DC SAFETY PROGRAMS GET A BOOST FROM FEDERAL FUNDS
 WABA’s Safety Education Program in DC has been given a boost this year in the form of Safe Routes to School (SAFETEA-LU). Funding for a new staff position and a van has come from the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, which is making use of funds recently provided in the Federal Transportation Bill. DDOT’s increased support of WABA’s DC safety programs has accelerated our expansion throughout the city. By the end of FFY’06, WABA will have increased over 50 percent from ’05 to more than 3,000 kids served this year.
Thanks to a new partnership agreement with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, the summer schedule for Kids’ Rodeos has been expanded, along with the number of schools that are being taught the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education lessons in Spring and Fall.
The Confident City Cycling classes for adults are enjoying a similar boost. For the first time, this year’s schedule includes a class in almost every ward of the city. These are being offered in Department of Parks and Recreation Centers with good access to bike trails and transit, so that weekend cyclists who are ready to begin using their bikes to get where they need to go can attend the classes car-free. As the city begins to address climate change and other auto-related woes, these classes are providing encouragement and important skills.
The MD expansion marked an important milestone in May with the new Program Trailer in the City of Baltimore. Teachers trained by WABA last winter have eagerly scheduled it for the remaining weeks of school, with over 500 children being served this Spring alone. 2006 seems to be a year when rising gas prices, increasing awareness of climactic and local environmental degradation, and population congestion caused by a strong local economy have all come together to bring more attention to cycling than ever before. Enrollment in Confident City Cycling classes has dramatically increased as area residents look to WABA to provide the tools they need to address these issues.
See our calendar on www.waba.org for updates in these schedules.
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WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE IS BICYLCE & PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
This summer, the outer span of the new Wilson Bridge will open for vehicular traffic. “So what?” you say, this is just another expensive project for cars. Yes, it is, but the project is also building significant bicycle and pedestrian facilities that will dramatically improve our non-motorized transportation options. Ride down that way and you can see the construction of many of the new facilities in progress, all of which are being built consistent with current bicycle and pedestrian facilities’ guidelines and standards with widths of 10 to 12 feet. Please visit our website at www.waba.org for a complete description of what we are going to get and when.
The highlight of the project will be the Virginia - Maryland connection with a 12 foot wide, 1.1 mile path dedicated to non-motorized transportation on an interstate highway. This new connection crossing the Potomac River between southern Maryland (and the new National Harbor complex) and Fairfax County and Alexandria will open up a multitude of recreation and commuting possibilities. The path will be on the northern side of the inner loop of the bridge with bump outs to enjoy the views up the river to the Washington skyline and Old Town Alexandria.
In a few short years, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other forms of non-motorized transportation will have a whole new network of ways to get over, around, and through what used to be an imposing barrier of highways (and a river). Over many years, bicycle activists took the lead in pushing for bicycle and pedestrian accommodation in this massive roads project beginning with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association in the early 1990’s when the Environmental Impact Statement for the bridge was under deliberation. Local groups like the Alexandria Bicycle Committee and the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club played significant roles with participation on Stakeholder Panels dealing with design considerations at both ends of the bridge and adjoining interchanges. The Wilson Bridge Project Office also played a pivotal role in soliciting citizen participation and listening to close-by communities most impacted by the project.
Yet there is unfinished business. We need the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the City of Alexandria, and Fairfax County to focus making these wonderful new facilities whole.
VDOT and Alexandria need to agree on a way to continue public access to the river along the temporary Mount Vernon Trail; just like the entire waterfront of Old Alexandria is accessible to the public.
VDOT and Alexandria need to integrate bicycles and pedestrians into the new East Eisenhower development at the Telegraph ramp and extend bicycle and pedestrian access to Duke Street in the Telegraph Road corridor.
Fairfax County and VDOT need to work with the Route 1, Huntington, and Telegraph Road communities to improve safe access to these new facilities crossing the beltway.
Contact WABA at www.waba.org if you want to get more involved in helping with this unfinished business.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Mayoral Town Hall | June 29 | 6 pm-9 pm
WABA Members Get Lucky during the Tour de France at Lucky Bar DC!
