Arlington County Board Elections??

[rcannon100]

“Bike Firendly” Arlington is about to elect a new county board member. Is there any dirt on which of the candidates is a bike friendly candidate? Jay Fisette has a long reputation of being bike friendly (and dog friendly and a few other real positives). Any information on these choices?

[rcannon100]

I contacted all of the democratic candidates for the Arlington County Board (could not find any republican candidates). Here is the first response

Yes — absolutely, bikes belong throughout our community, and they are a critical part of my vision for Arlington.
As a County Board member, I will work with cyclists and all of Arlington to further improve the infrastructure, programs, and ridership levels that have earned us League of American Bicyclists recognition. I’m not satisfied with our Silver ranking. I believe our goal for Arlington should be to earn fully and begin to set new standards for the nation as the first Platinum-level Bike Friendly Community in the Eastern United States.

Bicycles are both an indicator and a creator of strong communities. Bicycling is an excellent activity for people’s health and well-being, a great and inexpensive transportation alternative for our natural environment, and an important contributor to our local economy. As our nation moves toward a clean energy economy, the bicycle is playing an increasingly central role.

It’s obvious that cycling should be fully integrated into Arlington’s vision for a multi-modal, environmentally sustainable transportation network. But we need a lot more work to make that vision a reality.

Arlington’s trail system and shared cycling facilities are an important base. Yet, cyclists continue to face undue risks on many of Arlington’s streets and intersections – particularly along and across arterial roads. A number of businesses, multi-family dwellings, and institutions have yet to embrace cycling. Educational and promotional programs have yet to be strengthened to the point that people throughout our community feel comfortable on a bike — especially young people, older people, and people who are cycling novices. We also need to better educate drivers on how to share the road using predictable best practices, to make transportation safer for everyone.

And as Arlington cycling activists and national experts have pointed out, several key Arlington institutions would benefit from new and enhanced efforts on cycling — including the Arlington Public Schools and the Arlington Police Department.
In my volunteer community roles, I served on the Arterial Transportation Management (ATM) task force, redesigning our major local streets to accommodate safer modes for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, cars and buses. I also chaired the Transportation subcommittee of the Elder Readiness Task Force, which looked at cycling as one affordable, accessible means of transportation, recreation, and socialization for interested Arlington seniors.

As president of Lyon Park Citizens Association, I worked on the redesign for the Clarendon Sector Plan, which included efforts to more fully incorporate cycling facilities into our site plan development approvals, streets design, and other elements. As a member and chairman of our Housing Commission, I promoted additional cycling facilities on projects to recognize the affordability benefits of bicycling for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests.

As a County Board Member, I will work to bring together people from throughout our community to fully and rapidly implement the Bicycle Element of the Arlington Master Transportation Plan. I will focus on:

* Ensuring adequate cycling facilities on or adjacent to every arterial road, and through arterial road intersections. By making full use of the range of existing and emerging facility types, Arlington can make our “Main Streets” – and all of our streets — accessible and welcoming to cyclists.

* Creating new and enhanced safety and education programs, targeting young people and other people who are cycling novices. By expanding the number of confident and capable cyclists, we can better serve our community – and create a virtuous circle of reduced traffic congestion, cleaner air, and a more healthy community.

* Promoting more bicycle facilities in and around our affordable housing projects
* Identifying additional and potentially dedicated sources of funding so that key projects won’t be held up by unpredictable or inadequate resources. Among the areas I’d like to investigate is how transportation modes that are pollution-intensive might assume a greater share of the cost of facilities for walking, biking, and other clean modes of transportation.

* Continuing to expand the Arlington-initiated Capital Bikeshare to increase stations and bikes in Arlington’s development corridors and additional areas of potential ridership, and work with public and private employers to market the benefits of Bikeshare participation. I’m a new member of CaBi, and looking forward to taking better advantage of the network myself.

* Working with appropriate state agencies, Federal agencies, and private organizations to improve access and reduce risks at key locations such as the Rosslyn “circle” west of Key Bridge and North and South Glebe Road, and to create new links where they’re needed – including to traverse I-395 in South Arlington and across the rail lines and roadways that inhibit access to the Mount Vernon Trail.

* Greatly expanding bicycle parking facilities on public property, and collaborating with, encouraging, and when appropriate requiring private property owners to provide parking facilities that accommodate and further encourage cycling.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to address such an important matter; I’d welcome your thoughts on cycling in our community. I look forward to working with you, other cyclists, and all of our neighbors to promote these important goals in Arlington.

