bike4thepike – 6/23/18 11:30am

[Judd]

@KWL 178919 wrote:

What about me? Should I say I can’t make it so you attempt to bribe me?

No threat needed. I will also buy you a beer afterwards.

[smb9600]

@Judd 178917 wrote:

What!? We put this event together solely so you can get to work safely. SAD!

Total #FakeNews-I was never consulted on this project! [emoji6]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chris_s]

If anyone would like to help get the word out about Bike4ThePike, I have flyers and little cards all printed up. Happy to leave some for you to pickup / drop off / etc.

[chris_s]

Coming up soon, just a few days away!

If you’ve been waiting to RSVP until your plans firmed up, now’s the time to get firming!

[dasgeh]

Kidical Mass Arlington will be there!!!

[Starduster]

@semperiden 178842 wrote:

Ugh. I am going to miss an important World cup match for this, but this is more important. I am in!

One word- DVR.

Thank you for joining us!

[Judd]

We’re not going to let a chance of light rain stop us. Bike4ThePike is on rain or shine.

[Starduster]

@Judd 179153 wrote:

We’re not going to let a chance of light rain stop us. Bike4ThePike is on rain or shine.

Latest weather update @ 9:37am- We have a clear window until about 2 or so. (Very little chance of rain, just cloudy.)

Be here. Aloha.

[Starduster]

We came. We rode. We conquered.

Chris_s, honored to help you make this happen.

[chris_s]

Over 100 Arlingtonians Ride for a Safer Columbia Pike at #Bike4ThePike
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arlington, Virginia – A huge mass of over 100 people took to Columbia Pike via bicycle this afternoon to raise awareness about the need for safe, direct, low-stress bicycle routes along the Columbia Pike Corridor as part of #Bike4ThePike.

Organized by newly-formed advocacy group Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County, #Bike4ThePike was a short advocacy protest ride starting at Penrose Square Park and ending with delicious lunch at the West Pike Food Truck Party. Arlington County Board members Erik Gutshall and Libby Garvey attended.

“Despite budgeting over $100 million in the current adopted Capital plan to make Columbia Pike a complete street, the County’s current plans wouldn’t even provide a complete bike facility that runs the full length of the Pike, let alone one that is safe, direct and low-stress.” said Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County founder Chris Slatt. “#Bike4ThePike was a chance to say ‘We’re here, we ride, we pay taxes, we deserve safe, direct, low-stress routes.'”

#Bike4ThePike is advocating for eight specific outcomes to make cycling more safe, efficient and comfortable on Columbia Pike (in order of priority):

1. A parallel bike & pedestrian bridge over Four Mile Run immediately adjacent to the existing bridge to provide dedicated, safe space for cyclists and pedestrians. The sidewalk on the existing bridge is dangerously narrow and lacks any sort of buffer from speeding traffic. Timeline: within three years.
2. A comprehensive safety review of the Washington Blvd / Columbia Pike interchange for cyclist and pedestrian safety in the next year. This interchange has been the site of numerous bicycle and pedestrian crashes since it was “improved” by VDOT several years ago. Timeline: within a year.
3. A traffic signal at 9th & Walter Reed Drive to ensure safe passage across this busy arterial for cyclists on the 9th Street Bike Boulevard. Timeline: within three years.
4. A traffic signal / HAWK or other crossing treatment that requires drivers, by law, to stop at Glebe Rd & 9th St S that does not require cyclists to leave the roadway or dismount to activate it. This would aid safe passage for cyclists on the 9th Street Bike Boulevard across Glebe Road. The existing Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon is not effective and is clearly not located with usage by cyclists in mind. Timeline: within four years.
5. Funding and construction of the “Hoffman Boston Connector / Army Navy Country Club Emergency Access Road”, provision of a safe, direct connection between it and the Washington Blvd Trail across Columbia Pike and increased County effort to connect the Emergency Access Drive directly to the 11th / 12th Street Bike Boulevard. Timeline: within five years.
6. A medium-to-long-term plan for addressing the George Mason Drive gap in Columbia Pike bike accommodations so cyclists no longer need to detour all the way to 8th St S or ride on a narrow sidewalk between Quincy St and Taylor St. Timeline: within twelve years.
7. A fresh look at plans for the Pike East of Washington Blvd to see if a better bicycle facility can be provided than the County’s planned 10′ sidewalk, given that this portion of the Pike is a) last in line for construction b) faces uncertainty due to Arlington National Cemetery’s Expansion c) is the portion with the fewest alternative routes and d) sees the least automotive traffic.
8. Re-engaging the Arlington Heights Civic association in a conversation about two-way bicycle traffic on the 9th Street Bike boulevard within the neighborhood to eliminate the current Eastbound detour.

Residents who missed the ride, but support its goals can sign the petition at https://bike4thepike.org/sign-the-petition/ or read more about conditions on Columbia Pike at https://bike4thepike.org/why-were-riding/

About Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County
Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County is a newly-formed grassroots advocacy organization working to ensure that Arlingtonians have sustainable transportation options. Transportation is now the #1 source of US CO2 emissions, surpassing electricity production; shifting our transportation to sustainable options like walking, biking and transit is vital to stopping climate change.

Contact: info@susmo.org

Photo Album

[Judd]

Amazing turnout. Thanks to all the forum folks who participated and for those that volunteered to be marshals.

[cyclismo]

Really good to see a lot of people coming out Big step forward!

[dasgeh]

Really great ride. Thanks to Chris, for organizing everything, and Judd, for organizing marshalls to keep us safe. My 5 year old was able to bike safely on Columbia Pike, which is not something I’m likely to be able to say again for a long time.

[chris_s]

https://www.arlnow.com/2018/06/25/more-than-100-cyclists-flood-columbia-pike-to-advocate-for-better-bike-routes/

Yay media coverage!

The comments are…pretty predictably terrible and make it extremely obvious the extent to which most commenters read the article before commenting (not at all).

[Judd]

We were able to get a picture of the Fantasy Biker Gang on Saturday.

[Author]

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