Bike-Friendly Stringfellow Road

TAKE ACTION: Contact Fairfax Board Chairman Gerry Connolly today in support of VDOT's proposed design for Stringfellow Road. Email chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

The Issue: The Virginia Department of Transportation has recommended an innovative design to make Stringfellow Road more bike-friendly. As part of the planned widening of Stringfellow between Fair Lakes Boulevard and Route 50, VDOT has proposed wider outside lanes that would enable bicyclists to ride on the road without impeding motor vehicles. The proposal also includes a 10-foot wide trail on one side for pedestrians, recreational bicyclists and other users.  

VDOT's bike-friendly proposal for Stringfellow is in jeopardy. One consequence of the project is that small segments of privately owned land will be taken for the road. Some property owners oppose the widening. The four additional feet needed for the wider outside lanes have come under fire. So has the 10-foot shared use trail, which is in danger of being narrowed. 

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will decide on the final design of Stringfellow in September or early October. VDOT has frequently been criticized for not being responsive to the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians. For this project, the agency has gone to lengths to balance the needs of all users. If the county rejects the more bike-friendly outside lanes, it may deter VDOT from proposing bike accommodations in future road projects. 

TAKE ACTION: Contact Fairfax Board Chairman Gerry Connolly today in support of VDOT's proposed design for Stringfellow Road. Email chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov. Also contact Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey, sully@fairfaxcounty.gov and Supervisor Elaine McConnell, springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov, whose districts are located on either side of the road. You may include the following points: 

· Fairfax has an opportunity to set an important precedent for building more complete streets. On the other hand, rejecting VDOT's design will send the wrong signal for future road projects. 

· On-road routes are needed to make bicycling a viable transportation option. While trails are important, roads connect to destinations. Getting from A to B requires on-road routes. 

· Contrary to common belief, bicyclists are safer on roads than on trails or sidewalks. Most bicycle-related injuries occur at intersections, where motorists cannot easily spot bicyclists coming from trails or sidewalks. 

· Stringfellow Road includes two public schools, a park and a library. Close by is the Greenbriar Shopping Center. Providing bike accommodations will make it easier to travel to these community destinations without having to get in a car. 

VDOT has done the right thing, though not the easiest thing. If Fairfax is to become a bicycle-friendly community, the county must support VDOT's plan to make Stringfellow bike-friendly. For more information, visit http://www.fabb-bikes.org/blog/blog.html

New Map Released!

Showing major long distance bicycle routes and bicycle-friendly trails, the map is designed to serve as a “gateway” to the diverse bicycling opportunities in Virginia.
get the map>>

Extending the Mount Vernon Trail North to the Beltway

The Park Service recently released a study of the feasibility of extending the popular Mount Vernon Trail, as a  result of advocacy over the past decade by members of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and the Virginia Bicycling Federation.

A well traveled route along the Potomac River, the Mount Vernon Trail takes bicyclists, joggers and hikers from Roosevelt Island near Key Bridge to George Washington's home in Mount Vernon (now Fairfax County), Va. The route affords riders beautiful vistas of the Potomac River and of the national memorials, the U.S. Capitol and the National Cathedral.

If the trail were extended north, you could ride, jog or walk all the way to the American Legion Bridge. The proposed extension would follow the streets of North Arlington for several miles, just as the existing trail stays on the streets in Old Town. For bicyclists, the sixty-mile round-trip would take a whole day. 
learn more>> 

W&OD Trail Patrol seeks volunteers

The Trail Patrol is seeking new members to be on-scene ambassadors of safety, courtesy, information, and goodwill. All adult trail users--cyclists, walker, runners, skaters, carriage
pushers, dog walkers, horse riders, or wheel chair users--are eligible to apply. Two orientation sessions are already scheduled for Saturday, March 31st, 10 AM, at the Vienna Community Center and Tuesday, April 3rd, 7 PM, at the Herndon Library. Future sessions are planned for other trail communities. For further information and signup, please contact John Boone at
703-726-6993 or jmboone@adelphia.net

other priorities

• Tyson's Corner