Monday, September 2, 2013
Vienna disbands Bicycle Advisory Committee
While there is some overlap between a bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, bicycle facilities are often very different than pedestrian facilities. In a town like Vienna with many urban sidewalks and few sidepaths, cyclists generally ride on the road, with the major exception of the W&OD Trail. As former chairman of the county Trails and Sidewalks Committee, it's been my experience that combining the two interest groups does not work well. It's difficult for pedestrians, who may not even ride a bicycle, to make decisions that affect cyclists.
The committee is to be commended for developing a number of bicycle routes in the town. They promoted bicycle safety with bike rodeos and safety events, and they did great work getting good bike parking in some of the shopping centers. We're hoping that the bicycle advisory committee is reinstated soon.
To be effective, there needs to be a dense network of route signs leading cyclists to major destinations. The sign in the photo is the only one that we saw. It's a good start and we assume many more signs are coming. Approximately 80 signs were recently placed in McLean that cyclists can use to navigate that town.
Labels: town of vienna, vienna bicycle advisory committee, wayfinding
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Town of Vienna bike route sign meeting notes
Last night the Vienna Transportation Safety Commission agreed to work with the Fairfax County Bike Coordinator, Charlie Strunk, a Town resident, to improve the existing bike route signage, based on public comments received at the meeting. They agreed with the chairman that it is best to make sure the initial phase is done well before moving on. Once the Town is satisfied with the existing signage they will begin signing an expanded bike route network in the second phase of the project.Bob McCahill of the Bicycle Advisory Commission submitted numerous detailed comments about the current signs. The BAC is currently not meeting pending a review of their mission by the Mayor and Town Council. Several of Bob's comments involved the need for a few additional signs to help route cyclists. He also suggested that more wayfinding and destination signs be used.
We submitted the following comments:
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Vienna Bicycle Route Signage
- Need signs at important intersections of the W&OD Trail leading to major destinations. Signs should show direction and mileage to destinations and should be bi-directional (to and from Vienna).
- Destinations:
- Metro stations (Tysons, Dunn Loring, Vienna)
- Library
- Town Hall
- Schools
- Parks
- Playgrounds
- Tysons
- Downtown Vienna
- Need better route to Vienna Metro station. (We were later told that the "official" Metro route was along Tapawingo)
- Courthouse/Locust route is incomplete
- Courthouse is not bike-friendly
- Courthouse needs shared lane markings or Bicycle May Use Full Lane signs where the road is narrower
- I think the standard green and white bike route signs work better than the unique Vienna bike route signs.
- Incorporate Vienna bike routes into the Tysons microfiber bike route map.
- Install a kiosk at the Town Green showing information about the bike routes including a map.
- Distribute handouts/maps of the bike routes at W&OD Trail kiosks, Vienna Community Center, merchants, and so forth.
- Develop some scenic or historic signed bike routes/loops highlighting interesting sights.
We learned that Vienna Police have increased patrols on the W&OD Trail after a recent groping incident was reported by a female jogger near Talahi Rd SE.
Route signs will soon appear on Cottage St, a popular bike route leading to the Dunn Loring Metro station and the Merrifield area.
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| Driver wayfinding signage |
Motorists don't need signs to tell them where to go so why do we need all these bike route signs (I see three driver wayfinding signs in the image at the right of the Nutley St/Virginia Center Blvd intersection, and it was pointed out that cyclists need to know where the safe routes are located), and the classic, I pay gasoline taxes but cyclists get a free ride (we all pay taxes used to fund roads, especially local roads). His was a lone voice. Other commissioners seemed very supportive and willing to help cyclists find safe, convenient ways to navigate Vienna's streets.
Kudos to the Town for implementing their bike route network and continue to refine it. We look forward to riding in a more bike-friendly Vienna in the future.
Labels: bicycle route network, town of vienna, transportation safety commission, vienna bicycle advisory committee, wayfinding
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Vienna bike route sign meeting May 28 - Updated May 23
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| Sign posted at W&OD Trail and Maple Ave |
A while back the Town Bicycle Advisory Committee developed a number of bike routes throughout the town and some signs went up on those routes. In our opinion there are not enough signs to lead a cyclist along the routes. There are a few signs but not the density that's needed to allow you to just follow the signs.
We've asked if any additional information about the meeting is available, including any proposals that will be discussed. It would be helpful to have that information before the meeting.
Update: We asked if there is more information about the bike route signage meeting and this was the response: "We're just asking the public if the current signage is working. If not, we'd like to find out what improvements are needed." Seems like there should be a bit more structure to the meeting but it sounds like it will be an open forum. If you'd like more info about bicycle signs and how they are used, see the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) chapter on bicycle wayfinding signage.
Labels: bicycle route network, signs, vienna bicycle advisory committee, vienna transportation advisory commission
Saturday, April 21, 2012
FABB at bike events in Vienna
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| Vienna ES bike rodeo |
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| Hunter and Liz at Vienna Green Expo |
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| Maple Ave Shopping Center rack |
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| Vienna Mayor Seeman cuts the ribbon |
Eleven custom inverted U-racks are installed along the front of the shopping center. There's been a need for the racks here for a long time and it's great that the center management worked with the Town and Cris Janoski and others on the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee to install the racks. Thank you!
