Arlington County Board Candidates Views on Cycling #bikedc Vote Thursday or Saturday

The Arlington Democratic Nomination Caucus starts tomorrow:

The Democratic Party’s nominee will be selected at an unassembled caucus on Thursday, January 30, 2014 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.) at Key Elementary School (2300 Key Blvd, click here for map) and Saturday, February 1, 2014 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) at Kenmore Middle School (200 S. Carlin Springs Rd, click here for map). The Circuit Court will set a date for the special election after Mr. Zimmerman vacates the County Board seat.

The candidates, including the independents, have shared their views on Arlington and Cycling. Please review their thoughts, and cycle over to the Caucus and vote!

Democrats:

• Alan Howze
• Peter Fallon
• Cord Thomas

Independents

• John Vihstadt (Republican running as an Independent)
• Evan Bernick (Libertarian)

We need this sticker: "I Shop Where There is Bike Parking"

Hey Bike Arlington and WABA - idea for a new bike fender sticker:

Photo by Sally M (CC)

From a twitter exchange about how nice it is to have bike racks at stores, something phrased better but basically how about some fender stickers that say

"I Shop Where There are Bike Racks"
The first day the Cherrydale hardware store installed a bike rack, it already had two customers parked at it.  I regularly head there knowing there is good parking. I love Shirlington as a destination - on the bike path with good bike parking.  Clarendon?  Are you kidding me!  Clarendon even has covered bike parking!  And of course, our favorite, Java Shack with bike parking right out front.

Conversely, there are lots of destinations I dont tend to head to cause there is no where to park the bike. Vienna - with its excellent position on the WOD - and yet a number of restaurants have nada for bike parking.  Harris Teeter?  Terrible bike parking.  Lee Highway west of Glebe Road - you can probably go a mile without a bike rack.

Bike parking brings business - especially when you are sitting on good bike infrastructure.

Bike Fit: It's All About the Bike (extended video lecture, University of California)

Support New Legislation Making the Roads Safer for Cycling @delbrink @BarbaraFavola #bikedc

I have been cycling to work from Arlington for decades; in that time, cycling on area streets has gotten tremendously safer.  That has a lot to with the increased number of cyclists on the road, and the fabulous improvements in cycling infrastructure.

But even today, I was almost hit by a car on a Potomac Yards back road.  It was a two-lane road, back in the back, that has been build in the expectation of traffic that has yet to materialize.  It is a 25 MPH road that I took because I thought it would be safe.  It's two lanes in either direction.  There was no one - I mean no one - on that road. I was "taking the lane."

And yet, in a moment, two cars came from behind me.  And one car, needing to get to its important destination, passed so close I could have reached out and touched it.  It was unnecessary.  The slightest hesitation on the drivers part and he could have safely driven around me.  But because he was in a hurry, on a 25 MPH back road, he risked my life.

It's time for this to end.  That's why I support

• HB82: Driver of any other vehicle following too closely: Requires drivers of any vehicle to not follow more closely than reasonable any other vehicle, including bicyclists
• HB811: Driver of motor vehicle following too closely: Requires drivers of motor vehicles to not follow more closely than reasonable any other vehicle, including bicylists (will likely be conformed with HB82, above)
• HB277: Pedestrians; crossing highways: Clarifies the duties of vehicles to stop to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross highways at marked crosswalks
• HB320: Reckless driving; passing other vehicles at intersections: Seeks to amend the legal reckless driving statute by prohibiting a person from overtaking or passing another vehicle stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection when a pedestrian or bicyclist is present

Arlington and Northern Virginia have become tremendous successes for cycling.  But more work needs to be done.  With success, we can bring down dependance on petroleum based transportation, improve the health of our citizens, save our citizens money.... and frankly attract business (cyclists and tourists love to bicycle in our area because our infrastructure such as the W&OD, the MVT, and The Custis Trail are so good - and they patronize our businesses).

Let's make the roads safer for cycling. 