1221 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 | $2 Bud/Bud Light w/ membership card
Ever missed the Tour de France because you didn’t have the cable to view it? Come hang out with other WABA members, WABA staff and the WABA board at Lucky Bar during the month of July.
Washington City Paper Singles Ride and Bike-In Movie | August 5th
Meet fascinating singles on our yearly City Paper Singles Ride. Get a date on the ride, bring your own, or bring your family to our bike-in movie! Stay tuned to waba.org for more information.
City Bikes RFK Criterium | August 6th
Presented by Hub Racing (hubracing.com)
This is Washington DC’s only professional bike race. This annual event races around RFK Stadium’s old gran prix course. Come watch the exciting, fast pace racing or participate yourself! Along with Categories 1-5 racing, WABA is sponsoring an open course fun ride at 1:30pm and will be grilling up food for all the racers.
50 States Ride | August 26
This annual ride covers all 50 state streets in the city in search of the District of Columbia’s statehood. The 60+ mile city tour is for cyclists experienced and comfortable with riding through city streets with traffic. This ride will also feature a shorter 13 colonies tour.
Booth’s Escape | October 21
Step back into time to retrace the route of John Wilkes Booth daring escape after his assassination of President Lincoln…by bicycle!
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2006 BIKE TO WORK DAY BREAKS RECORDS
After a cold downpour at Bike to Work Day 2005, all eyes were on the weather radar for this year’s event. Throughout the week, sudden rain showers were the norm, but the skies cleared just in time for a record number of registered participants to bike to work.
This year’s festivities, held on May 19th, featured 21 Pit Stops throughout the region, 21 unique Commuter Convoys to aid new bike commuters and a record high 6,200 registered participants. Whether the increase was due to high gas prices, frustration over traffic congestion, health concerns or some combination thereof is unclear, but whatever the reason, may the numbers continue to rise!
The largest and most central Pit Stop at Freedom Plaza in downtown DC, swelled to around 1,500 that sunny Friday morning. Commuters were treated to bagels and fruit along with coffee and tea courtesy of Caribou and Honest Tea. City Bikes was on hand to give away several bikes and raffle off lots of other prizes.
This year’s stage was packed with speakers espousing the benefits of commuting by bicycle. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) spoke on the Bicycle Commuter Act introduced in the Senate; DC Councilwoman Linda Cropp and Marie Johns, both mayoral candidates, spoke on their commitment to improving cycling facilities—including finishing the Met Branch Trail—in DC if elected. We were honored to have Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists, Jay Fisette of Metro Washington Area Council of Governments, Michelle Pourciau of DC Dept. of Transportation and Dan Tangherlini of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Last but certainly not least, the world famous Tune-Ups serenaded the crowd with a medley of bike inspired songs that all attendees were left humming throughout the day.
(Below: bike to work participants gather on Freedom Plaza.)
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FAIRFAX COUNTY TO BE BICYCLE FRIENDLY
In May, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved funding for several key elements of a comprehensive bicycle initiative. Over the past year WABA and Fairfax bicycle advocates campaigned for a full-time bicycle coordinator position and a county-wide bicycle map. The effort gained momentum when BOS Chairman Gerry Connolly proposed a comprehensive bicycle initiative to be funded in the 2007 fiscal year budget.
Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, a grassroots initiative affiliated with WABA, led an advocacy effort supporting Chairman Connolly’s initiative. Scores of bicyclists contacted their district supervisors and stressed the urgency of creating a better bike network, including on-road routes.
“We met with several Fairfax County supervisors and staff to request that they make bicycling a more integral part of the county’s transportation planning,” observed the leader of FABB, Bruce Wright. “The first step is having someone within the county department of transportation focused solely on bicycling issues.”
The supervisors approved over $460,000 in bicycle investments, including $375,000 for creating a bicycle map and prioritizing needed bicycle improvements. The county will soon begin its search to fill the bicycle coordinator position. “We’re starting to put together the pieces we need to look at bicycling as a whole,” remarked Chairman Connolly.
While the funding is critical, it is only half the battle. FABB will be monitoring the county’s implementation of these programs, and we need more Fairfax bicyclists to help keep up the pressure to make better bicycling a reality. The first thing you can do is thank your district supervisor for putting bicycling in the budget. For more information about participating in our Fairfax advocacy efforts, visit www.fabb-bikes.org or e-mail fabb@waba.org.
