Sunday, June 29, 2014
Tour de Tysons recap
Today bike riders took over a few streets in Tysons during the Tour de Tysons races and Family Fun Ride. The weather was ideal (except for the wind that tried to blow our tent away). FABB volunteers gathered nearly 90 signatures on our petition to urge the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to adopt the Bicycle Master Plan. Thanks to all our volunteers and to everyone who took the time to stop by and sign the petition. We plan to have an online version of the petition soon.Convoys from Vienna and The Barns at Wolf Trap arrived as the event got underway. Liz MacGregor held a well-received talk entitled Getting There By Bike! About 30 riders participated in the Family Fun Ride. Actually there were many more riders than that. We didn't expect to see so many of the racers warming up during the Fun Ride. I guess they wanted to have fun as well, but why were they riding so fast?
Thanks to Bill Luecke of National Capital Velo Club and Kate Maholchic of Tysons Partnership for inviting FABB and providing all the logistical support. We hope that events like the Fun Ride will lead to more open streets type events in the future, with the goal of a full-fledged ciclovia held in Fairfax County in the coming years.
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| Liz discusses getting around by bike |
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| FABB table with the Tysons Corner Metrorail station in the background |
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| Food trucks and exhibitor tables in front of PwC offices |
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| Racers with Tysons Corner Metrorail station in the background |
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| Family Fun riders |
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| More Family Fun riders |
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| Rolling through Tysons |
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| Who is that fast rider next to me! |
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| Supervisor Smyth visited the FABB table |
Labels: supervisor smyth, tour de tysons, Tysons, tysons partnership
Friday, June 20, 2014
Tour de Tysons Fun Family Events
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| Photo by Pete Beers |
Watch the Tour de Tysons races on Sunday June 29 and bring the family! Tour de Tysons is more than just racing this year. Stay for the day and connect with people who are passionate about bicycling in Tysons and beyond. Come join FABB for food and fun in the newest downtown in Fairfax County. FABB has partnered with Tysons Partnership and the Tour de Tysons sponsors to bring you events throughout the day.
A long term goal of FABB is the transformation of Tysons into a bike-friendly community. FABB was involved in the planning for the future of Tysons that resulted in major Comprehensive Plan Changes in Tysons. Those changes include bike lanes on several Tysons roads, new trail links into Tysons, improved on-road conditions in and around Tysons, new bike parking requirements, and improved signage. Those changes are still a few years away, but this is a chance to learn about changes coming to Tysons and to discover bike routes to several of the new Tysons Silver Line stations.
Tour de Tysons Schedule of Events:- Races start at 8:00am and run to approx 5pm on Sunday June 29
- Bike Trains depart at 8:30am
- Talk - Getting there by Bike! - 10:30am
- Tysons Free Open Streets Family Fun Ride - 12:00pm
- Bike Train to Tysons - Meet up and ride to Tour de Tysons. We'll help you discover new routes to get to Tysons by bike. Starting points are:
- Barns at Wolf Trap
- Mosaic District
- Vienna Caboose
Interested in taking the Bike Train? Email us at tysons@fabb-bikes.org
Tysons Open Streets Family Fun Ride - Experience Tysons in a new way as you pedal along the TdT course at your own pace.
Talk - Getting there by Bike! - Elizabeth MacGregor, Certified Bike Instructor and FABB Board Member, will talk about how to make the most of your bike. You'll learn that getting around by bike is easy, fun and saves you money.
Vendors and Food:- 24 HR Fitness
- Bikes@Vienna
- REI
- Whim Pops
- Kettle Korn Guy
- Smart Markets, Inc.
- Firehook Bakery
- Balloon twister & face painter
- Halftime Food Bars
- Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
- WMATA
- Crepe Love Food Truck
- Scoops 2 U Ice-Cream Food Truck
- Spokes, Etc.
Labels: Silver line, tour de tysons
Friday, May 2, 2014
May-June 2014 FABB Newsletter
MAY-JUNE 2014 FABB News
A bi-monthly publication of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
Bicycle Master Plan
The long process of approving the Countywide Bicycle Master Plan is still underway. Public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors that were planned for May and June were recently postponed. Two countywide public meetings are now planned as a way to inform the public about the latest versions of the plan and recommended facilities maps.
While we are frustrated by the slow progress, the public meetings will be an opportunity for cyclists to learn about the latest drafts of the plan. This information should soon be available on the county bike plan webpage.
Once the public meeting dates are announced, we will spread the word via FABB social media and other outlets. The official public hearing dates will likely be announced after the public meetings are held. Stay tuned.
Fairfax County Parkway Trail Repair Underway
The first phase of the Fairfax County Parkway Trail Repair began in April. Work crews started at Route 7 and will continue south to Route 29 through the summer. Only the most damaged sections of the trail will be repaved. Where large cracks have developed but the remainder of the trail is in good condition, the cracks will be filled and sealed.
Trail sections being repaired will be closed between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. There will also be some nighttime work done between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Trail users should be able to carefully bypass work in progress if they are traveling during construction times. Informational signage and maps are being posted on site. See the FABB blog for more info, including examples of signs and maps posted at each end of the work area.
