FABB Blog

 

Successful Annandale Ride

FABB and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals DC chapter held a joint ride on Saturday to explore new and planned bike infrastructure in the Annandale area (route map). The group of 18 riders met at East Falls Church Metro station. Fairfax County Bike Coordinator Adam Lind and FABB's Dave Wagoner led the group, with Adam stopping periodically to offer insights into the planning and implementation of the new facilities. We passed through neighborhood streets south to the service road on Route 50 to new bike lanes on Annandale Road, making our way to Gallows Road and on to the Annandale business district.



We stopped for lunch at the trendy new eating place The Block, reviewed in the Post back in Februrary. Unfortunately there was no bike parking, something we'll need to advocate for in the future. From there part of the group took a longer loop south along new bike lanes on Ravensworth Rd and Heritage Dr, then north to Hummer Rd where bike lanes are planned. Just before returning to East Falls Church the two groups rejoined.

The ride was a great opportunity to meet cyclists from around the area, many of whom are advocating for better bike conditions. Glad that Greg Billing, WABA Executive Director could join the ride along with several folks from APBPDC including some staff from Toole Design Group, the company that helped the county put together our bike map and Bicycle Master Plan. Thanks to Adam and Dave for working together on the ride, and to APBPDC for co-sponsoring. Adam announced that the county bike program will soon be sponsoring similar rides around the county this summer.

Labels: annandale, annandale road, apbpdc, Heritage Drive, hummer road, ravensworth road

posted by Bruce Wright at 8:51 PM permalink

 

Getting the Facts Before 12 April Braddock District Bicycle Projects Meeting

Map courtesy of FCDOT

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has updated information about planned bicycle improvements to Heritage Drive. This project, as mentioned in an earlier post, is one of several scheduled for Braddock District this summer. According to FCDOT, the current proposal does not change the number of vehicular lanes and parking spaces except for a short 0.2-mile segment between Rectory Lane and Patriot Drive. The proposed design to the north and south of the segment retains the existing number of travel and parking lanes but reduces their widths to create space to include a bike lane. FCDOT has posted a map with additional clarifying information about the plans for Heritage Drive.

FABB wants to remind members and interested Fairfax residents that FCDOT is holding a community meeting this coming Tuesday on the proposed Braddock District bicycle improvement projects. The meeting is being held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Canterbury Woods Elementary School, 4910 Willet Drive, in Annandale.

We are encouraging supporters to show up and demonstrate to FCDOT that these improvements are important and should be completed. A good turn out is more important than ever, and FABB hopes concerned cyclists will make the time to attend.

In addition to Heritage Drive, improvements will be made to Ravensworth Road, Coffer Woods Road, Patriot Drive, Guinea Road, and Queensberry Avenue. All of the changes are being made as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation's 2016 summer road repaving program. In addition to showing support for the project, the meeting is an opportunity for cyclists to help FCDOT by sharing their experience and ideas on how get the most benefit from the repaving projects.

Labels: Braddock District, FCDOT, Heritage Drive, repaving, vdot

posted by Steve Ward at 8:01 AM permalink