Friday, October 16, 2015
Reston Bikeshare Meeting Oct. 29
The county-funded Reston Bikeshare Feasibility Study was completed in June 2014. Locations of 13 bikeshare stations were identified in the study clustered around the Reston Town Center and the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail station.
More info about the meeting will be posted on the county Bicycle Program site.
See info from the last bikeshare update meeting.
See info from the last bikeshare update meeting.
Labels: bike share, capital bikeshare, Reston bikeshare
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
New report on economic potential of bike commuting
The study showed that bike commuting could significantly alleviate congestion and save commuters money. What is needed are significant improvements to bike infrastructure and promotion of bike commuting. In an ideal scenario in which employees living within 5 miles of work commuted by bike 2-3 days a week, it's possible to reduce vehicle miles traveled by 13.1 billion and to achieve mobility savings of $27.6 billion.
Also included in the report is an interactive map of the U.S. showing bike commuting potential (1-5 miles), investments in bike infrastructure, and where bike sharing exists or is planned.
Bike Commuting Potential - 2 mile commutes
Bike Infrastructure
Existing or planned bike sharing system
We were interviewed by the authors, who featured Fairfax County in the report:
The areas with higher concentrations of potential bike commuters cluster around suburban “edge cities” containing commercial centers such as Reston, Tysons Corner, Herndon, Manassas, and Woodbridge. The identity of some of the “hot spots” may be counterintuitive, particularly Tysons Corner, which used to be a national symbol of car-friendly and congested development. But these areas are typical of what we found in our nationwide study, and “bikeability” now forms a major part of Tysons Corner’s long-term development plan.
Medium-density suburban neighborhoods located one to three miles away from thriving commercial developments offer surprisingly good opportunities for increasing bike ridership. Further down the I-267 Dulles Tollway is Reston Town Center, another car-friendly suburb that has begun planning for 13 bikeshare stations to sustain its economic growth and attract younger residents.
Medium-density suburban neighborhoods located one to three miles away from thriving commercial developments offer surprisingly good opportunities for increasing bike ridership. Further down the I-267 Dulles Tollway is Reston Town Center, another car-friendly suburb that has begun planning for 13 bikeshare stations to sustain its economic growth and attract younger residents.
Labels: bike share, deloitte, economic benefits, Tysons
Friday, January 23, 2015
Planning Commission recommends approval of Lake Anne redevelopment project
At their January 22 meeting the Fairfax Co Planning Commission recommended adoption of the proposed Lake Anne redevelopment that has been in the works for many years. The project includes extensive bicycle accommodations, including bike lanes on the uphill sections of North Shore Drive and sharrows on the downhill sections, short and long term bike parking with signage noting that bike parking is available, and space for three bike share stations. Stairs leading to the plazas will have stair channels for walking a bicycle up/down the stairs. See the staff report for details and other info about the proposal.While we support the project, we are concerned that the bike parking requirements for multi-family residences are minimal; one long-term bicycle parking space for every 10 units. Arlington requires one parking space for every 3 units. Most households own at least one bicycle and one space for every 10 units is not enough. When the county bicycle parking guidelines come before the Board of Supervisors in the near future we plan to advocate for more robust requirements.
All in all the plan seems to provide good bike accommodations and we support it. Here are the bike facilities included in the draft proffers:
PRELIMINARY DRAFT PROFFERS
LAKE ANNE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS LLC
PCA A-502
December 18, 2014
BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS
public, if any. The bicycle racks shall be inverted U style racks, or of such other design approved by FCDOT. Bicycle facilities shall be installed prior to the issuance of the first RUP or Non-RUP for such use in accordance with the site plan on which the applicable bike facilities are shown.
Short-term bicycle parking shall be provided in accordance with FCDOT guidelines and located anywhere within the Application Property. Long-term bicycle parking shall be in a secure location as selected by Applicant such as a bicycle room, cage, locker, or other secure parking option. Bicycle parking shall be provided as follows, or subject to lesser rates as approved by the Director of FCDOT or his designee at time of site plan:
A. Office Bicycle Parking. The Applicant shall provide one (1) long-term bicycle parking space for every 10,000 square feet, or portion thereof, of office GFA and one (1) short-term bicycle parking space for each 20,000 square feet, or portion thereof, of office GFA.
B. Multi-family Residential Bicycle Parking. The Applicant shall provide one (1) long-term bicycle parking space for every 10 multi-family residential units and one (1) short-term bicycle parking space per every 50 multi-family residential units.
C. Retail Bicycle Parking. The Applicant shall provide one (1) long-term employee bicycle space for every 25,000 square feet of retail GFA and one (1) short-term bicycle parking space for every 10,000 square feet of retail GFA.
48. On Road Bicycle Facilities. The Applicant shall provide on-road bicycle facilities along North Shore Drive as shown on the Plan and as coordinated with both VDOT and FCDOT at time of the first site plan for Buildings A1 or A2 within the curb to curb width and in accordance with the following.
A. Along the south side of North Shore Drive, an on-road bike lane of 6 feet in width (including a two (2) foot wide gutter pan) extending east from Village Road to Cameron Crescent Drive; and
B. Along the north side of North Shore Drive, a sharrow will be provided from Cameron Crescent Drive west to Village Drive.
49. Bike Share. The Applicant has designated three (3) areas within the Application Property (one on the East Side and two on the West Side) and as reflected on the Plan for use as future bike share stations by others. Such spaces shall be made available upon request of the County at no cost to the operator of such service. If a bike share service has not requested the use of the areas after Stabilization of the East or West sides as defined herein, respectively, this proffer obligation shall become null and void and of no further force and effect.
Labels: bike parking guidelines, bike share, lake anne redevelopment
Friday, June 27, 2014
Bikesharing is feasible in Reston, and Bicycle Master Plan meeting report
Phase 1 would consist of 13 stations with 130 bikes, all but one station located north of the Toll Road, with most in the Town Center area. The station locations were determined based primarily on potential demand and the desire to reduce the space between stations.
