Patch article on bicycle program funding

Eric Hendry of Vienna Patch wrote a comprehensive article on funding for the bicycle program: Budget Adds More Funding, But Not For Biking. As we noted in an earlier post, there is money for bicycle projects but none for the other activities that are needed for a successful bike program such as encouraging more people to travel by bike, educating bicyclists and motorists, and outreach to employers and others.

We were very encouraged by Supervisor McKay's motion yesterday to look into using the BikeArlington model in Fairfax:

Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay (Lee), who chairs the board's transportation committee, said he was looking for ways to achieve some of the goals of the Fairfax County bicycle plan, and that includes funding.

At Tuesday's meeting, he said Arlington County has done more to encourage biking and its approaches could become a model for Fairfax "now that the state is shedding its transportation responsibilities faster than you can say pothole."

He asked staff to examine how BikeArlington, part of Arlington County Commuter Services, encourages businesses to coax more people to ride bicycles.

The analysis will be presented at a future transportation committee meeting.

Thanks to everyone who contacted the Board. They know there is a great deal of support for better and safer conditions for cyclists in the county. We're optimistic that with the completion of the bicycle plan, and a commitment from the new Transportation Department director to doing more to help cyclists, we will make significant progress in the future.

While we're disappointed by the lack of program funding, it appears there is a renewed effort to accomplish the goals of the program through other means. It's critical that both the Tysons and the Countywide bicycle master plans be approved this year. We think county DOT is committed to that goal. Stay tuned.

Supervisor McKay's Board Matter on BikeArlington

Supervisor McKay

At today's Board meeting Lee District Supervisor McKay asked staff to "prepare an analysis of the BikeArlington program and that the analysis be added to a future Transportation Committee's agenda." When we met with Supervisor McKay we discussed the success of BikeArlington and that it is an excellent model for a similar effort in Fairfax County.

Supervisor McKay's earlier Board Matter on the Bicycle Master Plan kickstarted that effort.

As many of you know, BikeArlington is a very successful program that encourages more people to travel by bike. They also fund several bicyclist education classes, hold bicycle events, and conduct outreach to local employers. They produced the excellent infographic on bicycle and pedestrian safety as part of their PAL program: Predictable, Alert, and Legal.

This is an exciting development. As the Bicycle Master Plan nears completion, it will be important that Fairfax becomes more proactive in not only building an extensive bicycle network, but also changing our car culture to be more accepting of bicycling as a viable means of transportation. Having a BikeFairfax similar to BikeArlington would be a major step in the right direction.

Here is the text of Supervisor McKay's Board Matter from today's meeting:

Madam Chairman—Bicycle use as a mode of transportation in Fairfax County has grown in recent years. The reasons are many: high gas prices, environmental and health concerns, and the desire for transportation choices. When you consider that nearly 40 percent of all vehicle trips are fewer than two miles and could be made by bicycle, you can see the possibilities.

Our neighboring county has done much to encourage this simple and efficient mode of transportation. BikeArlington, a program of Arlington County Commuter Services, builds on existing partnerships between Arlington citizens and businesses to encourage more people to bike more often and to obtain private sector buy-in.

Now that the state is shedding its transportation responsibilities faster than you can say ‘pothole’, it makes sense to look at the Arlington approach and investigate if this model would work for Fairfax County and help us achieve some of the goals of our Fairfax County Bicycle Plan.

Madam Chairman, without exception I ask that staff prepare an analysis of the BikeArlington program and that the analysis be added to a future Transportation Committee’s agenda.