bicycling

Big Bike Changes Planned for Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Changes could be coming to Army Navy Drive that will make the intersection-laden and car-clogged stretch of road a lot friendlier to bicyclists.

This weekend, the county board is expected to accept $210,000 in federal grant money to help plan a bike route on the busy Pentagon City thoroughfare. The funds will also help plan a bike route on South Joyce Street that will connect Army Navy Drive, Columbia Pike and an existing pedestrian path.

Both routes are marked in yellow on the maps above.

County engineers currently envision a two-way bike lane on Army Navy Drive, made possible by narrowing the road’s comfortably wide lanes and shifting the median. South Joyce Street will likely only get a single bike lane, since its configuration is set by huge concrete structures that hold up the highways that run over it.

The grant-funded preliminary engineering phase is expected to last 8-9 months, according to Transportation Planning Bureau Chief Thomas Bruccoleri.

So far, no money has been made available for construction. Bruccoleri says the funds would most likely be allocated in the FY 2013 budget, meaning that the bike paths are at least a few years away.

(more…)

Safety Tip: Don’t Load Your Bike Onto a Moving Bus

By ARLnow.com

A safety tip for those who take their bike with them on public transit: don’t try to put your bike on a bus as it’s moving.

That’s apparently what happened Friday afternoon on Columbia Pike.

Police originally received a call for a man lying injured in the roadway near the Pike and South Oakland Street. A bike was also lying nearby. It was then reported that a Metrobus, which was no longer on scene, might have been involved.

Metro investigated the incident using surveillance video from the bus. From spokesperson Ron Holzer:

After an investigation, which included examination of video from the Metrobus camera system, it was determined that the bus never made contact with the pedestrian, who put himself in harm’s way by attempting to load his bicycle onto the moving bus.

The bike appears to be damaged in the photos, but a police source told us that was the same condition the bike was in before the accident.

The man was treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital.

Bicyclist Struck on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

A bicyclist was struck by a car on Columbia Pike near the intersection with South Jefferson Street around 11:30 this morning.

The cyclist, who was reportedly alert and conscious after the accident, is being transported to a local hospital.

The fire department temporarily shut down the westbound lanes of Columbia Pike while treating the victim.

No word on the extent of the cyclist’s injuries or whether charges will be filed against the driver.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

The Multi-Million Dollar Irish Pub — Samuel Beckett’s Irish Pub, expected to open in Shirlington at the end of November, is quite the ambitious undertaking. Owner Mark Kirwan is sinking $2.2 million into the project, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Another Road Gets Sharrows — The county added some bike-friendly sharrows to 15th Street North between North Courthouse Road and North Rhodes Street over the weekend. The sharrows remind drivers to share the road with bicyclists. More from Ode Street Tribune.

New Marymount Dorm Opens — Dozens of Marymount University students are moving out of the Ballston Holiday Inn and into the newly-completed Rose Bente Lee Ostapenko Residence Hall. The building, part of the university’s 26th Street Project, can house up to 239 students. More from the Sun Gazette.

Flickr pool photo by Micha84

Weekend Event Roundup

By ARLnow.com

If you’re staying in town for Columbus Day weekend, consider yourself lucky. The forecast calls for perfect warm and sunny weather, and there’s plenty of events around town to keep one busy.

Tonight, we already told you about the Capitals Rock the Red Season Opening Party at The Front Page in Ballston.

Tomorrow, you already know about the Burst @ Artisphere event, presented by Pink Line Project and Brightest Young Things.

You may not know about the Arlington History Bike Tour, a “leisurely” 23-mile ride past some of the notable historic points in Arlington.

Two notable events taking place just outside Arlington on Saturday may be of interest. Rustico in Alexandria will be holding its annual Oktobeerfest from noon to 6:00 p.m. — which may of interest to Ballston residents who are waiting with bated breath for Rustico Ballston to open (as soon as Oct. 25, we’re told).

On Saturday night, the Friends of the David M. Brown Planetarium will be holding a benefit concert at the State Theater in Falls Church. Cobra Collective will headline the show.

Finally, on Sunday, Artisphere will hold its grand opening. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by a free open house featuring music performances and art installations. An open house will also be held on Monday.