Two stations would be located at the Wiehle-Reston East station, one on each side of the Toll Road. Most of the other stations would be clustered around the Reston Town Center. With an almost direct connection via the W&OD Trail between the Wiehle station and the Town Center, bike sharing is an ideal personal mobility option.
Adam Lind of FCDOT is the project manager. Fionnuala Quinn and Charlie Denney presented for Alta. Supervisor Hudgins and Tom Biesiadny, head of Fairfax DOT, were present. Approximately 25-30 people attended.
The final report is not yet completed. The delivery date is June 30 and sometime after that the report will be on the county website. There were no handouts and no information is yet available on the county website.
Two stations would be located at the Wiehle-Reston East station, one on each side of the Toll Road. Most of the other stations would be clustered around the Reston Town Center. With an almost direct connection via the W&OD Trail between the Wiehle station and the Town Center, bike sharing is an ideal personal mobility option.
The logical vendor is Capital Bikeshare which operates systems in Arlington, Alexandria, DC, and Montgomery County. Fairfax could leverage existing infrastructure and contracts to create a suburban extension of that system. Even though a Reston operation is physically separated from other operations, there would not be a need for a new warehouse. A truck would be dedicated to rebalancing bikes; when a station is empty, filling in with bikes from a station with too many bikes.
The cost of Phase 1 is estimated to be $1.2 million, of which $54K is for Launch (startup costs), $766K for Capital (cost of stations, docks, bikes), and $397K for Operating costs. Not sure if this is for launch plus one year of operations or if the operating costs are for multiple years. I think it's for one year.
Phase 2 would include stations in the Lake Anne and South Lakes areas.
Challenges include the need for route way finding signage, snow removal in winter, access and proximity for low income users, funding for capital and operations, and putting stations on private property.
The cost of Phase 1 is estimated to be $1.2 million, of which $54K is for Launch (startup costs), $766K for Capital (cost of stations, docks, bikes), and $397K for Operating costs. Not sure if this is for launch plus one year of operations or if the operating costs are for multiple years. I think it's for one year.
Phase 2 would include stations in the Lake Anne and South Lakes areas.
Challenges include the need for route way finding signage, snow removal in winter, access and proximity for low income users, funding for capital and operations, and putting stations on private property.
The system could be implemented within the next couple of years. One concern raised during the meeting was the lack of bike facilities on Reston roads. While Reston has an extensive trail network, direct routes to destinations are usually located on roads. The response was that implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan would help create a more bike-friendly environment. It was also noted that extensive pedestrian and bike projects are included in the proposed 2014 Transportation Bond referendum, although none of the projects in the Bond would improve conditions for traveling between the proposed stations.
Adam Lind of FCDOT is the project manager. Fionnuala Quinn and Charlie Denney presented for Alta. Supervisor Hudgins and Tom Biesiadny, head of Fairfax DOT, were present. Approximately 25-30 people attended.
The final report is not yet completed. The delivery date is June 30 and sometime after that the report will be on the county website. There were no handouts and no information is yet available on the county website.
See an earlier Reston Patch article on our views on bikesharing in Reston. Most of the station locations we suggested were deemed too spread out to be feasible in Phase 1.
Bicycle Master Plan - Charlie Strunk presented an overview of the plan similar to his presentation to the Board on May 6 and a longer presentation on September 17, 2013. Bob Patten of Toole Design Group, the plan consultant, was also present. The Planning Commission public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1 and the Board of Supervisors hearing is on October 28. Paper copies of the bike facilities maps were available but there were no copies of the plan text or any handouts. Copies of the maps and plan text will be posted on the county website any day now.
There was extensive discussion of how to make Wiehle Ave, from the new Wiehle-Reston East station north, more bike-friendly. With narrow lanes, a narrow trail, and steep terrain adjacent to the trail, options are limited.
When asked if the plan contains a prioritized list of future projects the answer was no. The plan provides overall guidance. The county recently completed a prioritization projects, the Countywide Dialogue on Transportation, to create a six year plan. That plan is updated annually and we think once the plan is adopted the next step for bicyclists is creation of a robust prioritized list of bike projects. A good start would be filling in the gaps on the Bicycle Route Map; converting the Less Preferred routes into Preferred routes and ensuring bike access to activity and transit centers.
FABB is encouraging bicyclists to support the Bicycle Master Plan and attend the public hearings to show that support. We are planning rides to the hearings.
Labels: bicycle master plan, bike share, capital bikeshare, reston
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Bike meetings tonight - Bicycle Master Plan and Bikeshare feasibility in Reston
Reston Bikeshare Feasibility Study report: Learn about the feasibility of bikesharing in Reston at a community meeting tonight, Wed. June 25 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Dogwood Elementary School. Fairfax County recently contracted with a consultant to determine if bikesharing is feasible in Reston. The final report will be released tonight. (Ignore the info on the county Bike Pages page that lists the date for the next bikeshare feasibility meeting as January 29.)
Bicycle Master Plan Final Draft: Immediately after the bikesharing meeting the county will present the final draft of the Fairfax County Bicycle Master Plan from 7:30-9:00 p.m. The plan has been under development for the past five years. Unfortunately the plan is not yet posted on the county website. We've been told the latest draft will be posted any day now on the Countywide Bicycle Master Plan page. The Tysons Bicycle Master Plan is posted but that plan has been merged with the countywide plan that will be released tonight. FABB has been urging the county to publish the draft plan and we hope it will be available soon.
Dogwood Elementary School is located not far from the Fairfax County Parkway Trail, the W&OD Trail, and the surrounding streets are very bike-friendly. Bike parking is located in the rear of the building. The racks are an unusual design that we've not seen before.
