Good News on Infrastructure thread

[lordofthemark]

Funding approved for safe routes to school improvements, including buffered bike lanes in Arlington, on McKinley/Ohio between Wilson and 14thSt (which I gather is where the connection to the W&OD begins)

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2015/05/tpb-approves-funding-for-buffered-bike-lanes-on-mckinley-road-in-arlington.html

[sjclaeys]

@lordofthemark 115349 wrote:

Funding approved for safe routes to school improvements, including buffered bike lanes in Arlington, on McKinley/Ohio between Wilson and 14thSt (which I gather is where the connection to the W&OD begins)

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2015/05/tpb-approves-funding-for-buffered-bike-lanes-on-mckinley-road-in-arlington.html

14th Street is on the other side of 66 from the access to the W&OD. This is a much needed improvement, especially with speeding on McKinley near the school.

[peterw_diy]

Alexandria City Council overrode the City Manager and funded doubling the number of Bikeshare stations.

http://alexandriava.gov/news_display.aspx?id=84667

[baiskeli]

Wilson Blvd. is being repaved, which I presume means the restriping to narrow car lanes from 4 to 3 and add bike lanes is imminent.

[lordofthemark]

Fairfax announces repaving schedule, which means a bunch of new bike lanes, including some buffered bike lanes.

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26806/fairfax-is-getting-22-new-bike-lanes-in-2015/

More barrier thingies on Penn Ave in DC

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2015/05/barriers-being-installed-on-penn-ave-bike-lanes-live.html

Work to begin on the MoCo end of the MBT

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2015/05/work-will-begin-on-another-section-of-mbt-in-moco-this-year.html

[JimF22003]

Rode down Annandale Road this morning. This road is a disaster, although the section I was on wasn’t as bad as other parts closer to Rt 50. I’m really curious to see if they put in actual bike lanes (which would require a road diet) or if they’re just going with sharrows.

[bobco85]

@JimF22003 116374 wrote:

Rode down Annandale Road this morning. This road is a disaster, although the section I was on wasn’t as bad as other parts closer to Rt 50. I’m really curious to see if they put in actual bike lanes (which would require a road diet) or if they’re just going with sharrows.

I really hope they put climbing lanes in with sharrows for the descents. I think parts of Annandale Road are too tight to not have a door zone bike lane for the whole length.

[pptyson]

Bummer Jermantown Road is being paved currently but not on the list. It’s on the 2018 bike lane schedule, too.

It’s the only route across 66 for us fairfax city and fairfax corner types and it’s not fun to ride on most of the time.

[Steve O]

@JimF22003 116374 wrote:

Rode down Annandale Road this morning. This road is a disaster, although the section I was on wasn’t as bad as other parts closer to Rt 50.

I actually don’t find Annandale to be so bad. My biggest complaint is gravel and road grime collecting along the side, but when it’s swept, there’s plenty of room. True that the “shoulder” is really a parking lane, but there aren’t too many cars, and there is generally plenty of space to signal and plan your moves to avoid them.

Also, if you are planning to go eastbound farther north, you can jog over to Sleepy Hollow on Fern rather than cross 50 at Annandale, so you don’t have to deal with Annandale closer to 50. (And you get to “enjoy” Ichabod’s Grind on Sleepy Hollow!)

That said, I am in favor of putting in bike lanes where there is space, since the illusion of narrower travel lanes will help to slow automobile traffic.

[americancyclo]

@Steve O 116396 wrote:

I actually don’t find Annandale to be so bad.

I drive a car on Annandale and I think it’s bad. I’ve only biked on the section between Graham and Route 50 and when I do, I’m amazed that Dread does that daily. Tons of potholes and uneven pavement.

[ShawnoftheDread]

It’s the pavement and debris that’s the problem on Annandale, not the lack of a bike lane. What it really needs after repaving is a monthly street sweeper, especially in the winter.

I’m fine if they add a bike lane, but it’s definitely going to be door zone in many, if not most, spots in the stretch between Barrett and Graham. Sharrows as a reminder to drivers is probably the better option, though.

I noticed Hummer isn’t on the list. It needs repaving too, and has plenty of space for a buffered bike lane.

[KayakCyndi]

@americancyclo 116398 wrote:

I drive a car on Annandale and I think it’s bad. I’ve only biked on the section between Graham and Route 50 and when I do, I’m amazed that Dread does that daily. Tons of potholes and uneven pavement.

I live right off of Annandale and it isn’t the cars that bother me. It is all the potholes, road debris, gravel and grim. Then throw in a good dose of construction projects/traffic.. The northern section between route 50 and Washington is affectionately referred to as our “mixed surface” route.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@americancyclo 116398 wrote:

… I’m amazed that Dread does that daily…

No brain, no pain.

[JimF22003]

@Steve O 116396 wrote:

I actually don’t find Annandale to be so bad.

I was really referring to the current state of the pavement. It’ll be a good route when they repave it.

[lordofthemark]

When I lived in Annandale, I did not like riding on Annandale Road. At the times I rode there were usually cars parked, so I did have to take the lane or the sidewalk. There were often spots where I found taking the lane very uncomfortable, especially on uphills where I went slowly. I also had a bad experience riding the sidewalk (of course parked cars make that worse, by reducing visibility at driveways) I am a stronger rider now, so perhaps I would not find it as bad, but I still go slowly on hills.

I would prefer what BobCo suggested – a climbing lane, and sharrows (or nothing) in the other direction. It would be possible to avoid a door zone bike lane by taking out one lane of parking (which would encourage parkers to cross the street, perhaps adding to the traffic calming effect?) but that might conflict with the road diet goals.

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