Thanks again.
Melissa

http://www.MelissaBondi.org

Cyclist Doug Galbi took video of a recent candidate debate, which is very informative and provides some information on the candidates views of transportation issues facing Arlington.

[rcannon100]

Here is Libby Garvey‘s response

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Thank you for your questions.

I currently am on the board of Phoenix Bikes, an organization that ‘empowers youth to become social entrepreneurs through direct participation in a financially and environmentally sustainable nonprofit bike shop that serves the community.’ I began the Kennan Garvey Memorial Fund in my husband’s memory to support Phoenix Bikes. Kennan loved to get children involved in cycling. This spring we will have the first annual Kennan Garvey Memorial ride to help raise money and awareness of PB and cycling in our area. For those of you who haven’t heard about this wonderful organization I encourage you to learn more about it.

For years, our “second car” was Kennan’s bike, which he used to commute to work from the mid 1980’s until his death in 2008. Bicycling is how I clear my head and try to keep fit, and it was one of Kennan’s gifts to me. 2001 we bought a tandem so we could enjoy cycling together. It was an ideal way to allow us to bike together because he was so much stronger a cyclist than I. As I became stronger, we went faster and took longer rides. I am very familiar with the W&OD, Custis and Mount Vernon trails. We would ride the circuit ride of Arlington pretty much every weekend. Whenever we could find extra time, we’d cycle out the W&OD or C&O Canal trails, down to Mount Vernon or in the Shenandoah. We had wonderful vacations cycling, participating in Bike Virginia almost every year from the time we bought the tandem until his death. We also rode in other areas of the country. I’m perhaps proudest of cycling up Cadillac Mountain in Maine on the tandem. After Kennan’s death, I bought my own bike. It’s not the same, of course, but cycling continues to be important to my physical and emotional health.

Having cycled many times on roads, including in NY City in the rain for the Triboro ride in 2009, I am acutely aware of how much better it is to cycle on a path committed to cycling and walking rather than on the street with cars. As a member of the County Board I will support cycling and be supportive of efforts to connect trails and create dedicated cycling routes. I know cycling is the primary mode of transportation in many areas of the world. While I doubt we will get to that point in Arlington, we could do more to support biking. The Capital Bikeshare program is a great addition to our transportation system. I am pleased that cycling is part of our physical education curriculum and that we are doing more to encourage students to cycle to school. Kennan was a member of WABA for years and I have continued with my own membership.

[rcannon100]

Here is the response of Terron Sims, posted to his facebook page.

Cycling has indeed become an integral part of the transportation equation in Arlington. I fully support cycling and will continue to do what I can to keep Arlington’s reputation as a “Bike Friendly Community” for the future.

I do not own a bicycle but I support programs and businesses such as Capitol Bike Share that allow people to partake in the sport without the cost of purchasing and storing a bike.

By continuing to encourage Arlingtonians to use safe bike lanes, as well as promote additional bike lanes in neighborhoods where that service is not currently offered, I think the county board would be able to encourage good health and exercise as well as safe cycling throughout our community.

Thank you for taking the time to send me your question and I look forward to continuing this discussion as your county board representative.

[rcannon100]

Here is Kim Klingler‘s response:

I’m a strong supporter of cycling and believe that it plays a value role in our community. I believe we need to make sure cycling is safe for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians and that we do a better job of educating our community on the ‘rules of the road.’ As a volunteer EMT, I have been in the unfortunate position to provide emergency care for bicyclists who have been struck by vehicles. As a community, we need to address our most dangerous intersections, look to modifying traffic patterns, and ensure well thought-out bike lanes.

I am very supportive of the Bike Share program and would like to explore making helmets available for participants, as I’ve noticed these cyclists do not usually wear helmets. I also believe we need to better enforce road and trail rules. I would support a day of education and enforcement to better educate drivers, pedestrians and cyclists of safe road/trail share.

In addition to what I’ve already said, I would promote cycling by exploring better storage options for bikes, working with business and school communities to expand biking to work/school – beyond a single day, and looking into partnerships (private or volunteer) to clear trails after snow.

I also will continue to support cycling events like the Phoenix Bike Ride. I was one of the chief organizers of the 2nd Annual Phoenix Bike Ride in October 2011 and played a large role in fundraising, registration and obtaining door-prizes. As a health care advocate and certified Cycle Reebox instructor, I will also promote cycling as a way for Arlingtonians to stay in shape.