Town of Vienna Maple Ave Corridor zoning regulations: On a related note, the Town of Vienna Planning Commission is meeting tonight to consider forwarding the draft Maple Avenue Corridor zoning regulations to the Town Council. FABB and other cyclists have asked for sufficient bike parking regulations, similar to those in Tysons and Arlington. That meeting begins at 8pm at Town Hall.
Labels: bicycle master plan, bike share, reston
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Reston Bikeshare Feasibility Study meeting June 25
At a meeting in January Alta staff gave an overview of bikesharing and explained the feasibility study. They also solicited input from the group. The purpose of the meeting next week is to present the results of their study:
The consultants have completed their report and they are going to share the results with the community. Questions like cost, bikeshare station locations, and other implementation questions will be answered.
Immediately after the bikesharing meeting the county will present the final draft of the Fairfax County Bicycle Master Plan from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Unfortunately the plan is not yet posted on the county website. We've been told it will be posted any day now.Dogwood Elementary School is located not far from the Fairfax County Parkway Trail, the W&OD Trail, and surrounding streets are very bike-friendly. Bike parking is located in the rear of the building.
Labels: bicycle master plan, bike share, reston
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Reston bike share meeting Jan. 29
From the Fairfax County bike program:Background: Fairfax County was recently awarded a TLC (Transportation/Land Use Connections) Grant through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to conduct a feasibility study of bringing bikesharing to Reston. With the Silver Line Metrorail station opening, including expanded and upgraded bus service, as well as future redevelopment; the local transportation network is poised for transformation. This feasibility study will look at how best to integrate bikeshare with transit and the network as well as important trip origins and destinations. The study will also examine how bike sharing can address first and last mile trips and become a cost-effective service for Reston. The study is being conducted with the assistance of the consulting firm Alta Planning + Design.
Purpose of Public Open House: As part of this study, the public is invited to give input to understand interests and concerns and encourage information sharing about the proposed system. The Open House will include information about how the system could work as well as how to decide where best to add new stations. It will also consider user and community issues as well as how to include underserved neighborhoods.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Charlie Strunk, Bicycle Program Coordinator, Fairfax County Department of Transportation at: charlie.strunk@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 877-5600.
Update 2: See the Fairfax Times article on the meeting: Reston explores pilot bikeshare program.
Labels: bike share, reston
Friday, December 20, 2013
Reston bike share meeting
Supervisor Hudgins kicked off the meeting by discussing the importance of biking as a transportation option in Reston, and that Reston is an ideal community for bike sharing with our system of paths that connect the village center and future Metro stations.
Representatives from the business community, VDOT, Fairfax County, Reston Pedestrian and Bicycling Committee, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, Reston Association, Reston Town Center Association, FABB, and others attended. Alta reps and Chris Eatough of BikeArlington gave an overview of bike sharing in general, and they discussed the Capital Bikeshare system (CaBi) which is operated by Alta Bikeshare, one of Alta Planning's partners. CaBi is currently located in DC, Arlington, Alexandria, and Montgomery County.
Bike sharing can be a great supplement to an existing transit system. It allows visitors and residents to get around Reston without the need to drive for short trips. Someone working in Reston Town Center would be able to take Metro to the Wiehle-Reston East station, check out a bike, ride to the Town Center, then dock the bike and not worry about parking or security. Short trips under 30 minutes are "free" by being included in the annual membership cost of $75. Monthly, Daily, 3-day, and Daily Key options are also available.
An extensive support infrastructure is needed to operate a successful bike sharing system. Bikes need to be maintained on a regular basis. Since some stations are more popular than others, the balance of bikes at various stations needs to be adjusted according to use. Alta Bikeshare uses a warehouse for maintenance and storage and they use several vehicles for rebalancing. Since Reston is not physically close to the rest of the system, there would be a need for a remote maintenance facility and rebalancing vehicle, similar to what is used in Rockville, which has 16 stations and is also not contiguous to the existing system.
The group discussed various challenges to implementing a system in Reston including the need for better bicycle infrastructure, finding sponsors to supplement county funds, variable terrain, and residents who don't often think of taking short trips by bike. The group also discussed possible locations for future stations including the new Silver Line stations, Reston Town Center, Village Centers, major employers, Plaza America, International Center, high density residential complexes, and park and ride lots.
A community meeting on the feasibility of bike sharing in Reston is planned in January.
This article is cross-posted on Reston Patch.
Labels: bike share, capital bikeshare, reston
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Bike sharing comes to Montgomery County
From the Post article Bikeshare rolls into Montgomery County:
County officials and biking advocates hope that the new network — a planned 51 Bikeshare stations and 450 bikes across Silver Spring, Bethesda, Takoma Park, Rockville and Shady Grove — will be a small but significant step toward a less auto-centric community.
“These little red bikes are a great symbol of change,” said County Council member Hans Riemer (D-At Large), one of a dozen local and state officials who spoke at the ceremonial ribbon cutting for a station with 15 bikes at the corner of Maryland and Montgomery avenues, among the first 14 sites activated Friday.
Montgomery, the first local government in Maryland to adopt Capital Bikeshare, joins the District, Arlington County and Alexandria in trying to reshape the way residents travel. The short-term rental system allows bikes to be picked up in one location and returned to another. Trips under 30 minutes are included in the membership fee, which ranges from $7 for 24 hours to $75 for a year.
“These little red bikes are a great symbol of change,” said County Council member Hans Riemer (D-At Large), one of a dozen local and state officials who spoke at the ceremonial ribbon cutting for a station with 15 bikes at the corner of Maryland and Montgomery avenues, among the first 14 sites activated Friday.
Montgomery, the first local government in Maryland to adopt Capital Bikeshare, joins the District, Arlington County and Alexandria in trying to reshape the way residents travel. The short-term rental system allows bikes to be picked up in one location and returned to another. Trips under 30 minutes are included in the membership fee, which ranges from $7 for 24 hours to $75 for a year.