Peter Fallon, Candidate for Arlco Board, on Cycling and Arlington #bikedc #arlingtonva @Fallon4ArlVA

Peter Fallon for
Arlington County Board

As the father of young children, I take them to preschool in the morning, and then drive to my job in Fairfax. If one became ill or had an accident during the day, I would need to immediately get to the school and drive to the pediatrician. However, I do work from home when I can, which keeps my car off the road. As they get older, I look forward to teaching my children to ride bikes. They will be able to bike to our local elementary school.

I support Arlington’s efforts to obtain a Gold Certification as a Bike Friendly Community. Arlington seeks to be a leader in all that we do. Therefore, I would support going beyond the Gold level, and striving for the Platinum designation. The bar is understandably higher for this certification, but it is worth pursuing. If we start taking steps in that direction, we will become a better community along the way and eventually reach our goal. For both Gold and Platinum, we need to get more people using bikes more frequently, improve trail connectivity (for cyclists), adopt a real “share the road” philosophy on our public streets, and increase safety. I support these goals as part of building a sustainable community with transportation choices.

The DC area is a national leader in bike sharing. Arlington is a key member of Capital Bikeshare. I have consistently supported Arlington's participation in Capital Bikeshare, and recommended potential new locations to expand service in our community. More bike stations make bike sharing convenient for more residents and visitors. “Not only are more people likely to have a bike station nearby, they are more likely to find another bike station near their destination in Arlington or otherwise. This provides both more visibility for the program and well as greater access and convenience for users. A review by county staff has indicated that users of Capital Bikeshare are more likely to purchase their own bicycle afterwards. This encourages more cycling in our community after a few ‘trial runs’ as residents experience Arlington via bicycle. During my term on the Planning Commission, we have seen bike stations get installed near hotels. This provides visitors to our community with an alternative to driving during their stay and for leisure.

Periodically, trees along our bike trails and public streets need to be pruned. This is important for the health of the tree, to limit interference with overhead lines, clear visual obstructions, and for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Pruning and other landscape maintenance work should be scheduled to limit impacts on the trail users. Ideally, advance notice of scheduling should be provided to the bike community, in the event an alternate route would make more sense.

Responsibility for the trails should be coordinated between the Parks and Recreation Division and DES. County efforts, for snow removal along major streets, which often rely upon contracted labor, generally pile snow into the bike lane, parking lane, or even onto the sidewalks. I would support efforts to plow heavily used trails.

One accident is too many, wherever it occurs. There are far too many accidents happening in Rosslyn. We need to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of the cyclists at the Lynn St. intersection and anywhere else we have a danger point. We also need to take steps to reduce the occurrence of drivers, as they exit their parked cars, from hitting passing cyclists. As a County Board member, I would look to leaders in the cycling community and county staff to bring forward proposals to address safety. This should be a top priority, before more accidents occur.

Organizations like Phoenix Bikes form an important partnership between the Arlington County government and our citizens. Phoenix Bikes currently operates a facility in Barcroft Park, and is seeking to move to a new location on County-owned land near the intersection of Four Mile Run and S. George Mason Drive. I support Phoenix Bike’s efforts to expand their youth training operation and provide services (education, restrooms, water stations) for cyclists and other trail users. Relocating to a new site adjacent to a major trail makes sense. As often happens in Arlington, concerns have been raised by nearby residents regarding loss of mature trees and green space. The County has held public meetings to share information and get feedback on the proposal. As a County Board member, I would want to hear from all stakeholders to determine the best site for the Phoenix Bike facility, so that we can move forward.

I support the proposed streetcar system along Columbia Pike and through Crystal City. I have many unanswered questions, which include bicyclists’ safety while sharing the existing right of way with automobiles, trucks, busses, and streetcars. The rails on the street may pose an additional hazard to cyclists. Therefore, I am interested in the parallel bikeway concept. It would need to be continuous to provide a seamless connection for users. Any parallel bikeway would need to be located very close to the Pike to be a viable alternative route for cyclists transportation needs. I understand the County staff is looking at this option.