Tour de Fat
Tour de Fat returns on Saturday, May 31 to Yards Park in DC. The party starts with a costumed bike ride at 11 a.m. and includes music, games, food, and beer from New Belgium Brewery, makers of Fat Tire Ale.
Tour de Fat is a major fundraising event for FABB. Our volunteers check IDs and attach wristbands during the event to allow attendees to purchase alcohol. In exchange we receive a portion of the proceeds. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt and two beer tokens. We will likely form bike convoys of volunteers to the event.
We need volunteers for the the morning (10-1:30 p.m.), midday (11:30-3:00 p.m.) and afternoon (1:30-5 p.m.) shifts. Contact us at chairman@fabb-bikes.org to volunteer.
Tour de Tysons
Join FABB for rides, food, and fun at Tour de Tysons bicycle race on Sunday, June 29. The organizers of the bike race, National Capital Velo Club and Tysons Partnership, support all types of bicycling in Tysons. The race course will be on a loop in the vicinity of Tysons Corner Metro Station. FABB is sponsoring a family ride on the course during the event. Related activities will be held near the Tysons Corner Metro station. Check the FABB Tour de Tysons page for details as we get closer to the event.
Join FABB for the following activities at Tour de Tysons:
- Bicycle caravans demonstrating three routes to the Tysons Metro stations and to get cyclists to the event from three different points, arriving at 9:30 a.m.
- Midday social ride open to everyone on the race course. ($3 participant fee for insurance.)
- Food trucks and other vendors will be present.
- Commuter Seminar - "How to Ride Your Bike to Work - save money, have fun!" 10:30 a.m. in front of Firehook Coffee Shop.
- FABB table with maps and bike-related info.
Plan on joining us for a great way to experience Tysons! If you want to volunteer to help, please contact alan.g.young.sr@gmail.com.
Bike to School Day May 7
On Wednesday May 7 schools around the country will celebrate the third annual National Bike to School Day. Twenty-five schools in Fairfax County have registered so far. Lots of activities from bike trains to bike rodeos are planned at the various schools. Other events include safety clinics, helmet and token giveaways, and free coffee for the parents.
Several schools in Reston and Vienna are challenging one another for "Most Bikes" bragging rights on this day. In addition, the Vienna schools are holding their 6th annual Bike/Walk Challenge week with trophies for overall walkers/bikers and most bikers. Follow along on the FABB blog for daily updates on this challenge. National Bike to School day is an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools. Fairfax County Public Schools have compiled information on walking and biking to school on their Safe Routes to School web page.
Bike to Work Day May 16
Register now for Bike to Work Day, which is Friday, May 16. Two new Fairfax County events are being held this year, at Fair Lakes and McLean. We now have 12 events in Fairfax County, and we hope to have FABB reps at most of them.
Healthy Community Design Summit
The Healthy Community Design Summit will be held on Tuesday, May 6. The Summit is a chance to "learn how communities throughout the U.S. are encouraging active living through design of the built environment. Hear from a panel of local business, development and planning experts about their strategies for and successes with integrating healthy design throughout the Fairfax Community. Brainstorm with your colleagues on ways to make your neighborhoods more friendly for pedestrians and bicycles and accessible to all people. Help craft a message for leadership that demonstrates the benefits of health in all policies – especially throughout the built environment."
The event is being held at the Kena Conference Center, 9001 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax. Check-in begins at 8 a.m.; the program will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register for free at Eventbrite.
Women-Only Rides
Ladies, do you want to ride with other women? Three groups, Babesonbikes.org, WABA's Women & Bicycles, and Alexandria Spokeswomen, are just for you. These groups offer a variety of social and training rides. In addition, many local bike shops have no-drop women-only rides going on this spring. Invite a friend who might be interested in cycling to join you in this non-threatening atmosphere.
- May is Bike Month.
- May 3, Saturday - Vienna Bike Rodeo from 9 a.m.-noon at Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.
- May 4, Sunday - Alexandria Spokeswomen bike shop ride leaving from Jones Point Park at 10:00 a.m.
- May 5, Monday - Safe Routes to School Workshop at Mt. Vernon Woods Elementary School from 12:15-3:30 p.m., facilitated by Mark Fenton, an expert on Safe Routes to School initiatives and walkable communities.
- May 6, Tuesday - Healthy Community Design Summit at the Kena Conference Center from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Mark Fenton is the keynote speaker.
- May 6, Tuesday - Bicycle Master Plan briefing at Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee meeting at Fairfax County Government Center. Meeting starts at 10 a.m.
- May 7, Wednesday - Bike to School Day is celebrated at more than 25 Fairfax County schools. Is your school holding an event?
- May 10, Saturday - Reston Bike Rodeo at Lake Newport pool from 1-4 p.m.
- May 11, Sunday - Crystal City Phoenix Derby from 2-6 p.m.
- May 21, Wednesday, FABB Monthly Meeting, Vienna, VA.
- May 31, Saturday, Tour de Fat at Yards Park from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- June 18, Wednesday, FABB Monthly Meeting, Vienna, VA.
- June 29, Sunday, Tour de Tysons.
Labels: bicycle master plan, bike to school day, fabb newsletter, fairfax county parkway trail, tour de fat, tour de tysons
