FABB Blog

Douglas Stewart, a volunteer for Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, or FABB, stressed basic bicycle care.

“Maintaining a bike is really easy, you just have to pay attention,” he said. “Keep your bike in good working order, tires pumped at the right pressure.”

Stewart also promoted the creation of more bicycle-friendly county roads. FABB’s goal is to “make biking better in Fairfax County,” he said, and group members distributed fact sheets about increasing bicycle transportation.

“A lot of people are afraid of getting hit from behind on the road, but very few accidents occur that way,” he said. “A lot of trips here are 5 miles or less. If more people did those by bike, we’d have a lot less traffic.”

The City of Fairfax has begun creating “sharrows”— road markings indicating bicycle lanes, Stewart said, but Fairfax County needs to build these extra road passages too.

The Herndon Festival will feature a Bike Valet service till dusk on Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday provided by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee. The Bike Valet is a free service. Bike racks will be located at the intersection of Elden and Lynn Streets. The Bike Lane will be on hand to help with repairs and tune ups. Relax and enjoy the Festival - knowing your bike is safe with the Bike Valet.

The cyclist was riding down the sidewalk westbound on Main Street when he was hit by an ice cream truck attempting to turn out of the Fairfax Square Apartment complex shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday. The truck ran him over and dragged him for a brief time.

His injuries were non-life threatening, said Sgt. Daniel Grimm of the Fairfax City Police Department.

Impha Gassama, 52, from New Carrollton, Md. was charged with failing to yield the right of way from a private drive.

For bike commuters, the Commuter Relief Act would:

• Increase the amount of the bike commuter benefit from $20 to $40 a month.
• Allow bike commuters to combine the bike commuter benefit with other fringe benefits — up to $200. For example, You could use the $40 bike benefit and collect up to $160 of your public transit benefit.

In addition, the Commuter Relief Act would:

• Cap all transportation fringe benefits at $200 a month (the parking benefit is currently $230, the transit cap will drop to $130 at the end of 2011).
• Allow self-employed people to receive transit fringe benefits for work-related commuting.
• Require employers offering a parking transportation fringe benefit to also offer employees the option to take cash instead. This would create an incentive for more people to leave the car at home and take cheaper options, like transit, biking, and walking.
• Create a 10 percent tax credit for vanpool expenditures

"With the some of the worst traffic in the nation, Northern Virginians are no strangers to wasting gasoline while sitting in rush hour traffic," said Moran. "Providing incentives for commuters to carpool, bike, or take public transportation is not only good for our environment, but for our pocketbooks. It’s one of the best ways we can address traffic congestion in the region."

It was also a record-breaking year for the three Vienna elementary schools that participated in the third annual Walk/Bike challenge, a week-long program that pit Cunningham Park, Wolftrap and Vienna Elementary students against one another to see how many of them could leave their cars at home and get to school on foot instead.

A total of 644 students across three schools biked or walked to class on Friday -- a number that surpassed the week's next highest participation number by nearly 100.

Wolftrap Elementary School hit a single-morning record on Friday with 89 bikers. Principal Anita Blain joined the school's bike train this morning on their last run.

Cunningham Park surpassed its week-high by 50 students, and Vienna doubled its number of bikers.

Tara MacCall, the parent organizer at Vienna Elementary School, said she wanted to continue a weekly bike train on Fridays, with a post-dropoff bike ride for the parents.

Organizers at all three schools will present awards to students in the coming weeks.

"We're always encouraging our kids to do more," MacCall said. "Hopefully we'll continue [walking and biking to school], since its spring and the weather is nice."

Sidecar option Photo by Peter Klosky

National Bike to Work day was May 20th, 2011, and the Reston community proudly sponsored a morning Pit Stop. 420 registered riders were in attendance. The Washington Area Bicycling Association sponsored 49 Pit Stops throughout the region.

Thanks to a generous donation of pavilion space at Reston Town Center, the spacious, covered location worked out well for bicycle riders to stop by, get refreshments and learn more about bicycling. Though May can have rain, the blue sky weather was ideal for cycling, with temperatures at dawn just above 60 degrees, and just below 70 degrees at the end of the event, 9 am.

