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Here is Libby Garvey‘s response

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Thank you for your questions.

I currently am on the board of Phoenix Bikes, an organization that ‘empowers youth to become social entrepreneurs through direct participation in a financially and environmentally sustainable nonprofit bike shop that serves the community.’ I began the Kennan Garvey Memorial Fund in my husband’s memory to support Phoenix Bikes. Kennan loved to get children involved in cycling. This spring we will have the first annual Kennan Garvey Memorial ride to help raise money and awareness of PB and cycling in our area. For those of you who haven’t heard about this wonderful organization I encourage you to learn more about it.

For years, our “second car” was Kennan’s bike, which he used to commute to work from the mid 1980’s until his death in 2008. Bicycling is how I clear my head and try to keep fit, and it was one of Kennan’s gifts to me. 2001 we bought a tandem so we could enjoy cycling together. It was an ideal way to allow us to bike together because he was so much stronger a cyclist than I. As I became stronger, we went faster and took longer rides. I am very familiar with the W&OD, Custis and Mount Vernon trails. We would ride the circuit ride of Arlington pretty much every weekend. Whenever we could find extra time, we’d cycle out the W&OD or C&O Canal trails, down to Mount Vernon or in the Shenandoah. We had wonderful vacations cycling, participating in Bike Virginia almost every year from the time we bought the tandem until his death. We also rode in other areas of the country. I’m perhaps proudest of cycling up Cadillac Mountain in Maine on the tandem. After Kennan’s death, I bought my own bike. It’s not the same, of course, but cycling continues to be important to my physical and emotional health.

Having cycled many times on roads, including in NY City in the rain for the Triboro ride in 2009, I am acutely aware of how much better it is to cycle on a path committed to cycling and walking rather than on the street with cars. As a member of the County Board I will support cycling and be supportive of efforts to connect trails and create dedicated cycling routes. I know cycling is the primary mode of transportation in many areas of the world. While I doubt we will get to that point in Arlington, we could do more to support biking. The Capital Bikeshare program is a great addition to our transportation system. I am pleased that cycling is part of our physical education curriculum and that we are doing more to encourage students to cycle to school. Kennan was a member of WABA for years and I have continued with my own membership.

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I contacted all of the democratic candidates for the Arlington County Board (could not find any republican candidates). Here is the first response

Yes — absolutely, bikes belong throughout our community, and they are a critical part of my vision for Arlington.
As a County Board member, I will work with cyclists and all of Arlington to further improve the infrastructure, programs, and ridership levels that have earned us League of American Bicyclists recognition. I’m not satisfied with our Silver ranking. I believe our goal for Arlington should be to earn fully and begin to set new standards for the nation as the first Platinum-level Bike Friendly Community in the Eastern United States.

Bicycles are both an indicator and a creator of strong communities. Bicycling is an excellent activity for people’s health and well-being, a great and inexpensive transportation alternative for our natural environment, and an important contributor to our local economy. As our nation moves toward a clean energy economy, the bicycle is playing an increasingly central role.

It’s obvious that cycling should be fully integrated into Arlington’s vision for a multi-modal, environmentally sustainable transportation network. But we need a lot more work to make that vision a reality.

Arlington’s trail system and shared cycling facilities are an important base. Yet, cyclists continue to face undue risks on many of Arlington’s streets and intersections – particularly along and across arterial roads. A number of businesses, multi-family dwellings, and institutions have yet to embrace cycling. Educational and promotional programs have yet to be strengthened to the point that people throughout our community feel comfortable on a bike — especially young people, older people, and people who are cycling novices. We also need to better educate drivers on how to share the road using predictable best practices, to make transportation safer for everyone.

And as Arlington cycling activists and national experts have pointed out, several key Arlington institutions would benefit from new and enhanced efforts on cycling — including the Arlington Public Schools and the Arlington Police Department.
In my volunteer community roles, I served on the Arterial Transportation Management (ATM) task force, redesigning our major local streets to accommodate safer modes for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, cars and buses. I also chaired the Transportation subcommittee of the Elder Readiness Task Force, which looked at cycling as one affordable, accessible means of transportation, recreation, and socialization for interested Arlington seniors.

