Monday, December 29, 2014
Effect of high visibility jackets on bike crashes
The project has been carried out as a randomized controlled trial with 6,800 volunteer cyclists. After random selection, half of the group – the test group – got the bicycle jacket at once and promised to wear it each time they biked during a year. The other half of the group composed a control group that got the bicycle jacket after the closing of the project, i.e. after a year.
The safety effect of the bicycle jacket was analysed by comparing the number of self-reported accident for the test and control group. The self-reported accidents showed that the test group had 38% fewer personal injury accidents with other road users – so-called multi-party accidents – than the group who did not wear the bicycle jacket. If one only looks at accidents between participants and vehicles, the difference is 48%. The differences are statistically significant at 5% level. In the test group, 37% of the involved parties in an accident reported that they were not wearing the bicycle jacket or any other bright-coloured garment when the accident occurred.
Also mentioned in the study was the effect of permanent running lights for cyclists:The safety effect of the bicycle jacket was analysed by comparing the number of self-reported accident for the test and control group. The self-reported accidents showed that the test group had 38% fewer personal injury accidents with other road users – so-called multi-party accidents – than the group who did not wear the bicycle jacket. If one only looks at accidents between participants and vehicles, the difference is 48%. The differences are statistically significant at 5% level. In the test group, 37% of the involved parties in an accident reported that they were not wearing the bicycle jacket or any other bright-coloured garment when the accident occurred.
The Danish Road Traffic Accident Investigation Board (AIB) has a working hypothesis stating that lack of visibility can be among the reasons for the higher accident risk for cyclists (AIB, 2008). This hypothesis is supported by a project on the use of permanent running lights for cyclists completed in collaboration with the Traffic Research Group at Aalborg University and Odense Municipality. The project documents that the use of permanent running lights significantly reduces the accident risk for cyclists. Specifically, the probability of cyclists being involved in multi-party accidents is reduced with 47 %. These accidents are typically the most severe ones for cyclists, and the reduction most likely caused by the cyclists’ increased visibility. (Madsen et al., 2013)
From Bike Portland.Labels: bike crash, high visibility
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Bike racks at Bed Bath & Beyond
Any day now the county will have official bike parking guidelines. We've been told that the draft guidelines that have been under development for several years will go before the Board of Supervisors in February or March.
Vienna 2015 legislative agenda
The Town of Vienna recently published their 2015 legislative agenda. We were encouraged to see the following:
The Town of Vienna requests language to be added to specifically include "new sidewalk projects" as eligible for HB 2313 funding. An expanded sidewalk network provides transportation options and reduces motorized vehicle use and congestion.
The Town and Fairfax County are receiving considerable transportation funding based on HB 2313 and it's important that pedestrian and bicycle projects be eligible for that funding. Fairfax County has determined that most of their ped/bike projects do not qualify for those funds. We're pleased that Vienna thinks that sidewalk projects are a critical part of their transportation network. It's unfortunate that their request didn't include bike projects.Also included in the legislative agenda is Vienna's support for "a change to the composition of the Commonwealth Transportation Board to have greater representation to the urban/dense suburban areas of the Commonwealth." The CTB plays a significant role in determining which VA projects receive funding and as Virginia's urban areas grow it's important that those areas are well-represented on the CTB.
Virginia Bicycling Federation is developing their legislative agenda but the information has not been made public. We assume it will include topics such as dooring, following too closely, and motorists stopping for bicyclists in a crosswalk. We hope their agenda is published soon.
The Board of Supervisors included the crosswalk bill in Fairfax County's legislative agenda along with a statement regarding the need for multimodal transportation options in growing employment centers: "That transformation has already begun in Tysons, where significant improvements in transit access have been made, but additional resources are needed to ensure that pedestrian, bicycle, and transit modes thrive and roadway congestion is addressed."
Labels: legislative agenda, town of vienna
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Bicycle Master Plan final documents published
Changes were made to the draft text and maps after the Planning Commission and Board hearings, and those changes are now included in the plan. To distinguish it from earlier copies, the cover of the final plan has a date of October 2014. Unfortunately there is no redlined version to easily find changes made during the PC and BOS adoption process.
