Wednesday, May 30, 2018
I-66 Inside the Beltway Meeting on June 5
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Hey, FABB members and friends in the McLean/Tysons and Falls Church area: the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is holding a “Pardon Our Dust” meeting to discuss upcoming construction in your part of the county as part of the I-66 Inside the Beltway project.
For bikers, the most important part of the project is the plan to build a bridge for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail over Route 29 (Lee Highway) as you leave Falls Church and enter Arlington. The upcoming construction also will add an additional travel lane to I-66 on a four-mile stretch of eastbound I-66 between the Dulles Connector Road and Fairfax Drive (Exit 71) and connect two existing ramps at the I-66 and Route 7 interchange to allow direct access from eastbound I-66 to the West Falls Church Metro Station.
Construction is just now getting underway. Please plan to attend and speak up for making the W&OD bridge the best it can be. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Yorktown High School, 5200 Yorktown Boulevard, in Arlington.
Labels: falls church, i-66 inside the beltway, lee highway, route 29, w&od trail
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Faces of Fairfax: Lou From Springfield
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| Lou |
Unconcerned about the rain on BTWD 2018, Lou from Springfield took some time to talk to FABB about his views on bicycling in Fairfax County. Lou rides for his health, laughingly adding that biking takes miles off his car and puts them on his body. He regularly commutes to work by bike. This year he also is riding to get ready to participate in the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Bike MS: Colonial Crossroads Challenge in early June. Lou told us that he really likes being out in the fresh air as he exercises. To make it easier and safer to ride in the county, Lou recommends better enforcement of the three-feet safe passing law. He also would like to see more bicycle facilities added as businesses expand along Loisdale Road in Springfield.
FABB is happy to report that Fairfax County’s Bicycle Master Plan, which we supported and helped get approved, includes numerous bike lanes and sharrows on and around Loisdale Road and Commerce Street. Between 2015 and 2017, some of these facilities were added as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s summer repaving program. Although no additions are planned for this summer in this area, there will be future opportunities for the repaving program to provide this virtually cost-free bicycle infrastructure.
Labels: BTWD, Faces of Fairfax
Friday, May 25, 2018
Faces of Fairfax: Ian and Christopher Antonopoulu
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| Christopher and Ian |
A recreational rider from Centreville, Christopher Antonopoulu took a break with his son, Ian, during BTWD 2018 and spent a few minutes with FABB to talk about biking. Christopher likes to ride around his neighborhood and on the W&OD Trail. He told us that he rides to get outside and to take in the fresh air, one of the things he likes most about bicycling. Spending time with his son is another benefit of being outdoors on a bike. In response to our question about what he would change to make bicycling better in Fairfax County, Christopher told us he would like more and better connections between trails.
FABB could not agree more. Better connections are essential to creating the trail and bike lane networks that will make commuting and other short trips by bike a viable option for more Fairfax residents. And FABB is working with the Capital Trails Coalition and other allies in the county to help make this happen.
Labels: BTWD, centreville, Faces of Fairfax
Faces of Fairfax 2018
As Bike Month comes to an end, it’s time again for FABB’s Faces of Fairfax. Since 2015 FABB volunteers at Bike to Work Day pit stops talk to local riders and share their stories. Through these stories our hope has been to personalize Fairfax County’s bicyclists for the larger public. Over the next several weeks, FABB will be posting our new batch of stories to show the breadth, depth, and humanity of cyclists here in northern Virginia.
We encourage FABB members and other readers to share these profiles in social media as a reminder to our fellow citizens that bicyclists are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, and sons and daughters. These stories are a cue to everyone who uses roads and trails that Fairfax County’s bike commuters, recreational riders, and other bicyclists represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and interests. And, when cyclists ride with safety in mind and within the law, they deserve common courtesy and consideration from others.
FABB welcomes its members to share their stories. If you would like to be featured in Faces of Fairfax, just send a photo with your name, where you live (city only), and a brief paragraph on why and where you ride, what you like most about bicycling, and what you would like to change to make bicycling easier and safer. We look forward to hearing from you.
Labels: BTWD, Faces of Fairfax
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Tysons-McLean Bike/Ped Improvements Meeting in June
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| Tysons/Old Meadow Road project. |
FABB encourages members and other interested residents in the Tysons and McLean areas to attend a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) public hearing on the project to connect Rt. 123 and Tysons Corner Center. The meeting will be on Thursday, June 14, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the George C. Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, in Falls Church.
Based on the results of the preliminary engineering phase of the study, which included earlier public outreach meetings, the final design plans include a 10’ shared-use path along Old Meadow Road from the McLean Metro Station leading to a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over I-495 to connect to Tysons One place and Fashion Boulevard. This $6.2 million project is tentatively scheduled to begin and be completed in 2020.