Labels: bike share, capital bikeshare, montgomery county, reston
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Fairfax bike projects receive funding
Transportation Alternatives is the consolidated program in the latest federal transportation law, MAP-21, that funds expanded travel choices like bicycling and walking, or that make other enhancements like mitigating the environmental impacts of transportation facilities. The Transportation Planning Board (TPB) is the entity tasked with allotting this money in the DC Region.
This is great news for Fairfax cyclists. The bike share system in Reston will be the first in Fairfax County. The funding will help implement the system but the county will need to find funding for operating costs and additional staff to help manage the system. With the coming of Metro to Reston next year, and a mostly connected trail system, bike sharing will be a great way to get around Reston. See previous articles on bikesharing in Reston. Thanks for Supervisor Hudgins, bike coordinator Charlie Strunk, and members of the Reston community for supporting this effort.- Fairfax County will receive funding to install bike stations and operating hardware to support the expansion of Capital Bikeshare to Reston, which the County hopes will give people more options for accessing Metrorail stations along the planned Silver Line.
- Fairfax Mason to Metro Bicycle Route. Develop a backbone bicycle route through the City and into Fairfax County to connect George Mason University with the Vienna Metrorail Station. The project aims to increase and improve bicycle and pedestrian travel between major hubs of activity in the City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, and George Mason University.
- Pickett Road Trail Underpass. Install a 12 foot wide concrete trail under the existing Pickett Road bridge over Accotink Creek, and construct asphalt trail segments to connect the underpass to the existing City of Fairfax trail system. Install two culverts to convey existing storm drainage outfalls under the proposed trail, and install wayfinding signage.
- Cross County Trail - Lorton. The proposed section of the Cross County Trail in Lorton will traverse the Lorton Arts Foundation property and connect Occoquan Regional Park and the Laurel Hill Greenway
The Mason to Metro Bicycle Route and the Pickett Road Trail Underpass projects are linked. The underpass will provide a safer connection across Pickett Road for cyclists traveling between the Vienna Metro station and Mason. FABB members have been part of this planning effort for several years and their hard work is paying off.
Labels: bike share, george mason university, pickett road, reston, transportation alternatives
Monday, July 8, 2013
July-August FABB Newsletter now available
JULY-AUGUST 2013 FABB News
A bi-monthly publication of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
2013 Fairfax Bike Summit on Bicycle-Friendly Tysons
Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling is planning its 2013 Fairfax Bike Summit, which will focus on “Tysons: A Bicycle-Friendly Community.” The summit will be held at George Mason University on Saturday, November 2, and is open to everyone from interested citizens to community leaders. The registration fee will be $25. Program details and registration information will be available at www.fabb-bikes.org/summit.
Fairfax County is undertaking a major transformation of Tysons in an effort to create livable, walkable, automobile-independent neighborhoods. Four new Metrorail Silver Line stations are part of the foundation of that transformation.
The goals of the summit are to:
- Discuss the importance of bicycling to the future of Tysons
- Expand community understanding of bike transportation options
- Explain community-wide benefits of bicycling
- Encourage bicycling transportation options for all ages
The success of the Tysons transformation could influence transit-oriented developments across Fairfax County for the next 40 years. From Merrifield to Springfield, Huntington to Reston, bicycle-oriented transportation options must be integral parts of future developments.
The summit is staged by Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, in partnership with George Mason University, Fairfax County, and the City of Fairfax. If you are interested in volunteering or exhibiting at the summit, contact us at bikesummit@fabb-bikes.org. Hope to see you there!
FABB Benefits from Tour de Fat
FABB once again volunteered at Tour de Fat, which was a great success this year. The bike festival raised over $20,000 for local bike groups, which included over $2,000 for FABB to further our advocacy goals. Thanks to New Belgium Brewery, WABA, and everyone who participated in Tour de Fat.
Meeting with Fairfax County Police to Discuss Bicycle Safety
FABB recently met with Deputy County Executive Rohrer and Capt. Cullen and Lt. Grinnan of the Fairfax County Police Department Traffic Division to discuss how FABB can work with Fairfax County police to improve bicycle safety. Shane Farthing of WABA also attended. Our primary goal is to work with police to ensure that all officers know Virginia law that applies to bicyclists. We also want police and cyclists to know what can be done when cyclists report harassment by motorists. We agreed that FABB would work with police to help produce a police training video on cyclist rights. If you have expertise in this area and would like to help, contact us.
Fairfax County Applies for Bike Sharing Funding
Fairfax County recently applied for funding of a bikesharing feasibility study through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation/Land Use Connections (TLC) Technical Assistance Program. "The TLC Technical Assistance Program provides focused consultant assistance to local jurisdictions working on creative, forward-thinking and sustainable plans and projects."
The study will focus on the Reston area. Reston has a network of recreational trails, concentrated mixed-use development at the Reston Town Center, Village Centers located within easy biking distance of most residents, and the soon-to-be-completed Wiehle Ave Metrorail station. Much more needs to be done to make Reston truly bike-friendly but we think bike sharing could work there.
Interactive Fairfax County Bike Route Mapping Tool
The Fairfax County Bike Program recently updated their Bicycle Program website. The site now includes the Bike Fairfax Interactive Map containing GIS layers from the printed route map along with several other map layers. The printed route map was an early goal of FABB and has been available for several years. FABB helped to create the map by advocating for funding and reaching out to local cyclists to map bicycle-friendly routes.
Users can choose from several background maps including streets, streets with topography, elevation, imagery, and a background image provided by National Geographic. One of the most interesting background maps is from OpenStreetMap, a public domain source created by the user community. It contains very detailed trail information in some areas.