Happy Columbus Day!

Saying ‘Thank You’ for Being a Bike Commuter

By ARLnow.com

A mother and daughter are planning to wake up early tomorrow morning to prepare a special treat for local bike commuters. They’re calling it “Yay for Bike Riders Day.”

The plan was hatched by a second grader who told her mom that she wanted to “say thank you to all the nice bike riders she sees every morning on her walk to school.”

From the BikeArlington forums:

We’ll be at the little covered picnic table at the intersection of the Custis and W&OD trails serving juice, muffins, breakfast bars and coffee if I can figure out a place to borrow a presspot from. The purpose is to simply thank all the cyclists who ride the trails each day that we pass on our way to school. If you have a free moment please stop and have some refreshments, or at least say hello – it will make my daughter’s day.

The pair plans to be out on the trail from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Another Reminder for Drivers and Cyclists To Be Careful Around One Another

By ARLnow.com

Around 5:30 last night, a cyclist was apparently struck by a vehicle on Clarendon Boulevard in Courthouse, near the new Fire Works Pizza. Bystanders described the accident as minor, but seeing the man loaded into an ambulance was yet another reminder of the dangers bicyclists and pedestrians face on local roads.

In Virginia, 84 people died and more than 2,000 people were injured while walking or biking on roadways last year.

To help reduce risky driver and bicyclist behavior, the state is holding its second annual Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Week, starting on Sunday.

“Lack of knowledge and risky behaviors often leads to crashes between roadway users,” the Arlington Police Department said in a statement announcing its participation in the week-long safety campaign. “Taking time to learn the laws and safety tips can save a life, especially with area schools starting back up and many students walking, cycling and driving on the roadways.”

Drive Smart Virginia has more information on traffic safety laws.

Arlington’s First Capital Bikeshare Station Being Installed

By ARLnow.com

Arlington’s first Capital Bikeshare station is scheduled to be installed this morning in Crystal City. The station will be installed at 27th Street and Crystal Drive, with another station set to be installed at 18th and Bell Streets immediately afterward.

The Capital Bikeshare system will feature 1,100 specially-designed bikes that visitors or commuters can rent. Mechanics have started assembling the bikes in a local warehouse.

“History in the making,” said Crystal City Business Improvement District President Angela Fox on today’s installation.

Photo via CommuterPage blog.

More Nightly Custis Trail Closures

By ARLnow.com

Last week’s nightly closures of the Custis Trail under I-66 have been extended through Wednesday. Construction is still taking place on a framework, intended to protect bicyclists from work related to the I-66 widening project.

The closures will take place between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Any trail traffic during that time will be detoured. The detoured route will be marked and will take cyclists and joggers farther east to a pedestrian overpass.

The closures are expected to wrap up Wednesday night.

Examiner Details Jay Fisette’s Eating, Biking Habits

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette was interviewed recently for the Washington Examiner’s My Washington series. The 54-year-old Ashton Heights resident discussed his favorite places to eat, bike and vacation.

The interview, published on Sunday, revealed that Fisette is really, really into cycling, as transportation, recreation, and as spectator sport. It also revealed that Fisette is burning the candle at both ends at Clarendon’s Silver Diner — he goes there for late night food and for morning breakfast meetings.

When he’s not biking to work or presiding over an eight-hour-long county board meeting, Jay Fisette can also be found at Whitlow’s on Wilson. “Whitlows serves a great meal,” he said.

More from the Washington Examiner.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Fair Starts Today — The Arlington County Fair will get off to a soggy start today. The gates will open from 5:00 to 10:00 tonight for outdoor activities. The indoor festivities (vendors and such) will get underway tomorrow night.

Hillside Park Still A Work in Progress — TBD takes a look at Rosslyn’s Hillside Park, which is being revamped courtesy of a local developer. The work is behind schedule, but is expected to be completed in the fall.

Conte’s Group Rides Still Attracting Crowds — With only a couple of police-escorted group bike rides to go for the year, more than 100 cyclists gathered in Ballston last night for the weekly Conte’s-sponsored event. More from the Ode Street Tribune.

Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA

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