Friday, October 5, 2018
Rescheduled Fall Tour of Reston on Sat. Oct. 13
Ride starts at 12pm. The route is approximately 15 miles and the ride will take about 2 hours. Meet at The Bike Lane. Helmets are required and riders will be asked to sign a liability waiver before the ride. Register on Eventbrite.
See a map of the proposed route.
Labels: bike lanes, fabb social ride, reston, restriping
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Fall FABB Rides
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| New bike lanes on North Shore Dr in Reston |
Ride starts at 5pm. The route is approximately 12 miles (shortened due to sunset at 7pm) and the ride will take about 1.5 hours. Meet at The Bike Lane, 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Reston. Helmets are required and riders will be asked to sign a liability waiver before the ride. Register on Eventbrite.
See a map of the proposed route.
Ride highlights include:
- Mount Vernon Estate
- River Farm
- Gum Springs
- The Grist Mill
- The Pope-Leighy House
- And many of our unique communities in between
Register on Eventbrite.
Labels: fabb social ride, mt vernon district, reston, tour de mount vernon
Monday, September 10, 2018
Capital Bikeshare E-Bikes in Reston and Tysons
On September 5, 2018, Fairfax County launched a pilot project that added black e-bikes to the bright red-colored Capital Bikeshare fleet in Reston and Tysons. The e-bikes, known as Capital Bikeshare Plus, are battery operated pedal-assist bicycles that provide users with a small boost, making pedaling uphill or longer distances effortless.
The pilot is scheduled to run through November 2018. There will be approximately 80 e-bikes deployed across the National Capital Region as part of the pilot.
E-bikes can be identified by their black color at a Capital Bikeshare station and are marked with a lightning bolt symbol in the Capital Bikeshare app. Unlike the regular bikeshare bicycle, the e-bike will need to be powered on before the start of the trip. The e-bikes are available to current Capital Bikeshare members at no additional charge via the Capital Bikeshare app.
To learn more about the Capital Bikeshare system and station locations in Fairfax County, visit www.CapitalBikeshare.com.
Labels: capital bikeshare, e-bikes, reston, Tysons
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
New Bike Routes in Reston
VDOT is finishing up work on new bike lanes on South Lakes Drive in Reston as part of the 2018 repaving season. South Lakes Dr was changed from having 2 lanes in each direction to having a single travel lane in each direction and buffered bike lanes. During the public meeting held in March of this year, residents were opposed to county's proposal, even though traffic counts indicated that traffic flow would be minimally impacted.As a compromise, VDOT did not reduce the lanes the section of road that includes South Lakes High School as residents felt strongly that full capacity was needed there. As a compromise, an alternate route was identified using Ridge Heights Rd and Soapstone Dr. Ridge Heights will be getting bike lanes later this year and there are already bike lanes on Soapstone.
Today we noticed that FCDOT has placed South Lakes Bike Route signs along the section where the route deviates from South Lakes Dr. Thanks to VDOT and FCDOT for implementing this project and installing wayfinding signs. The massive traffic jams that some residents predicted would occur once school was back in session have not happened; traffic seems to be flowing just fine and we're seen more cyclists using the road. Let's hope that once people discover this new bike facility that many more will join them.
Here is a photo of one of the new bike route signs.
In south Reston there is now an almost complete network of bike routes leading to the village centers, the W&OD Trail, the Metro station, and other destinations. Soon there will be a new separated bike facility along Sunrise Valley Dr that will be important as new residential units are being constructed. Here's a map that we just put together showing the major on-road bike facilities (except for the trail shown along Sunrise Valley Dr leading to the Metro station.
Labels: FCDOT, repaving, reston, vdot, wiehle-reston east
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
Friday, March 23, 2018
Learn to Bike Classes in Reston in April
Please pass the word to friends and others you know you have expressed interest in biking that a Learn to Bike for Adults Class (13 years and older) at the Reston Community Center is available for registration. Classes will be held on Sunday, April 8, and Sunday, April 29, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
The class is for adults who have never learned to ride a bike before or need to relearn the basics. Certified instructors use a technique that is intuitive and will take students through a progressive curriculum that has a very high success rate. Topics addressed include: balance skills, basic steering skills, and basic braking skills.
There is a registration fee of $65 for Reston residents and $98 for non-residents. The fee includes the rental of a bike and a Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) approved helmet. If the student would like to bring his or her own helmet, it must be CPSC approved. The registration code is 306205-8C for April 8 and 306205-8D for April 29.
Students are asked to wear comfortable, weather appropriate outerwear and bring water and a snack. Students will be contacted two weeks in advance of the class to ensure that the proper size bicycle is provided.
