Any discussion of a bike lane on George Mason around Leesburg Pike?

[dasgeh]

I would talk to our BPAC friends.

But if folks wanted to push for more bike infra on George Mason coming up to the Arlington line, you have plenty of friends in Arlington who think that the part of George Mason in south Arlington (esp. near Wakefield HS) deserves and has room for protected bike lanes.

[lordofthemark]

@dasgeh 174751 wrote:

I would talk to our BPAC friends.

But if folks wanted to push for more bike infra on George Mason coming up to the Arlington line, you have plenty of friends in Arlington who think that the part of George Mason in south Arlington (esp. near Wakefield HS) deserves and has room for protected bike lanes.

You mean Alexandria BPAC? Why pray tell? East of Rte 7 that is Arlington, and west of Rte 7 it is Fairfax County (Mason District – the City limit is along Lucky Run there, I think) I am sure this would benefit some people in Alexandria, but any infra would have to be done by the other jurisdictions. If you or FABB want BPAC to express support for a project here, I don’t think that would be hard to get.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/gis/info/StreetMap2017Final.pdf

[chris_s]

Fairfax County Bike Plan appears to show bike lanes south of 7, sharrows north of 7.

[dasgeh]

@lordofthemark 174754 wrote:

You mean Alexandria BPAC? Why pray tell? East of Rte 7 that is Arlington, and west of Rte 7 it is Fairfax County (Mason District – the City limit is along Lucky Run there, I think) I am sure this would benefit some people in Alexandria, but any infra would have to be done by the other jurisdictions. If you or FABB want BPAC to express support for a project here, I don’t think that would be hard to get.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/gis/info/StreetMap2017Final.pdf

Sorry, yeah, FABB. I just thought “south” and Alexandria jumped to mind.

[mstone]

@chris_s 174762 wrote:

Fairfax County Bike Plan appears to show bike lanes south of 7, sharrows north of 7.

unfortunately we’ve learned that the fairfax county bike plan doesn’t actually mean anything, and we still have to fight for every single stripe.

[CaseyKane50]

The Alexandria boundary begins after George Mason curves and merges with Seminary Road near Colfax Avenue. See bike map

The Alexandria Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan does call for an “enhanced bike corridor” (see pages 49-50) on Seminary Avenue.

Enhanced bicycle corridors are bicycle facilities located within the road right-of-way (either between the curbs or immediately parallel to the road) that provide dedicated space for bicyclists. Enhanced bicycle corridors might be implemented as any of the following facility types:

– Protected Bicycle Lanes
– Buffered Bicycle Lanes
– Side paths
– Colored Bicycle Lanes
– Bicycle Lanes
– Advisory Bicycle Lanes

Of course when that might happen will be dependent on paving schedules, people organizing to support Bicycle and pedestrian improvements and financing. If you want to see improvements get involved in advocating to your local government, civic association, friends and neighbors.

[bobco85]

@amcebbers 174749 wrote:

What do I have to do to get bike lanes on George Mason in the vicinity of Leesburg Pike? I ride there every day on my new-ish commute and every day at least one car gets way too close to me as it passes. I’m wondering whether anyone knows if there has ever been any discussion of extending the northern bike lanes on George Mason farther south, or who I should start pestering about making this happen. I imagine the jurisdictional lines criss-crossing this area are part of the reason it is a t-e-r-r-i-b-l-e place to bike.

I used to live in the Mark Center area and would bike commute sometimes on that stretch, usually going from Alexandria/Fairfax into Arlington. Depending on where you’re headed, folks on this forum know some good alternative routes you can use (like Dinwiddie-Walter Reed Dr or Columbus-11th-Frederick) to avoid parts around that stretch.

The stretch of George Mason Dr between Seminary Rd and Route 7 needs bike lanes. It is wide enough for bike lanes (the lanes are seriously VERY WIDE). Heck, for part of it, the extra wide parking lane almost passes for a bike lane (I’d use it as such when I would pass through there). Bike lanes should be easily added without any loss of parking. So, let’s just put the paint (and flexposts) down already!

The stretch of George Mason Dr between Columbus St and Route 7 needs bike lanes, especially for those traveling up the big hill. One of the most uncomfortable biking situations for me, a cyclist who is squarely in the “strong and fearless” category, is climbing a steep hill with sharrows where I am moving very slowly, trying to catch my breath, and I have drivers zooming around me, sometimes in my lane, sometimes passing at ridiculously close distances (I don’t want to feel the wind from your vehicle as you rush by me with less than a foot to spare!). Screw the parking lane with poor visibility for parallel parkers; they need a climbing lane!

[dasgeh]

@CaseyKane50 174768 wrote:

The Alexandria boundary begins after George Mason curves and merges with Seminary Road near Colfax Avenue. See bike map

So I wasn’t totally crazy for thinking this is ALX!

[amcebbers]

@bobco85 174778 wrote:

The stretch of George Mason Dr between Columbus St and Route 7 needs bike lanes, especially for those traveling up the big hill. One of the most uncomfortable biking situations for me, a cyclist who is squarely in the “strong and fearless” category, is climbing a steep hill with sharrows where I am moving very slowly, trying to catch my breath, and I have drivers zooming around me, sometimes in my lane, sometimes passing at ridiculously close distances (I don’t want to feel the wind from your vehicle as you rush by me with less than a foot to spare!). Screw the parking lane with poor visibility for parallel parkers; they need a climbing lane!

Exactly! I take the trail along Walter Reed and huff and puff up Dinwiddie, but there’s no avoiding cars zooming around me as I huff and puff up George Mason. I have taken to riding in the middle of the right lane to perhaps psychologically manipulate drivers into actually changing lanes rather than just scooting around me. I’m usually very comfortable riding in the road, but these nearly empty four-laners on which drivers still don’t change lanes for a cyclist make me quite nervous.

I’ve just emailed Fairfax County’s DOT (?? we’ll see how that goes) to ask about George Mason between Dinwiddie and Seminary and the bike master plan.

[Author]

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