Sunday, January 8, 2017
January-February 2017 FABB News
January-February 2017 FABB News
A bi-monthly publication of Fairfax Alliance
for Better Bicycling
www.fabb-bikes.org
New FABB Board Member
FABB would
like to welcome its new At-Large Board Member, Katie Kelly. In addition to
being an avid bicyclist, Katie lives in Reston and is a director with SCORE
Mentors, which seeks to foster vibrant small business communities through
mentoring and education. She also is a founder and president of Squij-Kat Inc.,
a Reston-based company that designs and sells products that celebrate bicycling
and overall wellness.
Katie is
replacing Alan Young. Alan, a devoted and hardworking FABB member for many
years, led the FABB Futures Project that resulted in our group becoming an
independent non-profit organization last year. Fortunately, Alan plans to remain
active in FABB, especially in our advocacy training efforts.
Upcoming FABB Meetings
The first FABB
monthly meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, 18 January, at the
Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center
Street, Herndon. Our focus will be on bicycling facilities in the
Herndon-Great Falls-Hunter Mill District area. All cyclists and other
interested residents are invited to attend and discuss how we can make this
area even more bike friendly.
In the
following month we will be meeting on Wednesday, 15 February, at the Mt. Vernon Government Center, to talk about bicycling matters and upcoming advocacy opportunities
in the Mt. Vernon and Lee Districts.
Speaking of
meetings, our December Holiday reception at the Mad Fox Brewing Company in
Falls Church was a great success with nearly 40 FABB members and supporters
attending.
FABB Offering Fairfax County Bike Advocacy
Workshop on 4 February
Have you
ever noticed when riding your bike an issue that needs fixing but weren't sure
how to get it done? Are you interested in making Fairfax County more bike friendly?
Then this workshop is for you! FABB is offering a beginner level bike advocacy
workshop to provide you the basic tools and strategies to effect change in your
community.
FABB has
successfully advocated for improved bicycling in Fairfax County over the past
decade and would like to support others interested in continuing the progress.
The workshop will focus on Fairfax County, understanding the local decision
making process and how best to get your message out to have successful results.
Together, with the right tools and resources, we can continue making bicycling our region
safer and more accessible.
FABB's
advocacy workshop will be held February 4, 2017 from 9:30-3pm, at Prince of
Peace Lutheran Church, 8304 Old Keene Mill Rd, Springfield. There is no charge
for the workshop. Lunch will be provided. To sign up, register here. Online registration closes January 29.
2017 National Bike Summit
The Summit’s focus will be on regional planning, national and local messaging, and the road map for collaboration in advancing the bicycling movement. Workshops include topics such as youth bike education, Vision Zero safety initiatives, and Bicycle Friendly Community applications. There also will be opportunities to tour a National Museum of American History exhibition on bicycles and a behind the scenes look at NPR’s new state-of-the-art bike facilities with NPR bike group members. Learn more about the summit with this short Youtube video.
FABB Joining Capital Trails Coalition
FABB is
joining the Capital Trails Coalition (CTC) and has already attended its first
CTC meeting. If you are not familiar
with it, the coalition is a collaboration of public and private organizations,
agencies, and citizen volunteers working to advance completion of an
interconnected network of multi-use trails for the DC metropolitan region. Its
goal is to create a world-class network of multi-use trails that will transform
public life by providing healthy, low-stress access to open space and reliable
transportation for people of all ages and abilities. In addition, CTC
continually works to identify trail funding, broaden the base of support, and
cultivate widespread consensus that a capital trail network is a regional
priority.
FABB is
excited to be working with the other coalition members in this endeavor. We
expect to be active in helping to define the Fairfax parts of the trails system
and in establishing reasonable criteria that allows for the inclusion of Fairfax
trails in the network.
FABB is
looking for a volunteer to serve as our representative to CTC meetings and to
help drive FABB efforts to support the CTC mission by engaging Fairfax
residents about the trail network and gathering their feedback and input. FABB anticipates that this effort will require 3-4 hours per month to attend and report on the meetings and then to work with the Board to determine the need for any actions. If you might be interested in serving in this
role, please contact Jeff Anderson at president@fabb-bike.org.