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WABA MEMBER STARTS DC BICYCLING BLOG
Washcycle.typepad.com is the latest product of WABA’s talented membership. Following in the footsteps of the Spin Zone, the DC bicycling radio show, WABA member “Washcycle” has taken the initiative to start his own DC bicycling blog. WABA is excited to take on a new role as the official sponsor for this blog.
WABA recently caught up with this elusive blogger, and were able to get to know this cyclist better.
WABA: Why do you ride a bike?
Washcycle: The main reason is the efficiency. I wish it were sexier than that, but it’s not. So often it’s just the fastest, cheapest way to get around and it’s a way to work some exercise into a busy day. The other reason is that it’s a great way to explore. Biking goes at just the right speed - fast enough to cover some space, but slow enough to take things in. It’s easy to pull over when something interests me and you can go places a car can’t.
WABA: What do you think about the riding conditions in DC?
 Washcycle: Despite my occasional complaining, DC and the surrounding areas are great places to bike. The majority of streets are safe and most of the city is on a grid - which is perfect for getting around by bike. In the Capital Crescent and W&OD trails we have two of the nation’s premiere bike trails and the weather is nicer than we give it credit for. Plus, I really think things are improving rapidly. We’re not the national benchmark yet, but we’re making progress.
WABA: What could be better?
Washcycle: Top of my list is removing the rush hour restriction for bikes on Metro. You can take a bike on a New York City subway at any time, so really there’s no good excuse for the rule. But we also need more parking; more showers; fewer barricades to cycling (like E St. South of the White House, the National Arboretum, Fort Myer, etc...); and we need to finish the Met Branch Trail.
WABA: What do you do (professionally)?
Washcycle: I’m an aerospace engineer for NASA.
WABA: What motivated you to start the blog?
Washcycle: There were so many times that I wanted to know what was going on with a project but I had to dig into some obscure government document to find out. I wanted one site that covered cycling issues and so this was my attempt to make the site I wanted. Because I knew there were people out there smarter and more “in the know” than me, I made it a blog so that they could comment. I’m always learning from my readers.
WABA: How do you decide what’s “blog-worthy”?
Washcycle: I want to find issues and stories that will affect people who bike in DC. Sometimes that means a story about some other city (only to show that there’s another way) but usually it’s about something in the immediate area.
WABA: Have you had any good or bad interactions with your audience?
Washcycle: All good. There are people who challenge me - which is great, because I’m really just learning. Some blogs I read, like Marginal Revolution, are by experts. I’m not an expert though (at least not about cycling facility design), so I want people to tell me I’m wrong when they think I’m wrong. No hate mail or lawsuits so far but, unfortunately, no groupies either.
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WABA HONORS BIKE SUPPORTERS AT 2006 ANNUAL MEETING
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association held its Annual Membership Meeting this past April 6th. The event, held at the Lyon Village Community House in Arlington, drew out dozens of both new and old members.
The event began with WABA Board President Paul D’Eustachio discussing some of the highlight of the previous year, such as moving to a larger office to accommodate an expanding staff, increasing membership to a record high 7,000, expanding our education efforts and teaching over 4,000 area youth and 200 adults bicycle safety, expanding our events to include the Clean Air Ride and Arlington Community Bike Ride, and continuing our advocacy efforts to fight for a car free Rock Creek Park, completed Metropolitan Branch Trail and stopping bicycle and pedestrian projects from being cut in the Montgomery County Maryland budget.
Featured Speaker Gerald Connolly, Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, spoke about the transportation issues facing Fairfax County. The evening also included a surprise visit by Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer.
Awards were then given out to individuals and organizations whose work improved bicycling in the Washington area in 2005. Award winners include Commander Brownlee of Prince George’s County Park Police for their dedication and commitment to youth bike safety education, Alexa Viets of the National Park Service for her work in creating a bike friendly National Mall and Jon Cardin of the Maryland State House of Delegates.
Two special volunteer awards were also given. The first annual John Malcolm Award was awarded to Bruce Dwyer for his continued support of WABA. The 2005 Bike to Work Day Commuter Convoy Captains were also recognized for braving the torrential rains of Bike to Work Day, and leading riders to Bike to Work Day celebrations and on to work. To reward such commitment, Capitol Hill Bikes and Rainshield donated O2 Rainwear jackets to the Convoy Captains.