Labels: bicycle master plan
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Complete Streets references
One of the cities featured is Memphis, Tennessee, which in 2008 and 2010 made the list of Bicycling's Worst Cities. Since then the Mayor has committed to adding 55 miles of new bike lanes and hired the city's first bike coordinator. Bicycling recently featured Memphis in the brief article America's Most Improved Bike City. The city now has a Complete Streets Manual that is helping transform the city into a more bike- and ped-friendly place.
Another great Complete Streets resource is Rethinking Streets: An Evidence-Based Guide to 25 Complete Streets Transformations. It contains some excellent ideas for remaking our streets into safer, more bike-friendly places. Several of the transformations consist of road diets similar to those in Reston on Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive that are featured in a new Federal publication, the Road Diet Informational Guide.
MWCOG conducted a survey of local jurisdictions to determine which had Complete Streets, Survey Finds Number of Local "Complete Streets" Policies in the Region Growing. According to the survey, Fairfax County said they have a Complete Streets policy, the Transportation Policy Plan.
Labels: complete streets, memphis, road diet, tennessee
Tour de Lights in Reston on Saturday
Join the Reston Pedestrian and Bicycling Committee for a tour of holiday lights in Reston on Saturday, Dec. 20. The ride begins at 4:30 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza. The route is not flat. For more details see the Tour de Lights poster or send a message to pbac@reston.org.
Labels: reston, reston pedestrian and bicycling advisory committee, tour de lights
Monday, December 15, 2014
US DOT Secretary Foxx blog's about Reston road diets
Recently we mentioned a new Federal Highway Administration publication, "Road Diet Informational Guide," that uses Lawyers Road in Reston as a case study of how road diets improve safety and can provide better bike access. Today US Dept. of Transportation Secretary Foxx featured the guide in his blog Fast Lane: A diet you can live with:
One community where a road diet was a good fit is Reston, Virginia, where two roads recently shrank, and motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are safer for it. In Reston, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) implemented a road diet on a two-mile segment of Lawyers Road during an already scheduled 2009 repaving project. Reaction among residents was mixed before the project, but views shifted to strong support after the project helped reduce crashes in the corridor by 67 percent—that’s a full 2/3 reduction! A second road diet was installed on nearby Soapstone Drive in 2011, and that diet resulted in a 65 percent crash reduction.
I first heard about road diets when I was mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. They’ve become popular features there, and FHWA has singled them out as one of nine proven safety countermeasures for cutting fatalities and serious injuries on America’s roadways.
Better roads, more options, and safer travel – that’s a diet we can all live with.
I first heard about road diets when I was mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. They’ve become popular features there, and FHWA has singled them out as one of nine proven safety countermeasures for cutting fatalities and serious injuries on America’s roadways.
Better roads, more options, and safer travel – that’s a diet we can all live with.
Labels: anthony foxx, road diet
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Holiday parties this week
FABB will have our monthly meeting/holiday party starting at 7:30 p.m. at Patrick Henry Library in Vienna on Wednesday (Dec. 17th). Everyone is welcome to attend. Some of us are bringing snacks and drinks; if you plan to attend, please let us know.Also on Wednesday bikes@vienna is celebrating the holidays from 5-7 p.m. The shop is located almost across the street from Patrick Henry Library so you could attend the bikes@vienna event and then join us at the FABB party.
Labels: holiday party
Friday, December 12, 2014
Bike lane proposed on Marshall Road in Vienna
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| Image from Google Maps |
Please consider emailing your support or comments to council@viennava.gov or if possible attend the meeting Monday night that begins at 8 pm. The Council chambers are on the second floor of Town Hall.
See details about the Marshall Road project and info about the council meeting.