As longtime member of the Planning Commission, I have a record of support for efforts to treat cycling as a true modal choice and transportation element. I support sharing the road (sharrows, bike lanes, bike tracks, or other dedicated lanes) with cyclists. Biking is not just a recreational choice; it's a key modal element of transportation in Arlington. Arlington residents have a high proportion of cycling commuters. It is standard for the County to require bike storage lockers and bike racks in all new site plan approved projects and in our public facilities I served on Arlington's Master Transportation Plan (MTP) Plenary Group for five years, which included adding a bicycle element as an element of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. I served on the Arterial Traffic Management (ATM) task force which focused on making our major roads safer for all users. I support adding safer bike routes throughout the County and better connections to our Arlington and regional trails. As a member of the Long Bridge Park Task Force, I can say that establishing a trail connection from the Mt. Vernon trail, over the GW parkway and Roaches Run, linking up to our new park and beyond is a priority I support.

Arlington is a leading community in recognizing the importance of using bikes as a transportation option. As a former member of the County’s Planning Commission, Transportation Commission, and as a visitor to the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), I have a clear record of advocating for cyclists and voting for bike friendly proposals. I've always supported additional bike lockers in new commercial and residential buildings, and shower facilities in the office buildings. Our streetscapes have been adding more bike racks for cyclists’ convenience. I have supported efforts to equip buses with bike racks and more bike lockers at our Metro stations for multimodal commuting. I supported efforts to gain bicycle and emergency vehicle access between the Army Navy Country Club and the far side of Interstate 395.

We can do more, and with the help of leaders in the cycling community, we will do more. My vision includes making biking a desirable option for more potential riders. Expansion of our bike lane network should be an integral part of our street redesigns. We need to increase safety and change driver behavior to fairly share the road. I seek greater collaboration with Arlington Public Schools to encourage more students and staff, to walk or bicycle to school, as an alternative to driving. Fewer cars near our schools would foster safety and confidence for walking and cycling.

As a member of the County Board, I will continue to support efforts by our cycling community to move Arlington forward. My record shows that I have embraced cycling as an equal transportation choice for getting around Arlington.

Cord Thomas, Candidate for ArlCo Bd, on Cycling in Arlington #bikedc #arlingtonva @cord4board

Cord Thomas for
Arlington County Board

Do you bike to work?   If so, how often?  Do you cycle otherwise?

I really enjoy biking to work and for recreation, especially during the summer months when it’s warm. Though I do consider myself a seasoned rider, I am definitely a seasonal rider and hibernate during the winter months. In recent months I haven’t been biking as much as I would want to. I used to bike 2-3 times a week, especially when I used to train for triathlons. But my work schedule has led to more traveling and thus limiting my opportunities to bike.

Arlington County is going for a Gold Certification as a Bike Friendly Community.  Do you support this effort?  What do you feel Arlington could do in order to obtain that Gold certification? How should cycling fit within Arlington's transportation plan?  How does Capital Bikeshare fit within that plan?
 
Absolutely, besides congestion relief on our roadways, biking provides a health benefit and is a non-emission producing mode of transportation. I fully support Arlington’s goal to get gold status.  Arlington’s progressive program, Bike Arlington, is one of the many efforts that I currently see working towards this goal.  Their green bike lanes and bike parking are great efforts, along with the improvements they are making to the Pentagon City corridor.  Working to fill the gaps in the Arlington system with protected bike lanes, trail system and way finding signage are additional ways that Arlington can secure a gold status.  Arlington’s transportation plan identifies biking as a mode choice and using the complete streets practice helps ensure cyclists have a seat at the table.  Capital Bikeshare is also a great system that is a compliment to metro and our local transit structure to those who are unable to purchase or maintain their own bikes.  It helps connect more modes and with Arlington’s most recent additions, it continues to certify dedication to biking as a mode of transportation.

Arlington County supports bike commuters as part of its transportation plan.  And yet the bike paths - the arteries of bike commuters - are under Parks and Recreation jurisdiction.  Parks and Recreation regularly closes the trails down during rush hour, fails to clear the trails of snow after storms, and drives its vehicles down the trails.  Should the bike trails be considered vital transportation arteries?  Should they be placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment Services?  Should the trails be clear of snow after storms?  Should Parks and Recreation be able to close down the trails during rush hour in order to prune trees?