Several local leaders spoke in support of bicycle usage. Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling leader Bruce Wright, who co-organized the event, welcomed commuters and the elected officials. Ken Plum, Virginia State Congressman, took the mic and explained how practical a recent multi-mode commuter challenge found bicycles to be. More on that topic follows below in the Bike-Car-Bus Challenge link. Cathy Hudgins, Hunter Mill Supervisor, mentioned that planning for bicycle access to the new Metro Train was in the works. Kathleen Driscoll McKee, Reston Association President, related an anecdote on how well bicycle riding can fit into an active lifestyle with a good fitness result. Reston Association staff member Liz Badley handled the duties of handling out the many door prizes by raffle held throughout the morning.

Food was available, thanks to Community Canteen of Reston and Great Harvest Bread of Herndon. Coffee, muffins and sandwiches kept commuters going.

The Reston Bike Club tent was well staffed and focused on presenting recreation, fitness and service opportunities to attendees. Other fitness and fitness event exhibitors included the YMCA and Tour de Cure. The Link organization, funded by the Reston Town Center Association, informed the public about transportation options. The Bike Lane, a local bicycle shop, provided a mechanic.

Attendees arrived with a wide variety of bicycles, including a modern “pedal forward” design with “relaxed geometry”, several styles of trailers, and even a sidecar.

This report by Peter Klosky, Reston Bike Club. All rights transfer. email

Links to various associated sites follow.

• Washington Area Bicyclist Association
• Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
• Reston Town Center Association
• Reston Association
• Reston Bike Club
• LINK
• Bike-Car-Bus Challenge 2011 blog
• Challenge 2011 photos, by Mike McKee
• Bike to Work 2011 Photos
• Reston Patch article on Reston's Bike to Work Day
• Board of  Supervisors recognizes Bike to Work Day

"I wish that instead of a week (of biking and walking to school) we could have a whole year; it's the right thing to do. I hope this is one of the examples that we can showcase to say that Fairfax County, we're getting it right. We're hoping the county and school system will respond and make this a part of our daily lives. Our kids will grow up healthier, more conscious of their environment, more conscious of how things like this affect all of our lives here and our quality of life."

A bicycle locker is a "garage" for your bike that provides a way to store your bicycle securely out of the rain, sun, and snow. The bicycle lockers are owned and operated by Fairfax County Dept of Transportation. FCDOT has generously waived the fees for one year and Reston Town Center Association has donated the key deposit for one locker.

The Sunset Hills Park and Ride is located at 12050 Sunset Hills Road at Town Center Parkway, next to the W&OD trail, 1/3 mile from Reston Town Center Pavilion.

Start up bike locker fees usually are $120:

$60 rent per year + $10 one-time admin fee + $50 refundable key deposit

If interested in the locker, please provide your name and contact information on your business card or the form provided and drop it in the bucket. The winner will be notified after Reston Bike to Work Day concludes.



Follow the Reston Pit Stop on Twitter.

Traffic accidents are the ninth-leading cause of death worldwide and are expected to move to fifth place over the next 25 years. They are the leading killer of teenagers and young adults, causing more deaths among that group than AIDS. More than 90 percent of traffic fatality victims are in the developing world, and half are motorcyclists, bicyclists or pedestrians.

The strategy is to create demand for safer roads, stricter laws and better driving in countries where the toll of traffic injuries is unusually high. It will provide transportation and public health agencies in those places with a tool kit of interventions - seat belt laws, lowered limits for alcohol-impaired driving, dedicated bike lanes, license restrictions for teenagers, improved ambulance service - that have proved lifesaving elsewhere.

"Road safety is coming out of the shadows today, and it is time," said Etienne Krug, head of the injury prevention department at the WHO in Geneva. "Historically there has never been much international attention on this, and we have never had that level of attention from high government officials," Krug said.

