Virginia Update: New trail connections and things to do:

ICYMI – May is National Bike Month! I hope you’ll find opportunities to get outside and in the saddle, whether it’s for a long adventure ride with friends, a quick jaunt to the corner store, or something in between. But before we officially turn the page on spring and welcome the longer, warmer days of summer, a quick recap and look ahead. 

First, a hearty THANK YOU to everyone who joined us at our Arlington County Board candidate meet-and-greet on February 20th and our Alexandria City Council and mayoral candidate meet-and-greet on April 15th. Over 120 community members had a chance to ask questions and hear from nearly all the declared candidates in these pivotal local races. A big shoutout, too, to our friends at Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County and the Alexandria Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee for co-sponsoring the events. Be sure to check out SusMo’s candidate questionnaire responses here.

Election Day in Virginia is Tuesday, June 18th but early voting opened this past Friday, May 3rd. Make a plan to cast your ballot today!

Read on below to learn more about our budget advocacy efforts, some new trails to check out, and two ways to get involved this Bike Month. 

Some things we did ✅ 

• Hung out with our amazing Virginia members at Astro Beer Hall on April 10th! Learn more about membership and how it supports WABA’s many programs here.
• Testified at the Transportation Planning Board on the need for a project selection process that better prioritizes safety and sustainability.
• Urged Arlington County and Fairfax County (via the Fairfax Healthy Communities Coalition) to step up their active transportation funding in FY25 among other things. 
• Asked the City of Alexandria to explore updating its intersection daylighting ordinance and policies. 
• Spoke in favor of Fairfax County’s crosswalk and bike lane additions during this year’s repaving program.

Good news 📰

• The new shared-use paths along Route 7 between North Reston and Tysons are open (ahead of schedule!). Perhaps less than *scenic* but big on connectivity.
• The path connecting Mount Vernon Trail and Long Bridge Park is officially open. First of many exciting trail enhancements slated for this well-used corridor over the next several years.

Other things to do 🚲

• Tell the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) to prioritize active transportation projects before May 19th – our friends at the Coalition for Smarter Growth have helpfully ID’d the good ones.
• For parents: Take VDOT’s Safe Routes to School survey.
• Register for Bike to Work Wherever Day on Friday, May 17th! Whether on your way to work or just for fun, stop by one of the 100+ pit stops throughout the region. Want to take it a step further? Volunteer at a pit stop! 

As always, you can reach me by email or sign up for a slot during my weekly office hours to hear more about WABA’s Virginia work, share an idea, or just to chat. Hope to see you out there!

—Kevin O’Brien, Virginia Organizer