I can understand your concern, but given that some paths go through Parks; I can also see why they are under that jurisdiction.   I completely agree that closing down a trail during rush hour is unacceptable, we would never do that to a car lane, or at least we always try to avoid it. I think a conversation needs to be had with Parks and Rec, Bike Arlington and the County Bike Coordinator to see if a better arrangement can be made to work around this issue.  There is always room for improvement and clearing snow for bike commuters in a more responsive way can be one.  I also understand capital constraints to clear all trails after a storm. One possible solution is to identify trails that have the most bike commuter benefit and work to on them first.

A notorious problem in Arlington is known as the Intersection of Doom.  This is the intersection of N Lynn Street and the Custis Trail (Lee Hwy) near I-66 and Key Bridge.  It is a dangerous intersection where cars regularly run red lights, and there is rarely police enforcement.  What can be done to make the Intersection of Doom safer?

As you described one fix is to provide police enforcement and looking at the signal timing, if cars a running the red light there must be a reason?  On that note we, as bikers and motorists need to be vigilant and look out for each other.  It always amazes me how we all forget how at one point we go from pedestrians to motorist to cyclists and are not patient for each other.

Phoenix Bikes is proposing moving its youth program to a new location along Four Mile Run and Walter Reed Drive This will give Phoenix bikes more room to expand its programs and greater access to potential cycling customers.  Do you support the new location for Phoenix Bikes?  

Phoenix Bikes is a wonderful organization, not only does it teach our youth another skill, but it gives them a sense of accomplishment after every bike they repair.  I myself have donated three bikes to them.  I have heard some backlash from locals to the area of concerns with their new location.  I personally think the location is good and it makes sense, but we should ensure that the residents in the area are given the chance and notice to have the conversation of any concerns they may have.

Additional Question: "I would ask the candidates to explain their position on the proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar and whether they support including the construction of a CONTINUOUS cross-county parallel bikeway as an INTEGRAL part of the Pike Streetcar project." 

I want to start by saying I live in S. Arlington and drive the Pike every day. If I voted tomorrow on the Streetcar Project, I would say "No".  The county has lost my confidence in taking on these types of large scale projects. Over the past two years we have seen costly project after costly project. Between the Million Dollar Bus Stop and a planned aquatics center that is projected to double in operating costs and had to be placed on hold because of inadequate forecasting, I would need to take a hard look at how we can improve upon our investments and how we spend taxpayer money. I'm supportive of smart growth along the Columbia Pike Corridor, but with our current track record, I am not confident that the County can deliver this type of project on time and on budget. With that being said, biking infrastructure and future improvement whether it be on the Pike or any other location in Arlington should be an integral part of any proposed transit project. Arlington has made biking a transportation mode and we should uphold that commitment and work together to find an inclusive solution.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the Arlington cyclist community? 

When I founded enviroCAB, I focused on the Toyota Prius as our main vehicle. Not only was the Prius the most environmentally friendly but it also was the only taxi that was able to easily and effectively transport bicycles. On a personal note, I am also not only supporter of cycling in my home, my fiancé has also served as a Bike & Ped Planner for Fairfax County to improve their infrastructure and facilitate conversations between the County and the cycling community.

I look forward to continuing Arlington’s push to becoming a Gold Certified Bike Friendly Community.

Thank you for your consideration,

Cord
www.cord4board.com

Evan Bernick, Candidate for ArlCo Bd, on Cycling & Arlington #arlingtonva #bikedc @evanbernick

Evan Bernick for
Arlington County Board

I’m glad you took the time to write this detailed questionnaire, and I appreciate that you asked for my views. You’ve raised a number of issues that are important for the Board to consider and which I’ll have to look into more closely. For now, I hope this reply gives you some idea of where I stand. 

I grew up riding a bike. It was the way I got around town. I rode it to school, I rode it to friends’ houses, I rode it just to explore the neighborhood. I no longer ride a bike –I take the Metro to work, and I run in the morning—but I know how important biking is to a community. It’s not just a fun way to stay healthy—it’s an inexpensive, fast, environmentally sound means of transportation that reduces congestion, helps kids get around safely, and brings people together. 

How can we make Arlington more bikable?  The Board can address some of the concerns you’ve raised fairly easily.  We can work with the Department of Parks and Recreation to make sure that snow and debris is cleared in a timely manner after storms, and that officials don’t unnecessarily close bike trails. We can also work with law enforcement to ensure that the “Intersection of Death” is properly policed. 

