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Posts Tagged ‘Fairfax County’

As a volunteer-led advocacy group, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) has already proven itself one of the best bicycling advocacy groups in the nation, as demonstrated by its selection as winner of the 2011 Alliance Advocacy Award for Innovation.  This award, sponsored by the nationwide umbrella group of walking and cycling advocacy groups, was given to FABB for its Guide for Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycle Advocates.

But FABB does much more.  Commenting on roadway plans, informing the public of cycling-related issues and needs, fighting for cycling staff and funding at the County-level, working with statewide Virginia advocates, teaching commuter seminars, providing lights and safety equipment….  The list goes on and on.

Now, FABB will be joining with WABA as a sponsored project–which will enable them to formally seek donations, grants, and funding for their initiatives, and will give them access to many of our advocacy and outreach tools.

To area cyclists, the result is simple: A stronger voice for cyclists in Fairfax County.  Combining the local expertise of FABB with the regional advocacy and resources of WABA, the possibilities are limitless.

FABB is ready to take on a full slate of new and ongoing advocacy activities in Fairfax County this spring and summer.  And I am looking forward to working with them and seeing how they can transform Fairfax County into a more bicycle-friendly place.

We are asking Fairfax County WABA supporters to help them get off on the right foot as they take this step forward to bigger and better activities in the County.

Now that they are able to receive funds, we at WABA want to help them get started in their work immediately.  Any contributions made to WABA in response to this request will be divided, with 50% going to WABA’s regional work and 50% directly to FABB to kickstart their next phase of programming in Fairfax County.

We are excited to formally welcome FABB into the WABA family, and I hope you will be too.

If you are not already familiar with FABB’s work, please visit them at www.fabb-bikes.org

When you bike at night /Cuando andas en bicicleta en la oscuridad…

Got Lights?/¿Tienen Luces?
FREE Lights for cyclists/Luces para bicicleta GRATIS

You must bring a bicycle to get a free set of lights./Tiene que traer bicicleta para obtener un par de luces gratis.

Mon/Lunes – November 22
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
St. Anthony’s
Catholic Church
3305 Glen Carlyn Road
Falls Church, VA 22041
View Larger Map

Sponsored by/patrocinado por: Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB), Transurban, and Fluor.

Andy Clarke, Executive Director of League of American Bicyclist

Today FABB celebrated the publication of the Guide for Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycling Advocates. The guide was published earlier this year and this was an opportunity to thank many of the people who helped FABB produce it.

The Alliance for Biking & Walking provided the funds for the guide and Carolyn Szczepanski of the Alliance was there to say a few words about the Advocacy Advance Grants and the work of the Alliance. Other speakers included Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists , Shane Farthing of WABA, Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, and Doug Miller of VDOT. VDOT staff provided invaluable help to FABB during production of the guide by describing in detail how VDOT projects are planned and constructed. Several staff attended the launch. Others present included Mark Blacknell of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee, Angela Koch, Events and Advocacy Coordinator at Revolution Cycles, Zack Fields of Congressman Connolly’s office, Edythe Frankel,  Vienna Town Council, Susan Stillman of the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee, and several FABB members.

Shane Farthing, Executive Director of WABA

Linda Rapp designed the guide layout and color scheme, making an attractive and more easily understood publication. Kerie Hitt did a great job of editing. Fionnuala Quinn had the initial idea for the guide, initiated the grant application, and was the primary author. Bruce Wright, co-author, noted that Fairfax County has begun the bicycle master planning process that will provide a blueprint for future bicycle facilities in the county.

Good things are happening in Fairfax and the Guide should help area cyclists get involved in the process of transforming Fairfax into a more bike-friendly place.

Ironically, some of us had to drive to the event. It’s a sobering experience for those of us who usually get around by bike to experience a rainy rush hour. It took longer to get there by car (in some cases much longer) than by bike. Traffic on Maple Ave was backed for miles as were  many of the feeder streets. According to one of the VDOT folks present, maybe we’re on to something.

Doug Miller, VDOT

Cross posted on the FABB Blog