FABB Blog

 

Mayor and Council part of Tour de Fairfax City

The Mayor and two members of the Fairfax City Council joined the Fairfax City chapter of FABB for the Tour de Fairfax City on Saturday June 6. Mayor Robert Lederer along with City Council members David Meyer and Dan Drummond participated in the 10-mile loop that traversed the city's extensive trail network and connecting neighborhood streets. Fairfax City has no on-road bike lanes.

FABB members are focusing on a priority bike route between George Mason University, which lies just outside the city boundary, and the nearby Vienna Metrorail station. A lack of bicycle parking is also a major issue in the city. The tour included stops along the way at the historic Ford Building in Old Town Fairfax (pictured here) and at the recently restored Blenheim property on Old Lee Highway. A big thanks to Chan Mohney (pictured above at the Ford Building) and Andrea Loewenwarter for sharing their knowledge of Fairfax City's history.

Labels: Fairfax City, tour de fairfax city

posted by Bruce Wright at 1:15 PM #

 

Let's make Fairfax Boulevard bicycle-friendly

On March 24, Fairfax City is holding a workshop to get public input on redesigning Fairfax Boulevard (Route 50/29). This offers a good opportunity to advocate for making the corridor safer and more accessible for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Route 50/29 in Fairfax City was renamed Fairfax Boulevard in 2005. The Fairfax Boulevard Partnership is the area's Business Improvement District, consisting of property owners along the corridor who are financing improvements. The Partnership is developing a master plan for the corridor, and has hired the architectural firm Dover, Kohl and Partners to help create the plan.

The corridor is extremely difficult to navigate by bicycle or on foot, and plans to widen it to 6 lanes will compound the difficulties. For bicyclists, the lack of dedicated on-road routes and high traffic speeds are major obstacles. Pedestrians must contend with poor lighting along the sidewalks, wide curb radii, and short crossing times.

The Fairfax Boulevard Partnership's strategic plan identifies better bicycle and pedestrian access as a priority. Bicyclists' participation will be needed to turn this abstract idea into a fully fleshed out design element of the master plan.

The workshop will be held on Saturday March 24 from 9 - 2 PM, location to be determined. It will be the first event in a three-day design charrette process. Bicyclists can also download and complete surveys prior to the workshop.

For more information, visit www.fairfaxva.gov/Boulevard/FBMP.asp.

Labels: Fairfax City

posted by Douglas Stewart at 2:38 PM #