I will enthusiastically support efforts to earn gold-level Bike Friendly Community status for Arlington. Gold status will draw tourists, encourage the development of bike shops and related businesses, and attract prospective residents. We won’t earn that status easily. We’ll need to think creatively, not just build a few more bike racks or depend upon Capital Bikeshare expansion (although I welcome it!), to make biking truly mainstream in Arlington and therefore deserving of gold. I don’t have any immediate answers, but I’m open to ideas.
 
I’m glad that Phoenix Bikes plans to expand its youth programs and is relocating to meet the needs of its customers. I think it’s critical that young people learn how to be entrepreneurs in a way that gives back to their community and nothing teaches quite so well as hands-on experience. 

I’m opposed to the streetcar—I think there are better ways to provide transportation and encourage development in Columbia Pike. But, because I’m concerned that the streetcar will seriously impact bike accessibility and safety, I think that a continuous cross-county parallel bikeway is worth considering. 

A bikeable community is a friendly, livable community, and it is important that Arlington is friendly to bikers. I look forward to addressing some of the issues you’ve raised here at greater length after I study them further, and I hope you’ll reach out in the future.

Trail Conditions :: Custis / MVT / 14th St Bridge

Custis Trail from Lee Hwy to Rosslyn:  The trail is mostly clear except for the dregs from when the county appears to have plowed the trail. There is also some sand on the trail. The trail is very wet with small pools of water.

MVT:  MVT from Roosevelt to 14th St bridge is clear of snow and ice but is wet.  The bridge from Rosslyn to MVT at Roosevelt has small patches of hidden ice.

14th Street Bridge Trail: clear of snow and ice but is wet.

Temperatures are expected to dip below freezing at the end of the day today, near 5 pm.  Wet trails could quickly become icy and dangerous.

Trail Report: MVT from 14th St Bridge to Roosevelt

The MVT trail from 14th Street Bridge to Roosevelt is mostly pavement with significant patches of snow pack and ice.  Some portions are completely covered with snow pack and ice.  There were a number of joggers on the trail but I only saw one cyclist.

Trail Report: Hains Point

NPS has the gate closed to the HP loop.  The closed loop road does not appear to have been treated or seen car traffic.  Therefore the loop road has significant patches of ice and snow.  It does not appear to be safe for road bikes wishing to do loop laps.  In addition, in order to get around the closed gate you must bike up and over the snow covered grass.

On the plus side, with HP essentially closed, the red fox was highly active and was making many appearances.

Trail Report: W&OD at Bluemont

Just returned from Bluemont park. The W&OD and 4MR trails have a solid crush of packed snow on them with intermittent sheet ice.  If its dark and it looks like pavement, its probably frozen melt and very slippery.  There were several cyclists out successfully (but gingerly) navigating the trail.  Both W&OD and 4MR were solidly covered with a hard packed snow crust.

Dear Arlington County Board Candidates: Do You Support Arlington Cyclists?

Photo by Arlington County (CC)

Last time there was a competitive election for the party nomination for the County
Board Election - I asked the candidates about their positions regarding Arlington County and cycling.  You can see the response of Libby Garvey, Kim Klinger, Terron Sims, Melissa Bondi and Peter Fallon here.  These responses were also posted on the Bike Arlington Forum.

The Arlington cycling community would once again be interested in your views on cycling in Arlington.  Feel free to use the questions below as a starting point to discuss your views of cycling and Arlington.  Please send your responses to my email (I have sent messages to all of the candidates for county board) or you could post them below in the comment section, and I will repost them as posts.

Do you bike to work?  If so, how often?  Do you cycle otherwise?

Arlington County is going for a Gold Certification as a Bike Friendly Community.  Do you support this effort?  What do you feel Arlington could do in order to obtain that Gold certification? How should cycling fit within Arlington's transportation plan?  How does Capital Bikeshare fit within that plan?