Labels: climbing lane, marshall road, town of vienna
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Jones Branch Connector and Route 28 meetings tonight
Jones Branch Connector Project meeting - Fairfax County will present plans for a future bridge over the Beltway in Tysons, the Jones Branch Connector Project. The new bridge would extend from Route 123 near the McLean Metrorail station across the Beltway to Jones Branch Dr. Bike lanes are currently included in the plans for the road and bridge. The meeting will be held at Spring Hill Elementary School, 8201 Lewinsville Road, McLean, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with a formal presentation at 7:15 p.m. Please consider attending and supporting bike access on the bridge.Route 28 Safety Study Meeting - VDOT is holding a public meeting "regarding the development of a traffic and operational safety study to identify short-term recommendations to improve traffic operations on Route 28 (Centerville Road) from South of I-66 to Liberia Ave." The Route 28 Corridor Safety and Operations Study meeting is on Wednesday, December 10, at Centreville Elementary School, 14330 Green Trails Blvd., Centreville from 6:30-8:30 p.m. A brief presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. Better bike access across and along Route 28 should be included in this study.
Labels: jones branch connector, route 28
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Route 28 Safety and Operations Study public meeting Dec. 10
The Route 28 Corridor Safety and Operations Study meeting is on Wednesday, December 10, at Centreville Elementary School, 14330 Green Trails Blvd., Centreville from 6:30-8:30 p.m. A brief presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Even though the Countywide Trails Plan designates bike facilities along Route 28 there is currently no bike access along most sections of the road in Fairfax County. Cyclists are encouraged to attend this meeting and speak out in support of bike access along and across Route 28. There are several locations where Route 28 is a major barrier for bicycle and pedestrian access.
Labels: route 28
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Lawyers Road featured in national road diet guide
The Federal Highway Administration recently published the "Road Diet Informational Guide" that users Lawyers Road as the case study. VDOT staff provided input to the guide's authors based on their experience with road diets in Virginia. In 2011 a second road diet in Reston converted Soapstone Drive from four lanes to two lanes and bike lanes, providing good bike access to the new Wiehle-Reston East Silver Line station.
See our coverage of the Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive projects.
We are fortunate to have some very forward thinking engineers in the Northern Virginia District of VDOT who are willing to experiment with new road treatments that make some of our roads safer for everyone.
See our coverage of the Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive projects.
We are fortunate to have some very forward thinking engineers in the Northern Virginia District of VDOT who are willing to experiment with new road treatments that make some of our roads safer for everyone.
Labels: lawyers road, road diet, soapstone drive, vdot
Friday, December 5, 2014
Jones Branch Connector Project public meeting Dec. 10
Next Wednesday, December 10, the county will hold a public meeting to present the plans and get feedback from the public. Cyclists are encouraged to attend the meeting and speak out in support of bike access on the bridge.
The meeting will be held at Spring Hill Elementary School, 8201 Lewinsville Road, McLean, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with a formal presentation at 7:15 p.m.
In related news, the county hopes to create bike lanes on Jones Branch Dr when the road is repaved next summer.
Labels: jones branch connector
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Fairfax County Legislative Program - Motorists stop at crosswalks
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted their Legislative Program at their meeting yesterday. As has been the case for the past several years, the program included a request that would require motorists to stop for pedestrians and bicyclists in crosswalks. Currently motorists are only required to yield, which means they "shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary."From the program:
Pedestrian and Transit Safety
Safe access to transit facilities can be improved through infrastructure investments and better traffic safety laws. With the opening of the Silver Line, along with significantly increased Fairfax Connector service and more concentrated growth, more residents and workers in the County are choosing to walk and use transit. Fairfax County supports revisions to Virginia’s existing pedestrian law that clarify the responsibilities of both drivers and pedestrians, in order to reduce the number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities that occur each year. In particular, support legislation that would require motorists to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks at unsignalized intersections on roads where the speed is 35 mph or less, and at unsignalized crosswalks in front of schools. (Reinstates and updates position included in previous Programs.)
The Board doesn't think much of the idea of devolution which would require counties to build and maintain roads that are currently the responsibility of VDOT.Safe access to transit facilities can be improved through infrastructure investments and better traffic safety laws. With the opening of the Silver Line, along with significantly increased Fairfax Connector service and more concentrated growth, more residents and workers in the County are choosing to walk and use transit. Fairfax County supports revisions to Virginia’s existing pedestrian law that clarify the responsibilities of both drivers and pedestrians, in order to reduce the number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities that occur each year. In particular, support legislation that would require motorists to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks at unsignalized intersections on roads where the speed is 35 mph or less, and at unsignalized crosswalks in front of schools. (Reinstates and updates position included in previous Programs.)
