Monday, November 26, 2018
Capital Region Blueprint for Regional Mobility
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In case you missed it, the Washington Post reported today that the Greater Washington Partnership, an alliance of the region’s top chief executives, is urging ambitious, costly steps to improve multimodal transportation options. After 16 months of study, the report, Capital Region Blueprint for Regional Mobility, recommended connecting bike trails in addition to more dedicated bus lanes, coordinated traffic signals, and variable tolling on highways. The group’s blueprint specifically urges federal, state, and local governments to collaborate with trails groups and private entities to speed up the delivery of the Capital Trails Network and similar trail networks for Baltimore and Richmond.
FABB is ready to collaborate as are our allies in the Capital Trails Coalition. With your support and volunteering, we can make the bicycling proposals come to fruition.
Watch this video to get a sense of the transportation problems facing the region and then check out the Blueprint for more details on the Partnership’s proposals.
Labels: capital trails coalition, capital trails network, greater washington partership
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Support FABB on Black Friday at Amazon Smile
The biggest shopping day of the year is this Friday, and you can support FABB at the same time you shop at Amazon. Thanks to the AmazonSmile Foundation, when you make purchases from the Amazon Smile site, FABB receives 0.5% of the purchase price from eligible purchases.
Since its inception a few years ago, the AmazonSmile Foundation has provided more than $105 million to tens of thousands of charities.
All you have to do is click on FABB’s unique link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/81-0704062, bookmark it, and then shop like you normally do. Have questions? Learn more about Amazon Smile here.
Won’t you please sign up and show your support for FABB’s work making bicycling better in Fairfax County? Your 0.5% can make a big difference.
Since its inception a few years ago, the AmazonSmile Foundation has provided more than $105 million to tens of thousands of charities.
All you have to do is click on FABB’s unique link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/81-0704062, bookmark it, and then shop like you normally do. Have questions? Learn more about Amazon Smile here.
Won’t you please sign up and show your support for FABB’s work making bicycling better in Fairfax County? Your 0.5% can make a big difference.
Labels: AmazonSmile
Saturday, November 17, 2018
International World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
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| Memorial for Andrew Gooden, a Fairfax resident killed by a motorist in 2015 |
This Sunday, November 18, is International World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. This annual event commemorates the millions of people killed and injured in traffic crashes around the world.
FABB members and anyone else interested in safety for cyclists and pedestrians are invited to join Alexandria Families For Safe Streets for a walk of silence from the beginning of King Street near the Potomac to Market Square to honor those who have been impacted by traffic crashes.
The walk will begin at 2 pm and will be followed by a brief ceremony featuring Virginia Delegate Mark Levine, Vice Mayor and Mayor-Elect Justin Wilson, Alexandria Chief of Police Michael Brown, and Director of Transportation & Environmental Services Yon Lambert. Please join AFSS to show your support for traffic crash victims and for additional action in the Virginia General Assembly and in Alexandria to make our streets safer to walk and bike.
The walk will begin at 2 pm and will be followed by a brief ceremony featuring Virginia Delegate Mark Levine, Vice Mayor and Mayor-Elect Justin Wilson, Alexandria Chief of Police Michael Brown, and Director of Transportation & Environmental Services Yon Lambert. Please join AFSS to show your support for traffic crash victims and for additional action in the Virginia General Assembly and in Alexandria to make our streets safer to walk and bike.
For more information about this event, please contact Mike Doyle at (703) 946-8401 or mike@alxffss.org.
Labels: alexandria, alexandria families for safe streets, international world day of remembrance for road traffic victims
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Nov-Dec 2018 FABB News Now Available
The November-December 2018 FABB News is available online. There's a summary of the last FABB meeting held last month regarding projects in the Mt Vernon and Lee Districts. The postponed Tour de Mt Vernon is this weekend. There's info on bike lights, proposed ped/bike bridges across I-495 at Arlington Blvd, proposed Route 1 bike connections, the removal of planned trails in Huntley Meadows Park, and more. If you'd like to receive the newsletter via email, send us a note along with your zip code so we can also let you know about area-specific bike news.Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Huntley Meadow Park Trails Meeting
FABB wants to remind local cyclists and others about an important meeting tomorrow, November 7, to save two key park trails in Huntley Meadows Park that Fairfax County is proposing to remove from the Countywide Trails Plan and Bicycle Master Plan.