This will be great opportunity to speak up in favor of much needed bike improvements and show state and transportation officials the strength of county residents’ support for multimodal transportation options.
If unable to attend, you can also email comments to meetingcomments@VDOT.virginia.gov. Please reference “Tysons/Old Meadow Road Bike/Ped Improvements” in the subject line.
Labels: bridge over i-495, mclean, old meadow road, Tysons, vdot
Monday, May 21, 2018
Bike-Ped Count Volunteers in Reston Needed
Reston friends! The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is looking for volunteers to help count bicycles and pedestrians at the intersection of South Lakes Drive and Springwood Drive during June 2-4, 2018. Can you help?
The collected data will determine the need for a crosswalk at the intersection. School bound bike traffic turns left at the intersection as do cyclists going to the trail that goes to the underpass under Soapstone. The count will provide a helpful snapshot of current numbers of people walking and biking along this corridor before improvements are implemented.
Counting forms and instructions will be provided. No prior experience is necessary. If you are interested, you can sign up here.
Labels: bike count, FCDOT, reston, soapstone drive, springwood drive
Saturday, May 19, 2018
National Bike Challenge - Go Fairfax!
And, speaking of community, Fairfax is ranked fourth among areas with one million or more residents. We're trailing only the Bay Area, Atlanta, and Philadelphia in riders and miles. This is a great opportunity to show some community spirit. FABB encourages members to use the challenge to get new riders involved in bicycling. We can beat Philadelphia and we have to stay ahead of Tampa Bay (sitting down at seventh). So, now that the worst of the rain is over, sign up and go ride.
Labels: national bike challenge
Friday, May 11, 2018
Bike Month And You
It's Bike Month and if you haven't seen our video, take a minute and give it a view.
Labels: bike month, volunteers
Thursday, May 10, 2018
May-June 2018 FABB News
Welcome to Bike Month
May is National Bike Month and FABB is doing its part to celebrate the many benefits of bicycling while encouraging more people to give biking a try. We hope everyone will use the month to get out for a ride and share with the others your love of bicycling.
As part of FABB’s Faces of Fairfax series, you’re invited to share your bicycling story. Faces of Fairfax is FABB’s way to show the many different faces of Fairfax bicyclists who commute to work or school, ride to save money and time, and bike to improve their health and the environment. Just send a short note to info@fabb-bikes.org and we will include you in our Faces of Fairfax series to show the breadth, depth, and humanity of cyclists here in northern Virginia. Check out FABB's Faces of Fairfax blog to learn more.
Bike to Work Day is May 18
Bike to Work Day is almost here. Join the fun on Friday, May 18 as we celebrate bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work. There are several pit stops around the region where participants can enjoy free food, commuter support, and get their free 2018 Bike to Work Day t-shirt. Join the fun! Register today.
FABB will be out at Fairfax County’s 17 pit stops to celebrate with and encourage the Bike to Work Day participants. We still need volunteers, especially in Springfield, Lorton and Herndon. If you can help, please sign up here.
You can also help by spreading the word about Bike to Work Day to friends, neighbors and your employer. FCDOT has a tool kit for businesses to help them get involved in promoting bicycling as a viable commuting option. More information about the business tool kit is available at the FCDOT website.
Global Women’s Cycling Day or CycloFemme (May 13).
Each year on Mother’s Day, self-led bike rides around the globe unite riders, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or bicycle preference, to inspire others to bicycle and gain all of the benefits that come from riding. CycloFemme began with a belief in the power of a bike to transform lives. To find out more about the program and donate to the charity’s work in providing bicycles for women in poorer parts of the world, visit the CycloFemme website here.
Join the National Bike Challenge
The National Bike Challenge is underway and FABB wants you to join the challenge to get on your bike and ride. Last year, FABB members were part of the more than 30,000 bicyclists from all 50 states and the District who participated in the challenge. Between May and September, FABB members rode enough miles to finish among the top 20 groups and clubs in the nation. Let’s see if we can’t do better in 2018. Register today!
The National Bike Challenge is a nationwide event that encourages current and new bicyclists to get out and ride. It is a free and easy way to challenge yourself, your colleagues and your community to ride more while competing on a local, state and national level for various prizes and awards for you and for FABB. The 2018 Challenge is organized and presented by the League of American Bicyclists with help from Love to Ride. The Challenge runs from May 1 to September 30. Visit the National Bike Challenge/Love to Ride website for details and to record your miles.
