#SafeTrack: when WMATA made everyone a bicyclist

[dasgeh]

Some ideas to start you thinking:

Pop-up protected bike lanes. Let’s put up temporary protected bike lanes where we can, to see how they work out. They’d be temporary, so if they aren’t working, they could be pulled.

Some streets in Arlington would EASILY accommodate a pop-up PBL. There would be little to no parking loss, and the streets are Arlington-controlled. N Veitch from Wilson to Lee is one. What are other Veitch-like streets?

There are others that would be nearly as easy to put pop-up PBLs on, but there is some issue, like more parking loss or VDOT-controlled streets. What are other Fairfax-like streets?
Fairfax Dr wouldn’t cost parking, but is VDOT controlled.
Lee Hwy WB between Lynn and N Lincoln — the 3rd lane could be a two-way protected cycle-track, easing congestion on the Custis.

[dasgeh]

Bike ambassadors willing to mentor newbies
Bike trains – from neighborhoods to DC / Rosslyn / Ballston; along the affected MetroRail lines
“How to” guide from BikeArlington — what should it include? how to buy a bike; how to find a route; how to park/lock; how to bike in the rain; how to bike on the trail; how to bike on the street

[dasgeh]

Ideas for ACPD involvement?
Burma-shave signs for trail behavior?

[dasgeh]

What public service announcements should Arlington put out? Maybe something explaining to people in cars that aggressive driving will lead to SLOWER commutes. Everyone needs to slow down and expect more people, allow more time.

What about this video, but sub in “people on bike and on foot” for “Arlington work crews” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYsGLp6x0Sk

[dasgeh]

Are there any academics that want to study some temporary measures? Does anyone have connections or want to coordinate finding people?

[dasgeh]

How can we ensure we are being inclusive in these efforts? Reaching all ages? Parents/non? Various income levels? Various races and ethnicities?

[chris_s]

EDUCATION
EXTREMELY detailed instructions on how to get across the Potomac. Like, step-by-step with maps and photos and probably videos on exactly how to get to and from each bridge between Arlington and DC. This is one of the biggest question marks for new bike commuters. The Key Bridge crossing is the only one that is even remotely straightforward.

In addition to bridges, I’d probably cover all of the MVT access points: Rosslyn, Iwo Jima / 110 Trail, 27 Trail, LBJ Grove, Crystal City Connector, Four Mile Run Trail.

[bentbike33]

Pop-up CaBI stations at Metro stations, e.g., at East Falls Church?

Will Metro be cutting all volume on Orange and Silver lines beyond EFC, or will trains will be off-loading at EFC and turning around back to Vienna and Reston? If the latter, people might be interested in using CaBI to finish the trip.

[MFC]

I’m not an Arlingtroner, so these are just guesses. I’m glad to see they are attempting to be pro-active about this.

Under encouragement, maybe work with the local businesses or bike stores to have water stations, maybe at key points such as during BTWD or after the bridges, etc., at least during afternoon commuting hours. We don’t need a bunch of sweaty newbies having heart attacks. Didn’t bikearlington have some key points for distributing bike lights last winter?

Under education/encouragement, there are a lot of tips for riding in traffic/riding in heat, etc. Get links on AC web site if not there.

Under enforcement or encouragement, if there are certain intersections where there are frequent conflicts between bikers, drivers and peds., maybe have some sort of traffic control officers. Not necessarily to give out tickets, but to keep things flowing.

[DrP]

@dasgeh 140353 wrote:

Ideas for ACPD involvement?
Burma-shave signs for trail behavior?

Burma-shave signs for trail behavior is something we have needed for a long time. If we can get it on some of the roads, that would be helpful too, I believe.

Having ACPD inform people of the rules (rather than tickets, at least for the first few months) would be helpful. At my morning commute time, this seems to have helped at the IOD. Having ACPD be on bikes might also help, since I think if a cop on a bike stopped a car (likely at the next light, unless they added flashing flights to the bike), it would send a strong message. That can also help on trails for both peds and bikes. Peds do not seem to understand that bikes have to follow laws of physics and cannot stop in an instant.

[tnelson]

@dasgeh 140352 wrote:

Bike ambassadors willing to mentor newbies
Bike trains – from neighborhoods to DC / Rosslyn / Ballston;

With a few tips from chris_s, I’m actually trying to build a (fairly simple) website where people can input the general route of their commute, and anyone who needs a buddy can look up routes and contact those folks. I’m not a pro, however, so it may take a bit of time to get up and running.

@chris_s 140358 wrote:

EXTREMELY detailed instructions on how to get across the Potomac. Like, step-by-step with maps and photos and probably videos on exactly how to get to and from each bridge between Arlington and DC. This is one of the biggest question marks for new bike commuters. The Key Bridge crossing is the only one that is even remotely straightforward.

Happy to document the 27 Trail/Memorial Bridge if needed.

[eminva]

YES to BurmaShave signs for the trails.

Orange line trains originating at Vienna will be reduced to three per hour, and I believe Silver line trains will be on the same schedule. I think I heard somewhere that they would be turning some trains around at Ballston to compensate? If so, it might be worthwhile to have suggested routes or convoys with the destination of Ballston for folks who are in no shape to ride a bike all the way to DC. They can park their bike at Ballston station and metro from there. It will at least get them past the worst obstacles.

Which leads to Enforcement — PLEASE assign some police to or a video camera to the bike parking at Ballston. When my low end hybrid was stolen from there in broad daylight (2008), the Arlington police were all, “oh that’s a known theft location — what a dork you are for parking there.”

Liz

[KLizotte]

Send out emails to co-workers/friends/etc. that they should get their bikes tuned up and ready to go NOW. The local bike shops are busy as it is without needing to get flooded at the last minute with newbies dragging their forgotten bikes out of garages. Also, encourage your workplace to offer free shower access during the metro shut downs.

[scoot]

Veitch and Fairfax have door-zone bike lanes. Veitch has a small painted buffer, while Fairfax is a very tight squeeze and has none. How would you propose to convert these into temporary protected bike lanes?

[dasgeh]

@scoot 140370 wrote:

Veitch and Fairfax have door-zone bike lanes. Veitch has a small painted buffer, while Fairfax is a very tight squeeze and has none. How would you propose to convert these into temporary protected bike lanes?

Flip the bike lane and the parking. There is plenty of ROW on both Veitch and Fairfax to do so.

[Author]

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