Bicycle and Pedestrian Access

Bicycling and walking are popular activities for both recreation and transportation purposes, in part the result of increased federal, state and local funding for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The Virginia Department of Transportation is nearing the completion of its Northern Virginia Regional Bikeway and Trail Network Study aimed at identifying a network of bike facilities that will serve the transportation needs of bicyclists and other trail users. The study draws upon local jurisdictions' plans for future bicycle and trail facilities along regionally significant corridors and identifies gaps in the regional network that will need to be bridged.

Also at the regional level, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments conducted a Street Smart publicity campaign aimed at getting drivers to obey traffic rules and be cognizant of pedestrians and bicyclists using the transportation system.

Following a trial period in Northern Virginia, the WMATA Board decided to install bike racks on its entire fleet of 1,450 Metrobuses. As of December 31, 2002, all Metrobuses have been equipped with racks to carry up to two bikes per bus.

In addition to these regional efforts, each of the NVTC jurisdictions is making investments to improve its pedestrian and bicycling environments. To highlight just a few of the projects underway:

·        Arlington County is currently implementing its Walk Arlington campaign, a series of projects aimed at increasing the safety and pleasantness of the walking environment. Projects range from pedestrian countdown devices at traffic signals to the use of urban design to calm streets.  In addition, the county has begun to stripe its 23-mile planned network of bicycle lanes on county streets.

·        Fairfax County is working toward the completion of the 38-mile Cross County Trail from the Prince William County line to the Potomac River near Great Falls. This multi-use trail will provide additional access to the Vienna and Franconia-Springfield Metrorail stations, and tie to the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) and Potomac National Heritage Scenic trails.

·        Loudoun County embarked upon a bicycle and pedestrian mobility master planning process in 2002, to identify a comprehensive network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities that safely and conveniently connect residents to their parks, schools, places of employment, shopping areas, and rural open space. The Master Plan will identify specific projects to be included in the county’s list of priority transportation improvements. 

·        The city of Alexandria is working with 12 civic associations throughout the city on traffic calming projects to slow motor vehicles and make the community more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. One innovative traffic calming technique being used in Alexandria is the installation of speed cushions. One speed cushion of 6.5 feet in width is located in each lane to slow passenger vehicles. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles are able to straddle the cushions without slowing down.

·        The city of Fairfax was the first in the region to install a lighted pedestrian crosswalk to increase the safety of nighttime pedestrian travel. The crosswalk is located on Old Lee Highway.

·        The city of Falls Church is in the final stages of completing streetscape improvements for West Broad Street. Improvements include brick sidewalks, planters, and pedestrian refuge islands.

 Figure 50 lists contacts for bicycle and pedestrian issues.