Meet Katherine Lewis, FABB’s New Communications Coordinator
You may have noticed that FABB’s social media has recently stepped up its game with more and more interesting posts and tweets. Well, that’s thanks to our new Communications Coordinator, Katherine Lewis. A Fairfax native, Katherine is a Media and Professional Communications major at the University of Pittsburgh. She’s been working remotely from the Steel City and doing a fantastic job. FABB is really pleased (and grateful) to have her help in getting our message about making bicycling better in Fairfax County. Please let Katherine know that you appreciate her work. Give her some likes, shares, and retweets, and help spread the word!
Celebrate Bike Month with FABB at Lake Anne Brewhouse
You’re invited to join FABB at Lake Anne Brewhouse on May 25, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., to celebrate Bike Month. In lieu of FABB’s regular May meeting, we’re getting out ofthe meeting rooms and riding over to Lake Anne to enjoy some drinks and snacks together. As an added benefit, Lake Anne Brewhouse will donate $1 from every pint or soda to FABB. We hope you’ll come meet up with fellow bicyclists, enjoy the festivities and support FABB. Stay tuned for more information on a social ride in the works for that night too.
Mark Your Calendar! FABB Providence District/Tysons Area Meeting June 20
FABB’s June meeting will focus on the Providence District and the immediate Tyson’s area. We are planning to have local officials and business representatives talk about plans for future bicycle infrastructure and related transportation developments. Please join us on Wednesday, June 20 at the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church.
FABB Bicycling Classes Coming This Summer
In July, FABB will kick off Learn to Ride classes. These classes will be for adults who have never learned or need to build confidence in riding again. A team of certified instructors will teach the proven "glide" methodology, balancing techniques and other basic bike handling skills. Classes will held on Saturday mornings at the new Reston Bike Lane location from 8:30-10:30. Stay tuned for exact dates and registration information!
Tell NVTA to Prioritize Multi-Modal Transportation Funding
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority released a draft plan for $1 billion in transportation funding over the next 6 years and is currently seeking public input. This is a great opportunity to speak out for funding better bicycling in Northern Virginia.
Sixty transportation projects from around the region were submitted for NVTA’s 6-year plan. Several Fairfax area projects would expand biking, walking, and transit access across our region. These included enhanced bike routes on the W&OD, the West Falls Church Multimodal project, Richmond Highway widening and BRT, and bikeshare for the City of Fairfax. Check out FABB’s blog for a fuller list of projects up for NVTA funding.
Comments in support of key multimodal projects can be emailed to NVTA until May 20.
Park Authority Strategic Plan Missing Bicycling
Your help is needed ensure the Fairfax County Park Authority includes bicycling in its FY19-23 Strategic Plan for the parks. FCPA is developing the strategic plan to help direct implementation of the county’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan over the next five years. While FABB is pleased the park authority established a goal to improve access and opportunities for healthy and active lifestyles in its recently passed master plan, they failed to include bicycling anywhere in the draft strategic plan. FABB is urging the Park Authority to add an objective to increase bikeable access to park facilities just like the walkable access objective already included in their draft plan. You can review the draft FY19-23 Strategic Plan here and submit comments via email to parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov through May 25.
Speak Up in Support of Major Tysons Bike/Ped Project
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is holding a design public hearing on the Tysons/Old Meadow Road bike/ped improvements that will connect Rt. 123 and Tysons Corner Center. Plans include a 10’ shared-use path along Old Meadow Road and a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over I-495 connectiont to Tysons One place and Fashion Boulevard. Please consider attending to hear the latest project details and speak up in favor of the much needed bike improvements. The hearing is Thursday, June 14, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the George C. Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. You can also email comments to meetingcomments@VDOT.virginia.gov. Please reference “Tysons/Old Meadow Road Bike/Ped Improvements” in the subject line.
Successful FABB Rides to Springfest
FABB led two social rides to the Sully Historic Site for SpringFest 2018, the County’s Earth Day celebration, on April 21. One group departed from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro and the other left from the Stringfellow Road Park and Ride lot in Centreville. The groups rode on bike lanes, neighborhood streets, and paved trails, arriving at Sully Historic Site in time for lunch. One goal of the FABB rides is to show cyclists that there are many options for weekend bike rides besides the major multi-use trails such as the W&OD and Mount Vernon Trails. While the W&OD Trail was extremely crowded that day, the Springfest riders encountered much quiters routes. FABB also had a table at Springfest where our volunteers talked about bike routes for commuting and local trips and how to get involved with FABB.
Labels: fabb newsletter
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Tell NVTA to Prioritize Multimodal Transportation Funding
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority released a draft plan for $1 billion in transportation funding over the next 6 years and is currently seeking public input. This is a great opportunity to speak out for funding better bicycling in Northern Virginia.
