Viva Tysons article on biking in Tysons

Roll Through Tysons Corner on a Bike by Jake Koniszewski is the latest article on biking in Tysons to appear in Viva Tysons, the bimonthly magazine.

FABB is featured prominently, discussing plans for making Tysons more bike-friendly through implementation of the Tysons Bicycle Master Plan. The Tysons plan is part of the recently completed countywide bicycle master plan.

The major challenge will be transforming Routes 7 & 123 from multi-lane arterials. It's critical that bike facilities be located along these routes, where most future development will occur.

First transportation funding meeting Monday night

The first of a series of meetings to discuss funding of transportation projects, the Countywide Dialogue on Transportation, will be held on Monday evening at the Springfield Government Center on Rolling Road. All meetings start at 7pm.

If cyclists want more funding for bicycle projects, we need to attend these meetings to talk about the importance of providing safe, connected bike routes, especially in the Springfield District where Supervisor Herrity has consistently stated that the bicycle coordinator position should be eliminated.

Here's a list of all planned meetings:

Meeting Schedule

• Monday, Sep. 24 at 7 p.m.
  Springfield Governmental Center
  6140 Rolling Road, Springfield
  Transit Access: Fairfax Connector Route 310
• 
  
• Wednesday, Sep. 26 at 7 p.m.
  Sully Governmental Center
  4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly
  Transit Access: Fairfax Connector routes 640, 642
• 
  
• Monday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.
  Mason Governmental Center
  6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale
  Transit Access: Metrobus 16A, 16D
• 
  
• *Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.*
  Date changed from Oct. 1
  Franconia Governmental Center
  Community Room
  6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria
  Transit Access: Fairfax Connector Route 310
• 
  
• Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.
  North County Governmental Center
  12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston
  Transit Access: Fairfax Connector routes RIBS 1, RIBS 3 
• 
  
• Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
  Chesterbrook Elementary School
  1753 Kirby Road, McLean
• 
  
• Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.
  Thoreau Middle School
  2505 Cedar Lane, Vienna
  Transit Access: Metrobus 2T
• 
  
• Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
  Mount Vernon Governmental Center
  2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
  Transit Access: Fairfax Connector routes 152, 161, 162
• 
  
• Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
  Kings Park Library
  9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke
  Transit Access: Metrobus 17A, 17B, 17G, 17H

Registration is filling for Fairfax Bike Summit

The Fairfax Bike Summit is over a month away, on Saturday, October 27, and registration is filling fast. So far nearly 150 people have registered out of 200 available slots. If we exceed the 200 limit we'll see if it's feasible to increase that number. It should be a great event, a first for Fairfax. We've got some good speakers lined up and several local bikes shops will be there displaying bikes and gear. We'll be posting the agenda soon.

Check out the latest Bike Summit graphic:

Bicycle bills in upcoming VA legislative session

Delegate Alfonso Lopez (49th District) plans to reintroduce the "Exercise due care" and "Following too closely" bills again in the 2013 session. Both bills would help educate motorists about the rights of bicyclists and the need for motorists to drive carefully around them. Below is are the bill numbers and text of the bills from last year's session:

• HB 784 Exercise due care; Drivers to exercise due care. Requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian or the operator of a human-powered vehicle.
• HB 785 Following too closely; Includes bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds among vehicles that the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow more closely than is reasonable.

It's hard to argue against these bills, especially the bill that requires drivers to be careful around pedestrians and bicyclists. Unfortunately Northern Virginia Delegate Barbara Comstock (34th District) thought otherwise and cast deciding votes in defeating those bills last year. 

Both delegates represent Fairfax County residents. Thanks to Delegate Lopez for his support. During the legislative session we'll be sending out information about how you can support these bills. We'll also be asking cyclists to contact Delegate Comstock to ask her to support Fairfax bicyclists. We're trying to schedule a meeting with her to discuss her objections to the bills last year. 

