chris_s
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chris_sParticipantOver 100 Arlingtonians Ride for a Safer Columbia Pike at #Bike4ThePike
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEArlington, 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):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
chris_sParticipantComing 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!
chris_sParticipantIf 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_sParticipantWe’re totally accepting new members in our bicycle gang btw.
June 7, 2018 at 2:23 pm in reply to: Arlington’s First Combination Little Free Library & Bike Repair Station #1087822chris_sParticipant@josh 178870 wrote:
I used the pump on the way back from WTFCC this morning. I was too lazy to carry a pump this morning and my front tire started to feel a little sketchy on turns, but then I remembered this was along my route. Thanks!
You’re welcome! Glad it was helpful!
June 7, 2018 at 3:30 am in reply to: Take Action: Pershing Drive, Virginia Hospital Center and Arlington’s Bike Plan #1087818chris_sParticipantSusMo / SMAC now has a basic website and you can sign up there if you don’t want to RSVP or sign the petition for Bike4ThePike.
chris_sParticipant@rcannon100 178839 wrote:
That’s it! We can suffer the travails of outrageous fortune only for so long. Until the ELITE button is returned, I call for a general strike against Bike Arlington!! And I call on KelOnWheels to be the Honorary Leader of our movement.
Until the ELITE button is returned, No More Posts to the Forum!
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Are you…are you ok?
chris_sParticipant@Starduster 178837 wrote:
How did the brakes handle that load?
They did great! I wouldn’t recommend going down Superman Hill with that much in the box, but I’ve gone down Superman hill with a lightly loaded box without trouble.
chris_sParticipantWhen a guy in your neighborhood is giving away free firewood and you have both a cargo bike and a fire pit…
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17996[/ATTACH]
chris_sParticipant@infinitebuffalo 178825 wrote:
hoping to make it, and will be happy to help marshal.
…i’ll just need help figuring out how to get there from across the river…
Awesome thanks! Judd is being amazing and coordinating all of the marshals.
chris_sParticipantThe Berkeley development along S Glebe Rd is finally breaking ground. As part of this project, the developer will be widening the stretch of Four Mile Run Trail behind the development from 8′ to 12′.
chris_sParticipant@Judd 178529 wrote:
I wish I could read the comments left my others though.
So…you can. You can’t vote them up or anything, but see that grey arrow at the bottom of the screen? That’ll bring up a table view of everyone’s comments. If you leave “filter by map extent” then it will only show you comments that are showing in the map view as currently zoomed.
May 24, 2018 at 12:54 pm in reply to: Arlington’s First Combination Little Free Library & Bike Repair Station #1087540chris_sParticipantGeocache is back in action.
May 24, 2018 at 1:05 am in reply to: Arlington’s First Combination Little Free Library & Bike Repair Station #1087522chris_sParticipant1) Geocache is temporarily out of service until the wheel can be re-attached.
2) Literally just got hugged by a lady she was so grateful for the tire pump.chris_sParticipant@Judd 178511 wrote:
I was all set to leave and then the skies opened up and persisted for most of the duration of the meeting. Doesn’t look like the opportunity to comment online is up yet, but I’ll make sure to comment as soon as it does.
Yeah, I got REALLY, REALLY wet on my way to the meeting.
Materials and comment form are expected to be up by the end of the day today and open for comment for two weeks.
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