Long Commute? Cycle to Metrorail, Metrobus and Park and Ride Lots on Bike to Work Day

Commuter Connections Provides Options for Every Commuter at May 20 Regional Event

Washington, D.C. - Commuter Connections urges commuters whose trip to work is too far to travel by bicycle alone to participate in Bike to Work Day (BTWD) on May 20 by cycling to their local Metro station, bus stop or park and ride lot. With 1,700 free bike racks and 1,280 lockers available for rental in the Metro system and every Metrobus equipped with a rack for two bikes, even those with a long commute can enjoy the health-, environment- and cost-saving benefits of cycling to work. Metrorail's Bike ‘N Ride program also permits cyclists to bring their bikes on railcars during certain hours.

"Bike to Work Day is an option even for those with long commutes," said Nicholas Ramfos, Director of Commuter Connections. A 2007 State of the Commute Survey by MWCOG found that drive-alone commuters traveled on average 16.4 miles one way and commuter rail riders traveled an average of 27 miles each way. "Our goal is to encourage commuters to think of ways to substitute their bicycles for the portion of their commute they may travel alone by car."

Thousands of commuters have already registered for this year's BTWD event, and Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) are inviting all commuters to explore the many car-free commute options the area has to offer. There is still time to be among the first 9,000 bicyclists who register at www.waba.org to receive a free Bike to Work Day t-shirt and be entered into a raffle for prizes that include bicycles from Brompton, Giant, Jamis, and Linus, plus bike accessories.

Last year a record number of commuters left their cars behind for a day to promote bicycling to work as a fun, healthy, environmentally friendly, and low-cost alternative to drive-alone commuting. This year, 49 pit stops will be available across the Washington Metropolitan region, offering cyclists food, beverages, speakers and chances to win prizes. When registering online at www.waba.org, cyclists will select which pit stop they will visit to pick up their free Bike to Work Day t-shirt.

Cyclists can also choose to join one of over two dozen bicycle Commuter Convoys that are now being organized for Bike to Work Day. Commuter convoys are led by experienced bicycle commuters and will travel throughout the region. All bicyclists both new and experienced are welcome to join any of the convoys. Find a convenient convoy route to your work place here.

The generous contributions of these major sponsors help to make Bike to Work Day a successful event - Marriott International, ICF International, DC Lottery, goDCgo, Whole Foods Market, AAA Mid-Atlantic, Bike Arlington, City of Alexandria, City Bikes and BicycleSPACE.

Gear Up and register for Bike to Work Day at www.waba.org or by calling 202-518-0524.

Reston resident Adam Piceno says he's an enthusiastic biker and wanted his 3-year-old daughter Addison to start pedaling now.

"This was a good chance to get her to come out and practice," he said. "She did well on the turns, but needed practice with the brakes."

Ed Robichaud, Reston Bicycle Club board member, said the purpose of the event was to show kids that biking is fun, and to make it safer for them. By teaching them low speed handling, and focusing on the proper fit of the helmets and braking, it builds their confidence, he says.

The Bicycle Club would like to see more children biking to school, and is planning to fund bike racks at local schools to promote cycling.

According to the police statement, "Investigation revealed that an adult man was riding his bicycle south on South Walter Reed Drive and turned right onto the access road of Four Mile Run Drive.

"It appears that when he turned onto Four Mile Run Drive, he crossed into oncoming traffic and struck an occupied vehicle. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. He will be identified once the next of kin has been notified."

The Arlington County Police ask that any witnesses of the accident 703 558-2222, or Detective Don Fortunato at 703 228-4197.

"Sharing the Streets" used incomplete data from a 2004 D.C. government report to unfairly single out cyclists.

The study, which found cyclists slightly more likely to be at fault than drivers in accidents, included a critical fact the editorial ignored. Cyclists were faulted in 16 percent of crashes and drivers in 13 percent, but another 7 percent were hit-and-runs by drivers.

Furthermore, the study was based on police reports, which are unreliable. In four crashes, cyclists were cited for sleeping. And the police often assign blame without interviewing the cyclist, who can be under doctor’s care when the investigation begins, which a recent study shows leads to cyclists being more often blamed.