W&OD Overpass Included in I-66 Inside the Beltway Widening Project
A grade-separated pedestrian and bicycle overpass of the W&OD Trail at the intersection of Washington Boulevard/Lee Highway in Falls Church is included in the proposed build scenario for the I-66 Inside the Beltway Widening Project. The W&OD bridge proposal is part of the preliminary design plans and final Environmental Assessment (see page 3-42 of the report) unveiled at public hearings hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in early December. The W&OD bridge would offer significant safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians at this intersection.
Public support for this overpass is essential to make sure this critical component of the trail is built. You still have until 30 January to provide written comments to Ms. Amanda Baxter, Special Projects Development Manager, at Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please reference “Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening” in the subject line.
The I-66 Inside the Beltway project involves adding an eastbound travel lane on I-66 from just east of the Dulles Connector Road (Route 267) to Fairfax Drive/Glebe Road (Exit 71). Project information, including preliminary design plans, environmental
technical studies, project schedule, and right of way and civil rights
information, can be found at www.Transform66.org.
Rolling Road Widening Project Modifications
Undermine Goals
FABB recently
sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors objecting to modifications to the
initial proposals for the Rolling Road Widening Project. The projects proposed
bicycle improvements, which were recommended by VDOT, FCDOT, and endorsed by
FABB, have been modified to the point of being unhelpful. The Fairfax County
Sidewalks and Trails Committee has expressed its concerns that the current
proposal for a sidewalk on one side of the road and an 8-foot path on the other
is inadequate for this critical connection between West Springfield and Fort
Belvoir.
The
project’s goal is to reduce congestion and improve safety by widening Rolling
Road (Route 638) from two to four lanes between the Fairfax County Parkway and
Old Keene Mill Road. In addition to the now modified and inadequate bicycle and
pedestrian facilities, the project will add turn lanes and stormwater
management facilities. Work on interim improvements (dual-left turn lanes from
Rolling Road to westbound Old Keene Mill Road and upgrading signal and intersection
alignment) is expected to begin this spring.
Your help is needed to ensure this project includes safe and accessible biking and walking facilities. Please send comments to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov. Please include “Rolling Road Widening” in the subject line.
On Tuesday, 13 December, the City of Fairfax held a meeting on the extension of University Drive north of Fairfax Boulevard. The project includes bike lanes on both sides of the street and is part of efforts to revitalize Fairfax Boulevard as a more walkable and bikeable destination. Unfortunately, most of the city residents who spoke at the meeting were opposed to the plan. In reaction, the Fairfax City Council decided it needed more time to consider the community’s comments and obtain more information about its options. Further discussion has been deferred until 24 January and FABB encourages local cyclists to contact the city council to support the extension.
Fairfax City University Drive Extension Decision Deferred
Bike Lessons at Fairfax County Schools in 2017
Fairfax County Public Schools are offering bicycle safety classes to elementary and middle school students. The class will be held at the Hunter Woods Elementary School in January and at King’s Glen Elementary School in February.
Students are provided bikes for the class. After getting lessons on helmet fitting and bike safety checks, the students practice basic riding skills. A second lesson allows students to practice stopping at stop signs, yielding to traffic, riding in groups, and making decisions. New riders work on balance bikes until they are ready for a pedal bike.
See the schedule for the rest of the school year, initially posted by Sally Smallwood, Safe Routes to School Coordinator for FCPS, and learn more about the program by visiting this FABB blog on the program.
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If you
haven’t already, please Like us on Facebook and follow our Twitter feed. If you
have news about bicycling in Fairfax to share with our readers, please submit
brief articles to news@fabb-bikes.org.
Upcoming Events
January 18 -
FABB Monthly Meeting for Herndon-Great Falls-Hunter Mill District, Herndon
Fortnightly Library, 768 Center Street,
Herndon, VA.
January 23 –
VDOT Bike/Ped Advisory Committee, Richmond, VA
February 4 –
FABB Bicycle Advocacy Training Course, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8304
Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA
February 15
- FABB Monthly Meeting for Mt. Vernon and Lee Districts, Mt. Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Ln, Alexandria, VA.
March 6-9 – 2017
National Bike Summit, Washington, DC.
March 15 –
FABB Monthly Meeting at Oakton Public Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Pl, Oakton, VA.
April 29 -
SpringFest Fairfax, The Sully Historic Site, 3650 Sully Historic Way.
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