brief public hearing in which several cyclists spoke out in favor of the route, the Town Council, on a motion by Councilman Dellinger, approved it unanimously..
As we noted in our earlier blog post about the route, it's not perfect, but it is an encouraging start on a network of bike routes throughout the Town. Drew Meren, Chairman of the Transportation Safety Commission and former chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee gave the presentation and also showed a half-size version of the Vienna-specific bike route sign (above).
Congratulations to the advisory committee on getting this first every Vienna bike route approved and good luck in the future.
Update: News article about the council meeting:
Council Approves Bike Route On Courthouse Road from Vienna Patch.
Courthouse Road to Get Shared Bicycle Routes from Sun Gazette.
Labels: courthouse road, town of vienna
VDOT Six-Year Improvement Program public hearing May 4
The Northern Virginia public hearing VDOT's Six Year Improvement Program is scheduled for Wednesday, May 4 at the new N. Va. VDOT District Office, Potomac Conference Center, 4975 Alliance Drive, Suite 1N201, Fairfax, VA 22030 (map). The hearing begins at 7pm.We're doing some research into the plan and will likely present comments at the public hearing. Unfortunately the VDOT Six Year Improvement Program page doesn't help much as it is about a year out of date. We'll have to wade through the Six Year Plan database.
One major concern we have is that the state has been without a bicycle coordinator since Jakob Helmboldt left in January 2010. Since that time the State Bicycle Policy Plan has been in draft form and the bicycle advisory committee has not met. To our knowledge this is a federally funded position and there's no excuse that it has not been filled.
Labels: bicycle coordinator, bicycle policy plan, vdot
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Vienna Town Council hearing on Courthouse Road bike route
This plan was discussed at the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting we attended in January. The original plan was to add bike lanes to the road between Locust and Nutley Streets. Parking is currently permitted, and to implement bike lanes parking would have to be restricted. The handful of residents who do park in the road protested vehemently and that proposal was dropped.
The latest plan is for an 11 foot travel lane with a white outer edge stripe, creating a paved shoulder. There will be roadside bike route signs with some wayfinding signs. In part because VDOT has not accepted them for approval, Shared Lane Markings will not be used. However, we've heard that VDOT plans to adopt Shared Lane Markings by this summer. If appropriate, shared lane markings could be included as part of the plan. See the draft Draft Virginia MUTCD Supplement web page.
While we strongly support the idea of bike routes to the Vienna Metro station, we think the current plan has some problems. It works fine until a cyclist, riding in the paved road outside the 11 foot travel lane, encounters parked cars and must navigate back into the travel lane, across a solid white lane marking. The current road configuration is probably better for cyclists without the 11' lane markings.
If bike lanes are not going to be striped, and if parking continues on the road, then bike route signs would likely be sufficient. While the purpose of the 11' lane markings is to reduce traffic speeds, which will benefit cyclists, they also complicate bicyclists' movements. This will not be a major problem as there is very little parking on this segment of the road.
We hope that in the near future the Town will take steps toward developing a comprehensive bicycle master plan that would include a network of signed bike routes through the Town, bicycle parking and other bicycle infrastructure, and bicycle education and encouragement.
Labels: courthouse road, town of vienna
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Bicycle: The Metro parking solution
That's the title Post editors gave to my letter to the editor about bike parking at Metro stations. It's a much better title than the online version, Metro present and future:In her March 28 Metro article, "A cloud over Metro's Silver Line," Kafia A. Hosh wrote the following: "When the four stations open in 2013, none will have parking . . . ."
That is correct only with respect to cars; all will have parking — bike parking. There will be space for several hundred bicycles, and more bike parking can easily be added, at a very small fraction of the cost of car parking, as was noted in the March 21 Metro article "Metro to lure bike-to-rail commuters."
Many residents around the region who live near Metro stations find that bicycling to the stations is quicker, less expensive and more convenient than driving to the station and parking. These short car trips also generate the most air pollution, since vehicles burn fuel less efficiently before properly warming up.
Hosh also asserted that Fairfax County "has outlined a bicycle path network . . ."
This is only partially correct. The county has developed a comprehensive bicycle master plan for Tysons Corner that includes recommendations for on- and off-road bicycle routes, bike parking and other end-of-trip facilities, and encouragement and education programs.
Many of these recommendations can be implemented before Metro arrives; we hope that the county hears the concerns of citizens and provides adequate funding and oversight to ensure cyclists can easily and safely access the new stations and other locations in Tysons Corner.
Bruce Wright, Reston
The writer is chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling.
That is correct only with respect to cars; all will have parking — bike parking. There will be space for several hundred bicycles, and more bike parking can easily be added, at a very small fraction of the cost of car parking, as was noted in the March 21 Metro article "Metro to lure bike-to-rail commuters."
Many residents around the region who live near Metro stations find that bicycling to the stations is quicker, less expensive and more convenient than driving to the station and parking. These short car trips also generate the most air pollution, since vehicles burn fuel less efficiently before properly warming up.
Hosh also asserted that Fairfax County "has outlined a bicycle path network . . ."
This is only partially correct. The county has developed a comprehensive bicycle master plan for Tysons Corner that includes recommendations for on- and off-road bicycle routes, bike parking and other end-of-trip facilities, and encouragement and education programs.
Many of these recommendations can be implemented before Metro arrives; we hope that the county hears the concerns of citizens and provides adequate funding and oversight to ensure cyclists can easily and safely access the new stations and other locations in Tysons Corner.
Bruce Wright, Reston
The writer is chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling.
Labels: bicycle parking, dulles metrorail, Silver line
