bicycling | ARLnow.com

County Unveils Dockless Vehicle Pilot Program, Plans to Cap Number of Scooters and Bikes in Arlington

Published September 20, 2018 at 10:45AM | Updated September 20, 2018 at 12:27PM

(Updated at 12:25 p.m.) Arlington is rolling out its promised pilot program to guide the use of dockless vehicles, clearing the way for more companies to offer electric scooters and bikes in the county.

County officials have been mulling how best to regulate dockless vehicles since Bird started offering its scooters in Arlington this June without any warning to the local government. Now, the County Board is set to approve a program requiring companies to register with the county to avoid similar surprises, while also capping the number of vehicles they can deploy in Arlington.

News

Arlington Boulevard Trail Changes in Lyon Park Spark Hope for Cycling Advocates

By Alex Koma

Published September 13, 2018 at 9:45AM

The site of some proposed changes to the Arlington Boulevard Trail in Lyon Park (via Google Maps)

Arlington County is working on some modest improvements to the Arlington Boulevard Trail in Lyon Park, renewing hopes among cycling advocates that the trail will someday provide a fully contiguous alternative to Route 50.

The county is currently planning a series of changes on the trail as it runs near Arlington Boulevard’s intersection with N. Pershing Drive, near the Day’s Inn hotel in the area. Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services says it hopes to complete the following alterations sometime this fall:

Around Town

Video: Alexander Ovechkin Biking On the W&OD Trail

By ARLnow.com

Published September 10, 2018 at 2:45PM

If you happen to have been biking down the W&OD Trail a couple of days ago and saw someone who kind of looked like Stanley Cup champ Alexander Ovechkin — it probably was.

The Washington Capitals captain and one-time Arlington resident can be seen biking the trail in a video posted to social media recently.

Around Town

Phoenix Bikes Moves into New Home on Columbia Pike

By Vernon Miles

Published September 5, 2018 at 2:45PM | Updated September 6, 2018 at 4:35PM

Phoenix Bikes on Columbia Pike with Executive Director Meg Rapelye (right)

(Updated at 5:10 p.m.) Phoenix Bikes, a local nonprofit and community bike shop, has officially moved. The shop started moving yesterday from its Four Mile Run location into a new home inside the Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S Dinwiddie St).

Meg Rapelye, executive director of Phoenix Bikes, said the shop is planning to open next week. The exact date is still pending an approval of a certificate of occupancy, but an official ribbon cutting is planned for next Wednesday (Sept. 12).

Schools

Commuter Incentives Suspended for APS Employees

By Vernon Miles

Published September 5, 2018 at 9:45AM | Updated September 5, 2018 at 10:03AM

(Updated at 10 a.m.) Arlington Public Schools is indefinitely suspending its incentive program to push employees out of their cars, after the effort proved to be a bit too successful — and expensive.

The school system’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Commuter Program provides stipends to employees for turning to public transit, walking, bicycling, carpooling and other options to limit the number of cars going to and from schools.

News

New Protected Bike Lane Opens Connecting Rosslyn and Courthouse

By Alex Koma

Published August 27, 2018 at 1:45PM

Arlington’s opened up another protected bike lane, this time connecting Rosslyn and Courthouse.

This newest lane runs along Wilson Blvd, between N. Quinn Street and N. Courthouse Road near the post office in the area. The county previously built a protected lane between N. Oak and N. Quinn Streets back in 2016.

Events

Kennan Garvey Memorial Bike Ride Rolls Along This Saturday

By Vernon Miles

Published August 24, 2018 at 3:45PM

The fifth annual Kennan Garvey Memorial Ride is planned for this Saturday (Aug. 25). The bicycle ride along the Washington and Old Dominion Trail will raise money to help Phoenix Bikes afford a new van to help transport students and day to day operations.

Rides range from 15 miles to the full length of the trail. Every 15 miles, volunteers greet riders with water, snacks, maintenance and high fives.

News

Cycling Advocates Fear Impacts of Planned Arlington National Cemetery Expansion

By Alex Koma

Published August 22, 2018 at 1:45PM

Plans for the realignment of Columbia Pike associated with the expansion of Arlington National Cemetery (via the Army Corps of Engineers)

Bicycling advocates are blasting newly revealed plans to simultaneously expand Arlington National Cemetery and realign Columbia Pike, arguing that the proposed changes could make cycling along the roadway more dangerous.

The advocacy group “Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County” claims the cemetery’s current expansion plans, designed to someday add 70 acres to the burial ground, “will squander a major opportunity to improve the bike connection between Columbia Pike and Pentagon City and arguably make cycling less pleasant and less safe.”

Events

County Plans ‘Disaster Relief Trials’ to Test Cyclists

By Vernon Miles

Published August 21, 2018 at 2:45PM

Disaster Relief Trials

When disaster strikes, roads are often one of the first necessities hit. Gridlock or damage to streets can make them impassible for cars.

And on Sept. 29, the county will host “Disaster Relief Trials” to simulate just such an emergency in Arlington. Participants will need to climb onto their bikes and travel across the county carrying food, water, medical supplies and messages to those in need. To do so, they will need to navigate without a GPS and traverse simulated dangerous terrain.

News

Bike Advocates Craft New Map of DC Region’s Cycling Trails to Promote Holistic Thinking

By Alex Koma

Published August 13, 2018 at 4:45PM

A coalition of bicycling and transit advocates has drawn up a new map of the entire D.C. region’s bike trails, in a bid to promote a more holistic view of the area’s biking options.

The Capital Trails Coalition released the “diagrammatic map” today (Monday), displaying not only the 436 miles of existing trails across the region but also another 302 miles of planned paths that will someday create even more connectivity for cyclists.

Around Town

Lubber Run Park Bridge Closes Temporarily

By Alex Koma

Published August 7, 2018 at 4:45PM

A closed pedestrian bridge in Lubber Run Park (courtesy of J. Michael Korff)

A bridge for walkers and cyclists in Lubber Run Park is now closed, at least temporarily.

An alert on the county’s website says the bridge, closest to N. George Mason Drive as a trail runs over Lubber Run itself, will be closed “until further notice.”

Events

County Holding ‘Our Shared Street’ Block Party to Educate Commuters

By Alex Koma

Published August 6, 2018 at 4:45PM | Updated September 20, 2018 at 11:22AM

Commuters looking to learn more about local transportation options can swing by a block party along Columbia Pike tomorrow night (Tuesday).

Arlington Transportation Partners is hosting its second “Our Shared Street Pop-Up” event on a closed street at the intersection of S. Oakland Street and Columbia Pike, just across from the Oakland Apartments.