TheWashCycle

Marvin Gaye Park and Trail in the City Paper

The cover story of the latest issue of the City Paper is on Marvin Gaye Park, which features the Marvin Gaye Park Trail (formerly the Watts Branch Trail). If you've never ridden it, I recommend it. It's very nice. I never realized how old it was.

In the early 1970s, control of the park was transferred from the National Park Service to D.C., and in 1977, the city received $500,000 in federal funds for Watts Branch improvements. A bike trail was constructed based on a community-developed plan the following year.

[n 1997, a national foundation asked Friends of Meridan Hill] asked the neighborhood kids what they wanted to see—a bike trail, an amphitheater, a safe, clean place to play—and they turned the wish list into a call to action. The call helped Washington Parks & People get a grant to launch its Down by the Riverside Campaign in 2001, and the revitalization began.

The park as it exists today begins at Minnesota and Nannie Helen Burroughs avenues in a grassy area with benches called Lady Bird Johnson Meadows. There, a six-foot circular, mosaic portrait of Marvin Gaye begins the dedicated trail. It runs east along the stream through quiet neighborhoods and past the D.C. government’s Lederer Youth Garden before connecting with the sidewalk on Nannie Helen Burroughs. The trail picks up again near the school founded by the avenue’s namesake and continues to the Watts Branch Playground and Marvin Gaye Recreation Center on the Maryland line.

The heart of Marvin Gaye Park, off the 600 block of Division Avenue NE, is surrounded by single family homes, vacant buildings, a Chinese carryout, and liquor and corner stores. That section of the trail curves around H.D. Woodson, the D.C. public high school that underwent a $102 million renovation a few years ago.

Murphy says her family visits the park daily, sometimes multiple times. She and her children use the trail to bike to pre-school, and her kids use the playgrounds near Heritage Green and the recreation center after school. “My four-year-old son’s favorite thing to do is walk with his dad to the footbridge near the amphitheater and look for dolphins,” she says. “I don’t have the heart to tell him that Watts Branch doesn’t have any marine mammals.”

Though not a rail trail, the trail runs in the same ROW as the old WB&A rail line for several blocks and not far from the old Chesapeake Beach rail line. You can even see an old abutment for the WB&A just off the trail west of Division Avenue.

It would be nice to see the trail expanded into Maryland. 

Traffic congestion will finally be a thing of the past - in 1976

Protected lanes aren't just for cyclists. 

National Trails Day is June 6

Next Saturday is National Trails Day. There are a few events, mostly targeted at hiking trails, going on in the area according to the website; but if anyone knows of events on local bike trails please leave them in the comments. Surely one of the bike shops is organizing a ride or a clean-up or a Hunger-Games style battle to death.

PG County to finally add bike racks to The Bus

The Washington Post recently reported that PG County is finally offering bike racks that other local transit agencies added over a decade ago. They are the last major transit bus system in the region to make this change. 

Prince George’s transportation officials say the county is spending $116,000 to retrofit 91 of the system’s 93 buses with front-end racks that can accommodate two bikes.  The installation, expected to be completed next month, answers the growing demand for an amenity that has become the norm elsewhere in a region of multi-modal commuters.

Metrobuses, for example, have had bike racks for years.  The agency considered racks that could carry three bikes, but determined they were too long. It uses the two-bike version, Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said.

The feature is so popular that bus riders with bikes often wait longer for rides to get a bus with an open  slot on the rack.  Metro estimates that hundreds of riders use the racks daily. (In 2009, the estimate was 650 people).

Why it took Prince George’s so long to make the move is unclear. 

Paulette Jones, a county spokeswoman, said getting to the point of installation “has been a process and we are just very happy that it has come to fruition.” She said that while demand for bike infrastructure may be greater in other areas in the region that are more urban and more densely populated, “in Prince George’s County we are growing and the demographics is a community that is requiring more options.”

It was the addition of bike racks to Metro buses that made me feel like I could switch to bike commuting many years ago. I felt like it provided a SAG wagon for me, one that I only ended up using a few times. 

Custis Trail to Gainsville Concept Plan

VDOT is making plans to transform I-66 outside the Beltway, and as part of that they're considering extending the Custis Trail to Gainsville. As WABA notes

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently unveiled concept plans for an extension of the Custis Trail along I-66 outside the Beltway in Fairfax and Prince William Counties. Hundreds of Fairfax County trail users contacted VDOT asking for the trail extension as part of the I-66 project. While it is exciting to see the trail one step closer to reality, VDOT still has not included the trail as part of the I-66 project.  VDOT is asking for additional feedback on how the parallel trail will benefit you, your commute, and your neighborhood.