Yes, I ride a bicycle. I have a Gary Fisher. I don’t currently commute to work by bicycle, but have in the past. In my current consulting position, the office I work at is very unpredictable. I commute between offices in NW DC, SW DC, McLean, Rosslyn and Rockville. I did bike into Southwest D.C. in the past and was concerned for my safety. The trails in Arlington getting to D.C. were fine, but then I had a difficult time safely navigating the city streets into the office.

I look forward to working with the cycling community to continue Arlington’s designation as a “Bike Friendly Community” and make cycling safer for all.

[chris_s]

I’m really pleased with Melissa Bondi’s response and how it calls out actual legitimate pain points like Rosslyn Circle, the need for additional I-395 crossings, etc.

Also, rcannon100 did you contact Audrey Clement’s campaign? She’s the only non-democrat who has declared so far.

[rcannon100]

AH! Thanks for the tip. I was looking for Repuublicans. Of course! Greens! Will send a note.

UPDATE: Her website has no easily identifiable email address. I attempted to tweet her.

[KLizotte]

This was a great idea and many thanks for your effort; it is really useful. I am most impressed by Melissa’s response.

[Allen Muchnick]

Melissa Bondi’s pro-cycling statement is remarkably perceptive, especially for a non-cyclst. I wonder who actually drafted it?

Audrey Clement is–by far–the most dedicated transportation bicyclist running for the County Board.

[StopMeansStop]

@rcannon100 13070 wrote:

“Bike Firendly” Arlington is about to elect a new county board member. Is there any dirt on which of the candidates is a bike friendly candidate? Jay Fisette has a long reputation of being bike friendly (and dog friendly and a few other real positives). Any information on these choices?

Hank and Hobo the cats are not voting for Jay.

[rcannon100]

Peter Fallon answered our questions about cycling on his Facebook page. Here is what he had to say:

I fully support sharing the road (sharrows and bike lanes, or travel lane) with cyclists. Biking is not just a recreational choice, it’s a key modal element of transportation in Arlington. For 5 years, I served on Arlington’s Master Transportation Plan (MTP) Plenary Group, which included adding a bike element. I support the adding more safe bike lanes throughout the County and better connections to our trails. As a member of the Long Bridge Park Task Force, I can say that establishing a trail connection from the Mt. Vernon trail, over the GW parkway and Roaches Run, linking up to our new park and beyoned is a priority. We do need Natl. Park Service approval. Congressman Moran is said to be seeking the funding for the connection too.

One accident is too many, and there are far too many accidents happening in Rosslyn. We need to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of the cyclists at the Lynn St. intersection and anywhere else we have a danger point. As a planning commissioner, I’ve always supported additional bike lockers in new commercial and residential buildings, and shower facilities in the office buildings. Our streetscapes have been adding more bike racks for cyclists convenience. I have supported Arlington’s participation in Capital Bikeshare, and recommended potential new locations. Arlington is a leading community in recognizing the importance of using bikes as a transportation option. Many buses are equipped with bike racks for multimodal commuting, While snow is not frequent most winters, we can do a better job of clearing the streets vs just plowing the snow into the bike lanes. We can do more, and with the help of the cyclist community, we will do more. My vision includes making biking a desirable option for more potential riders. expanding our bike lane network as part of our street redesigns, partnering with APS to encourage more students to ride to school, and increasing driver awareness of sharing the road.

No, I don’t commute via bicycle. I drop my 3 year old off at preschool on my way to work, so a car is more practical. However, I do telework frequently, so I’m not on driving on the roads, but not getting exercise from cycling either!

All candidates for the Democratic Caucus have now responded. Perhaps when we get close to the election for the county seat, which I think is March 27, we can ask the Green Party and the Republican candidates to respond. TO BE CLEAR, the democratic caucus election is this thursday evening and this saturday (please vote).

As a final comment, I would say I was REALLY impressed by all of the answers. It is very demonstrative of Arlington culture that all of the candidates have responded, and all of there responses were quite positive.

[StopMeansStop]

This guy knows biking in A-town

[Allen Muchnick]

When you vote, please bike to the polls, especially for the countywide Democratic caucus. Bicyclists will be noticed!

[StopMeansStop]

@Allen Muchnick 13204 wrote:

When you vote, please bike to the polls, especially for the countywide Democratic caucus. Bicyclists will be noticed!

Hopefully the weather will be cold and wet. Shows dedication.

[Marcella]

So Garvey thinks we should stay on paths and Sims thinks we should stay in bike lanes.

[Author]

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