Alexandria Updates

[Fairlington124]

The City continues its commendable but often slow upgrades to facilities. With Arlington apparently satisfied with resting on its laurels of past projects, Alexandria has, in my opinion, come close to closing the gap to the point of insignificance.

Protected Bike Lanes:
The resurfacing has occurred for North Van Dorn between Braddock and King (near Ft. Ward): https://www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion/info/default.aspx?id=88173. I think we should expect painting and installation in the coming weeks.

New Projects:

Just today, the Localmotion staff (Hillary, I’m guessing) uploaded some new projects to the bike page (some so new that they don’t have corresponding links, yet):

-The previously-discussed community bikeway for Royal Street (personally I find this a safe street to ride already, but I’m also an able-bodied young adult male)- https://www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion/info/default.aspx?id=92269

-Kenwood Avenue bike lanes (Fairlington). No project page yet, but given the work which is going to occur on King when it gets resurfaced (https://www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion/info/default.aspx?id=86423), I’m guessing non-protected bike lanes along Kenwood from King to either Crestwood or Valley.

-Cameron and Prince bike lanes (Old Town). No project page yet, but these have also been discussed and would likely be non-protected lanes along the extent of those two streets (each of which are one-way). Lower volume streets than nearby King St.

Topic

[Fairlington124]

I don’t know of any bike parking at the Aldi itself, although there is almost always a bike there from either customers or employees. The Planet Fitness gym (around the corner and down a flight of steps) has a very good and new bike rack. It’s purple and outdoors.

[consularrider]

@Sunyata 142261 wrote:

Wait… How is it that I did not know that there was an Aldi over there?! 😮 Is there decent bike parking there? (sorry for the slightly off topic post!)

If you come visit us in Frankfurt you can go the the Aldi that is a 10 walk from where we will be living (as is a REWE and a LIDL). I can’t tell from either the satellite view or the street view if there is good bike parking, but there is a bike lane in front (there are even bikes in the photo ). It’s going to be expensive, but I’m going to be so spoiled.

[bobco85]

@Fairlington124 142235 wrote:

I came across this tweet indicating that there are now bike lanes on Kenmore Avenue in front of the Aldi near Seminary Road on the West End:

https://twitter.com/DataScientista/status/747912254927081472

“Oh hey – new bike lanes?! Kenmore Ave in front of Aldi @AlexandriaBiker @redbricktown @WABADC #bikedc”

I’ll have to investigate. Looks like we have another cyclist on the West End as well.

I went to take a look and was impressed at the quality of the lanes. Combining this with the still-being-painted North Van Dorn St bike lanes, the new pedestrian bridge on Seminary Rd, and the low speed roads around the Mark Center, I think a decent bicycle connection is starting to be formed between Fairlington and the Mark Center. I think signage will really help communicate this, too. Pics below:

looking toward Van Dorn St (cyclists coming off Van Dorn St have sharrows before the bike lane starts, and heading onto Van Dorn St cyclists have an advisory bike lane)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]12031[/ATTACH]

the Aldi is to the left of this pic – the bike lanes are nice and wide
[ATTACH=CONFIG]12032[/ATTACH]

bike lane ends at Seminary Rd with a buffer (drivers were respecting this around 75% of the time during my time there)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]12033[/ATTACH]

looking from the Seminary Rd pedestrian bridge at the end of the bike lane
[ATTACH=CONFIG]12034[/ATTACH]

[lordofthemark]

The gap on that route now is Van Dorn from Braddock to Kenmore, which presumably will need to be filled with sharrows. Simple eastbound, but westbound you need to guide riders across two lane changes to a vehicular left (box left not possible without a signal, I think) I presume somewhere in North America or Europe someone has dealt with a similar problem.

Otherwise it is a nice route. The buffered lanes on Van Dorn east of Braddock are first class infrastructure, at last.

[bobco85]

@lordofthemark 142510 wrote:

The gap on that route now is Van Dorn from Braddock to Kenmore, which presumably will need to be filled with sharrows. Simple eastbound, but westbound you need to guide riders across two lane changes to a vehicular left (box left not possible without a signal, I think) I presume somewhere in North America or Europe someone has dealt with a similar problem.

Otherwise it is a nice route. The buffered lanes on Van Dorn east of Braddock are first class infrastructure, at last.

I’ve been mulling this over in my head trying to figure out what might work here for westbound Van Dorn St riders trying to turn left onto Kenmore Ave. Here’s some of my ideas for potential solutions:

1. non-ideal no build – Looking at Google Maps, there is a driveway that’s just past the intersection on Van Dorn St. It’s possible that one could take the right lane, get into the driveway, and do an awkward slightly-salmon to cross Van Dorn St onto Kenmore Ave.
2. non-ideal no build – Cyclists would use the crosswalks at Van Dorn/Braddock to get onto the southside Van Dorn sidewalk and use it to access Kenmore Ave
3. not sure if tried before – bike sharrows with left turn symbol in left lane of Van Dorn St
4. build sidepath on north side of Van Dorn St; cyclists cross Van Dorn St onto Kenmore Ave using some sort of “bicycle crosswalk” (would not legally be a crosswalk but would use bike symbols to guide cyclists)
5. build sidepath on north side of Van Dorn St at least to Kenmore Ave; build crosswalk at Kenmore/Van Dorn

[Fairlington124]

Project page uploaded this morning for the Kenwood Avenue bike lane project. It will be done in tandem with resurfacing which will occur next summer (2017). Mix of bike lanes and sharrows between Valley Drive and King Street.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion/info/default.aspx?id=92883

https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/localmotion/info/gettingaround/2016-07-20%20Kenwood%20Ave%20Flyer%20v2.pdf

[Author]

Replies