Volunteers need for Fairfax bike rodeo

FABB is leading a bike rodeo on Sunday September 23 2-4 PM in the City of Fairfax. Volunteers are needed to help with registration and with conducting the rodeo. The event will be in Old Town Fairfax across the street from Oasis BikeWorks and is part of “Discover Fairfax,” which is being organized by the Downtown Business Association. If you are interested in volunteering for the rodeo, contact Douglas Stewart at douglasbstewart@gmail.com or 703-407-2790.

Sharrows in Fairfax City

‘Sharrows’ Remind Motorists to Share the Road With Bikers is a recent article in Fairfax News about planned sharrows on Old Lee Highway:

The city, George Mason University and Fairfax County created the Mason-to-Metro Initiative, with recommendations to improve sign system and map, on-road bicycle facilities and trails.

This fall, the city plans to install shared-use lane markings on sections of Old Lee Highway. These markings, “sharrows,” are two chevrons pointing forward with a bicycle symbol below. Sharrows are used to indicate to cyclists where they should ride in the road. Sharrows also alert motorists to expect bicyclists to share the road.

The city also plans to install signs on Old Lee Highway reinforcing the message to share the road.

Sharrows currently mark the bike lanes on George Mason Boulevard and University Drive between the university and Old Town Fairfax.

Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists on the road.

Minor correction: The sharrows on George Mason Blvd and University Dr are not bike lanes. The sharrows are used because there is not enough space for bike lanes. They indicate where cyclists should position themselves in the lane and they signal to motorists to expect cyclists riding in the lane.

Article on Central Fairfax meeting

See the Fairfax Connection article by Bonnie Hobbs on the Central Fairfax bike plan meeting. This was the final area meeting, held on March 29. Now the bike plan team is working on the first draft of the bicycle route network recommendations. They are also preparing for focus group meetings with the goal of having draft route network and policy/program recommendations by June.

Goodman [Dan Goodman of Toole Design Group] said they'll then have two, countywide meetings summarizing the eight meetings, plus all their fieldwork. Next, they'll make specific recommendations to the county Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The finished product may then be incorporated into the county's Comprehensive Plan and into the City of Fairfax’s plan.

"We're trying to create a linear bike network to make biking a feasible, transportation option in Fairfax County," he said. "We want to have biking be part of the culture of this county. We’ve already had meetings with the Bicycle Advisory Committee and, in April and May, we’ll meet with representatives from law enforcement, public health and schools for their input."

See our earlier report on this meeting and the Countywide Bicycle Master Plan website.

Update: Second Fairfax Connection article Residents Speak Out about Bike Plan.

Central Fairfax bike plan meeting

The last of the eight bike plan subarea public meetings was held at Daniels Run Elementary School in the City of Fairfax last night. The school is fortunate that there is an extensive trail system leading to both the front and rear of the school. Several bikes were locked to sign posts in front of the school.

Even though the City of Fairfax is technically not part of the Fairfax Co Bicycle Master Plan, it is located in the center of the county and many county routes traverse the city including the Vienna Metro to GMU route. Several City staff were present and received a round of applause when introduced.

It was noted that the City is working to become more bike friendly, helping to establish the GMU to Vienna Metro route and recently publishing the very nice Fairfax City bike route map. There will be a ride of the GMU-Vienna Metro route on April 7 at 9:30am leaving from Oasis Bike Works. It's great that the City can take advantage of the work being done on the county bike plan. Recommendations for possible routes in the City will be included in the plan recommendations. It was suggested that the City Planning Commission and Council be briefed on the plan.

There was a brief discussion of what data are being used to develop the plan. It was noted that options such as the road diets on Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive in Reston have proven to be very effective for calming traffic and creating space for bicyclists. Four lanes were reduced to two lanes and a center turn lane with bike lanes.

The bike plan contractor, Toole Design Group, and the county will now synthesize all the data collected during the eight public meetings and prepare the final draft route network that will be presented to the Bicycle Advisory Committee at their April 11 meeting. The next major phase of the process is to hold several thematic and technical focus group meetings to gather policy and programmatic recommendations. Those meetings will occur in April and May. For more info see the Bike Plan website.

Central Fairfax area bike plan meeting on Thursday

The last of eight bike plan meetings focusing on different parts of the county will be held in Central Fairfax on Thursday, March 29 starting at 6pm at Daniels Run Elementary School, 3705 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax. Technically the planning area does not include the City of Fairfax, but given it's central location and the fact that several countywide bike routes pass through the city, it makes sense that the city be included in the process.

While there will be additional public meetings, this is one of the last chances to make detailed comments on the bicycle route network, on bike parking needs, and on any bicycle-related policy recommendations. Comments need not be limited to just the Central Fairfax area.

As a side note, the photo that has been used for most of the fliers advertising the bike plan meetings (the center photo in the flier on the right) was taken in the City of Fairfax on a ride organized by city residents to review possible bike routes between the city and the Vienna Metro station.

George Mason University is located nearby and the potential for future bike use is significant. We just need better, safer bike facilities and having a good bike plan is a critical part of the process. See the Central Fairfax meeting flier and the Bike Plan website for more details.

Bicyclist struck by ice cream truck - Updated 5/27/11

For the second year in a row a Fairfax bicyclist was involved in a collision with a motorist on Bike to Work Day. Last year Abdul Chadli was killed when a motorist lost control of his vehicle and struck and killed Abdul as he was crossing Forum Dr at Lee Hwy/Rt 29. This year a cyclist was riding on the sidewalk along Main St in Fairfax City when the driver of an ice cream truck turned onto Main St and struck the cyclist and dragged him for a short distance.

The cyclist was riding down the sidewalk westbound on Main Street when he was hit by an ice cream truck attempting to turn out of the Fairfax Square Apartment complex shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday. The truck ran him over and dragged him for a brief time.

His injuries were non-life threatening, said Sgt. Daniel Grimm of the Fairfax City Police Department.

Impha Gassama, 52, from New Carrollton, Md. was charged with failing to yield the right of way from a private drive.

See the Fairfax City Patch article along with the FABB comment on the crash.

Update: Fairfax Times article on the crash, Burke cyclist run over by ice cream truck