FIX THE INTERSECTION OF DOOM! #bikedc #arlingtonva #RealizeRosslyn @RosslynVA

I move in Arlington in 1989, 25 years ago.  I moved into a group house of ultimate frisbee players in the Ballston area.  One of the big features of moving into a house in Arlington... I could bike to the Ultimate Frisbee games on the Mall.

A lot has changed in 25 years.  You would not recognize Ballston and Clarendon.  One thing hasnt changed.  One of the worst cycling intersections in Arlington has always been The Intersection of Doom.  For at least 25 years (that is, as long as I can remember), cyclists have proclaimed "Fix the Intersection of Doom!"  And for 25 years, nothing has happened. Every now and again, someone gets our hopes up with false claims of solutions.  But nothing gets done.  Arlington paints more bike lanes, paints more sharrows, puts up more bike signs - in its quest to be certified as a Gold Bike Friendly Community - but it doesnt fix one of the greatest problems facing Arlington bike commuters.

Photo by Tim Kelly

So what is The Intersection of Doom?  Chances are, if you are reading this, you know.  Last summer my son worked for Arlington Independent Media making a documentary about cycling in Arlington (a documentary AIM never posted to YouTube). The AIM kids working on the documentary asked a leader of the Arlington Police if he knew what The Intersection of Doom was.  He did not.  Yup, there lies the problem.

The Intersection of Doom is the intersection of N Lynn Street and Lee Hwy, with four lanes going north over Key Bridge, and three lanes going west off of I-66 onto Lee Hwy.  Two of these west bound lanes can turn right onto Lynn St towards Key Bridge.  They can do this "Right Turn on Red" even though there are lots of pedestrians present and even though this is a known dangerous intersection.  The area of this intersection is controlled by Arlington County, VDOT (the Commonwealth of Virginia), the National Park Service, the District of Columbia (due to the old boundaries of Arlington), and a private land owner.  These FIVE jurisdictions have created a quagmire where no solution is viable.

There is a tremendous concentration of car traffic and cycling traffic in one spot.  The design of the intersection is poor, forcing conflicts between cars and cyclists (and between pedestrian and cyclists, cars and pedestrians, and cars and cars).  Accidents at this intersection are common. For as long as I can remember, this intersection has been marked as a dangerous intersection on the Arlington Bicycling Map (which Whole Foods used to decorate its store ~ so you can look up at the wall at Whole Foods, see the maps, and be reminded of the intersection that Arlington will not fix).  The problem of the intersection is not the cyclists and its not the cars and its not the pedestrians.  The problem of the intersection is the design, that it does not safely accommodate the traffic that traverses it.

The Intersection of Doom is inexcusable.  Is it hard to negotiate with five jurisdictions?  Yes.  But that's what political leadership is called.  We dont elect our leaders to do easy jobs ~ we elect them to resolve difficult and challenging jobs.  The fact that this is a hard problem is just no excuse.

Now comes along "Realize Rosslyn," a major planning effort currently underway to guide Rosslyn's development for the next 20 or so years.Rosslyn has been studying, discussing and planning with a great deal of effort and has produced a draft Plan Framework. It's a pretty great plan.

  What it doesn't have is any policy about fixing the Intersection of Doom.
 
That is insane.

That needs to change.

A fundamental need for Rosslyn, and for Arlington, is to Fix the Intersection of Doom. How bad is the problem?  Check out the tag cloud from the Bike Arlington cycling forum.  Arlington cyclists want this fixed. Until Arlington gets the political muster to fix one of its most dangerous cycling (and pedestrian) intersections, it should not apply for or receive the Gold Bike Friendly Community certification.

PS:  This is an excellent article on the Intersection of Doom by Chris Slatt in GGW

Still Unsafe at Any Speed @DDOTDC #bikedc

WOW!  They fixed it!  I cant believe they fixed it!  Okay, I filed the report like more than a year ago, but DDOT says they fixed the storm grates on Maine Ave SW near the Portals Complex.  They sent me an email that says

We are pleased to report that the servicing agency has reviewed your service request 12-00017008 for Street Repair at MAINE AVE SW & 14TH ST BRIDGE and has taken the appropriate action.  To see specific comment details from the servicing agency click Check Your Service Request Status. 

So I looked at the status and I see the repair note:

"area was corrected and repaired"

So I went running out of my office building, with joy in my heart, that perhaps I had helped make the world slightly better... only to find

No, DDOT.  That is not a corrected and repaired storm grate.  That is a dangerous storm grate in which a cyclist can find their wheel stuck and their bodies getting thrown over their handlebars.  

The storm grates on Maine Ave SW, near the 14th Street Bridge, out in front of the Portals Complex, remain unsafe at any speed.

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.