Many cyclists ignore traffic control devices such as stoplights, but so do drivers who, according to the Federal Highway Administration, also speed 70 percent of the time. Considering how much more reckless and dangerous drivers are, asking cyclists to follow the law "too" seems misplaced. Cyclists are still waiting for drivers to behave as well as we do.

What the Dutch are particularly good at is getting from one place to another. And the infrastructure that makes that possible can seem very foreign to a foreigner.

First, of course, there are the bicycles, great herds of which ebb and flow across the cities and through the countryside every day. America’s capital is gaining a reputation as a bikeable city, but it has some ways to go to match the Dutch capital. Every sizeable road in the Hague has separate bike lanes — a set in each direction. Many bike lanes are protected from traffic with curbs.

Just imagine how many problems we could solve — traffic, pollution, obesity — if cycling was as easy here as it is there. (Of course, it helps that the Netherlands is as flat as a billiard table.)

Then there’s the public transportation system in the Netherlands.

What's especially neat about the OV-Chipkaart [a universal smart trip card] is how many places you can use it. Gerben said the Netherlands is the first - and so far the only - country to use a single card for bus, tram, subway, light rail and train, across multiple jurisdictions and companies.

"And we are broadening the use outside towards public transport-related services, such as bicycle rental and taxi," he said.

Wright said he hoped the contest would show that cycling is a viable option for many people on a short commute. I hope it has a future for commuters who now drive short distances to Metro stations. That would help the commuters, because they would save the annoying cost of warehousing their cars all day at a Metro garage. And it would help the communities, because it might save the cost of building more of those concrete fortresses that now surround our outer Metro stations and allow that valuable land to be used for more productive purposes.

Is it right for the bicyclists to force sharing a non sharable road when they have a trail right there?... Perhaps we organize a campaign to put up road signs stating (no bicycles, use trail). Yes, I ride that trail on bicycle almost every Mon, Wed, Fri and Saturday and drive that road every weekday.
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Your concerns are commonly shared by many members of the public. However bicycling has a lot of counterintuitive truths.

Under Maryland law bicycles are vehicles and bicycle vehicle operators have generally the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle operators. Bicyclists are legally entitled to use most roadways in Maryland including Jones Mill Road. Toll roads, interstate highways and travel lanes with posted speed limits of 55 mph or higher are places where bicycling is prohibited...

Why Do Bicyclists Insist on Exercising Their Legal Right to Use Roadways Adjacent To Trails?

Another counterintuitive truth is that generally roadways are safer than trails. Trails have higher crash rates than roadways. While certainly a car/bike collision can lead to serious injuries and fatalities, unfortunately serious injuries and fatalities occur on trails. Bicyclists run into each other, run into fixed objects or simply lose control and fall.

Trails often cannot safely accommodate the speeds that skilled bicyclists can achieve due to relatively narrow widths, tight curves, limited sight distances and sometimes worse overall pavement conditions than adjacent roadways. Another complicating factor [is] the presence of pedestrians, including children, dog walkers, and less skilled bicyclists. Often these folks are less predictable in their movements than motorists. Common speed limits on trails are 15 mph, a speed easily exceeded by skilled bicyclists. However a cyclist rarely exceeds the legal speed limit on a roadway.

Finally roadways often provide a more direct route than the adjacent trails which have a tendency to meander. So due to improved safety, less hassle with pedestrian conflicts, higher speed limits and directness often bicyclists prefer roadways over adjacent trails...

It all starts with the title, which online is "Bicyclists are welcome in DC, but they too should obey the law." Which is confusing as hell, because it seems there is some group who obeys the law that bicyclists can join. But I can't for the life of me figure out who that group is. A better title would be "Bicyclists are welcome in DC, but they alone should obey the law." In the paper version the title is "Sharing the Streets: Bicyclists welcome. But please obey the law." Which is better, but I could hardly see the same message aimed at any other group. It seems to be proposing the old quid pro quo - if you obey the law, you'll be welcome; which is a standard no one else is held to. If I break the law, then ticket me, but I have a right to the road and I don't need the paper to tell me I'm welcome to use it anymore than I need them to tell me I'm welcome to vote.