President
Douglas Stewart

Vice President
Linda Bailey

Treasurer
Paul d’Eustachio

Secretary
Barbara Klieforth

Board Members
Linda Bailey
Paul DeMaio
Kendall Dorman
Jana Lynott
Randall Myers
Hunter McCleary
Elissa Parker
Curtis Runyan
Dana Wolfe
Matthew Bieschke


Executive Director
Eric Gilliland

Safety Education Program Manager
Dorcas Adkins

Membership & Development Manager
Eve DeCoursey

Membership & Development Assistant
Jenn Bress

Program Manager

Safety Education Program Coordinator
Glen Harrison

Office Volunteers
Bruce Dwyer
John Telesco

Complete Streets Win in Montgomery County

Thanks to the efforts of WABA members, significant progress has been made towards achieving a Complete Streets policy in the revisions to the Road Code in Montgomery County, Maryland. Complete Streets policies, which can be implemented by legislation or through agency directives, are designed to ensure that in the planning, design and construc- tion of roadways, all users, including cyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and the elderly, are accommodated. Such policies exist at the state level in Virginia, while Arlington County is working on their own policy.

For the last two years Montgomery County has been working on comprehensive revisions to the Road Code, the guide by which all roads in the County are designed, built and maintained. While the goals of the Community Road Code bill are to improve pedestrian safety and to design roadways that fit the context of the environment they pass through are certainly noble, concerns have been raised that some of the proposed recommenda- tions will result in roadways that are actually detrimental to bicyclists. Specifically, earlier versions of the code would restrict bike improvements to only those roads designated for improvement by the County’s Bikeways Master Plan.

Working with a disparate array of groups including the Coalition for Smarter Growth, Montgomery Stormwater Partners and Montgomery Bicycle Advocates, the Montgomery County Council recently passed legislation that would help ensure that all roads built in the county will be safer for all users. The legislation, which was modeled after a Complete Streets policy from Chicago, also includes an important provision establishing a technical working group to address the specific design and implementation issues that would come with any Complete Streets legislation. The legislation has moved from the Council to the County Executive. Stay tuned to www.waba.org for up-to-date information.

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DC Complete Streets Policy Moving Forward

While WABA’s initial efforts at a complete streets policy in the District of Columbia had focused on achieving a policy at the District Department of Transportation, indications are that Councilmember Tommy Wells (Ward 6) is willing to take on drafting a policy at the DC Council level. WABA will be consulting with the Councilmember’s office on policy development and will be sure to update area cyclists as things progress.

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Fifty States and Thirteen Colonies Ride 2007

Once again the Fifty States Ride proved to cyclists that you don’t really know DC until you have biked it. Over 200 riders showed up at the Commerce Bank in Dupont Circle on the morning of August 25 in anticipation of battling the August heat to finish the most challenging bike ride in DC. Alternatively, the Thirteen Colonies Ride gave amateur cyclists a more stripped down view of what cyclists on the Fifty States Ride would experience and was a satisfying alternative route for those less inclined to tackle the over 60+ mile tour of DC.

The ride started off bright and early with riders gathering at 7:30am across the street from the WABA office in the lobby of Commerce Bank. WABA staffers Eve DeCoursey and Glen Harrison did their best to get cue sheets out to all the riders packed into the somewhat chaotic Commerce Bank lobby while Executive Director Eric Gilliland reminded all participating cyclists to be safe and follow the rules of the road. REI provided a bike tech at the start area for last minute adjustments and donated water bottles to help keep riders hydrated on their long journey, while Commerce Bank conjured up a wonderful pre-ride buffet of bagels and coffee.

All types of cyclists could be seen at the start area from flip flopped Schwinn riders to Spandex clad crit racers, and even the Director of the Danish Cycling Federation. Riders began leaving the start area at 8am on a route that would have them touch every state named street in DC. “It gives you a really good feel for DC as a whole. You get to see many different types of neighborhoods and different types of geography,” said Glen Harrison, WABA’s Education Program Coordinator. In addition to seeing such classic sights in Washington as the White House and Washington Monument, riders rode through Anacostia Park in South East, and caught a glimpse of the Walter Reed Medical Center at the edge of North West DC on their way to Rock Creek Park. The 100 degree August heat did nothing for the cyclists as they huffed and puffed their way past Arizona Avenue, NW in order to finish the last few miles of the ride. “We still haven’t figured out how to make Arizona flat,” commented Jon Fleming, the brains behind the Fifty States and Thirteen Colonies Routes.