For more information, please contact the Fitness and Wellness Director at 703-390-6159. Reston Community Center is at 2310 Colts Neck Road in Reston.
Labels: bike classes, RCC, reston
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
New Bike Lanes in Reston
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| New North Shore Dr Bike Lane in Reston |
Other repaving projects in Reston still to be completed this summer are Twin Branches Road, Glade Drive, and Colts Neck Road, all located south of the Dulles Toll Road. See the Hunter Mill repaving projects page for details.
These new bike lane projects are well-timed as the county is proposing to add bikeshare stations south of the Toll Road (map of proposed stations). Currently all bikeshare stations are located north of the Toll Road. You can provide feedback on future station locations.
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| Sharrow on North Shore Drive. Bike lane on opposite side. |
Labels: bike lanes, north shore drive, repaving, reston
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Faces of Fairfax: Doreen and Annette
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| Doreen (left) and Annette (right). |
Good friends Doreen Grzelak and Annette Reichenbaugh used Bike to Work Day 2017 as an opportunity for some outdoor fellowship. They answered FABB’s brief survey questions at a BTWD pit stop in Herndon.
FABB: Where do you ride?
Doreen: Mostly on the W&OD Trail and around Reston
Annette: Same here. The W&OD Trail and around my home in Fairfax City.
FABB: Why do you ride?
Doreen: To be with friends.
We hope Doreen and Annette will join FABB on one of our next social rides. FABB regularly conducts social rides around Fairfax County. We do this not only to meet people and have fun but to share our knowledge about safe routes and point out newly added bicycling infrastructure. Please watch this blog and our social media for announcements for our next planned ride.
Labels: city of fairfax, Faces of Fairfax, reston
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Reminder: Bike Safety Classes in Reston
Registration will open for non-Reston residents this week for the Reston Community Center’s bicycle workshops and classes scheduled for later this summer. The Confident Cycling Class will offer three 3-hour sessions to help riders improve their skills for controlling their bike, avoiding crashes, and getting out of dangerous situations. There also will be a Learn to Bike class for children (6-14 years old) and one for adults (15 years and older). The costs of the workshops and classes vary, but these are great investments for new riders and aspiring commuters. You can register for the classes at the RCC website and find more information about the courses at this earlier FABB Blog post.
Labels: bike classes, reston
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Summer Bike Workshops and Classes in Reston
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| Certified instructors training riders. Photo courtesy of Bike Arlington |
We have good news for people interested in improving their bicycling skills or just learning how to bike. There will be a series of workshops and classes taught this summer at the Reston Community Center by FABB member and certified cycling instructor Kelley Westenhoff.
And, yes, we realize that most FABB members probably are experienced enough to not need classes. But, we bet that you may know someone or some kids who would like to learn to bike. Or perhaps you have a friend or neighbor who has seen the new Bike Share stations around the county, has started thinking about trying bicycling commuting, and would appreciate some advice on being a more confident, comfortable, and safe rider. If so, please help spread the word and let people know that registration opens for Reston residents on May 1, 2017, and for non-residents the following week on May 8, 2017.
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| Bike classes in Reston Photo courtesy of Reston Bike Ed, http://restonbikeed.com |
For riders 18 years and older, RCC will offer three Confident Cycling Classes to improve cycling abilities for controlling your bike, avoiding crashes, and gaining advance bike handling maneuvers to get you out of dangerous situations. Students will ride on the road to learn about lane control, driver communication and effective road behavior. Participants must be able to ride a bike without assistance and provide their own bicycle and helmet. They should dress comfortably and bring a water bottle. Each class will be a 3-hour session at RCC Hunters Woods from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on the following Sundays:
- Fundamentals - Sunday, 16 July 2017
- Crash Avoidance - Sunday, 30 July 2017.
- Confident Road Cycling - Sunday, 13 August 2017.
You can sign up for individual workshops or for all three. The cost for each workshop is $45 for Reston residents and $68 for non-residents. Please go to the RCC website for details on registration.
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| Photo courtesy of RCC. |
There also will be a Learn to Bike class for children (6-14 years old) and one for adults (15 years and older). These classes are for people who have never learned to ride a bike or need to relearn the basics. The certified instructors use a technique that is intuitive and will take students through a progressive curriculum that covers balance skills, basic steering skills, and basic braking skills and has a very high success rate. These classes will also be taught at RCC Hunters Woods.
The cost for each 3-hour class is $65 for Reston residents and $98 for non-residents. The registration fee includes the rental of a bike and a Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC)-approved helmet. If a student would like to bring their own helmet, it must be CPSC-approved. Students will be contacted two weeks in advance of the class to ensure that the proper size bicycle is provided. The classes will be held as follows:
- Learn to Bike for Youth - Saturday, 1 July 2017, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
- Learn to Bike for Adults - Saturday, 22 July 2017, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
The RCC website has details on registration for these classes. For more information check out page 24 of the Adobe file (page 46 in the guide) of the RCC 2017 Summer Program Guide.
