Quick Release
October 11, 2007

DC Bike Parking Bill Facing Council Opposition 

On October 2nd despite the wide-spread support of local bicyclists and the District Department of Transportation, the DC Council tabled the "Bicycle Commuter and Parking Expansion Act of 2007".  Due to the opposition from certain council members, a vote on this important piece of bicycling-related legislation will be postponed indefinitely.  This bill, which was introduced by DC Councilmember Tommy Wells, would improve bike parking at residential buildings, double the current bike parking requirement at commercial buildings with car parking, and require a detailed study of bike parking and bike access to DC government office buildings. 

WABA strongly encourages you to contact the DC Council to express your support for the bill and to urge them to bring it to the floor for a vote. Click here to visit WABA's Take Action page.

Four Mile Run Trail Extension Groundbreaking
Saturday, October 20th

Please join local elected officials and advocates on Saturday, October 20th at 10:00am to celebrate the beginning of construction of a new, multi-use trail linking the popular Washington and Old Dominion and Four Mile Run Trails. At the event, the League of American Bicyclists will present Arlington with the Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community Award.   You are also invited to join the Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee for a bike ride to the event. The committee will meet outside of Courthouse Plaza (2100 Clarendon Blvd.) at 9:00 a.m.  For more details on the event and the bike ride, please click here.

Support Needed for Better Biking on Stringfellow Rd in Fairfax

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote on the Stringfellow Rd project at their October 15th meeting. The project, which includes slightly wider outside curb lanes to accommodate bicyclists, was expected to be a turning point in gaining acceptance from VDOT that bikes belong on roads in Fairfax County. That turning point, alas, is not assured.  Continuing efforts by some local interests are trying to eliminate the last remnant of what started as a striped lane for bicyclists and is now simply an extra two feet width of road.

Thanks to everyone who has contacted Board members. For those who have not, we still need your help to make sure this project happens.  Your supervisor needs to know that the time is now to prove they are serious about bicycle safety.  Fairfax County is putting bikes in lockers, bikes on maps, bikes on buses and bikes on trails.  What we really need are safe accommodations for bicyclists on roads.

Please contact Board Chairman Gerry Connolly at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/bos/cforms/bc_feedback.asp

And Supervisor Michael Frey (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/bos/cforms/sud_feedback.asp) and Supervisor Elaine McConnell, springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov, in whose districts the project is located.

It is also important that you contact your respective supervisor.  Their contact information can be found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/board/

Tell them you support VDOT's plan to add a wide curb lane on Stringfellow Road.

Support Better Trails in Prince George's County

The annual Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) budget forum at Harmony Hall Regional Center will be next Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 7-9 p.m.  Call or e-mail now to get on the list to speak in favor of trail projects.  The public forum will be held from 7 pm to 9 pm on Wednesday, October 17, at Harmony Hall Regional Center in Fort Washington. To speak at the public forums, please register in advance at 301-952-4584 or PublicAffairs@ppd.mncppc.org.

Purple Line Planning Meetings Coming Up

To keep residents apprised about the Purple Line, and as part of the Purple Line Functional Master Plan process, planners are hosting two public orientation sessions: 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15 and 10 a.m. - noon Saturday, Oct. 27.  Both meetings will take place in the auditorium at Park and Planning headquarters, 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring.  The meetings will cover the basics about the Purple Line such as project history, alternative alignments and schedule.  The meetings are intended for people who are not familiar with or want more basic knowledge about the project.  Last month, the Planning Board appointed an Advisory Group to assist the Board and staff with the plan development.  The Purple Line Functional Master Plan Advisory Group will have its first meeting 7-9 p.m., Tuesday Oct. 30 at the above location.  For more information about the Purple Line Functional Master Plan, go to http://www.mcparkandplanning.org/transportation/projects/bicounty.shtm and click on the link entitled Draft Purpose and Outreach Strategy Report in the upper right corner under Resources.

Correction!

   WABA would like to appologize for our misprint in our summer edition of RideON.  The Bike Rack, located at 1412 Q Street NW 202-387-2453 offer WABA members a 10% discount on parts and accessories. The do NOT offer a discount on bikes or labor. Please email waba@waba.org with any questions.