The map layers are derived from the paper Bicycle Map but they also include more detailed trails shown in the Fairfax Trail Buddy layer. A sidewalk layer only appears at very large scales. An interesting feature is the ability to click on a map element and find out more information. Clicking on a road symbol brings up the meaning of the symbol (usually Preferred or Less Preferred), who maintains the facility (almost always VDOT), the speed limit, and the bicycle level of service category (A-F).
When the trail layer is queried, the width and surface are displayed along with who maintains the trail. We often find trails in poor condition and determining who is responsible for maintenance is difficult. Now we have a source to find out who to call. While the data are not complete, the interactive map is a great resource.
New McLean Bike Route Signage
Fairfax County Department of Transportation has installed approximately 80 bike route signs providing directions and destination information throughout the downtown area of McLean. Dranesville Supervisor Foust was instrumental in getting funding for purchasing and installing the signs. McLean cyclists helped define the routes and determine sign locations.
Bike route directions point riders to the future Silver Line Tyson-McLean and West Falls Church Metrorail stations. The signage also directs cyclists toward the W&OD trail, Arlington and more. The signs are one of the first installations of wayfinding signage in Fairfax County based on new bicycle sign standards. They will set the standard for bicycle signage throughout the county.
Transportation Funding for New Bike Projects
On July 1 the general sales tax in Virginia increased to 6% as a result of the recently passed Transportation bill. The tax on gas was changed from a flat tax of 17.5 cents per gallon to a rate of 3.5% on the total purchase amount, effectively reducing the tax from 17.5 to 11.1 cents per gallon. User fees like gas taxes have never been enough to pay for our roads. We all pay for our roads whether we drive or not, and now we're all going to pay a little more.
The Transportation bill divides funds into regional projects (70% of funds) administered by regional authorities such as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and local funds (30%) administered by localities. Bike projects help reduce congestion and should be funded from both pots of money. Some people think otherwise. See a list of regional projects in Fairfax County. Contact your County Supervisor to find out what bike projects are being funded in your district.
Wednesday, July 17 - FABB Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, August 21, FABB Monthly Meeting
Labels: bike share, fabb newsletter, fairfax bike summit, interactive bicycle map, july-august, police, signs
Monday, June 17, 2013
Public hearing on bikesharing application
The Board of Supervisors is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, June 18 on two "Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) applications to be submitted to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) for FY 2014 funding." The following is a description of the two projects, from the Board Package (p. 263):
For the FY 2014 Transportation Alternatives Program, staff recommends that the Board endorse the following two projects:

1. Cross County Trail, Lorton (CCT)
Fairfax County Department of Transportation is proposing the design and construction of a new multi-use trail to provide non-motorized access between the Occoquan Regional Park and the Laurel Hill Greenway, both of which are portions of the Cross County Trail. The trail connects users with the historic Workhouse Arts Center, a program of the Lorton Arts Foundation (LAF), which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and enhances an already significant historic destination.
The CCT, Lorton will connect with the regional network of existing and planned trails, including: High Point Trail, Fairfax Cross-County Trail, the Laurel Hill Greenway, and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Specifically, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail system consists of a braided network of trails identified as a trunk line in the greenways task force study, and a key historic and scenic element running from the mouth of the Potomac to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) is one of the 24 Congressionally-designated trails in the National Trails System and one of seven scenic trails in the U.S. The PHNST sites identified for this project will offer communities significant enhancements to existing recreational amenities, leverage heritage tourism and economic benefits, expand non-motorized transportation networks, create educational and interpretive experiences, connect neighborhoods, historic sites and parkland, and rebuild community connections.
The improvements to this section of trail will provide residents of higher density neighborhoods and the newer developments that surround the Workhouse Arts Center buildings with safe multi-use trail access to many recreational facilities and places of historic interest in the area including: Occoquan Regional Park, The Town of Occoquan, and to the other sections of the Cross County Trail. The LAF portion of the trail is three miles west of South County Secondary School and will offer expanded recreational opportunities for their athletic programs. Residents and visitors will have a safe pedestrian and bicycle route to businesses, bus stops, and other commuter transportation facilities in Lorton.
To make the Lorton portion of the CCT truly a multi-use trail, it will be 18 feet wide. There will be a natural surface for horses, four feet wide; a paved bike/pedestrian portion, ten feet wide; plus an additional four feet on the sides.
2. Reston Bike Share – Support Infrastructure
Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is exploring the feasibility of bringing the Capital Bikeshare program into Reston. This is in anticipation of the Metrorail opening in Reston as an expanded transportation option for users of the Metrorail who will commute to Reston. A bike share is a program of “public use” bicycles that users who have registered with the program can rent for short periods of time. The bikes can be used to go from bike dock to bike dock located at activity centers and employment centers throughout the Reston area. Capital Bikeshare, in operation in Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, and the District of Columbia, offers system users with several membership options ranging from an annual membership to daily passes. Subscribers are given an electronic key that is used for renting a bicycle. The first 30 minutes of usage are free with each additional 30 minutes escalating in cost.
The Reston Bike Share expansion would be the first in Fairfax County. Bike share programs work best in dense urban areas with good bicycle infrastructure. At this time, Reston is the best candidate in Fairfax County for a bike share program.
The final locations of the stations will be determined in the preliminary engineering/study portion of the project. After the final locations are determined FCDOT will construct the needed infrastructure to make the final connections to the stations.
- Cross-County Trail, Lorton $400,000 (TAP) $100,000 (80%)
- Reston Bike Share, Support Infrastructure $400,000 (TAP) $100,000 (80%)
1. Cross County Trail, Lorton (CCT)
Fairfax County Department of Transportation is proposing the design and construction of a new multi-use trail to provide non-motorized access between the Occoquan Regional Park and the Laurel Hill Greenway, both of which are portions of the Cross County Trail. The trail connects users with the historic Workhouse Arts Center, a program of the Lorton Arts Foundation (LAF), which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and enhances an already significant historic destination.
