TheWashCycle

Serve on Arlington Bike and Ped Advisory Committees

Arlington Division of Transportation seeks volunteers to serve on the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees. Meetings are 7:30-9:30 p.m. every first Monday, and 7-9 p.m. every second Wednesday. http://www.bikearlington.com or http://www.walkarlington.com.

Hungarian Bike to Work Day Video

It's racy, but funny. Hat tip to CommuterPage Blog. The tag line is something like "why don't you bike to work?"

VDOT and Greenbelt to study bicyclists

Two local jurisdictions are planning to gather statistics about cyclists. The Greenbelt Advisory Board is hoping to do a survey of cyclists along its local paths, perhaps as a first step towards a bicycle plan.

Board member Emmett Jordan said there isn’t a particular issue with the paths that the board is dealing with now.

Transportation was a concern six months ago among focus groups that were appointed by the Greenbelt City Council, said board Chairman George Branyan. [WC: Not sure if this is the same George Branyan who runs the pedestrian program for DDOT or not.]

‘‘Some transportation issues came up, and there were a lot of complaints about connectivity from Greenbelt East into Old Greenbelt and then the issue of connectivity over the Metro to the Springhill Lake area,” Branyan said.

The board is considering how to go about gathering the necessary statistics to see if it can conclude any problems and potentially make a recommendation to the council based on its findings. Branyan said the board is looking to design and distribute surveys in the fall.

While the board’s main concern was identifying the most efficient way of distributing the surveys, the members are prepared to address problems once are be identified.

Among one of the more popular suggestions was the possibility of distributing surveys within schools, which would allow for feedback from students who bike to school.

‘‘A lot of communities are doing biker-pedestrian plans because it’s an area that there’s increasing interest in. One for health, one for transportation, biking for health and transportation, and so what we find is in a typical suburban area, that it’s not very friendly to bike and walk,” Branyan said. ‘‘And so, what are some strategies that we can put together in a report that would say, here are some ways to make Greenbelt more bikeable, more walkable.”

Which is interesting, since Greenbelt is already perhaps the most bikeable community in PG County. VDOT is hoping to do a series of "bicycle and pedestrian counts at various locations throughout the district. Counts will be conducted during the late spring and summer." FABB put together a map. It's 19 locations, mostly at trail intersections.

Wherefore art thou SmartBike?

The SmartBike program continues to get national attention. US News and World Report covers the usual facts and some info about bike sharing with a start date of "summer".

The Phoenix-based company, which already runs bike-share programs in 13 European cities, also inked a contract with San Francisco for a bike share (officials are still working out the details). Meanwhile, Chicago, Albuquerque, N.M., and Portland, Ore., are all considering proposals from advertisers.

Time got in later, promising service in June.

Denver and Minneapolis will also kick off bike-sharing programs this summer, and Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Seattle, and Arlington, Va., are in talks to launch their versions within the next year or so.

and pointing out that the system needs to grow

"We need to get bigger if we want to make a dent in congestion and pollution," says Jim Sebastian, planner for the district's department of transportation. And just like Paris, Washington is using bus-shelter ad space to pay for the program. Clear Channel's outdoor-advertising unit paid for the exclusive right to sell shelter ads and is pouring a percentage of that revenue into a scalable system that ties in with city bus and subway routes. Says Martina Schmidt, the company's SmartBike director: "The more drop-off stations, the easier it is to use." And the more people use public transportation, the more eyeballs will be looking at those bus-shelter ads.

[Aside: Is that true, does their model include encouraging transit use?] the article has some new details (emphasis mine)

To borrow a SmartBike, users have to be over 18 and have a credit card. An annual fee of $40 lets riders tool around on a three-speed bike as often as they like for up to three hours at a time. Better be punctual: your second tardy return gets you booted from the system. The program keeps track of the bikes via tiny rfid chips, the same tamper-proof radio-frequency devices used to monitor everything from clothing inventories to office ID badges. Riders use a swipe card to unlock the bikes, and if they fail to return them--or if the bikes are stolen on their watch--they'll be out $200. SmartBikes will soon be outfitted with independent wire locks so that cyclists can make pit stops wherever they want. No need to worry, though, about wheels getting pilfered. They're not quick release and are too small for regular bike frames.

Eventually the program may enable riders to calculate miles traveled as well as reductions made in their carbon footprints.