Despite a few minor obstacles along the way, like the excessive number of people at Catholic University during move-in weekend and the intense August heat, both rides went off without a hitch.

Congratulations arein orderfor allthose who finishedeither ofthe ridesthisyear. To all those who tried, but could not quite make it to the end, there is always next year!

--Henry Mesias

With thanks to our sponsors:

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WABA Wins LAB Award

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association has been named the best regional advocacy group for Region Two (DC,DE,MD,NJ,PA,WV) by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). WABA will be prominently featured in the next edition of the League’s newsletter “AmericanBicyclist”. For more information and to join LAB, please go to www.bikeleague.org

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From My Saddle

When I moved to the Northern Virginia suburbs three years ago, I took one look at our neighbor- hood and thought, “I’ll never bike anywhere here.” My spouse and I had lived in city neighborhoods most of our adult lives and had been able to get to most places on two wheels, if not our own two feet. Our new neighborhood, though, was a spider-web of cul-de-sacs ending in menacing 6-lane roads.

Thankfully, I turned out to be wrong. We discov- ered some back-road routes to grocery stores. I found a decent bike route to the Metro station. But most important, we met many people who felt the same way about bicycling as we did. They wanted to get to places by bike, be it the day care center, drugstore or their office.

WABA was started 35 years ago, and we’ve grown tremendously. Still, our work remains anchored in In March of this year, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader directed the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to create a “Greening the Capitol” initiative. Designed to help reduce the carbon footprint of the House and to show initiative at combating the causes of global warming, the program seeks to halve the energy consumption of the House by 2010 and to make the House a model of sustainability.

Teaming with the League of American Bicyclists and the Office of Congressman Earl Blumenauer, the head of the Congressional Bike Caucus, WABA helped draft the bicycling component of the initiative.

Among the report’s recommendations are to implement a “bike to work” initiative which called for:
• Improved secure, indoor bike parking for Hill employees. • Expanded access to showers, lockers, and changing facilities. • Online resources for cyclists including a map of the locations of facilities for cyclists as well as information on safe cycling and bike commuting. this basic aspiration to get from Point A to Point B on a bike. It’s what motivates our incredible volunteers throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia. It inspires our passionate, committed staff.

Simple as it sounds, this goal is not always understood. Where I live, many residents and public officials can’t quite get their heads around the notion of bicycling for transportation. Some bicycling advocates tell me that these attitudes were common in more urban parts of the region not too long ago. Knowing that attitudes and practices changed in those areas gives me hope that they will change where I live and ride, too.

Of course, it takes a lot of persistent effort to get bike lanes and trails built and all the other things that go into a bicycle-friendly community. WABA staff and volunteers work hard to educate public officials, write letters, attend meetings and speak at public hearings. And we all make a statement simply by getting on our bikes and being seen on our roads and trails.

I’m very excited to serve as the chair of WABA’s great board of directors, and I look forward to meeting you on our rides and other events.

—DouglasStewart,President

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Students Unite for Cyclists Rights

On October 19th, the gates for student involvement in local cycling advocacy were opened wide by a new coalition of passionate students at the University of Maryland. The first meeting of SCAN — the Student Cyclist Advocacy Network, a new affiliate program of WABA — was held on the university’s campus. Facilitated by advocacy whiz Dave Snyder of the Thunderhead Alliance, the meeting was a unique blend of brainstorming workshop and inspirational lecture about the vitality and utter necessity of the cycling advocacy community. Students in attendance excitedly engaged Snyder, bringing up a wide range of issues surrounding bike campaigns, raising bike awareness, and changing local and school policies to benefit cycling, alternative transportation, and energy conservation.