A recent study showed that 25% of Fairfax County residents live within a mile of the proposed I-66 trail or within 1/2 mile of either the Fairfax Co Parkway or W&OD Trails, both of which would be connected by an extended Custis Trail.

There was a meeting on the I-66 project last night in Fairfax (sorry) and then one tonight in Vienna, and two more next week in Haymarket and Centreville. 

Attend one of the I-66 Public Hearings and tell VDOT you support bicycle improvements, especially extending the Custis Trail, as part of the I-66 improvement project. Hearings are scheduled from 5:30 to 9:00 pm

Written comments may be submitted through June 18th by mail to Ms. Susan Shaw, Megaprojects Director, at the VDOT District Office address above, or by email to[email protected].  Reference “Transform 66 Outside the Beltway” in the subject line.  Copy your public representatives on your email to make sure everyone gets your message for better bicycling! Don’t wait until June 18th, send your comments now.

The project, which covers the area from Dunn Loring to Haymarket, is in the NEPA phase right now, with a preferred alternative to be selected this fall and project completion in 2021. 

The concept plan shows a multi-use path that is significantly more disjointed and circuitous than the existing Custis Trail. In some places it just seems to peter out (like at the edge of Manassas Battlefield), and in others it moves to sidewalks or on-street facilities. Where the highway is a smooth line, the trail moves wildly around interchanges, crossing the highway multiple times, moving far away from it and then coming back. Still, it is an improvement over the status quo. It would be a shame to rework I-66 and not extend the Custis Trail. 

 

Chestnut Grove Trail Bridge Ribbon Cutting on June 6th

With a grant from Dominion Power a new bridge will improve access and linkage of the Chestnut Grove Connector Trail with other established park trails and facilities. 

Reston residents will celebrate the completion of the Chestnut Grove Trail Bridge with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, June 6, at 10 a.m. at Lake Fairfax Park,1400 Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston.

A fiberglass bridge is required to make this connection and will provide much needed park access to users of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail and residents of Reston and surrounding communities.

The trails in the area connect the W&OD Trail to the Cross-County Trail. 

Tour de Fat 2015 on Saturday

I'm a little behind on this, but in case you missed it, the Tour de Fat is on Saturday. This is the first Tour de Fat, which occurs in 10 cities, of the year.

Each stop kicks off with a costumed bicycle parade that winds through city streets, ending in a city park for a day of entertainment. That’s when eclectic acts take over: from musical performances to yo-yo entertainers, vaudeville acts to a1000 person Dance Contest to win a New Belgium Cruiser Bike. New features this year include a new Le Tigre Grande variety tent and Sputnik mobile stage. The day of carnival creativity concludes with a celebration of inspirational car-for-bike swappers; brave souls who hand over their car keys as a commitment to commute by bike for the next year.

“Our love for bikes runs deep at New Belgium, it’s how the company started. So every year we like to spread that love around the country by coming into towns from coast to coast and hosting the best way to spend a Saturday,” said Matt Kowal, Tour de Fat Impresario. “Each city has its own flair and uniqueness, which is what makes it all pretty awesome. And to be able to raise millions of dollars along the way, thanks to everyone who celebrates with us, it’s why we do this. We’re all anxious to get this party started once again!”

Last year's event raised more than $625,000 for local nonprofits, including WABA which raised $57,047 (up from $21,464 in 2013) from 7000 participants. Fort Collins raised more than $110,000 with 25,000 participants, so we can do better. 

In D.C., some of the eclectic entertainment includes Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Charles Bradley, yo-yo performers and vaudeville acts. Brewing education, a bicycle revival, rideable art bikes, a “Thousand Person Dance Contest” to win a New Belgium cruiser bike, and even a fashion show are in the mix. In addition, Tour de Fat’s Le Tigre Grande variety tent and Sputnik mobile stage up the ante, adding more entertainment options from past years.

Everyone 21 and older can sample new and classic favorites from New Belgium, including the brewery’s flagship brew, Fat Tire, New Belgium’s latest year-round offering, Slow Ride Session IPA, and selections from the acclaimed Lips of Faith series.

Car-for-Bike Swap
Every year, New Belgium gets one brave role model to step on stage to trade in his or her car keys for a bike, pledging to live car-free for one year. Each swapper is awarded a stipend to buy his or her own commuter bike. Car-for-Bike swappers are chosen after submitting an application describing why they are ready to give up their vehicle for the gift of two wheels. We’d love to hear from interested swappers. Apply at - NewBelgium.com/Events/Tour-de-Fat/CarTrader.

Tour de Trivia at Stoney’s on L (2101 L. St. NW, Washington, D.C.)
Every Wednesday in May
Swing by for Tour de Trivia, featuring weekly New Belgium prize packs for the winning teams! New Belgium beers will be sold in $4 pints and $14 pitchers. Prizes include bicycle 6-pack holders, VIP tickets and much more!