Receiving special recognition were Bill Kelly for all his work with the College Park Area Bicycle Coalition and Ellen Jones for her work as former Executive Director of WABA, and more recently serving on WABA’s Board of Directors.
Board of Directors elections also took place. We welcomed new board members Robb Hampton, Randall Myers and Dana Wolfe. Special thanks to outgoing board members Rob Laybourn, Brian Washington and Ellen Jones for their work improving bicycling in the region.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT BICYCLING IN THE REGION? CONTACT YOUR WABA BOARD MEMBERS AT waba@waba.org TODAY!
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Family Fun at the 2nd Annual Arlington Community Bike Ride
The Second Annual Arlington Community Bike Ride on Saturday, May 27th drew out a record 725 participants in this showcase of all Arlington County has to offer area cyclists. The ride featured a 17 mile County tour which explored Arlington County’s system of bike lanes as well as the Custis, W&OD, Mt. Vernon and 4-Mile Run Trails. The shorter and flatter 9 mile Family Loop experienced the car free scenery of the W&OD, Bluemont Junction and 4-Mile Run trail systems.
 The ride started and finished along tree lined 28th Street in the Shirlington area. Participants were treated to the sounds of bluegrass band Orange Line Special at the end of the ride, while choosing between the dozen restaurants on the block for a post ride lunch. Other festivities included raffled bikes courtesy of Spokes and Revolution bike shops, bus-on-bike demonstration, Wildest Bike and Helmet contest and a kinetic bike sculpture/ merry-go-round.
Special thanks to Bike Arlington, WABA’s partner in this event, and to all the volunteers and sponsors who made this exciting event happen.
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BIKE RACKS FOR ADAMS MORGAN
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association, working with Adams Morgan Main Street, the District Department of Transportation and local businesses, recently completed a comprehensive bike parking plan for Adams Morgan that resulted in the installation of 35 new U racks throughout the neighborhood. The racks were formally unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 22nd at the trendy bar/restaurant/coffee shop Tryst on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. Attending the ceremony were Councilmember Jim Graham, who represents the area, DDOT interim director Michelle Pourciau, and Lisa Duperier from Adams Morgan Main Street.
“As a DC resident I’ve always been frustrated at the lack of racks in Adams Morgan,” said Eric Gilliland, WABA’s Executive Director. “This part of DC has both the highest rate of bicycle commuting in the city as well as the lowest rate of car ownership of any East Coast community outside of Manhattan, making it a perfect location for the rack installation. We were very excited when the Main Street group called for assistance.”
WABA worked with a team of local business owners to determine the number and location for the bike racks, while the racks themselves were provided by DDOT. “For the first time, DDOT is able to implement this type of request by Adams Morgan Main Street because of a bulk purchase by DDOT of the black U-shaped bike racks. We hope others will follow Adams Morgan’s lead in taking advantage of these racks,” said Ms. Pourciau.
The success of WABA’s efforts with Adams Morgan business community has led the association to other areas of the city in need of bike parking. Look for more bike racks in Georgetown and the downtown core soon.
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BIKES WIN BIG IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUDGET
We are happy to report that thanks to the efforts of WABA members the latest budget for Montgomery County protects the key bikeways projects that had once been threatened with elimination. You may recall that the original Capital Improvement Plan budget for Montgomery County cut spending on bike routes and trails by close 75% over the next three years. If it had passed unchanged, several key bikeways projects including the Matthew Henson Trail, a bridge over Veirs Mill Road on the Rock Creek Trail, and the Silver Spring Green Trail would have been significantly delayed or even cancelled.
In even better news, area cyclists were able to secure significant new funding for the annual bikeways program that will jump start bike projects throughout the county. Such funding includes $200,000 for the repair and rehabilitation of the Capital Crescent Trail east of the trestle bridge over Rock Creek, repairs long-sought by WABA and the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail. Other new funding includes $145,000 for the repair of the E/W Highway Trail, $360,000 more for planning, design and signage in the annual bikeways program, and $50,000 for bikeway maintenance that could be used to plow the Capital Crescent Trail in the winter.