Arlington County supports bike commuters as part of its transportation plan.  And yet the bike paths - the arteries of bike commuters - are under Parks and Recreation jurisdiction.  Parks and Recreation regularly closes the trails down during rush hour, fails to clear the trails of snow after storms, and drives its vehicles down the trails.  Should the bike trails be considered vital transportation arteries?  Should they be placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment Services?  Should the trails be clear of snow after storms?  Should Parks and Recreation be able to close down the trails during rush hour in order to prune trees?

A notorious problem in Arlington is known as the Intersection of Doom.  This is the intersection of N Lynn Street and the Custis Trail (Lee Hwy) near I-66 and Key Bridge.  It is a dangerous intersection where cars regularly run red lights, and there is rarely police enforcement.  What can be done to make the Intersection of Doom safer?

Phoenix Bikes is proposing moving its youth program to a new location along Four Mile Run and Walter Reed Drive.  This will give Phoenix bikes more room to expand its programs and greater access to potential cycling customers.  Do you support the new location for Phoenix Bikes?  

Additional Question: "I would ask the candidates to explain their position on the proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar and whether they support including the construction of a CONTINUOUS cross-county parallel bikeway as an INTEGRAL part of the Pike Streetcar project."

Is there anything else you would like to share with the Arlington cyclist community? 

UPDATE:  Two candidates has confirmed they will be providing responses soon. 

RT DC Bike Party Presents the Rock n’ Roll Ride: Elvis vs. Bowie

For more information DCBIKEPARTY

Sports Recovery for Geezers

Recently I have been doing a lot of reading about sports recovery.  During the season of holidays, I always overdo it.  I go on some extra wonderful, extra-long bike rides, hike with the rescue dogs, and do some heavy chores around the house.  By the end of vacations, I am always wondering why I am so fatigued.  The first answer is obvious.  A good exercise routine includes rest when the body rebuilds - and during vacations "rest" goes out the window.

Here are some recommendations from sports literature about how to improve your recovery after workouts.  Some of these are obvious, and yet I frequently need to be smacked upside the head to be reminded to do a better job.

• Drink plenty of fluids. When you exercise, you sweat.  Your body needs to be replenished.  During extended workouts, start drinking early and regularly (don’t wait until you are thirsty).
• Eat healthily and soon after work outs. Again, after an extended workout, your body needs to refuel.  I have repeatedly read that you should have a good meal of protein and complex carbohydrates soon after hard workouts.
• Rest. Your body needs time to repair and restore, and your body needs more time as you get older.  Failing to have proper rest cycles means you could be digging yourself into a fatigue pit.
• Sleep.  One of the joys of exercise is that it helps you get a good night's sleep.  One of the joys of a good night's sleep is that it helps restore your body, giving you the ability to exercise.
• Avoid Overtraining.  For instance, during breaks going on like bike rides, hiking the Billy Goat Trail B with the dogs, and rebuilding a flower bed probably amounts to overtraining.  Dramatic alterations in activity level are not sustainable.  Changes in exercise levels should be moderate.  If you want to do a marathon or bicycle a century, engage in a training program that builds up your strength.
• Cool Down.  Finish your work out with a gentle period of exertion.   One pro cycling team finishes the race day with 10 minutes of gentle spinning to help the legs warm down.
• Massage. One of the favorite stations on a bicycle tour is the massage stop.  A good massage can help restore your muscles.
• Ice Baths. Haven't tried it but professional athletes swear by them.
• Stretch.  After a hard work out, engage in gentle stretching of your muscles.

My personal take aways:  With age, sports performance decreases and sports recovery time increases.  But this doesn’t mean giving up.  The health benefits of an active lifestyle are well established - and as one friend said, "It's better than the alternative."  Instead, for me, it means being more deliberate with my training, and in particular, making sure I don’t overdo it and find myself in a fatigue pit.  By being more deliberate, I can continue hiking the Billy Goat Trail and cycling out the W&OD for a good long time.

Sources:

• Training for the over 50s, 2Peak
• Lifelong Exercise and Strength Training in Older Adults, Urban Athlete, Jan. 11, 2012
• Effects of age and gender on physical performance, Age (Dordr) NIH. 2007 September; 29(2-3): 77–85
• 7 Recovery Strategies Used by Pro Cyclists, Active
• Ride Hard, Recover Harder, Bicycling