Tour de Fat Pre-Party at Churchkey (1337 14^th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.)
May 28, 2015 | 6 p.m.
Tradition will be kept alive with the annual pre-party at Churchkey, equipped with a raffle for a New Belgium Cruiser, VIP tickets and more! Between 6 and 9 p.m., six raffle tickets will be drawn and bike lock keys will be distributed to the winning tickets. At 9 p.m., all key holders will test their keys to see if it unlocks the Cruiser. All proceeds from raffle sales support Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). The beer list features five unique cask beers in addition to 15 other New Belgium favorites and Lips of Faith rarities.

Date:                                       
Saturday, May 30

Location:                               
Yards Park

Main Stage:               
11:40 a.m. — Fashion! (Best Costumes of the Tour de Fat)
12:00 p.m. — Lips Lounge Tapping: La Folie, Oatmeal IPA, Cocoa Mole
12:10 p.m. — Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
1:00 p.m. — Lips Lounge Tapping: Pear Ginger Beer
1:10 p.m. — The Slow Ride Races
2:00 p.m. — Lips Lounge Tapping: Carnie Whiskey Barrel Love 
2:10 p.m. — 1,000 Person Dance Contest – Winner receives a New Belgium Cruiser!
2:40 p.m. — Car for Bike Trade
3:00 p.m. — Lips Lounge Tapping: Transatlantique Kriek
4:00 p.m. — Charles Bradley
5:00 p.m. — Finale

Stage Stage:
12:20 p.m. and 3:10 p.m.
Superfriends Variety Hour: Death Defying Comedy, Chain Saws, and Bananas

Le Tigre Circus Tent:
11:15 a.m. - Marnie Sams Muffin Show (Kids Show)
11:50 a.m. - The Other One
12:20 p.m. - Fire Leopard 
1:10 p.m. - The Kroup
2:05 p.m. - Yo-Yo Time Machine
2:40 p.m. - Honeymoon Cabaret
3:30 p.m. - The Other One
4:20 p.m. - Etiquette School

Volunteers are needed. Volunteer with the Tour de Fatbicycle festival on Saturday, May 30th.

Not only will you have the most fun EVER while volunteering, but by volunteering at this event, you will help WABA raise tens of thousands of dollars to improve bicycling for everyone across the region.

VDOT announces bike lanes as part of repaving program

I'm not as up on my Northern Virginia geography as perhaps I should be, but several of the bike lane projects VDOT has scheduled for 2015 are in the DC-area. Those that stand out to me are:

• a bike lane/climbing lane on Beacon Hill Road/Belle View Boulevard from the GW Parkway to Richmond Highway
• a bike lane and sharrows on Quander Road from Richmond Highway to Fort Hunt Road
• lane diet and bike lane on Franconia Road from S. Van Dorn to Craft Road (Mark Twain Middle School)

For more about Fairfax County, check out FABB's post on the list. 

If I had more time, I'd put them all on a map. 

Wall Street Journal blames bike lanes for Highway Trust Fund Gap

In a Wall Street Journal article entitled "Taxing for highways, paying for bike lanes"

The Highway Trust Fund now pays for a plethora of projects that have little to do with highways. According to a 2013 analysis by the Heritage Foundation, at least 20% of gas-tax revenues in recent years went toward other programs, from light rail to bike lanes to landscaping projects. Some funds even went toward establishing transportation museums.

So many things here:

1. As Heritage points out, transit was given $6 billion in 2010 and TA "which included pedestrian and bicycle paths and facilities, recreation trails, landscaping, environmental mitigation, and transportation museums." was given $3.1 billion over 2009-2011. Of course in 2010, $14.7 billion was transferred from the general fund to the HTF. So even if nothing had been spent on transit and TA, the gas tax still wasn't covering the cost of roads. By the transitive property, general funds were being used to shore up the HTF as well as pay for transit and TA programs. Making this explicit, instead of adding in the illusion of transit and TA coming from the HTF, wouldn't have changed anything substantive.

2. The Heritage study doesn't say that "at least 20% of gas-tax revenues" went towards other programs, in fact it says something other than that. It says that 16% goes to transit and that TA gets "2 percent set-aside of total highway funding," which, as stated above, is more than just "revenues" or even "gas-tax revenues."

3.  The primary source of bike lane funding is likely local and state government, not TA. 

London bikeshare redistribution trailer

From the comments of GreaterGreaterWashington

London has a cooler trailer design that allows them to fold down the side, roll the bikes directly off of the trailer, rather than dragging them sideways through the back.