The CCT, Lorton will connect with the regional network of existing and planned trails, including: High Point Trail, Fairfax Cross-County Trail, the Laurel Hill Greenway, and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Specifically, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail system consists of a braided network of trails identified as a trunk line in the greenways task force study, and a key historic and scenic element running from the mouth of the Potomac to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) is one of the 24 Congressionally-designated trails in the National Trails System and one of seven scenic trails in the U.S. The PHNST sites identified for this project will offer communities significant enhancements to existing recreational amenities, leverage heritage tourism and economic benefits, expand non-motorized transportation networks, create educational and interpretive experiences, connect neighborhoods, historic sites and parkland, and rebuild community connections.
The improvements to this section of trail will provide residents of higher density neighborhoods and the newer developments that surround the Workhouse Arts Center buildings with safe multi-use trail access to many recreational facilities and places of historic interest in the area including: Occoquan Regional Park, The Town of Occoquan, and to the other sections of the Cross County Trail. The LAF portion of the trail is three miles west of South County Secondary School and will offer expanded recreational opportunities for their athletic programs. Residents and visitors will have a safe pedestrian and bicycle route to businesses, bus stops, and other commuter transportation facilities in Lorton.
To make the Lorton portion of the CCT truly a multi-use trail, it will be 18 feet wide. There will be a natural surface for horses, four feet wide; a paved bike/pedestrian portion, ten feet wide; plus an additional four feet on the sides.
2. Reston Bike Share – Support Infrastructure
Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is exploring the feasibility of bringing the Capital Bikeshare program into Reston. This is in anticipation of the Metrorail opening in Reston as an expanded transportation option for users of the Metrorail who will commute to Reston. A bike share is a program of “public use” bicycles that users who have registered with the program can rent for short periods of time. The bikes can be used to go from bike dock to bike dock located at activity centers and employment centers throughout the Reston area. Capital Bikeshare, in operation in Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, and the District of Columbia, offers system users with several membership options ranging from an annual membership to daily passes. Subscribers are given an electronic key that is used for renting a bicycle. The first 30 minutes of usage are free with each additional 30 minutes escalating in cost.
The Reston Bike Share expansion would be the first in Fairfax County. Bike share programs work best in dense urban areas with good bicycle infrastructure. At this time, Reston is the best candidate in Fairfax County for a bike share program.
The final locations of the stations will be determined in the preliminary engineering/study portion of the project. After the final locations are determined FCDOT will construct the needed infrastructure to make the final connections to the stations.
Labels: bike share, transportation alternatives
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Bikeways are good for business
New York DOT recently completed a study that shows that where protected bikeways are installed, local businesses thrive:
In many ways, these data come as no surprise. We know that when towns invest in bicycle infrastructure, people will ride more — the number of people traveling by bicycle increases when there is infrastructure to make traveling by bike safe and easy.
We also know that people who travel along a street by bicycle have fewer barriers to stopping at a local business than people who travel along the same street by car. It's very easy to hop off a bicycle and find a place to secure the bike; not so with finding parking for an automobile. In fact, a recent study suggest that bicycle riders tend to spend more at local businesses over the course of a month.
It will be really interesting to see what effect bike sharing will have on New York.
City officials say the nation's largest bike-sharing system will begin sometime this month with 6,000 bikes at 330 stations in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, with plans to expand eventually to 10,000 bikes and 600 docking stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
"When you talk about scale, no other U.S. city comes close," says Jon Orcutt, policy director at the city's Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the launch of the program.
Officials hope the privately funded bike-sharing program, dubbed Citi Bike after a $41 million sponsorship from Citibank and an additional $6.5 million from MasterCard, will add riders to the more than 700 miles of bike lanes throughout New York and will be used by one-way commuters and round-trip tourists alike.
"When you talk about scale, no other U.S. city comes close," says Jon Orcutt, policy director at the city's Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the launch of the program.
Officials hope the privately funded bike-sharing program, dubbed Citi Bike after a $41 million sponsorship from Citibank and an additional $6.5 million from MasterCard, will add riders to the more than 700 miles of bike lanes throughout New York and will be used by one-way commuters and round-trip tourists alike.
Labels: bike share, cycle track, new york city
Friday, September 21, 2012
First bike sharing system implemented at GMU
GMU recently implemented a bike sharing system at four "stations" around campus. The system uses bikes from viaCycle. It's a very simple system. The bikes are parked at designated bike racks using an attached cable locking system. There are a couple of options for using the system:- One-time $3 fee for a 12 hour time period during which the bike can be checked out.
- Subscription fee of $6/month available to Mason students, faculty, or staff.
Heres more bike news from GMU provided by Tyler Orton, GMU Bicycle Program Coordinator:
Bicycle Registration:
Update: Fairfax Times article on Patriot Bike Share: Sharing their rides at GMU
Student leads effort for greater bike use on campus.
Bike registration is a great way to add a level of security for your bike, support Mason’s bike programs, and get a free U-Lock!
To register go to Bike.gmu.edu and click on bicycle registration
Fairfax County Bike Summit:
This summit will bring together bicyclists, bicycle organizations, bike shops, and transportation professionals to discuss ways to better bicycling in Fairfax County.
Discover Fairfax Group Ride:
A casual group ride will leave at 12pm from the Starbucks on campus and end in the City of Fairfax via local bike paths and bike-friendly streets. Helmet is required!
For more information go to cityoffairfax.net
Bike Club Group Ride:
The bike club will lead a casual group ride around campus and outlying neighborhoods on Tuesday, September 24th at 5:30. Meet at the clock tower in the JC North plaza. All levels of cyclists are welcome!
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/375811452490179/?context=create
Fairfax-Mason-to-Metro Bicycle Route:
For the past year, Mason staff, City of Fairfax Staff, Local Bike Advocates, and other bike experts have been working on improving bicycle transportation between Mason, The Metro, and the City of Fairfax. The first set of improvements, shared lane markings, have recently been installed on Old Lee Highway as part of this ongoing project.