Labels: bike classes, learn to ride, RCC, reston
Public Meeting on Glade Drive Design Improvements Next Thursday
FABB is asking members and others interested cyclists and pedestrians to attend the community meeting hosted by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) on proposed Glade Drive street design improvements next week. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2017, at 6:30 p.m., in the cafeteria of Hunters Woods Elementary School, 2401 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
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| Map courtesy of FCDOT. |
The purpose of the meeting will be to gather community input on various proposals to improve traffic safety, bicycling and the pedestrian environment on Glade Drive during the scheduled repaving this summer by the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT). In particular, there will be a discussion of new bike lanes and sharrows that have been proposed for Glade Drive from Glade Bank Way to Twin Branches Road.
Labels: FCDOT, glade drive, repaving, reston, vdot
Monday, March 13, 2017
Reminder: FCDOT Reston Bike Improvements Meeting This Thursday
The meeting is this Thursday, March 16, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Dogwood Elementary School, 12300 Glade Drive, in Reston.
Labels: colts neck road, FCDOT, north shore drive, repaving, reston, twin branches road
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Reston Bike Meeting March 16
Fairfax County is holding a meeting to discuss possible bike improvements in Reston as part of the summer repaving program. Your support and feedback are needed.For more info see 2017 Proposed Hunter Mill Street Design Improvements:
Reston Community Meeting, Bicycle, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Improvements
Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host a community meeting to discuss proposed changes to street design on North Shore Drive, Twin Branches Road, and Colts Neck Road. The proposals are coordinated with the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) 2017 repaving program. Representatives from FCDOT and VDOT will present plans for the following proposals:
Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host a community meeting to discuss proposed changes to street design on North Shore Drive, Twin Branches Road, and Colts Neck Road. The proposals are coordinated with the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) 2017 repaving program. Representatives from FCDOT and VDOT will present plans for the following proposals:
- North Shore Drive:
- Ring Road to Wiehle Avenue (southern intersection) Two Options:
- Existing parking remains. Narrow travel lanes to add bike lanes and shared lane markings.
- Restrict on-street parking to one side of the street from Ivy Oak Square to Wiehle Avenue. Add bike lanes in both directions for this segment. Existing parking remains from Ivy Oak Square to Ring Road. Narrow travel lanes to add bike lanes and shared lane
- A road diet is proposed near Tall Oaks Village Center as approved in the rezoning
- Twin Branches Road: Narrow travel lanes to reduce speeding and add bike lanes. Parking will be identified
- Colts Neck Road:
- Reston Parkway to Glade Drive: Narrow travel lanes and add bike lanes. Existing parking remains
- Glade Drive to Sunrise Valley Drive: Proposed road diet to create a center turn lane, reduce speeding, add crosswalks and bike lanes
*Note: No proposals for Glade Dr will be discussed at this meeting
To view a map of the proposed project areas, visit: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/bike/ huntermillstreetimprovements.htm
Thursday, Mar 16, 2017, 6:30-8:30 PM
Dogwood Elementary School Cafeteria
12300 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20190
To view a map of the proposed project areas, visit: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/bike/ huntermillstreetimprovements.htm
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Reston Kidical Mass Ride Saturday
See the Reston Kidical Mass Facebook page for more info:
Wheel you be my Valentine?! Join us for a special Valentine’s Day themed family-friendly bike ride. Before the ride we will decorate our bikes and helmets, and then head out for a short spin around the neighborhood trails. We will take a break at a playground and share some sweet treats!
About Kidical Mass Reston:
We are bringing together families who bike in an effort to provide a positive community experience that will show children how much fun riding your bike can be!
Rides are very slow and we have a ride ‘sweeper’ who stays in the back of the group to make sure no one is left behind. Also, the ride leader will stop as many times as necessary to make sure the group stays together since it’s safer and more fun that way! Since we are not stopping traffic or blocking traffic this may mean it’s the slowest ride you’ll ever take- but it makes it more fun and festive!
Rides are very slow and we have a ride ‘sweeper’ who stays in the back of the group to make sure no one is left behind. Also, the ride leader will stop as many times as necessary to make sure the group stays together since it’s safer and more fun that way! Since we are not stopping traffic or blocking traffic this may mean it’s the slowest ride you’ll ever take- but it makes it more fun and festive!