Post article on sharing the road

Photo: Washington Post

I've been out of town lately so am just getting around to posting about this article by Ashley Halsey III in the Washington Post about sharing the road, What drivers should know about sharing the road with bicyclists (and vice versa).

The article is actually pretty good. Instead of just focusing on the need for scofflaw cyclists to behave better, which often happens in this type of article, there's balanced advice for both motorists and bicyclists, including "10 things every driver should know about sharing the road with cyclists" along with "10 things every cyclist should know about sharing the road with drivers."

FABB at Keep Tysons Moving event

FABB table at Keep Tysons Moving

FABB was up early this morning to attend Keep Tysons Moving, an event that provides information about alternative transportation to Tysons employers and employees. We've attended the event for several years and have spoken to many people who want to ride but are afraid because of poor cycling conditions. Several people do ride in Tysons, either by choice or necessity.

Ann Cavazos of FABB brought flowers and her jewel-encrusted bike and helmet for display at the table; it's a nice touch and likely attracted more people to our booth to learn about FABB, the upcoming Fairfax Bike Summit, and plans for remaking Tysons into a more bike-friendly place.

Upcoming Fairfax transportation funding meetings

Fairfax County is planning a series of meetings to discuss options for increasing funding for transportation projects. This is an opportunity for cyclists to speak out in support of better bike facilities, including bike lanes, cycle tracks, wayfinding signs, bike parking, and paved trails. If you can't attend the meetings, see how you can provide input:

Fairfax County Launches Countywide Dialogue

on Transportation Funding

Fairfax County transportation needs over the next ten years exceed available funding from local, regional, state, federal and private sources. This gap is estimated to be around $300 million per year. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognizes that improving transportation is a high priority since the county's economic health depends on an efficient transportation system.

The Board of Supervisors is seeking community feedback on ways to generate revenue to address these unfunded transportation (roadway, transit, bike and pedestrian) needs. This effort will consist of a series of community meetings in September and October 2012 at which potential revenue sources will be discussed. 

The public will have the opportunity to provide feedback at the meetings or in an online survey through October 12, 2012. The public meetings will include a presentation, a question-and-answer session, and an opportunity to view materials and talk to county staff. The meeting dates are:

Monday, Sep. 24 at 7 p.m.

West Springfield District Office

6140 Rolling Road

Springfield, VA 22152

Transit:  Fairfax Connector 310

Wednesday, Sep. 26 at 7 p.m.

Sully Governmental Center

4900 Stonecroft Boulevard

Chantilly, VA 20151

Transit:  Fairfax Connector 640, 642

Monday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.

Mason District Government Center

6621 Columbia Pike

Annandale, VA  22003

Transit:  Metrobus 16A, 16D

*Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.*

Date changed from Oct. 1

Franconia Government Center

6121 Franconia Road

Alexandria, VA  22310

Transit:  Fairfax Connector 310

Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.

North County Government Center

12000 Bowman Towne Drive

Reston, VA  20190

Transit:  RIBS 1, RIBS 3

Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Chesterbrook Elementary School

1753 Kirby Road

McLean, VA  22101

Transit:  none

Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.

Thoreau Middle School

2505 Cedar Lane

Vienna, VA  22180

Transit:  Metrobus 2T

Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

Kings Park Office/Library

9000 Burke Lake Road

Burke, VA  22015

Transit:  Metrobus 17A, 17B, 17G, 17H

Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

Mt. Vernon Government Center

2511 Parkers Lane

Alexandria, VA  22306

Transit: Fairfax Connector 152, 161, 162

County staff will host an online chat in the county's Ask Fairfax! forum, where the public can engage in a discussion about funding for transportation.  Time and date of the Ask Fairfax! chat will be announced on the county's web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

For more information about the Countywide Dialogue on Transportation Funding, the Ask Fairfax! chat, or to take the online survey, visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/.  Residents can also visit the web site to sign up for email updates or find out if new meetings have been announced.

For more information about this news item, please contact Ellen Kamilakis at 703-877-5606, TTY 711.