Reminds me of the prius feedback screen.

Washington has spent the past seven years installing more than 30 miles (48 km) of bike lanes--officials are looking into building more that are set apart from regular traffic by concrete barriers, Parisian style--and has safety campaigns to help cyclists and motorists get along.

I'm going to "the cities" 4th of July weekend and Denver in September so this was interesting to read

But even when it's below freezing, hardy Minnesotans commute via bike. Last year the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Minneapolis the city with the second highest number of bike commuters as a percentage of the population. (Portland was No. 1.) After completing 100 miles (160 km) of bike paths, Mayor R.T. Rybak has turned his attention to expanding bike-sharing and adding amenities like showers that cyclists can use before heading into the office.

Likewise, Denver mayor John Hickenlooper has presided over the construction of many of his city's 850 miles (1,370 km) of bike paths and is looking into getting solar-powered locks for his bike-sharing program."Whatever it takes," he says. "I want to get people excited about biking so that it becomes part of our social currency."

Finally AFP got in the act and more conservatively stated that SmartBike would start "in the next few months." They pointed out that Paris was already becoming a cycling city before Velib

In 2005, the French capital reported that 63 percent more people using bicycles than in 1997, but the numbers have soared since then.

All of which leads to the question of "How long before SmartBike opens?" It's already slipped from April to July(?). I've heard they're in Beta testing, but not a start date. Maybe Mayor Fenty needs to spend less time posing for Bicycling magazine shoots and more time on the phone with PEPCO.

On a related note, the Velib program has seen some unfortunate deaths, that have led some to question the program.

"The solution is not to reduce the number of cyclists," she said, pointing out that while Vélib bikes had been rented out 24 million times since last July, Paris's bike accident rate had not increased.

Addendum: Here's another from USA Today.

Arlington County, Va., this fall will begin requesting proposals from companies interested in managing a program in the Washington suburb. Bike racks will be placed at subway stations and parking areas used for a car-sharing program already underway. "With car-sharing, bike-sharing and transit all located at the same location, we want people to see how easy it is to get around without owning a car in the county," says DeMaio, who is helping with the planning.

Guess who USA Today turned to for the "anti" quote? Our old friend.

While biking saves gas, some critics say there are far better ways to curb congestion and save energy.

"Is getting 2 to 3% of people to bicycle to work going to save energy? Not really," says Randal O'Toole, senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute. "The most cost-effective thing a city can do to save energy and reduce greenhouse emissions is to coordinate traffic signals. … It's the starting and stopping and idling that causes most air pollution ."

By my math, getting 2-3% to bicycle cuts energy use by.....2-3%. (out of 20 million barrels of oil a day, that's nothing to sneeze at).

Cycling for Everyone

FABB points us to a video of John Pucher, professor of planning and public policy, Rutgers University, entitled Cycling for Everyone: Lessons for Vancouver from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. It's 75 minutes long, but it's a complete analysis.

John Pucher also wrote the report "Making Cycling Irresistible."

Arlington's 6 year Capital improvement Plan

The Arlington County Manager has proposed a $1.3 billion, six-year capital improvement program. The first hearing is suppose to be today, and the county board will take up action on July 22nd. A referendum will occur in November. Funding includes CompleteStreets ($15M), Safe Routes to School ($700k),  Neighborhood Traffic Calming ($800K), multi-use trail construction ($500k)

Top priority projects are: Four Mile Run Trail connection to Potomac Avenue, S. Eads Street bridge over Four Mile Run, the Bluemont Park to Upton Hill Park Trail, the North Tract bridge to the Mt. Vernon Trail and the Pentagon Area Trail. The order in which the projects are implemented will in large part be determined by the receipt of State, Federal or Regional funds.

and maintenance ($200k),

realignment of the Custis trail near Brandymore Castle, widening of the Custis/Four Mile Run trail through Benjamin Bannecker park, Custis Trail sub-base improvements from Cleveland to Adams Streets, widening of the Four Mile Run trail between West Glebe Road and the WPCP, reconstruction of the W&OD trail crossings at Shirlington Rd., Walter Reed Dr. and George Mason Dr., and several spot improvements along the Custis, W&OD and Four Mile Run trails

bike lanes and routes ($50k)

The initial 24 miles of bike lanes implemented by Arlington since the year 2000 have proven effective in achieving greater use of bicycles by Arlingtonians for transportation purposes. Some of the funding will also be used for minor enhancements of the existing bike lanes and routes to bring them up to current standards.

and bike parking ($15k) including canopies over parking at Virginia Square and Clarendon Metro and the Crystal City VRE.