The public meeting on Wednesday will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Groveton Elementary School, 6900 Harrison Lane in Alexandria.
A Planning Commission public hearing on the Plan Amendments to remove the trails that was originally scheduled for November 29 has been postponed until January 29, 2019. It is currently set for 7:30 to 10:00 pm at the Fairfax Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 330, in Fairfax.
You can speak up at the public hearing or send comments to the Commission at plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov. Sending comments to Supervisor McKay at LeeDist@fairfaxcounty.gov is also encouraged.
Labels: Huntley Meadows Park, lee district, planning commission, supervisor mckay
Friday, November 2, 2018
Braddock Road Multimodal Study Meeting
FABB is encouraging local cyclists and other interested citizens to attend the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) community meeting on proposed pedestrian overpasses along Braddock Road next week. The meeting will be on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 7:00 pm in the cafeteria of Lake Braddock Secondary School.
Fairfax County is working with Braddock District Supervisor John Cook and members of the community to develop and evaluate a number of improvements for the Braddock Road corridor between Guinea Road and I-495. The overpasses would provide an "elevated crossing alternative" that would not affect traffic flow at major intersections on Braddock Road.Residents who attend the meeting can learn about and comment on the proposed pedestrian crossings, the designs being considered, and possible locations for additional crossings.
In addition to the overpasses, potential improvements may include additional travel lanes, HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes, and other intersection, pedestrian, and bicycle improvements.
Please contact Supervisor Cook's office by email or call 703-425-9300 with any questions.
Labels: Braddock Road multimodal study, pedestrian overpasses
I Bike, I Vote
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Important Information from League of American Bicyclists and its I Bike, I Vote project. Please share quickly because there’s only a few more days to go.
First, Make a Plan to Vote. Find your polling place here.
Help Others. Do you know a new voter who may be unsure of where to go or what to do? Help them get there!
Don't Forget Your ID. Acceptable forms of voter ID in Virginia: valid United States passport; valid Virginia driver's license or ID card; valid Virginia DMV issued Veteran’s ID card; valid tribal enrollment or other tribal ID issued by one of 11 tribes recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia; valid student ID card from within Virginia if it includes a photo; any other identification card issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States; and employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer’s business.
Be Informed. These sites let you print out what your ballot will look like- The League of Women Voters site vote411.org, and ballotpedia.org
See You at the Polls!
Labels: league of american bicyclists
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Trail Improvements Begin in Accotink Stream Valley Park
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Great News, Everyone! Riders of the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail (GCCCT) will soon see construction by the Fairfax County Park Authority to improve the surface of the GCCCT between King Arthur Road and Woodburn Road outside Annandale. The trail will be re-paved with asphalt and concrete and several culverts will be replaced.
The work will be completed in four phases and detour routes will be available as sections are closed for construction. “Trail Closed” signs will be posted at the start and end of the construction zones and trail users are encouraged to check the project progress online at Park News. In addition, patrons should be aware of construction equipment that will be present on the trail during construction. As a safety precaution, portions of the existing trail may occasionally be closed during the project. Completion is scheduled for May 2019, weather permitting
For more information, contact Project Manager Som Govender at 703-324-2464 or the Public Information Office at 703-324-8688.
I-66 Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Update
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reported recently on recent design changes to the new parallel trail along I-66. Crediting feedback from bicycling advocates and surrounding communities, VDOT said that the project will now incorporate a taller, 50-inch-high concrete barrier to separate the shared use path when it is on the highway side of the noise wall. This is similar to the barrier that separates the trail from the roadway on the Capital Beltway's Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
As you know, the Transform 66 Project includes 11 miles of new shared use trail along I-66 that will tie into existing trail systems. This includes new or expanded bicycle and pedestrian facilities on 11 bridges. Additional trail sections will be built as part of the project in coordination with VDOT and local governments.
Thanks to everyone who has attended meetings and submitted comments to VDOT. Speaking Up works and FABB plans to keep doing so.
