Fw: Holmes Run Bridge

[Bruce Dwyer]

FYI
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Dwyer" <ouibike at worldnet.att.net>
To: "lonnie rich" <lonnierich at aol.com>; "lois walker" <lowalker at aol.com>;
"kerry donley" <mayoralx at aol.com>; "del pepper" <delpepper at aol.com>; "david
speck" <dspeck at aol.com>; "bill cleveland" <billclev at home.com>; "bill euille"
<wmeuille at wdeuille.com>
Cc: "phil sunderland" <phil.sunderland at ci.alexandria.va.us>; "sandra
whitmore" <sandra.whitmore at ci.alexandria.va.us>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2000 6:33 PM
Subject: Holmes Run Bridge


> Dear Mayor and City Council members,
>
> I am writing you on behalf of the Alexandria Bicycle Committee in support
of
> the current placement of the Holmes Run Bridge.
>
> The first thing we want you to know  is that the bicyclists and walkers in
> the City think that the bridge is a wonderful addition to our
> Greenway network so that we can get around our city safely without having
to
> resort to using an automobile.  This bridge supports non-motorized
> transportation and all
> the benefits that brings with reduced traffic congestion and cleaner air.
> The bridge is an important link for cyclists
> and walkers, especially those in the west end neighborhoods and our new
> neighbors in Cameron Station.
> One of the bike committee members lives in Cameron Station and he and his
> neighbors were very excited when the bridge was put in and they are
anxious
> to begin using it. It will also be an important link to our new
destination
> park in Cameron
> Station by encouraging people to go there by bike, rollerblade, or
> foot.
>
>  At our monthly meeting last night we reviewed the original plan and
current
> placement of the bridge with
> Sandra Whitmore.  From a bicycling point of view, we are satisfied with
the
> current placement.  We also believe that the extension of the ramp off the
> bridge to the proposed realigned path next to the street is a safer
design.
> It will improve visibility and stopping distances that would have been
less
> desirable if the path were aligned directly at the end of the bridge.
> However, we do have  a
> concern that the path along the street be of sufficient width to avoid
> conflicts between bicycles and opening passenger side car doors. The
> conditions for separation between shared use paths and roadways described
in
> the Guidelines issued by the American Association of State Highway and
> Transportation Officials (AASHTO) do nor really apply here because Holmes
> Run Parkway is a very quiet residential street.  Because of the increased
> potential for conflict between cyclists, runners, walkers rollerbladers,
> playing kids, and people exiting cars in a narrow area, we would recommend
> the path have a width of  12-14 feet.  AASHTO guidelines call for a
minimum
> width of 10 feet but recommend 12 or 14 feet when conditions warrant.  We
> understand, and strongly support,  that the bridge and other bicycle
related
> design will follow the AASHTO guidelines to the maximum extent
practicable.
>
> Thank you for the time and effort you all have put in to give the bridge
> issue a fair hearing in the community.
>
> Bruce Dwyer
> Chair
> Alexandria Bicycle Committee
>
> cc
> Sandra Whitmore
> Phil Sunderland
>
>