Tysons bicycle tour

During a recent weekday morning, two of us toured Tysons by bike. Here's photos from the tour, and a map with links to the photos. Notice the wide lanes, extensive greenspace, and potential for bike lanes.

Fairfax County Bicycle Advocacy Group organizational meeting

Fairfax County Bicycle Advocacy Group organizational meeting
May 3, 2005
Hosted by bikes@vienna

Attendees: Douglas Stewart (WABA Board), Kerie Hitt (Reston Bike to Work Day), Walter Brodtman (WABA rep on Non-motorized Transportation Committee), John Brunow (bikes@vienna), Dennis Frew (future WABA rep on Non-motorized Transportation Committee), Anne Mader (The Bike Lane), Linda Freimark (former WABA Board member), Hunter McCleary (Vienna advocate), Bruce Wright (Non-motorized Transportation Committee chair).

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the form, composition, and goals of a bicycle advocacy group for Fairfax County, including Fairfax City and the towns of Vienna and Herndon.

What bicycle advocacy activities are currently underway:

1. VBF - Supports legislative changes that benefit cyclists (right turn using right arm, allowing riding two abreast in some circumstances, clarification of two foot passing distances for motorists, etc.) The group is primarily involved with statewide issues.

2. WABA - Focus is mainly in DC and MD. The one project on their site related to Fairfax County is extending the Mt. Vernon Trail north to the beltway. They also support the Bike to Work Day events in the county.

3. Fairfax County Non-motorized Transportation Committee (NMTC) - Maintain the Trails Plan that includes on-road bike routes. Effect on cycling conditions somewhat diluted due to multiple constituencies (equestrians, pedestrians, disabilities community).

4. Local clubs - Mostly recreational, very little advocacy.

5. fairfaxcycling mailing list - New list, limited participation.

Should there be a separate Fairfax County advocacy group? Yes.

1. What form should the group take?
Examples include:
Fairfax County government advisory committee
WABA Fairfax County subgroup
BikeWalk Virginia affiliate
VDOT Advisory Committee
Independent group (dues or no dues, regular meetings or informal)

The consensus was that the group should be informal for now.

2. Who should be included in the group?

Information about the activities of the group will be widely disseminated to encourage support from any cyclists interested in improving cycling conditions in the county. For now the group will consist of those present at the meeting.

3. What should be the major goals?

A. Appointment of a Fairfax County Bicycle Coordinator.

There was general agreement that this is the top priority. Having a staff person in the county who is responsible for ensuring implementation of the on-road bike routes on the Trails Plan and that bicycle accommodations are included in all transportation projects. Walter noted that the county may have had a bicycle coordinator in the past, funded by a grant.

Implementation of the Onroad Bicycle Routes on the county Trails Plan

Development of a Fairfax County Bicycle Map - Bruce agreed to pursue this using soon-to-be-available VDOT road data.

4. Bike to Work Day

Douglas brought copies of an information card that contained a blurb on the fairfaxcycling mailing list. It was agreed that Bruce will summarize the vision and goals of the group to be included on the reverse of the card. Doug will then have additional copies printed and made available in time for distribution at Bike to Work Day.

Petition to encourage the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to appoint a bicycle coordinator. Douglas will create a draft and send it to the group. The final copy will be printed by the pit stop reps and made available during the event to all cyclists. Email addresses will be requested on the petition.

Fairfax Cycling

Vision: Improving bicycling conditions in Fairfax County through citizen advocacy.

Goals:

1. Appointment of a cyclist as the Fairfax County bicycle coordinator.

2. Encourage Fairfax County to follow the League of American Bicyclists Action Plan for becoming a bicycling friendly community.

a. Pilot project area: Tysons Corner. Ensure that Tysons Corner becomes a bicycle friendly urban center. Work with the citizens group that is studying the modification of the Comprehensive Plan for the Tysons Corner area. Provide specific recommendations for bike routes, Metro station bicycle facilities, and commercial development bicycle accommodations such as secure bicycle parking, showers, and changing facilities.

Below are links to the Bicycle Friendly home page and the action plan.

http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/
http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/symp_actionplan.htm

How will the group work together in the future?

We will communicate primarily via email and a blog. John has set up a blog on Blogger and will send invitations to the group members. Members will then need to create an account with a username, password, display name, and email address. For now, only members present at the meeting will be able to post new messages and comments. John will add links to various documents related to the effort. The site is intended to be used as a communication mechanism for the group. The fairfaxcycling list will be used to communicate with the larger cycling community.