Thursday, February 2, 2012
Bike-sharing in the suburbs
A key reason the bike program has flourished in the District and Arlington has been the expansion of bike lanes and bike-related improvements to encourage cycling. As Bikeshare moves to areas outside the city, the same accommodations are important, said Shane Farthing, director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.
“I do think that the next places that come along are going to have to step it up a little bit to make sure that conditions are right, that people are safe, that there’s space for people to bike, and that drivers and cyclists are educated on how to ride responsibly,” Farthing said.
In 2010 Fairfax County applied for funding through the TIGER II grant program for bike sharing in either Reston or Tysons as part of the MWCOG application. Their application was not among those selected for funding.“I do think that the next places that come along are going to have to step it up a little bit to make sure that conditions are right, that people are safe, that there’s space for people to bike, and that drivers and cyclists are educated on how to ride responsibly,” Farthing said.
While Reston is becoming more bike-friendly, that community and most of Fairfax still have a long way to go before most bicyclists feel comfortable riding on most of our roads. We will definitely have to "step it up a little bit" with more bike lanes and calmer streets before bike sharing becomes feasible. Tysons is undergoing a major transformation and within a few years could be ready for bike sharing.
Labels: capital bikeshare, tiger II, Tysons, waba executive director
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