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| Breezer Greenway donated by bikes@vienna |
Update: Read the Vienna Patch article on the bike rack ribbon-cutting celebration, Maple Ave Shopping Center Welcomes Bike Racks
Labels: bike parking, mayor seeman, vienna, vienna bicycle advisory committee, vienna elementary school
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee newsletter now available
Articles include Bicycle Helmet Safety Tips, Is Vienna a Bike Friendly Community, and Bicycles Are Not Just for Kids.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Who speaks for cyclists?
Labels: FABB, league of american bicyclists, vienna bicycle advisory committee, virginia bicycling federation, waba
Friday, January 21, 2011
Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee
FABB attended the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting last night to give an overview of our work and to discuss the Guide for Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycling Advocates. The committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 8:00pm in the Town Hall Conference Room. The public is welcome to attend.Courthouse Rd bike route: After the FABB presentation the committee discussed the proposed Courthouse Rd bike route project. The original plan was for bike lanes between Locust and Nutley Streets. Because there is parking on the road, and the Town won't use 10 foot travel lanes, there isn't enough room for the bike lanes.
The latest plan is for an 11 foot travel lane with a white outer edge stripe, creating a paved shoulder. There will also be bike route signs with some wayfinding signs, although Shared Lane Markings will not be used. The plan works fine until a cyclist, riding in the paved shoulder, encounters parked cars and must navigate back into the travel lane. We think a 10 foot travel lane would work fine; it may reduce travel speeds, and if large vehicles need access, the original pavement is in place and for them the road should function the same.
The Town Council will likely hold a public hearing some time in March.
Safe Routes to School: The committee also discussed a Safe Routes to School grant application for Vienna Elementary School. The travel plan is complete and parents are in the final stages of completing the application. Now that a new SRTS coordinator has been hired, the grant process should begin again soon.
W&OD Trail safety: There was also a brief discussion of safety on the W&OD Trail. The committee received a letter from the Town Manager, relaying a concern expressed by Councilwoman Cole at the November 1, 2010 Town Council meeting. Councilwoman Cole
brought up a problem of bicyclists creating unsafe conditions on the W&OD Trail when they speed by walkers and other users of the Trail causing near and sometimes actual collisions. Since the W&OD Trail is not a "bike trail" but rather a trail for use by walkers, joggers and others not using two wheel transportation it requires that action be taken to protect the safety and rights of all persons on the trail.
Councilwoman Cole though [sic] perhaps the BACK [sic] might look into a program of education for bicyclists so that the Trail can be used by all people and not, in my opinion, by a select few. This suggestions [sic] goes along the lines of my previous comments to you about bicyclists ignoring traffic control signs and signals creating dangerous conditions throughout Vienna. It is my understanding of that law that when bicyclists are on the public streets they must obey all posted traffic control signs and signals, something that is NOT happening. Please review this matter and perhaps the TSC can request the BAC to come up with some ideas on how to solve these problems.
The committee is preparing suggestions. There is a problem with the W&OD Trail; too many people are vying for too little space. There is unsafe behavior on the part of many trail users, not just cyclists. One solution is to make our roads safer for cyclists. Fairfax has very few on-road bicycle facilities. To travel in the county cyclists are often forced onto major roads and without space for bicyclists, conditions can be dangerous. We're fortunate to have the W&OD Trail, but we need more options.Councilwoman Cole though [sic] perhaps the BACK [sic] might look into a program of education for bicyclists so that the Trail can be used by all people and not, in my opinion, by a select few. This suggestions [sic] goes along the lines of my previous comments to you about bicyclists ignoring traffic control signs and signals creating dangerous conditions throughout Vienna. It is my understanding of that law that when bicyclists are on the public streets they must obey all posted traffic control signs and signals, something that is NOT happening. Please review this matter and perhaps the TSC can request the BAC to come up with some ideas on how to solve these problems.
The Town and county should also do a better job of supporting bicycle education. There are almost no bicycle skills classes for adults, and the elementary school bicycle curriculum is not being taught. Hopefully the advisory committee recommendations will include some of these suggestions.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Vienna Transportation Safety Commission recommends bike lanes on Courthouse Road
Last night the Vienna Transportation Safety Commission held a public hearing on proposed bike lanes on Courthouse Road from Maple Ave to Nottoway Park. The majority of speakers were in favor of the proposal. A few spoke out against the facility, citing concerns about placing the bike lanes adjacent to parked cars. Some made the illogical argument that encouraging cyclists on the road would make traffic worse.To address the concern about parking on the road it was suggested that shared lane markings (sometimes referred to as "sharrows") be used where parking is allowed to avoid striping bike lanes in the door zone. The committee recommended approval of the bike lane proposal with the suggestion that shared lane markings be used where on-street parking is allowed. The vote was unanimous.
The recommendation will be sent to the Vienna Town Council for their consideration. Once the public hearing date is announced we'll post the information. It's important that cyclists continue to support the facility; we can assume there will be a few vocal opponents who will speak out against the proposal.
See the Transportation Safety Commission website and the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) website. To subscribe to the BAC email updates send a request to bac@viennava.gov.
Labels: bike lanes, vienna bicycle advisory committee, vienna transportation advisory commission