Patch Article: http://fairfaxcity.patch.com/announcements/fairfax-mason-to-metro-initiative-will-make-bicycling-easier-and-safer
Labels: bike share, gum, tyler orton, viacycle
Friday, July 6, 2012
Article on bike sharing in Reston
In the Examiner article Supervisor Hudgins discusses her interest in bike sharing:
"I am very interested in seeing it happen," said Fairfax County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, a Democrat whose district includes Reston. "I think it's a possibility in the near future."
Officials say plans for bike sharing are still just being discussed and they aren't sure if a Reston pilot would be plugged into the Capital Bikeshare brand already popular in the District and Arlington. But they said they hope some form of bike system will be in place in time for the opening of Metro's Silver Line at Reston, slated for early 2014.
"The county definitely does want bike sharing," said county spokeswoman Beth Francis. "We don't have funding right now, but it's definitely in the plans."
Montgomery and Prince George's counties and Alexandria are already slated to join the Capital Bikeshare program.
Hudgins toured Arlington's bike facilities last summer. She said she wants to talk to Reston businesses and community members to figure out details such as where to put stations.
She said the county, like Arlington and the District, would search for a private partner for the bike system.
Officials say plans for bike sharing are still just being discussed and they aren't sure if a Reston pilot would be plugged into the Capital Bikeshare brand already popular in the District and Arlington. But they said they hope some form of bike system will be in place in time for the opening of Metro's Silver Line at Reston, slated for early 2014.
"The county definitely does want bike sharing," said county spokeswoman Beth Francis. "We don't have funding right now, but it's definitely in the plans."
Montgomery and Prince George's counties and Alexandria are already slated to join the Capital Bikeshare program.
Hudgins toured Arlington's bike facilities last summer. She said she wants to talk to Reston businesses and community members to figure out details such as where to put stations.
She said the county, like Arlington and the District, would search for a private partner for the bike system.
Labels: bike share, reston, supervisor hudgins
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Virginia shipyard has 6,000 bike sharing system
There is a place in Virginia populated by 21,300 people who ride around on 6,000 bicycles.It is not a college town like Blacksburg or Harrisonburg; it is Newport News Shipbuilding.
The shipyard has 6,000 bicycles, but like good seats at a football stadium, you practically have to inherit a bike to use one. Our tour guide remembers having to put down $20 in collateral for the privilege of borrowing a bike.
The shipyard has 6,000 bicycles, but like good seats at a football stadium, you practically have to inherit a bike to use one. Our tour guide remembers having to put down $20 in collateral for the privilege of borrowing a bike.
Labels: bike share, newport news
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Is bike sharing feasible in Reston?
Users must first become members of Capital Bikeshare. Memberships are available for a single day, three days, 30 days, or a year. The first half hour is free, after which hourly fees apply. This pricing encourages shorter trips.
Once a bicycle is checked out it can be returned to any of the 140 stations scattered throughout the DC/Arlington area. In order to be a useful transportation alternative, a sufficient number of stations located relatively closely are needed. Users don't want to walk long distances from the stations to their destination. Ideal spacing is about 1,000 feet between stations.
With the coming of rail to Reston, many people will be traveling short distances to and from the Wiehle Ave and Reston Parkway rail stations. The "last mile" is a term used to refer to these short trips to/from transit. Bike sharing is an ideal solution.
Where would the bike stations be located? A start would be to have stations on the north and south sides of the Metro stations. The Reston Pkwy station is a long walk from the Town Center so a couple of stations could be located in parts of the Town Center. Other obvious locations include the USGS, Reston Association, Hunters Woods Village Center, the International Center, South Lakes Village Center, Newton Square, Plaza America, Stratford House, and other high density residential and commercial locations.
How would the system be funded? The Capital Bikeshare system is funded through federal, state, local and private funding. The Paris Velib bike share system is funded using advertising at the stations and on the bicycles. We currently fund other forms of transit, and bike sharing can be envisioned as a small-scale transit system that need not be self supporting. Even so, the Capital Bikeshare system is now taking in enough funds to pay for all operating expenses.
The next time you plan a short trip, think about how that trip could be taken by bike, and if a shared bike were available, would you use it? Bike sharing could be a real option for many people in Reston, but we'll need safer, more direct on- and off-road bike facilities for it to be successful. That's the topic for a future article.
Cross-posted on Reston Patch.
Labels: bike share, capital bikeshare, reston, Silver line
Friday, March 9, 2012
Tysons Bike Group hears about feasibility of bikesharing in Tysons
According to Charlie, the DC system cost $6.4 million, mostly from Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funds matched by 20% local funding. It consists of 140 stations and 1200 bikes. Arlington's system cost $800,000 and consists of 26 stations in Crystal City and Ballston/Rosslyn Corridor. There are 19,000 members which is double the projected number. There have been over 1.5 million trips that average about 1 mile in length. There have been 20 reported crashes and 10 bicycles have disappeared and not recovered.
Charlie said there are four major considerations when thinking about implementing bike sharing in Tysons:
- Connections to Silver Line stations
- The need for better bicycle infrastructure
- Promotion of bike sharing
- Partnerships and sponsorships
The bike share system would be focused around the four Metro stations which are located along Routes 123 and 7. These wide, pedestrian and bicycle unfriendly streets present major barriers for bicyclists. Bike share stations would need to be located on each side of the Metro station. Other stations would be located near major residential, employment and retail/commercial destinations. Using a bike for short lunchtime trips would reduce congestion and save employees time.
There is currently no dedicated on-road bicycle infrastructure in Tysons. While many cyclists do ride there, most people will be reluctant to use bicycles without some dedicated space such as bike lanes, cycle tracks, or indications of shared use such as sharrows and "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signs. The Tysons Bicycle Plan needs to be approved and implemented, and the planned redevelopment projects need to include bike infrastructure.
