Columbia Pike citizen's group approves some BAC recommended changes to zoning

The Arlington BAC has been working on changes to the Columbia Pike Form-Based Code (FBC) with respect to bike parking. The code requires a rack every 60 feet, but developers found that too rigid. For example, it might make more sense to group several racks in front of the main door and then not have any for a longer period. Or perhaps it might be better to have more Class One (covered and secure) parking - which is not included in the FBC - and fewer inverted U's. This first came up at the June meeting. The BAC proposed changes include

--Eliminate the requirement for a bike rack every 60 feet.

--Require developers to put 50% of their racks within 50 feet of the building entrance.

--Require Class One covered and secure parking spaces for employees and residents. There will now be different formulas for Class One parking for residences, offices and hotels.

These are consistent with what the county requires for other site plans. Though there will be fewer racks on the street, there will be more secure parking for residents and employees.

There are no plans to make the Pike itself a better place to bike - though the Pike Transit Plan did involve bike lanes. In fact many believe that the installation of streetcar tracks will make it worse. But there is a project underway to create parallel bike boulevards on both sides. I used to bike the pike during rush hour. I tried using 12th Street which is quieter, but it was impossible to cross the unsignalized intersections at S. Glebe and S. Walter Reed because traffic was just too heavy. So bike boulevards using 9th and 12th would have to address that and make better connections.