Bike Committee Background

[Bruce Dwyer]

I put this together in a hurry for P&R staff for background for new City
Council. Too late to get you input for that, but if you have any additions
or comments, please forward them to me and I will update this for general
use for the Web page
Thanks

Alexandria Bike Committee Background

? Bicycle Study Committee for the Park & Recreation Commission
? Made up of citizen volunteers advising the Park & Rec. Dept and TES.

? Established in 1992 for the purpose of developing a Bike Plan for the
city.
? City Council adopted Bicycle Transportation and Multi-use Trail Master
Plan into the City’s Master Transportation Plan in June 1998.  The
committee, no consultants, did plan. A bargain for the city.
? Plan contains:
?  a route system (85 miles- 69 on streets and 16 on trails), as shown on a
new city map that has been very popular
? 21 proposed construction projects of which 8 would be funded with highway
projects and 4 by developers
? Design principles and criteria, the most important of which:
? Bicycles can be an important part of the transportation solution, less
congestion, cleaner air, healthier population, less frustration
? Safety-safety-safety (Plan includes a project to improve Slater’s/GW
intersection where a cyclist lost his life last year)
? Minimize cost to the taxpayer
? Direct and fast route for commuters
? Respect multi-use trail users
? Practical ways around town
? Links in a regional network

Current hot projects
? Eisenhower Valley Greenway request for Federal TEA-21 funds
? Jamison connector
? West end Chambliss weir across Holmes Run at Fairfax County line
? Working with TES to improve on-street accommodation, i.e. making signal
trips sensitive to bicycles, marked bike lanes
? Members on Wilson Bridge Stakeholder panels that have gotten bike and
pedestrian accommodation approved  in the designs of Telegraph Rd and Rt. 1
interchanges
? Worked with Potomac Yard developers on bike and pedestrian accommodation
designs

? Other committee activities
? Prepared helmet safety brochure with police department for distribution to
school kids when mandatory 14 and under helmet ordinance passed
? Deliver bike safety talks in private in public school class rooms
? Lead bike rides promoting Alexandria
? Worked with Archeology staff to designate the Heritage Trail as a national
Millennium Community Trail
? Worked with VDOT and city staff to get about 150 bike rack installed at no
cost to the city
? Work with TES to promote Bike to Work Day
? Work with COG, Arlington and Fairfax County, Prince George’s County on
regional bike projects

? Most immediate needs for the future:
? Continued improvement in review of road and development project to assure
bicycle and pedestrian accommodation
? Implementation of projects funded with new city budget and hoped for
Federal funds
? Expand committee role (or add another committee) to  provide more focus
and attention on pedestrian accommodation

? Alexandria is a small town; most of  which has a wonderful street network
well suited for bicycles and pedestrians.  We need to provide linkages where
they don’t exist and provide paths and trails where people are safe from
road traffic where it is bad.  This will encourage our citizens to get out
of their cars to walk and bike more in getting around town.


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