The bike share system would need to be promoted by TYTRAN, FABB, the Tysons Bike Group, VDOT and DRPT, and others. Major land developers are logical sponsors as are Fairfax County, VDOT, the Tysons Partnership, and major Tysons employers such as Booz Allen, SAIC, Freddie Mac, PwC, etc.
Bike sharing in Tysons is an exciting prospect but major changes are needed before it could become a reality. The fist step is implementation of the Tysons Bicycle Master Plan.
Labels: bike share, charlie denney, Tysons, tysons bike plan, tysons metro
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Bikesharing in Tysons?
Is bike sharing in Tysons feasible? That is the subject of a presentation to the Tysons Bike Group by Charlie Denney of Alta Planning & Design that is scheduled for next Tuesday, March 6 at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Tysons from noon to 1pm. If you're interested in attended send a message to chairman@fabb-bikes.org. |
| Charlie Denney of Alta Planning at the Tysons West station. |
The Tysons Bicycle Master Plan contains recommendations for many on- and off-road bike facilities. Bike sharing is also recommended in Phase 2: 2012-2016 - "As the core of Tysons Corner begins redeveloping, implement priority on-street, and off-street bicycle facilities. Improve bicycle access within and from the surrounding communities. Install high-tech Bicycle Sharing infrastructure and launch encouragement programs like 'Bike-to- Lunch' and 'Bicycle-Friendly Employer A wards.'" Unfortunately the plan has not even been presented to the Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors, and we're already into Phase 2 recommendations.
 |
| Shopper bike racks at Tysons Corner Center |
We rode by three of the four future station locations and got a feel for bike access to the stations. Tysons isn't flat. To cycle from most of the stations to interior locations will require pedaling uphill. Electric-assist bikes would make bike sharing more feasible for many people although there are few electric-assist bike share systems currently in place (see The Bike-sharing Blog for info on Japanese systems that use electric-assist).
On the left are some of the custom "shopper" bike racks that are scattered around the Tysons Corner Center.
It was a beautiful day to tour Tysons on bikes. The kind of day when you think anything is possible, even having a successful bike sharing system in Tysons.
Labels: bike share, charlie denney, Tysons, tysons bike plan, tysons metro
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Ft. Belvoir considering bike sharing
Ft. Belvoir, a large military installation in southern Fairfax Co. that straddles Route 1, is looking into the feasibility of using bike sharing for short trips on the base. The base extends about 5 miles in a north-south direction and less than 2 miles east-west. Many employees arrive via transit and have difficulty traveling within the base during the day. Bike sharing is one solution:
The installation is working with MetroBike, a bike-sharing consultant company, on an initiative that would create a network of cycles for people to use as transportation to various locations on post such as offices and eateries.
"The long-term goal is to have stations spread out about five minutes apart from each location," said Juanita Green, garrison transportation demand management coordinator. No start date is set for this initiative but Green expects Belvoir to have the transportation method in the near future. According to Paul DeMaio, founder and managing member of MetroBike, bike-sharing is a short term transit rental service.
According to Green, Fort Belvoir, which is significantly smaller than D.C. and Arlington, would likely have a scaled down version of the Capital Bikeshare network. Green said the garrison’s system would have docks close to offices, businesses and recreational locations for employees and residents.
The transportation method could help mass transit commuters travel to meetings, lunch and shuttle pick-ups throughout the work day. Biking could also be an alternative for community members traveling to places on post such as fitness centers and convenience stores.
Green expects Belvoir to start the program slow with stations potentially located at 12th Street, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and the 300 area. The ultimate number of bicycles and docks would depend on funding and demand.
"I would like to see it all through the installation as a means of transportation for employees," Green said. "A lot of them using mass transit don’t have means internally to travel around post." The transit method could have a number of long-term benefits to the installation.
Bike-sharing would reduce the number of vehicles on the road which reduces congestion, accidents and car emissions. Daily ridership is also a form of exercise. "It’s introducing bicycling to people who haven’t been on a bike since they were a child," DeMaio said of bike-sharing’s popularity in other areas of the country.
The garrison’s next step is to acquire assistance from directorate and tenant organizations on post for funding and maintenance support of any future network of bikes.
"The long-term goal is to have stations spread out about five minutes apart from each location," said Juanita Green, garrison transportation demand management coordinator. No start date is set for this initiative but Green expects Belvoir to have the transportation method in the near future. According to Paul DeMaio, founder and managing member of MetroBike, bike-sharing is a short term transit rental service.
According to Green, Fort Belvoir, which is significantly smaller than D.C. and Arlington, would likely have a scaled down version of the Capital Bikeshare network. Green said the garrison’s system would have docks close to offices, businesses and recreational locations for employees and residents.
The transportation method could help mass transit commuters travel to meetings, lunch and shuttle pick-ups throughout the work day. Biking could also be an alternative for community members traveling to places on post such as fitness centers and convenience stores.
Green expects Belvoir to start the program slow with stations potentially located at 12th Street, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and the 300 area. The ultimate number of bicycles and docks would depend on funding and demand.
"I would like to see it all through the installation as a means of transportation for employees," Green said. "A lot of them using mass transit don’t have means internally to travel around post." The transit method could have a number of long-term benefits to the installation.
Bike-sharing would reduce the number of vehicles on the road which reduces congestion, accidents and car emissions. Daily ridership is also a form of exercise. "It’s introducing bicycling to people who haven’t been on a bike since they were a child," DeMaio said of bike-sharing’s popularity in other areas of the country.
The garrison’s next step is to acquire assistance from directorate and tenant organizations on post for funding and maintenance support of any future network of bikes.
Labels: bike share, ft belvoir, metrobike