Secondary Road Devolution
Oppose any legislation that would require the transfer of secondary road construction and maintenance responsibilities to counties, especially if these efforts are not accompanied with corresponding revenue enhancements. While there are insufficient resources to adequately meet the maintenance and improvement needs of secondary roads within the Commonwealth, the solution to this problem is not to simply transfer these responsibilities to local governments that have neither the resources nor the expertise to fulfill them. Further, oppose any legislative or regulatory moratorium on the transfer of newly constructed secondary roads to VDOT for the purposes of ongoing maintenance. (Reaffirms previous position.)
Oppose any legislation that would require the transfer of secondary road construction and maintenance responsibilities to counties, especially if these efforts are not accompanied with corresponding revenue enhancements. While there are insufficient resources to adequately meet the maintenance and improvement needs of secondary roads within the Commonwealth, the solution to this problem is not to simply transfer these responsibilities to local governments that have neither the resources nor the expertise to fulfill them. Further, oppose any legislative or regulatory moratorium on the transfer of newly constructed secondary roads to VDOT for the purposes of ongoing maintenance. (Reaffirms previous position.)
Labels: legislative program
Delegate Ken Plum discuss Bicycle Master Plan with FABB Chairman - Update
Delegate Ken Plum recently asked if I would appear on his cable TV show Virginia Report to discuss the recently adopted Fairfax County Bicycle Master Plan.Virginia Report December 2014 from Comcast Channel 28 on Vimeo.
Reston Impact November 2014 from Comcast Channel 28 on Vimeo.
Labels: bicycle master plan, delegate ken plum, john lovaas, reston impact, virginia report
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Dr. Gridlock letter on bike safety
A while back Dr. Gridlock wrote a column about bike safety, Travelers share ideas on how to drive, walk, bike safely. At the end of the column he asked for additional "thoughts on how we should behave in traffic." In response I wrote the following letter about motorists speeding and turning right on red lights and at STOP signs. The letter was published on Sunday (I didn't see the online version):
To add to your list of behavior that endangers bicyclists and pedestrians, turning right on red lights is very high on my list. When cruising through a stop sign, motorists are looking left and not looking for pedestrians or cyclists attempting to cross from the right, who likely have the right of way. I think it’s become habitual for most DC area motorists, including police.
Like most cyclists and pedestrian, I am also a motorist. Having heard criticisms about bad bicyclist behavior for many years, I am now a better motorist. However, I also am more aware of other motorist’s behavior, including noting the above infractions by motorists at nearly every intersection. Now when I drive I stop and look right before turning left and I try to go the speed LIMIT; almost no other motorists drive at or below the speed limit. When asked about it almost every motorist I’ve talked to thinks it’s OK to drive above the limit.
My nomination for the most widely abused speed limit is the 35mph limit as one approaches the main Dulles Toll Road booth in Tysons from the west. I’ve tried going 35 but am almost rear-ended when I do.
The next time you pass through an intersection with a STOP sign or traffic signal, count how many times motorists run red lights when turning right on red or fail to stop at the STOP sign. One of the best reasons to ride in the road is that cyclists become a part of traffic and motorists are more likely to see you. However, there are many times when I and other cyclists choose to ride on trails parallel to major roads.Like most cyclists and pedestrian, I am also a motorist. Having heard criticisms about bad bicyclist behavior for many years, I am now a better motorist. However, I also am more aware of other motorist’s behavior, including noting the above infractions by motorists at nearly every intersection. Now when I drive I stop and look right before turning left and I try to go the speed LIMIT; almost no other motorists drive at or below the speed limit. When asked about it almost every motorist I’ve talked to thinks it’s OK to drive above the limit.
My nomination for the most widely abused speed limit is the 35mph limit as one approaches the main Dulles Toll Road booth in Tysons from the west. I’ve tried going 35 but am almost rear-ended when I do.
One example is the trail on Wiehle Ave in Reston near the new Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail station. In the video below, a cyclist or pedestrian would be approaching on the trail to the right where these motorists are turning right on red without stopping, especially at around 12 seconds into the video.
Labels: dr. gridlock
