FABB Blog

May-June 2015 FABB News

A bi-monthly publication of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

www.fabb-bikes.org

Bike to School Day is Wednesday, May 6

On May 6th children across the nation will be participating in National Bike to School Day. This is the 4th annual Bike to School Day promoted by the National Safe Routes to School Center, as a sister event to its Walk to School Day Fall events. Currently more than 2,000 schools across the country have signed up to participate with 155 schools in Virginia and nearly 40 in Fairfax County. Fairfax County's Safe Routes to School Coordinator has been working hard to increase Fairfax County Public Schools participation and those efforts are paying off.  

This year the school system has challenged schools to get 100 bikes in their racks. Schools that achieve the "century" milestone will receive 100 bike seat covers as prizes for all the students who participate. Of course, children and parents are encouraged to walk to school as well. 

Several Fairfax communities have over 5 schools participating in the event. They include Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Reston, and Vienna. A few schools, such as Navy Elementary on West Ox Road, are participating for the first time. Lots of events are planned including the week-long Bike/Walk Challenge that Vienna elementary schools have been holding for 7 years. To see which schools are participating and to register your event visit the Bike to School Day website.

Register Now for Bike to Work Day on May 15

If you haven't already signed up for Bike To Work Day on Friday, May 15, now is the time. This year Fairfax has 14 Bike to Work Day locations. Look for a FABB representative at most of the pit stops. (We still need a volunteer at the Mt. Vernon-Collingwood pit stop.) We'll be handing out bike maps and talking to cyclists about how they can help make Fairfax a better place to bike. To register for Bike to Work Day go to www.biketoworkmetrodc.org.

Public Hearings on I-66 Outside the Beltway

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced that it will host public hearings in late May and early June on the latest environmental assessment for the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. Details are below.

This is another great opportunity for bicyclists and other citizens concerned about transportation options in Fairfax to provide comments to VDOT. Now is the time to build an extension of the Custis Trail parallel to I-66 and to build bike facilities on all of the bridges. You can review project information at www.transform66.org beginning May 12, 2015. Written comments may be submitted by email to Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please reference "Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Public Hearing" in the subject line. Comments must be emailed to VDOT by June 18, 2015 to be included in the public hearing record.

The hearing schedule is as follows, with all hearings running between 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. with a brief presentation at each hearing beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

VDOT Northern Virginia District Office

4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Oakton High School - Cafeteria (Entrance #1 or #14)

2900 Sutton Road, Vienna, VA 22181

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Battlefield High School - Cafeteria (Entrance #1 or #4)

15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket, VA 20169

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Bull Run Elementary School - Cafeteria (Entrance #1)

15301 Lee Highway, Centreville, VA 2012

Tour de Fat is Back on May 30

Tour de Fat is a free bike party held at Yards Park located next to Nats stadium on Saturday, May 30. The all day event is sponsored by New Belgium Brewery and is full of music, fun, and games, beginning with a costumed bike parade at 11 a.m. We are still looking for a few volunteers to help out at the event by checking IDs, especially on the afternoon shift. All volunteers receive a unique 24 oz. Tour de Fat stainless steel water bottle and a $5 merchandise coupon. Contact us for more info. Proceeds from beverage sales go toward funding bike advocacy in the DC area including FABB's work. 

Bike Fairfax Wikimapping Project - Routes to Transit

Fairfax County wants to know how you ride to Metro and VRE stations so they can help identify where bike route improvements are needed. Comments are being accepted until June 30. "The Bike Fairfax Wikimapping Project provides commuters and leisure bicyclists the opportunity to help prioritize future bicycle improvement projects.  Specifically, we are reaching out to bicyclists to show us what routes are being used to get to Metrorail and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) stations in Fairfax County today. This information will help guide the decision making process on future bicycle infrastructure improvements including wayfinding signage and bike lanes."

Bike Projects as Part of Summer Paving Schedule 

Fairfax County recently completed a series of public meetings on bike projects that will be added on several roads being repaved. The presentations are available online. These are very low cost projects that improve safety for all road users. Thanks to everyone who supported the bike projects by attending these meetings and/or by contacting officials. Your participation made a difference in overcoming some objections to the projects. We'll be reporting on these projects as they are implemented on the FABB blog, Facebook, and Twitter. If you don't already, please Like us on Facebook and follow our Twitter feed.

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