Labels: kidical mass, reston
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Dec. 2 Deadline for Comments on Hunter Mill Bike Lanes
On November 14 Adam Lind, the county bike coordinator, gave a presentation on a proposal to modify the lane striping on roads in Reston that will be repaved in 2017. The county is accepting comments on the proposal until December 2. We support the county's efforts to make Reston a better place to bike, especially the proposal for a road diet on Colts Neck Road where at least two people have been killed trying to cross the road. One option is to reduce the travel lanes from 4 to 2 with bike lanes, making the road safer for everyone.From the project page 2017 Proposed Hunter Mill Bike Lanes: "The proposed improvements are limited to changes that can be made with roadway striping as part of the repaving process." The following roads are impacted:
- Glade Drive: Glade Bank Way to Twin Branches Road
- Twin Branches Road: Lawyers Road to South Lakes Drive
- Colts Neck Road: Reston Parkway to Sunrise Valley Drive
- North Shore Drive: Ring Road to Oak Spring Way
The presentation from the Nov. 14 meeting is online.
Labels: bike lanes, repaving, reston
Friday, November 11, 2016
Public Meeting on Reston Repaving Projects on Monday
Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host a community meeting to discuss proposed bike lanes in the Hunter Mill District on Monday, November 14, 2016, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the cafeteria of Terraset Elementary School, 11411 Ridge Heights Road, Reston. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input on various proposals to improve traffic safety, bicycling and the pedestrian environment in Reston.
As part of the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) 2017 repaving schedule, four areas in the Hunter Mill District are under review:
- Glade Drive: Glade Bank Way to Twin Branches Road
- Twin Branches Road: Lawyers Road to South Lakes Drive
- Colts Neck Road: Reston Parkway to Sunrise Valley Drive
- North Shore Drive: Ring Road to Oak Spring Way
Friday, October 28, 2016
Public Meeting on Reston Repaving Projects
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| Crash reduction on Lawyers Road after road diet |
This is your chance to support better biking in Reston. There is very little cost to the county to improve safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. The bike lanes on Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive were an outcome of repaving projects. Please consider attending this meeting and supporting the county's efforts to make biking safer and more convenient in Reston.
Roads under consideration include:
Where: Terraset Elementary School, Cafeteria, 11411 Ridge Heights Rd, Reston, VA 20191
- Glade Drive - Glade Bank Way to Twin Branches Rd
- Twin Branches Road - Lawyers Road to South Lakes Drive
- Colts Neck Road - Reston Parkway to Sunrise Valley Drive
- North Shore Drive - Ring Road to Oak Spring Way
Where: Terraset Elementary School, Cafeteria, 11411 Ridge Heights Rd, Reston, VA 20191
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Clips in Reston: Party Like Its 1991!
Clips 2016 will celebrate the 25th anniversary of New Belgium’s founding in 1991. To commemorate its anniversary, the brewery reached out to some of its favorite filmmakers around the country and asked them to pay homage to the year of New Belgium's beginning with their films.
We haven’t been told what the films are about, but just imagine what the filmmakers have to work with! 1991 was the year that the internet was made available for unrestricted commercial use, the first web browser was introduced, and the number of computers on the Internet reached one million. The Washington Redskins were on their way to a 14-2 season and a victory in Super Bowl XXVI. We danced or exercised to C+C Music Factory’s Gonna Make You Sweat. Beverly Hills 90210 premiered on TV while Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Silence of the Lambs were two of the year’s top movies. Oh, and the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Get a sneak peak at the films here.
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| Internet Messenger by Israeli artist Buky Schwartz. |
Please join us for what is shaping up as a fabulously fun night of film and foam! The beer starts pouring at 7:00 pm with offerings on tap--available in 3-ounce samples or 12-ounce pours--or in cans. The films begin showing at dark (between 8:30 and 9:00 pm). A bike valet manned by volunteers from The Bike Lane will be available on site.
We still need a few more volunteers for event set-up, pouring and selling New Belgium’s craft beers, and checking ID’s. Volunteers will receive a Clips T-shirt, pizza before the event, and a special beer to celebrate afterwards. For details on volunteer positions and to sign up, check out the volunteer signup page.
We still need a few more volunteers for event set-up, pouring and selling New Belgium’s craft beers, and checking ID’s. Volunteers will receive a Clips T-shirt, pizza before the event, and a special beer to celebrate afterwards. For details on volunteer positions and to sign up, check out the volunteer signup page.
Labels: clips beer and film, reston, volunteers
Monday, January 11, 2016
Faces of Fairfax - Rose
Rose noted that she and her husband often travel around the country and use bikes to explore local areas.
Labels: FABB, Faces of Fairfax, reston
Monday, December 14, 2015
Faces of Fairfax - Kevin
Labels: FABB, Faces of Fairfax, reston, wiehle-reston east