The Student Cyclist Advocacy Network was formed in earnest in June of 2006 as a means to bring the student voice into the dialogue on cyclist rights. Founder and President, Eitan Freedenberg, explains that “in Maryland, DC, and Virginia, it’s not so much that the student voice is being ignored; it has merely been silent, and consequently, the neighborhoods around our local universities suffer because their unique student needs aren’t represented. The goal of our organization is to develop grassroots tools that local students can take back to their home universities. We will strategize on ways to address crucial biking issues, create task forces to tackle environmental and transportation research, take our message to the other campus groups, and campaign ruthlessly to get better lanes painted and bike racks built. This will not only re-energize young adults and urge the average local student to bring his or her bike to school, but it will re-energize WABA as a whole as new voices emerge from the woodwork to help refine and redevelop the voice of Washington-area cyclists.”

According to Freedenberg, the newly minted student group at the University of Maryland is a pilot program designed to test the feasibility of the group’s principles and ambitious short- and long-term goals. By addressing the concerns of the area’s largest university, the group intends to hone its message and eventually spread to other campuses. The workshop was the first step in creating an infrastructure and an atmosphere that will foster change within the community. For many students in attendance, it was not the first foray into bike activism. Brandon Furlong, a senior computer science major and avid fixed-gear cyclist, said after the meeting that his involvement in local Critical Mass rides prepared him mentally for becoming a cycling advocate, but the workshop showed him that “there’s much more to defending the rights of bikers than simply going out and claiming a lane on Route 1 every month. The issues are much bigger, the stakes are much higher, and the people involved are more influential than I could have imagined. Biking with my friends made me passionate, but now that I have found an organized channel through which I can focus that passion, I am more than willing to work hard to make cycling a bigger deal at the university and in College Park.”

The University of Maryland chapter of SCAN, with the help of Dave Snyder’s innovative attitude toward shaping a group message, outlined several priorities, including a focus on lobbying for better bike parking on campus, improving local routes into DC from College Park, promotion of bicycle use on campus, and, most pertinently, inclusion of student cyclist rights in the City of College Park’s impressive plan to redesign the local section of Route 1. Snyder and WABA Development Manager Susanna Murley then helped the group develop a sense of tactics and strategies that students agreed would help them shape the future of the organization.

Members of SCAN-UMD now meet every Wednesday night for a discussion of local biking issues and a midnight bike ride. For more information about SCAN, please contact Eitan Freedenberg at eitan@waba.org, or Susanna Murley at susanna@waba.org.

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WABA Welcomes Elissa Parker to Board of Directors

In an effort to fill the void left by the mid-term resignation of Byron Bradley, WABA’s Board of Directors voted in Elissa Parker to fill his open seat. Ms. Parker, who is a 22 year resident of DC and a daily bike commuter (having never owned a car), works for the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) as the Vice President of Research and Policy.

While Ms. Parker also serves on the boards of Institute for Conservation Leadership, Citizens for Health, Renew America/Renew the Earth and Friends of Israel’s Environment/Israel Union for Environmental Defense, she is very excited about her new roll with WABA and how the organization’s mission and work will affect her on a daily basis. As a bike commuter, she is particularly interested in programs such as Complete Streets that encourage forward thinking transportation planning, that in turn create healthier, more livable communities in our area.

At ELI, Parker directs a team of 25 attorneys, science and policy analysts and other professionals. The ELI staff is responsible for educating and training communities on legal and governance and management issues ranging from how to advance the protection of biodiversity and the sustainable use of land at the local level in the US, protection of the marine environment, training judges in Latin America on environmental law enforcement, to transboundary waters governance in Africa. An environmental attorney for 36 years, Parker served as on the first environmental strike force in the country as Special Assistant Attorney General of Pennsylvania before joining ELI.

WABA welcomes Ms. Parker and both her enthusiasm and experience will be a tremendous asset as the organization continues to grow.