On a somewhat related note, the Commonwealth has cut or cancelled several transportation programs since the 2007 plan was dismantled by the Supreme Court. Dr. Gridlock has a nice little map of what got hit. It includes Sidewalk and bicycle safety improvements on Route 50 and other corridors in Arlington County and Falls Church.

One Day One Ride One Cause

On August 17, 2008

On August 17, 2008, the One Day, One Ride, One Cause charity bike ride will travel throughout the 8 Wards of the District of Columbia to raise awareness and funds to combat HIV / AIDS in the community.

Google Ads

Does anyone find the google ads on the right useful? It took about 2 years to earn $100 - the minimum amount they pay, hardly worth it. But if someone finds it useful I'll leave them up.

Bikes on Water Taxis and Sightseeing Cruises

Someone wrote me about their attempt to take a bike on the new water taxi between Alexandria and National Harbor. They were told their bike could not make the trip. I talked with Yon Lambert in Alexandria and he put me in touch with Charlotte Hall of Potomac River Boat company - the company that runs the new taxi. There are plans to expand the taxi service so I wanted to see where bikes fit into that.

First of all, Charlotte confirmed what I was told, full-sized bikes are not allowed on the Alexandria-National Harbor taxi. The reason being is that their just isn't enough room (they also haven't approached the Coast guard about it, but since there isn't room that's a moot point). I haven't seen the boats, but BikeTheSites came out to look at them. They're interested in doing rides to Mt.Vernon and then taking the boat back. They already do this, but they have to bring the bikes back on a truck. Obviously they'd rather throw the bikes on the boat. After touring the various boats PRB has, they found that only the largest one has adequate room. [Others did if you put the bikes on top, but then they might hit the bottom of bridges]. PBR didn't own the taxi boats at that time, but since they're much smaller than the biggest one it's unlikely room exists on them. In addition, PBR is unclear how they would be secured etc...

For the largest boat, the Miss Christin,  they now allow up to 6 bikes at a time on board between Mt. Vernon and Alexandria. So that is a way to finish a ride to Mt. Vernon.

In addition they allow folding bikes on all their boats. There is also bike parking at the Marinas in Alexandria (thanks Yon), Georgetown, National Harbor and Mt. Vernon.

The future looks mixed. PBR is looking to add a Ferry crossing between Ft. Belvoir and Charles County. That would be a car-capable ferry and would definitely allow bikes. PBR is also in discussions with National Airport and Nationals Stadium to add taxi service. If they did so, they would probably buy a different type of boat. They recognize that this would change them from being a sightseeing company to a transit company; that instead of carrying tourists, they'd be carrying commuters. They seemed open to the idea of finding a way to allow bikes on board, but it's not a done deal.

This would not be unheard of. Water Taxis in New York, Chicago, Seattle, and even Fernandina Beach, FL allow bikes on board on a space available basis. In NYC, "The crew will help you fasten them to the rail on the front deck".

The ART in Buzzard's Point

This post on DCmud about the adaptation of the old Buzzard's Point PEPCO property includes a fantastic rendition of the (possible) future SW Anacostia waterfront with the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail from just past Diamond Teague Park to Fort McNair in it - as well as along the Washington Channel of the Potomac.

To get off the bicycle subject for just a bit, they say:

“We think it’s ideal for a user that has security needs because there are several natural buffers. The site encompasses three full city blocks with water on one side, Fort McNair on the West and a PEPCO sub-station across First Street SW, it is on a point with little thru traffic, and adjacent occupants also have large campus-like properties,” said Mary Margaret Plumridge, Media Contact for Akridge.

Which leads me to ask, so why isn't the Dept of Homeland Security moving here instead of to the St. Elizabeths campus? This seems so much better for them. Closer in, near metro, not on park-like land. Hell, the Coast Guard is already there and they won't have to move - and they're office can stay along a coast. Someone else, it turns out left the same question in the comments. Anyway, that's only tangentially related to cycling I suppose.