VBF's Remarks to Arlington's Legislators

[Allen J. Muchnick]

Note: A similar hearing for the Alexandria legislative delegation will be
held Thursday, January 8, 7:45 PM in the Alexandria City Council Chambers.
 Delegates Ebbin and VanLandingham and Senator Ticer attended the
Arlington hearing, but VanLandingham and Ticer had to leave to attend
another event before it was my turn to speak (but I handed them my written
remarks as they left).

Allen Muchnick

====================

PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE ARLINGTON COUNTY DELEGATION
FOR THE 2004 SESSION OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ARLINGTON COUNTY BOARD ROOM
JANUARY 5, 2004
REMARKS OF ALLEN J. MUCHNICK, PRESIDENT
VIRGINIA BICYCLING FEDERATION

Good evening, legislators.  I'm Allen Muchnick, president of the Virginia
Bicycling Federation, and a Legislative Contact Team volunteer with the
Virginia Conservation Network and the Virginia League of Conservation
Voters.

We deeply appreciate the strong and long-term support of Arlington's
legislators for better bicycling and walking conditions, including the
effective work of former Delegates Almand, Darner, and Connally.  Even
when not passed, several bicycle-related bills that Senator Whipple
patroned in 2002 and 2003 produced the reforms intended, including recent
VDOT policies that allow standalone pedestrian and bicycling improvements
with highway construction funds and that dedicate 10% of Virginia's Hazard
Elimination Safety program to pedestrian or bicycle safety spot
improvements.  

In April, Transportation Secretary Clement issued a landmark directive to
VDOT to reform its bicycle and pedestrian policies and procedures so
"non-motorized transportation should receive the same consideration as
motorized transportation in the planning, design, construction, and
operation of Virginia's transportation network."   On December 23, VDOT
posted its draft of a new bicycle and pedestrian policy on its website
<http://www.virginiadot.org/infoservice/bk-policyinfo.asp> that partly
meets Secretary Clement's directives and the objectives of the Virginia
Bicycling Federation, but is silent on at least three needs: to establish
1) regional bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees for each VDOT
construction district, 2) objective criteria and a public input process
for prohibiting bicycling on controlled-access highways, and 3) more
dedicated state funding for standalone pedestrian and bicycling projects. 
In addition, any VDOT recommendations for legislative changes to help
implement the new policy, such as funding to adequately maintain
pedestrian and bicycle facilities, have been deferred.  The new draft
policy, which we basically support, is out for public comment through
January and is scheduled for adoption by the Commonwealth Transportation
Board on March 18. 

I'm presently aware of two bicycle-related bills that may be introduced
for the 2004 session.  Senator Deeds has had a bill drafted for seven
reforms to Virginia's bicycling laws that were not enacted during the 2003
session, and Delegate Watts will patron a bill for a special license plate
with a "Share the Road" with bicycles theme.  We ask that you co-patron
these bills and consider sponsoring a resolution or other legislation
covering some or all of the issues not addressed by the draft VDOT bicycle
and pedestrian policy, particularly the need for VDOT to establish
effective bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees, both at the regional
and state levels. 

Thank you for your consideration, and I wish you a productive legislative
session.