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WABA Signs Pro

Glen Harrison (on right in photo) has been teaching professionally for four years and now joins WABA’s team as the new Maggie, a.k.a. the Safety Education Program Coordinator. The job title is lengthy, to be sure, but what this means is that he will be and already has been conducting pedestrian and bicycle safety classes and bike rodeos in DC.

Since signing on at WABA, Glen has already taught classes at Prospect Learning Center, River Terrace and Bruce-Monroe Elementary Schools; conducted bike rodeos at Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Drew Elementary School for International Walk to School Day 2006 and the Breakaway from Cancer Charity Ride in Bethesda, MD; and assisted with two Confident City Cycling classes. This next spring pedestrian and bicycle classes are scheduled to be taught at Bunker Hill, Clark, Drew, Hearst, Ketcham, Noyes, Watkins, and other elementary schools in DC. Glen is also a League Certified Instructor.

To find out more about WABA’s Safety Education Program please visit our web site at www.waba.org/bikesafety/index.php.

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2007 Gala and Auction at the Fabulous New House of Sweden

Join WABA in celebrating our 35th year at our Annual Gala and Auction at the exciting new House of Sweden on Saturday, March 24, 2007. Sitting along the banks of the Potomac River, the recently constructed embassy offers one of the most breathtaking views in the city. The 350 expected participants from the international, business and non-profit community in and around Washington, D.C. will be among the first to experience this wonderful new addition to the Georgetown waterfront.

This formal event is annual favorite among our membership. Mingle with area transportation planners, national bike advocates and other influential people while helping raise much needed funds for WABA’s continuing advocacy and educational efforts for bicycling in the region. Last year’s Gala raised over $30,000 at the Embassy of Finland, and together we hope to surpass that this year. Donations for the auction are currently being accepted and sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Jeff Peel at Jeff@waba.org or by calling the WABA office at (202) 518-0524 for more information.

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WABA's Donors keep us rolling! Thank you!

This is a list of donors who gave to WABA between the dates of 1/1/06 and 11/1/06

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WABA's Tips for Winter Riding

Winter has descended on the Washington region and many area cyclists have packed away their bikes until spring. Despite the colder, wetter weather and less daylight in the evening, commuting by bike can be just as rewarding as the fair weather days of summer. Here are a few tips to get you through the season.

Dress for Success!

As with any outdoor winter activity, wearing the proper clothing is essential to staying warm and dry. Using a 3 layer approach for winter dressing usually works best, particularly for the mostly mild winters in our area. The first layer should be a base layer of silk, wool or synthetic material, because these materials wick away moisture from your skin whereas cotton often leaves you feeling cold and clammy as you begin to sweat. The second layer should be an insulating layer. A sweatshirt, fleece or light down vest tends to work best. The final layer of a windbreaker or rain shell will protect you from moisture in the air and will also serve to block the wind from your torso. A similar approach can be taken for the lower half of your body. The advantage of layering in this way is that it allows for much more flexibility in adjusting for temperature changes either in the air or as your body heats up while you pedal!

For your hands, mittens or ‘lobster’ gloves are generally warmer, but may limit your dexterity and potentially affect your ability to shift or brake easily. A layering approach to gloves can also be effective, with a thin liner glove on mild days and heavier gloves on really cold ones.
For your feet nothing beats thick wool socks for keeping your toes toasty. Using a neoprene sock or booty to keep your feet dry is essential when the roads are wet. In a pinch plastic newspaper bags also work quite well! While it is tempting to want to skip wearing your helmet in exchange for a thicker, warmer hat, winter weather often offers less visibility for motorists and less than favorable road conditions. Visit your local bike shop to find a hat or face mask that works comfortably for you and your helmet.

Get Lit!

Making you and your bike more visible is crucial during cloudy, dark days with fewer hours of sunlight in the evening. Wearing a screaming yellow jacket or reflective vest may not help you become America’s Next Top Model, but it will allow drivers to see you better on the road. Adding lights to your bike for riding after dark is not only smart, but it is also the law. A red LED light attached to the rear of your bike or your bag is an easy and important way to allow approaching drivers see you from several blocks away. LED lights with a blinking mode are not only more visible, but also save battery life!

