FABB Blog

 

Bicycle access to planned Herndon-Monroe Metro station

Cyclists in the Reston-Herndon area are encouraged to attend a discussion of future changes around the planned Herndon-Monroe Metro station. The meeting is one of a series to discuss possible changes to the county Comprehensive Plan for the area around the three Reston/Herndon stations. It will be held at Langston Hughes Middle School in Reston from 9 a.m. to noon. See the Reston Master Plan Special Study website for more information.

Many cyclists currently commute to the Herndon-Monroe bus station. Sunrise Valley Drive has narrow lanes, no shoulder and poor line of sight. The road needs dedicated bicycle facilities (wide curb lanes or bike lanes). There should also be good bicycle connectivity to Fairfax County Parkway and the W&OD Trail, as well as a bicycle crossing of the Dulles Toll Road to connect Herndon with the are to the south. Additional covered bicycle parking will be needed as well, including bike lockers.

Labels: dulles metrorail, herndon, herndon-monroe

posted by Bruce Wright at 9:54 PM #

 

Another cyclist injured in Fairfax

This is not a good time to be a vulnerable road user. A cyclist was critically injured at Dranesville Road and Wiehle Ave in Herndon yesterday evening. Two Fairfax firefighters were then struck by an EMS supervisor in an SUV while they were helping the cyclist:(From a WTOP news article with a very annoying popup ad).

So why is the county proposing to completely eliminate the bicycle program? Oh that's right, bicycles aren't used for transportation. As we said earlier, it's time for cyclists and pedestrians to demand better treatment, including restoration of funding for the bicycle program.

Labels: bike crash, herndon

posted by Bruce Wright at 9:31 AM #

 

Herndon bike light giveaway

There was a great turnout at yesterday's bike light giveaway. Trinity Presbyterian Church in cooperation with Iglesia Nueva Rivera Presbiteriana hosted the event. The church holds a lunch that is attended by local workers, many of whom use bicycles for transportation. In fact, bicycles are an important part of their lives, providing transportation to jobs, for shopping, and for recreation.

We installed around 50 sets of Planet Bike Blinky lights. Most of the cyclists rode to the lunch, and afterwards there was a long line of cyclists waiting for lights.

Thanks to the churches and to Reston Interfaith for helping coordinate the event.

Labels: bike lights, herndon

posted by Bruce Wright at 5:34 PM #

 

Bicycle programs at Fairfax schools

There are a few schools in Fairfax where students are encouraged to ride bikes. At Herndon Middle School bike racks are provided for kids who ride to school. Under the direction of three teachers, approximately 20 students are members of an after school club where they refurbish old bikes to give away. Articles in the Washington Post (From fixer-upper to someone's dream) and the Herndon Observer (Herndon Middle Gives Back, One Wheel at a Time) describe the program.There are at least two other schools with bike programs. At Lanier Middle School in Fairfax, PE teacher Pam Clingenpeel sponsors an after school bicycle club where kids learn about basic bike maintenance, bicycle safety, street/trail bike etiquette, shifting techniques and basic skills of riding. Five after school sessions are being held this Fall.

Candy Brown, Physical Education teacher at Centreville High School leads a mountain bike PE class. Students learn the ABC Quick Check (video), basic bike maintenance, bicycle safety, street/trail bike etiquette, shifting techniques and basic skills of riding. Ms. Brown is featured in a video about the Centreville program. Both schools received funds form the Virginia Dept. of Education to purchase new bikes.

We've previously mentioned successful Safe Routes to School efforts at four Vienna schools. And finally, Lynbrook Elementary School is one of only two schools in Fairfax to receive Safe Routes to School funds (Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna is the other). If you know of other schools with bike programs, please let us know.

Labels: bike club, fcps, herndon

posted by Bruce Wright at 4:30 PM #

 

Herndon forms bike committee

According to the Herndon Town Clerk,

At last night's meeting, the Town Council adopted the mission, objectives & purpose for the Town's Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee. The committee will provide advice to the Town Council on matters relating to pedestrian and bicycle matters through the promotion of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity.

If you are interested in serving on this committee, please complete a talent bank application and return it to the clerk's office for consideration for appointment by Council. For more information, contact the clerk's office at town.clerk@herndon-va.gov, (703) 435-6804.

October 14, 2008

Town of Herndon
Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC)

Mission - To improve the quality of life in the Town of Herndon through the promotion of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity, and provide advice to the appropriate bodies (Town Council, Planning Commission and/or the Town's Transportation Engineering Improvement Committee - TEIC) on matters relating to bicycle and pedestrian issues, in order to provide health, recreation and transportation benefits for all Town citizens.

Objectives - To facilitate alternative modes of transportation within the Town and provide safe streets that are friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists;

To support the integration of pedestrian and bicycle facilities with the street and transit network through the Trail and Sidewalk Program and other components of the Town's Capital Improvement Program involving transportation improvements; and

To support pedestrian and bicycle initiatives and strategies in accordance with the Town's 2030 Comprehensive Plan and the Town's visioning document titled 2027: A Vision for the Town of Herndon.

Purpose

• Review pedestrian and bicycle issues, to include matters affecting pedestrian and bicycle transportation and its relationship to parks, schools, transit stops and other major town facilities and, through coordination with Town staff, make recommendations to the appropriate bodies - Town Council, Planning Commission and/or the Town's Transportation Engineering Improvement Committee (TEIC);
• Perform studies and projects as requested by Town Council on pedestrian and bicycle matters;
• Facilitate citizen participation in the Town's consideration of matters involving pedestrian and bicycle questions;
• Integrate walking and bicycling into the Town's policies and practices;
  
• Seek funding for pedestrian and bicycle programs and facilities and advocate for the needs of Town pedestrians and bicyclists to applicable county, region, state and Federal departments and agencies;
• Study changes on applicable regulations, laws and best practices concerning pedestrian and bicycle issues;
• Promote safety programs and provide incentives for increasing walking and bicycling and promote physical and mental health benefits of walking and bicycling; and
• Promote intergovernmental and public/private cooperation and coordination on pedestrian and bicycle matters.

Composition

• 1 - Town Council representative, who shall be chair
• 1 - Planning Commission representative
• 1 - Heritage Preservation Review Board representative
• 6 - Citizens
• 1 - Department of Community Development staff, who serves as the primary staff
• 1 - Department of Parks and Recreation staff, who serves as an "ex-officio" member and support staff
• 1 - Department of Public Works staff, who serves as an "ex-officio" member and support staff

Labels: bicycle committee, herndon

posted by Bruce Wright at 11:46 AM #