As president of Lyon Park Citizens Association, I worked on the redesign for the Clarendon Sector Plan, which included efforts to more fully incorporate cycling facilities into our site plan development approvals, streets design, and other elements. As a member and chairman of our Housing Commission, I promoted additional cycling facilities on projects to recognize the affordability benefits of bicycling for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests.

As a County Board Member, I will work to bring together people from throughout our community to fully and rapidly implement the Bicycle Element of the Arlington Master Transportation Plan. I will focus on:

* Ensuring adequate cycling facilities on or adjacent to every arterial road, and through arterial road intersections. By making full use of the range of existing and emerging facility types, Arlington can make our “Main Streets” – and all of our streets — accessible and welcoming to cyclists.

* Creating new and enhanced safety and education programs, targeting young people and other people who are cycling novices. By expanding the number of confident and capable cyclists, we can better serve our community – and create a virtuous circle of reduced traffic congestion, cleaner air, and a more healthy community.

* Promoting more bicycle facilities in and around our affordable housing projects
* Identifying additional and potentially dedicated sources of funding so that key projects won’t be held up by unpredictable or inadequate resources. Among the areas I’d like to investigate is how transportation modes that are pollution-intensive might assume a greater share of the cost of facilities for walking, biking, and other clean modes of transportation.

* Continuing to expand the Arlington-initiated Capital Bikeshare to increase stations and bikes in Arlington’s development corridors and additional areas of potential ridership, and work with public and private employers to market the benefits of Bikeshare participation. I’m a new member of CaBi, and looking forward to taking better advantage of the network myself.

* Working with appropriate state agencies, Federal agencies, and private organizations to improve access and reduce risks at key locations such as the Rosslyn “circle” west of Key Bridge and North and South Glebe Road, and to create new links where they’re needed – including to traverse I-395 in South Arlington and across the rail lines and roadways that inhibit access to the Mount Vernon Trail.

* Greatly expanding bicycle parking facilities on public property, and collaborating with, encouraging, and when appropriate requiring private property owners to provide parking facilities that accommodate and further encourage cycling.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to address such an important matter; I’d welcome your thoughts on cycling in our community. I look forward to working with you, other cyclists, and all of our neighbors to promote these important goals in Arlington.

Thanks again.
Melissa

http://www.MelissaBondi.org

Cyclist Doug Galbi took video of a recent candidate debate, which is very informative and provides some information on the candidates views of transportation issues facing Arlington.

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Arl County Board Member Jay Fisette responded that the contractors are not suppose to be working prior to 9:30 am.

Jay is on FB if you want to send him a direct message about this situation.

When I biked by the work site at 3 pm yesterday, the work crew was in their trucks leaving, proving that there was absolutely no reason for them to be working and shutting down the bike path during rush hour. They could have started later and ended still outside of rush hour.

The problem with the signs and detours is that it places the cyclists on routes that are not designed for high volume cycling traffic, creating a danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars.

On the whole, this shows that Arlington County is not even paying attention to what is going on.

Please email the trails address and the county board.

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Most totally awesome!

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MASSIVE problem this morning. I biked through at probably 8:15 am. Okay, its rush hour. There is absolutely no reason this work should start before 9:00 am. We dont allow this type of work on a highway during rush hour – but somehow we allow it on a bike artery.

I bike down Lee Hwy, Swing in to Lyon Village, and then join up on the Custis Trail from the parking lot. From that angel, NO SIGNS. There were signs on the Custis Trail coming in, but I wasnt on the custis trail yet. When I completed the detour, where the Custis rejoins Lee Hwy over 66 – no signs.

So the detour put us on the north side of Lee Hwy on the side walk. That’s where the signs pointed to. There were 15 of us probably. With pedestrians. And a dangerous sidewalk, we were spilling out all over the place. WAY DANGEROUS.