Front lights can be divided into two categories, lights to be seen by and lights to see by. When riding on well-lit streets it is possible to get by with only a small white LED front light. This allows you to be seen by approaching automobiles and helps cross traffic to see you. Again, a blinking mode adds to your visibility. For bike paths or roads without street lights, a light that allows you to see the road will not only help your visibility, but will illuminate potholes and other road hazards in time for you to react. Adding reflective tape to your cranks or wearing reflective leg bands are easy ways to improve your visibility while also showing pedal motion, which identifies you as a cyclist to approaching drivers.

Winterize your Bike

Preparing your bike for the winter months will also make riding through the wet, cold season more enjoyable. Adding fenders will help keep water and road grime from reaching your bike, components and more importantly, from reaching you! Invest in some biodegradable degreaser and use your old toothbrush and an old Bike to Work Day t-shirt as a rag to keep your bike clean. Regularly removing the gunk from your bike’s rims, chain, gears and frame will allow your bike to shift and brake much more efficiently, as well as extend the life of these parts. With more debris on the road in winter months, adding tire liners will help prevent flats. If you normally prefer to patch your tubes, try carrying along a new spare with you during the winter. Nothing is more disheartening than a patch that won’t stick while stranded in the cold and rain.

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Bike Oasis Opens in Arlington

by Steven Marks, Owner

Imagine if you will, a sunny spring day with a cool breeze. The cherry blossoms are blooming and the tourists have arrived. The corner of North Moore and 19th Street in Arlington has been active since the early morning. An attractive structure has risen from the ghost of a gas station. This is the home to the Bike Oasis Arlington.

This is also the spot for Bike and Roll Rentals. Employees scurry around, taking orders for bike rentals, fitting customers with bikes and answering questions on where to ride, eat and visit. 75 bikes are waiting for customers. A corporate rental of 25 bikes is going out in the afternoon, a welcome change to the usual “Happy Hour.” A mechanic works diligently at his stand maintaining the rental fleet as well as servicing some private bikes that have been dropped off earlier. The commuter corral is filled with bikes from local commuters. They have dropped their bikes off at the secure parking area. Some have lingered with their comrades on bikes, discussing family, work and upcoming weekend rides. They make plans to meet at the Bike Oasis to start a ride to Mt. Vernon. They have purchased some supplies and are finishing there coffee and bagels at the Oasis picnic tables. The Bike Oasis has become a community gathering place, an Oasis for the Rosslyn masses.

This is the vision I have for Bike Oasis. A vision not possible without the help and support of many people. I’d personally like to thank Chris Zimmerman and Jay Fissette for helping drive the initial bike rental kiosk idea. Thanks to Tom O’Neil and the JGB companies for giving us the opportunity to be at this location. Bruce Bourque who has worked furiously planning, supporting, holding our hand and quite possibly twisting a few arms, is due a boatload of thanks. Angela Adams, my favorite public art administrator, and her division is due thanks for securing Butch Anthony for our temporary facility. Thanks to the Rosslyn Bid and Renaissance, specifically Kristen Adderson and also Kelly Rindfusz of Arlington Economic Development, for helping get the Grand Opening together and publicized. Tremendous thanks to the individuals that I have been blessed to work with, my Bike the Sites co-workers, who have rolled with all the ups and downs of getting this place going.

For more information, please visit: www.bikeoasis.com.

COME AND MEET ME DOWN AT THE OASIS!

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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 (Courthouse 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

Most 2nd Mondays of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda. Visitors are welcome to all CCCT meetings.  Visit www.cctrail.org for meeting dates.

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 Advocates for Better Bicycling

Third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm. bikes@vienna on 128A Church Street, Vienna. Contact Douglas Stewart for more information at 703.385.7564 or dbstewart@earthlink.net.

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 (MCBAC)

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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UPCOMING EVENTS

Confident City Cycling Classes | January 10 am-1pm | WABA office

Want to use your bike to go where you need to go? Learn to safely share the road with cars, other bikes, and pedestrians. This class is FREE! REGISTER NOW!!>>

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