With the planned extension of Hampton Roads Transit’s Tide light rail into Virginia Beach, we’re thrilled that a trail along the rail corridor is finally being seriously considered. Rail-with-trail is a win for everyone, addressing every point in the goals of the rail project itself:
Improve access, operations and reliability of the public transportation system
Provide a cost-effective, efficient travel option that connects residential and employment areas as well as recreational venues
Implement service that helps manage growth in vehicle miles traveled and supports the development of sustainable and livable communities
Support Virginia Beach economic development activities consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and related land use strategies
Support the tourism industry of Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads region by providing an alternative to travel on congested roadways
Support preservation and protection of the environment
With congestion and parking an issue in almost every beach town, shouldn’t we be providing safe routes to the beach for biking and walking?
On Saturday, October 4, 2014 rvaMORE held our 3rd. IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. We hosted 25 kids and their parents on Belle Isle in the middle of the James River in Richmond Virginia.
rvaMORE’s purpose is to increase mountain bike access to the Richmond region. Over the past 10 years rvaMORE has built and maintained over 25 miles of trails in the city of Richmond. Events and assets like the Belle Isle Skills area and single track trails take dedicated volunteers and funds to build and maintain.
All of our programs are produced with donated funds and volunteer labor. We need your support to keep events like this happening. Please go to www.rvamore.org and donate to our Pay Pal link. Consider $25.00 per month.
Join us Sunday, November 16, 1:30-3:30 PM for the Virginia Bicycling Federation Annual Meeting at the Richmond REI store, 2020 Old Brick Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
We’re still finalizing the agenda, but the main business will be planning our strategy for the upcoming General Assembly session, which starts in January. We’ll also elect our own 2015 board and officers.
Is there an issue you’d like to see addressed at the state level? Bring it to us. Are you concerned about recent issues — a dooring bill, following bicyclists too closely, stopping for pedestrians (and cyclists) in crosswalks? Get the inside scoop on what’s going on, maybe even lend a hand.
All are welcome, but we do appreciate an RSVP: champe_burnley@hotmail.com
“17 speakers testified at the public hearing in support of the proposed plan. Only one person spoke in opposition. “By giving me [transportation] choices, you literally have changed my life” said Jenifer Joy Madden, a County resident speaking about connecting to new bus and Metro service in Tysons on bicycle.”
Also important is the $100M smart growth transportation bond issue for Fairfax County residents to vote on next Tuesday, Nov. 4. According to the Coalition for Smarter Growth, who endorse it:
“…Fairfax will be able to upgrade sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes; improve safety around schools; and make local spot improvements to roads throughout the county. These local investments will improve access to transit, schools, stores, parks, and libraries; and offer many other benefits, including:
A sustainable future: By providing more opportunities to walk and bike for daily trips, the projects will help reduce the amount we have to drive. With 1/3 of climate change pollution coming from transportation, this is an important way for Fairfax to fight climate change and improve the air we breathe.
Improved safety: The bond measure will support many pedestrian and bicycle projects in Fairfax County, including sidewalks, bike paths, and crossing signals. These investments, along with proposed turn lanes and signal improvements, will make county roads safer for all users.
Safe Routes to School: Approximately $17.5 million of the bond measure will pay for projects that make it safer for children to walk or bike to and from school. These projects will help reduce the growing traffic around our schools at arrival and dismissal, and even allow for high school students to walk or bike instead of driving.
A healthy Fairfax: Lack of physical activity is contributing to growing rates of obesity and obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes — even among our children. The walking and bicycling projects included in this bond measure will make it easier for children and adults to walk and bike to work, schools, stores, parks, and libraries, integrating healthy physical activity into our daily lives.”
So if you’re a Fairfax resident, make sure you get to the polls. If you have friends there, please share this with them and get them to the polls too.
Congrats to Fairfax County for passing their first bike master plan ever; and many thanks to the supremely competent and hard working bike advocates there who pushed get it done.
City Administration begins development of guidelines for implementation
Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond achieved another milestone toward becoming a bike and pedestrian friendly city by adopting a Complete Streets Policy on October 13. Complete Streets is a transportation policy and design approach that helps make communities healthier, more livable, economically competitive and resilient. They are streets designed and operated to be safe, comfortable and convenient for all users regardless of age, ability or mode of travel.
Adopting a Complete Streets Policy was a recommendation of the Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycling and Trails Commission, the City’s RVAgreen Sustainability Plan, Richmond Connects and the Green City Commission. The policy outlines the design and construction standards for sidewalks, public ways and public rights-of-way and requires that City transportation improvement projects provide appropriate accommodations to promote safe usage for all users.
“The goal of the Complete Streets Policy is to balance the access, mobility and safety of all users while creating a stronger and healthier community,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “City residents as well as those who come to the city to work and play will all benefit from safer roads, more transportation choices, increased mobility and reduced pollution.”
The City Administration is working to develop guidelines for implementing complete streets in the City of Richmond as required by the City’s Complete Streets Policy. As detailed in Resolution 2014-R172-170, the City Administration has 12-months to develop implementation guidelines and incorporate those into the City’s “Right-of-Way Design and Construction Standards Manual.”
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