Overall, Montgomery County’s commitment to the annual bikeways program has more than doubled! WABA urges you to send a note to the Montgomery County Council thanking them for their support of better bicycling in Montgomery County. Emails can be sent to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov. WABA would also like to thank all of you who took the time to write in support of better funding for bikes with special thanks to Montgomery Bicycle Advocates (MoBike) and the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail for all their hard work on the budget.
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METROPOLITAN TRAIL UPDATE
MD: Tell the County Council to Support Option 1 for the Met Branch Trail
In a victory for trail advocates, the Montgomery County Planning Board voted on May 18th to support of WABA’s preferred alignment for the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Silver Spring. This alignment, known as Option 1, includes a bike/ped bridge over Georgia Ave as well as a tunnel beneath East-West Highway. This particular section of the trail will connect an existing part of the trail at Montgomery County College with the future Silver Spring Transit Center where the Met Branch will eventually link with an extension of the Capital Crescent Trail.
Now that the Planning Board has selected their preferred alternative, it will be referred to the Transportation and Environment Committee of the Montgomery County Council for final approval in late June. The biggest concern is over the cost of the tunnel and bridge of the preferred alignment. However, WABA supports a phased construction beginning with an overpass at Georgia Avenue. Decision on funding the tunnel section of the trail can be postponed until decisions are made regarding proposed development at the southern portion of the trail. Please visit www.waba.org for more information on what you can do to support the Met Branch Trail
in Maryland.
DC: Slow Progress Being Made
Progress on the DC sections of the Met Branch Trail is showing small signs of improvement. According the District Department of Transportation, a request for proposal for the design and construction of the trail from New York Avenue to Franklin Street will be issued soon with construction expected to begin in the fall. If all goes according to plan—a big if when it comes to the Met Branch Trail—this significant section of the trail will be complete in the spring of 2007. Once this part of the project is completed a new trail bridge will be constructed to provide safe bike/ped access over the CSX railroad tracks to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station. If you would like to help us keep the pressure on the DC government and get this important trail built, we invite you to attend a meeting of the Coalition for the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The next meeting will be held on July 12th.
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WABA 2006 ADVOCACY CALENDAR
Mark your calendars for the following recurring bicycle advocacy meetings throughout 2006. For a bi-weekly update on advocacy activities, sign up for WABA’s e-bulletin “Quick Release” by sending a message to waba@waba.org.
BikeWalk Alexandria
First Monday of each month, 7:30 to 9:00pm at St Elmo’s Coffee Pub, 2300 Mt. Vernon
Avenue. Contact: Jerry King, jjkingconsulting@yahoo.com, 703-684-1688.
Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee
First Monday of even-numbered months. Arlington County Govt. Center
(#1 Courthouse Plaza), 2100 Clarendon Blvd (Clarendon Metro), ground floor
conference room off main lobby. For more info, contact Charlie Denney, Bicycle and
Pedestrian Coordinator, by phone 703-228-3633 or email cdenney@arlingtonva.us.
Coalition of the Capital Crescent Trail Board Meeting
Second Monday each month, 7-9 pm. Bethesda-Chevy Case Services Center,
4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda. Visit www.cctrail.org for more information.
D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council Meeting
First Wednesday of odd-numbered months, 6 - 8:00 pm. Contact D.C. Bicycle Coordinator,
Jim Sebastian, for more information, by phone 202-671-2331 or email Jim.Sebastian@dc.gov
Fairfax Countywide Non-Motorized Transportation Committee
Second Wednesday of each month. 7:30 pm. Call WABA representative James Frew,
703-442-7848, for information.
Metropolitan Branch Trail Coalition
Second Thursday of each month, 6:30-8:30 pm. Contact Paul Meijer for more information
by phone 202-726-7364 or email meijer@cua.edu.
WABA Board Meeting
Second Monday each month, 6:30-8:30 pm. Contact the WABA office for location and
agenda by phone 202-518-0524 or email waba@waba.org.
Montgomery County Bicycle Advisory Committee (MCBAG)
3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe
Street, Rockville, Maryland, 10th floor conference room.
Prince Georges County Bicycle & Trails Advisory Group (BTAG)
Meets quarterly. Contact Fred Shaffer for details at Fred.Shaffer@ppd.mncppc.org.
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