Update: we’re one step closer to roll-on bike service.
The Capitol Limited Pulling into Harper’s Ferry
Three Virginia Bicycling Federation Board members, Tom Bowden, Matt O’Toole and I were invited to participate in a roll-on bike test aboard Amtrak’s Capitol Limited Route on October 15. The test was designed to determine the feasibility of taking unboxed bikes on the popular route which runs from Chicago to Washington.
Though there have been several other roll-on bike tests in Michigan, New York and Vermont, this is the first time that Amtrak has equipped its two-level, Superliner rail cars with bike racks.
Amtrak worked closely with Linda Boxx from the Allegheny Trail Alliance, the group responsible for the Great Allegheny Passage.
The three VBF participants boarded in Harper’s Ferry, a very popular cycling destination along the C&O Canal; and the future starting point of the proposed US Bike Route 11, which the VBF has been working on with the Adventure Cycling Association and a number of other organizations. [continue reading…]
Virginia Bicycling Federation has teamed with three organizations around the state to get lights on bikes and reflectors on riders. Bike lights and ankle reflective bands have been delivered to Williamsburg Area Bicyclists, The New River Valley Bike Kitchen, and Virginia Commonwealth University RamBikes. The goal of the Light up the Night project is to improve visibility of bicyclists who ride after dark out of necessity.
The Williamsburg Area Bicyclists will work with a James City County-based hostel to provide the lights and reflective leg bands to international exchange student workers and other service workers staying at the hostel who use bicycles for transportation. Having the lights and reflective leg bands will allow WAB to expand their current work in which they have distributed helmets to workers, and provided education on helmet fit, laws governing bicycle riding and general safety.
The New River Valley Bike Kitchen serves the communities of Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, Dublin and Pulaski. While these communities are increasingly connected by public transportation gaps in where customers need to go – home or work –need to be bridged. The NRV Bike Kitchen sees the recycled bike as a tool to bridge these transit gaps and seeks to provide customers with a package that includes a recycled bike, a helmet, lights and a lock. Since many of these trips will be made in the early morning hours or after dark, the Bike Kitchen believes distribution of lights with the recycled bike is essential for safe use of the bike.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) RamBikes serves VCU students and residents in surrounding communities. Many bicyclists riding on and near the VCU campus ride at night without lights. VCU RamBikes works to increase safety awareness among all road users by distributing information about laws governing bicycling, general safety guidance, helmets and lights. VCU RamBikes bike ambassadors will target key intersections on campus and wait for cyclists to ride by at night. Those without lights will be offered a set in exchange for listening to how visibility is critical for safety for all road users.
All three organizations will be providing updates on their efforts. We look forward to sharing those updates with our VBF members and friends.
We’re very proud of the developing IMBA Ride Center at Pocahontas State Park, which this event is a fundraiser for.
Come see and ride the new trails, and enjoy a BBQ lunch with Bluegrass music.
From Katie Lee Gaskins:
I hope you will join us on Saturday, October 26th for our upcoming “Bikes, BBQ & Bluegrass” to benefit the Richmond Regional Ride Center at Pocahontas State Park. The day will begin with multiple bicycle rides on the trails at the park, available for riders of all skill levels while also offering several guided rides. After spending time on the trails, please join us for BBQ complete with beverages provided by Starr Hill Brewery and live bluegrass courtesy of the East of Afton Band.
If you are not a cyclist but would like to participate and contribute to this great cause, please join us at 1:00 PM for the BBQ and bluegrass. This is not only a great cause but a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends!
Attached is an invitation with additional details. To RSVP online, go to http://www.virginiaparks.org/donate/#general and click the donate button. If you have questions, please feel free to call Monumental Consulting, LLC at (804) 308-2583
Our friends at Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, aka FABB, will be hosting a bike advocacy summit on Saturday, Nov. 2, 10:00 AM -3:30 PM, at George Mason University.
The program is focused on the Tyson’s Corner area, now undergoing major transformation, especially with the new Silver Line Metro service to start in 2014. But many of the topics to be covered would apply to anywhere in Virginia:
[continue reading…]
The Loudoun Times reports:
If state Del. Tom Rust (R-86th) wins reelection next month, he’ll succeed his long-time colleague and friend, Del. Joe May (R-33rd), as chairman of the House of Delegates Committee on Transportation, Republican House Speaker Bill Howell announced this morning.
From Allen Muchnick:
“Rust is a reasonable moderate who has responded favorably to input from his bicycling constituents. His Herndon district is along the W&OD Trail. Rust has been a swing vote when our bicycling bills have reached the full committee and the House floor.”
Do you live in Del. Rust’s 86th district? Be prepared to write to him about bicycling bills during this winter’s legislative session, Jan. 8 – Mar. 8, 2014.
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