There is no reason for this work to start before 9:00 am during the rush hour. None. It creates a dangerous situation. The detour cannot handle rush hour levels of cycle traffic.

While I appreciate the work of Bike Arlington, I encourage people to contact Arlington about this directly. trails@arlingtonva.us And while you are at it copy countyboard@arlingtonva.us

If Arlington cant sort this out, perhaps we should let the League of American Bicyclists know about this in the context of reviewing Arlington’s Bike Friendly Community certification

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Arrived at Glen Carlyn at about 5:00 pm, 10 miles along the W&OD. Started the trail was clear and end with a good white blanket on the asphalt. Had to take off my helmet and put on my baseball cap to keep the snow out of my eyes. There was only one other set of bike tracks in the snow at that time and the trail had become covered. I was good and warm, but soaked. The hill getting out of Glen Carlyn was very slick. When I got off my bike I noticed that the headlights were caked with snow!

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Fun ride! Better HOT shower!

ADDENDUM: Wet snow appears to have shorted out the christmas lights! Bummer.

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It’s very good. And its a message I repeat like a mantra…. be predictable. Even if you do something stupid, stay predictable (if you miss a turn, just miss it… go around the block and do it again – NO Crazy Ivans).

So I will say it again, its good.

But of course my snark would be, what’s missing? Even the slightest hint of enforcement. Dont see a police officer anywhere in the image (of course it could be “where’s waldo” hiding somewhere).

As much as you “encourage” people to “drive nice” – we now have an overloaded traffic infrastructure, with ppl stuck in unacceptable commute times (even of their own doing), and aggressive and irresponsible driving is now the norm. It is not a question at any major intersection of whether a car will run the red light, but how many. I saw a taxi driving the wrong way down a one way street in front of an Arlington school the other day. I mean, it has gotten to the point of being just silly.

As much as it makes Blackwell cry , I ride on the sidewalk because I want to be as far away from cars as I possibly can.

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Just give me traction (no ice and snow covering the paths) and not crazy winds (like yesterday that make your entire ride as if uphill). Cold. What cold?

Used to jog cross country in the middle of winter in the middle of Ohio. By the end of the run ice would be crusted over the beard keeping me nice and warm. Beards good. Highly recommended.

And a skull cap under your helmet. Amazing how hot those things can be.

Drove down to Alexandria Sunday. Remember Sunday? Almost 50 degrees. Looked over on the MV trail and there were newbies — did I say 50 degrees??? — in long tights and full jackets! :rolleyes:

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Was just up in NYC. Was stunned by how many delivery people (like Chinese take out) were on electric bikes!

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I’m not sure why my race and ethnicity is important when making a report.

(speaking as someone who deals with internet privacy law) It’s not relevant. Dont answer it. If the form requires that your put something in the field, lie. The students of the local high schools have gotten this clue, and the demographic data for Arlington HSs have some surprising results.

Arlington can be difficult to interface with. I am attempting to get out of ArlCo how you report illegal signs… like those sandwich board signs that block sidewalks. There are new rules…. but you cant find out what the rules are and you cant find out where to report illegal signs.

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Last time a rode responsibly, I got hit by a car at memorial circle.

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they yell a lot, huh?

Yeah, I think their all caps key is stuck

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Arlco says

I EXAMINED THE AREA AND SUCCEEDED IN CLEARING THE DRAIN. IT WAS INDEED FILLED WITH COMPRESSED LEAVES, SMALL TWIGS AND SEDIMENT. THE EXIT PORT APPEARS TO BE A 4″ PIPE THAT CAN CLOG RELATIVELY QUICKLY WITH DEBRIS. I WILL BE SURE TO MAKE OUT TRAIL CREW AWARE OF THE TENDENCY SO THAT THEY MIGHT KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

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Just giving appreciation to the thread. Have been bad about this – gonna start with the holiday break.

And yes, the lawn is a good place to do car and bike work.

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BTW ArlCo is apparently sending out a crew to examine the drain that causes the flooding at this point on the trail, Custis near Cleveland St.

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