Next Phoenix Bikes Informational Meeting Dec. 4 #bikearl #bikedc

"Phoenix Bikes and the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation will co-host a second a public meeting to discuss various options for a new education center for Phoenix Bikes and public restrooms along the W&OD trail and Walter Reed Drive. This meeting will give you background on Phoenix Bikes and its work to empower youths as well as information on developing a facilities. The meeting is Wednesday, December 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Park Operations Building Conference Center, 2700 S. Taylor Street."

Long Bridge Study Meeting Dec. 5

"The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration are hosting the 3rdand final public meeting for the Long Bridge Study. The purpose of this meeting is to present a project update, bridge alternatives and analysis conducted.

Thursday, December 5, 2013 

4:00pm to 7:00pm St. 

Augustine’s Episcopal Church

600 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 

"Comments can be provided at the meeting, mailed or submitted electronically to info@longbridgeproject.com . For more information, please contact: Lezlie Rupert, Long Bridge Study, 100 M Street SE, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20003-3515. You can also visit longbridgeproject.com"

New Flashy Light Crossing on GW

"The National Park Service, George Washington Memorial Parkway in consultation with the Federal Highway Administration, will be temporarily installing a flashing beacon warning system at the trail crosswalk of the northbound lanes of the Parkway, just prior to Arlington Memorial Bridge, one mile north of I-395. Temporary installation is planned for the week of November 18^th and be in place for approximately thirty days as a trial to help inform the upcoming Environmental Assessment (EA) process that will evaluate long-term safety and traffic improvements in the area. "


Public comment will be open starting Monday at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/warningsystem.

Public Meeting re Phoenix Bikes

"Come to a public meeting to discuss various options for a new education center for Phoenix Bikes and public restrooms along the W&OD trail and Walter Reed Drive. This meeting will give you background on Phoenix Bikes and its work to empower youths as well as information on developing a facility. The meeting is Saturday, November 23 at 1 p.m. at the Park Operations Building Conference Center, 2700 S. Taylor Street."

NPS EA for Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation

NPS has an Environmental Assessment open for comment until December 2 regarding the rehabilitation of the memorial bridge.  There are two concerns here.  First, when the rehabilitation takes place, a major cycling artery into DC will be closed for months.  Second, what form the rehabilitation takes - ensuring that the bridge remains a cycling artery - and perhaps improving access to the bridge on the DC and VA sides.

The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is proposing to rehabilitate the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The historic bridge is an important element of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and of the transportation network of the Washington, D.C. area.

Arlington Memorial Bridge is more than 80 years old and has not undergone a major rehabilitation project in many years. Several temporary repairs have kept it operational to meet the needs of the traveling public. However, like many other older highway bridges across the nation, this bridge needs comprehensive repair to ensure service for decades to come.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act, and other laws, regulations and policies, the National Park Service is developing alternatives to be studied in the Environmental Assessment. The Environmental Assessment will evaluate potential impacts of these alternatives to the natural, cultural, and human environment. Information on the NEPA and NHPA processes can be found at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/links.cfm.

The preliminary alternatives developed by the NPS and FHWA for the rehabilitation of the Arlington Memorial Bridge represent different approaches to address issues identified by project staff, visitors, and other interested parties. Together, these preliminary alternatives represent a range of possible actions that are reasonable and consistent with other special mandates and laws such as the National Historic Preservation Act. The preliminary alternatives that follow are specific to the treatment of the bascule span:

Alternative 1A - Replace the Bascule Span with Precast Concrete Box Girders (Beams)
Alternative 1B - Replace the Bascule Span with Steel Plate Girders
Alternative 2 – Replace the Bascule Span with a Concrete Arch Span to Match the Approach Spans
Alternative 3 – Replace the Bascule Span with a Fixed Span of Welded Steel Truss Construction
Alternative 4 – Rehabilitate the Bascule Span

Each preliminary alternative involves many common elements that would occur regardless of which alternative is selected for implementation. Elements common to all the preliminary alternatives include:

- repair of the concrete arch approach spans and bridge piers;
- replacement of the existing bridge deck;
- replacement of the existing sidewalks;
- resetting of light poles and improving its wiring system;
- improvements to the existing drainage system;
- resetting or replacement of the granite curbs; and
- repairs to the existing bridge railings and stone work as needed.

Holiday Kids Bike Drive

See more information at Velocity Bikes

FCC Certified as Silver Bike Friendly Business #bikedc #fcc #bfb

Today the League of American Bicyclists announced that the Federal Communications Commission (aka the Federal Cyclists Commission) has been certified as a Silver Level Bike Friendly Business. This achievement came about as a result of a marvelously committed management that works closely with staff to create a positive environment for bike commuters.  This came about as a result of an agency dedicated to fulfilling Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance (calling for the reduction of greenhouse gases). The FCC has excellent secure bike parking, available fitness center showers, bicycle pumps and repair facilities.  The FCC is a Silver Partner with Capital Bikeshare (and we are looking forward to one day having a CABI station in the 12th and D SW neighborhood). The FCC celebrates bike to work day and month, has internal educational classes and promotes excellent WABA classes, and regularly participates in cycling challenges. Some of the top staff at the FCC are cyclists and bike to work.

Thank you League of American Bicyclists for your fabulous Bike Friendly America program.  This is one of those instances where the journey is more important than the destination.  I am thrilled that the FCC has been certified as a Silver Level BFB; but I am particularly thrilled about how important the BFA program has been to getting there.

Let me put it this way.  In the communications industry, we have best practices.  There are best practices for keeping power in the network.  There are best practices for keeping the network secure.  There are best practices that remind people to run their backup generators regularly.

And the BFA program is exactly that:  it is a list of best practices that promote cycling.  It is a list of best practices that sets out how to have excellent bicycle parking, that it should be secure, and that it should be at least as convenient (if not more convenient) as car parking.  It is a list of best practices for showers, for education, for having a bike coordinator, and much more.  The BFA program is a professional, expert list of best practices that I, as bike coordinator, can take to an wonderful management, partner together, and produce great results.

Thank you League of American Bicyclists for your excellent work.

And thank you FCC!  The best part of my day is my commute; biking along the Potomac River while watching the sun rise over the U.S. Capitol. I love my commute. 

Recyclery :: AIM on The Old Bike Shop #bikedc