Sixty transportation projects from around the region were submitted for NVTA’s 6-year plan. Several are Fairfax area projects that would expand biking, walking, and transit access across our region and help enhance transportation choices. Some of these projects include:
- Falls Church Enhanced Regional Bike Routes on the W&OD that would create separate paved trails for walking and biking through the City of Falls Church.
- West Falls Church and Joint Campus Revitalization District Multimodal project in City of Falls Church would greatly improve bicycling and walking connections to the West Falls Church Metro station.
- Seven Corners Ring Road Improvements seeks to improve the street grid while also providing a twelve-foot bi-directional cycletrack.
- City of Fairfax Bike Share Implementation looks to start a bike share program to connect GMU to the City of Fairfax.
- Old Lee Highway Multimodal Improvements in the City of Fairfax would provide on-road bike lanes and improved trails from downtown to Fairfax Circle and Route 50.
- Soapstone Drive Extension would provide a new connection over the Dulles Toll Road including bike lanes in both directions, a sidewalk on one side and shared-use path on the other.
- Route 28 Widening includes 10’ shared use path on both sides of the road.
- Route 29 Widening includes a shared use path and bike/ped crossing improvements.
- Frontier Drive Extension provides on-road bicycle facilities, as well as a shared-use path on one side of the road and a sidewalk on the other.
- Richmond Highway Widening and Rt. 1 Bus Rapid Transit would provide transit on dedicated lanes on Route 1 and facilitate development of bikeble and walkable street grids in nearby communities.
- Braddock Road Intersection Improvements would add 10’ shared use paths on both sides of the roadway and improved bike/ped connections.
- Rolling Road Widening includes a 10’ shared use path on one side the road and a sidewalk on the other.
Click here for a full list of the candidate projects.
Your help is needed to urge the NVTA to prioritize multimodal projects for Northern Virginia. Please consider emailing comments to NVTA at SYPcomment@TheNoVaAuthority.org . The comment period runs through May 20. Copying key NVTA members of local jurisdictions is helpful too. They include:
- Chairman Sharon Bulova, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov)
- David Meyer, Mayor of the City of Fairfax (david.meyer@fairfaxva.gov)
- David Snyder, Council member of the City of Falls Church (dsnyder@fallschurchva.org)
You can also help by attending the NVTA public hearing this Thursday and speaking up in favor of key multimodal projects. The hearing will be held at 7pm, May 10, at the NVTA offices, 3040 Williams Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax.
Labels: blueprint for better transportation, multimodal, nvta
Global Women’s Cycling Day (CycloFemme)
This year on Mothers Day, May 13, will be the annual Global Women’s Cycling Day. FABB encourages all its members to join bicyclists around the world and go out on self-led bike rides. Encourage just one more woman to ride with you to gain all of the attendant benefits of bicycling. As the CycloFemme promoters believe, bikes have the power to transform lives and change the world.
To find out more about the program and donate to the charity’s work in providing bicycles for women in poorer parts of the world, visit the CycloFemme website here.
Labels: Cyclofemme, global women's cycling day
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Park Authority Strategic Plan Missing Bicycling
FABB asks its members to submit comments to the Fairfax County Park Authority to ensure that it includes bicycling in its FY19-23 Strategic Plan for the parks.
FCPA is developing the strategic plan to help direct implementation of the county’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan over the next five years. FABB is pleased the Park Authority established a goal to improve access and opportunities for healthy and active lifestyles in its recently passed master plan. But, the FCPA failed to include bicycling anywhere in the draft strategic plan.
FABB is urging the Park Authority to add an objective to increase bikeable access to park facilities just like the walkable access objective already included in their draft plan. You can review the draft FY19-23 Strategic Plan here. Please send your comments by May 25 via email at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov
Labels: fcpa, parks master plan
Friday, May 4, 2018
Bike to Work Day is Coming!
It’s Bike Month and one of the main events is Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 18. Join the fun as we celebrate bicycling as a clean, enjoyable and healthy way to get to work. There are numerous pit stops around the region—17 in Fairfax County!—where participants can enjoy free food, commuter support, and get their free 2018 Bike to Work Day t-shirt. Register today.
Bike to Work Day, started in 1956, was created by the League of American Bicyclists as a way to encourage commuters to try bicycling as a healthy and safe alternative to driving. In the metropolitan Washington region, BTWD has grown from a few hundred participants in 2001 to more than 18,000 participants in 2017.
FABB will be out at Fairfax County’s pit stops to celebrate with and encourage the Bike to Work Day participants. We still need a few volunteers, especially in Springfield, Lorton, and Herndon. If you can help, please sign up here.
Labels: BTWD
