Saturday, April 16, 2011
FABB at Clean Fairfax Earth Day/Arbor Day
It was a wet day at the Fairfax Co Government Center for Clean Fairfax Earth Day/Arbor Day. Fortunately the organizers moved the event inside. As a result of the rain there were many fewer visitors than expected. Despite the rain several people stopped by the FABB table and picked up maps and other bike literature, signed up for the FABB newsletter, and talked about riding in Fairfax. Many people said they would ride more if conditions were better. It's a common theme when we are out talking to the general public. People say they want to use their bikes but they don't feel safe riding on the roads. Most of our streets were not designed for cyclists, and novice cyclists feel especially vulnerable. The main reason we teach the Cycling with Confidence class is to help cyclists learn the skills needed to ride in traffic. The county needs to do much more to encourage people to ride by providing safe, convenient bike facilities.
We had a good conversation with the representative from Inova who was at the table next to us. Inova is sponsoring Let's Move the Needle on Childhood Obesity, and we discussed the importance of kids using active transportation. It's a lifelong activity and helps them become independent at an earlier age. Kids who learn about the rules of the road when young become better drivers as they get older. They also learn they don't have to drive everywhere to get around. We plan to have a table at the event and hope to meet others who want kids to be able to use their bikes for transportation and to get exercise.
Update: See the article Going Green? It's in the Bag about the event.
Labels: clean fairfax, earth day, inova, obesity
Friday, April 23, 2010
Earth Day events
We attended two Earth Day events yesterday to promote bicycling for transportation. The first was held at Oracle in Reston. The office is located adjacent to the W&OD Trail, a great location for bike commuters. Several people do ride to work, although bike parking is insufficient. Those who can bring their bikes inside. Without county requirements for adequate bike parking in commercial and residential buildings, most bike parking in the county is sub-standard if it exists at all. Lack of bike parking is a major reason that people don't commute by bike.That's Anne Mader of The Bike Lane which has a shop in the Reston Town Center. She had a table adjacent to the FABB table. She's been a supporter of FABB since the very first meeting 5 years ago. She had one of the new Trek Ride+ electric bikes, which solicited a lot of questions from Oracle employees.
The second event was the Vienna Green Expo (pdf) held later that evening. Bicyclists were well-represented with the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Commission, Spokes, Etc, bikes@vienna, and FABB providing info about bicycling to Vienna residents. Both Spokes and bikes@vienna are FABB supporters.
Bicycling is really taking off in Vienna, which has a good grid of streets, is close to Metro, and has many new, younger residents who want a walkable, bikeable lifestyle. The Bicycle Advisory Commission is developing a signed bike route to the Vienna Metro station along Courthouse Road, through Nottaway Park to Vaden Drive and the station.
Labels: earth day, town of vienna
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Transportation Secretary LaHood reaffirms support for bicycling on Earth Day
In his Earth Day post on the Dept. of Transportation blog, Bicycling is an important factor in less carbon-intensive commuting, Secretary LaHood reaffirms his support for bicycling as "an environmentally sound commuting option."More importantly, he notes that:
The upcoming reauthorization of DOT's surface transportation programs provides an opportunity for us to feature bicycling as part of a new American mobility within livable communities. As I said today in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this includes fostering communities where bicyclists feel both safe and welcome on the roadways. Bike-friendly development also has the potential to contribute significantly to the revitalization of downtown districts and offer an alternative to sprawl and automobile-focused commuting.
Earth Day is today, but we'll need the sustained engagement of bicycle commuters and their advocates in the weeks and months to come to help keep the wheels of bicycle-friendly legislation on the road. [Emphasis added].
Image of Secretary LaHood at Bike Summit, from Bike Portland.Earth Day is today, but we'll need the sustained engagement of bicycle commuters and their advocates in the weeks and months to come to help keep the wheels of bicycle-friendly legislation on the road. [Emphasis added].
Labels: earth day, transportation secretary LaHood
