An Inspiring Commute During the National Bike Summit
by Juliellen Sarver on March 19, 2013
Juliellen Sarver is a resident of Richmond, an avid bicycle enthusiast, and a professional transportation planner with Simple Solutions Planning & Design, LLC .
Bike commuter Juliellen Sarver.
It looked like a summer hat straight out of Season 3 of Downton Abbey—pale green and breezy. But I was at a bicycling conference and I suspected there was more to that hat than first met the eye.
Sure enough, it was a bike helmet, one cleverly disguised as a summer hat. It was inspiring, and I bought it, even though it wasn’t in my budget and I already have a bike helmet (or two).
The next day, I decided to ride my bike to the conference, a trip of about eight or nine miles. I used to commute by bike almost daily when I lived in Washington, DC, 14 miles each way. Those miles were the sometimes the best part of my day!
My commute to the conference was entirely in dedicated bicycle lanes, including one that is a “protected” bike lane. I was treated as a real commuter by the drivers, accepted as just another person going to work, albeit on a bicycle. I got respect, and I wasn’t odd or in the way.
Since moving to Richmond, however, I haven’t commuted much by bike. And I miss it. I telecommute from home these days, so I don’t have a commute at all, by any means. But honestly, even if I worked in an office away from my house, I would need to work really hard to overcome some of Richmond’s bicycle commuting challenges.
In Richmond, when I ride my bike in the city, I’m in the way. The lack of bicycle infrastructure and the attitude of many drivers make sure I know that I’m not welcome. I dodge potholes and ride through sand and debris on the side of the streets. I get honked at and buzzed by cars and trucks passing too closely to me, and sometimes I get yelled at—all in the span of the three miles between my home and downtown Richmond. I can deal with it, having been a hardened bicycle commuter during the years I lived in DC. But what about those people who want to ride a bicycle to work in Richmond but for whom these challenges are too much to overcome individually?
What can Richmond do, collectively and as a community, to make bicycle commuting within reach of more people? [click to continue…]
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Capital to Capital Ride — Cap2Cap
by admin on March 19, 2013
2013 Cap 2 Cap Poster Final
Join over 2000 riders on Saturday, May 11, for one of Virginia’s largest cycling events — the Capital to Capital ride, aka Cap2Cap — a fundraiser for the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation.
When completed, the 55 mile Virginia Capital Trail will connect past and present capitals of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Richmond along the scenic Route 5 corridor.
Cap2Cap is a unique in having starts at both ends — Richmond and Williamsburg — with 15, 25, 50, and 100 mile out-and-back options. Pedal through 400 years of Virginia history, and help raise funds to make the Virginia Capital Trail a world-class experience. [click to continue…]
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Tidewater Bicycling Association’s Knotts Island Century May 18
by TheWalkman on March 18, 2013
The Tidewater Bicycle Association proudly presents its signature event, the 37th Annual Knotts Island Century ride on May 18. One of the ride’s highlights is that the English and Metric Century both cross the Currituck Sound on the North Carolina State Ferry, from opposite sides.
This year’s registration includes an event logo’d pair of socks, SAG support, tasty food/rest stops, sports drinks, cue sheets, and well-marked routes. Again this year the TBA C.L.A.M.S. sponsored cookie stop is back! Also included is a post ride meal for each rider and volunteer.
Funds raised by the KI Century help further TBA’s education and advocacy efforts.
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New 4.7-Mile Mountain Biking Trail Opens at Meadowood
by admin on March 18, 2013
Meadowood Trail Map – click for larger image.
BLM‘s Doug Vinson writes:
There is a new mountain biking opportunity in Northern Virginia at the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area, in Lorton, on the Mason Neck peninsula. Meadowood is managed by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.
Meadowood recently opened the South Branch Loop Trail, a 4.7 mile long loop trail open to hiking and mountain biking. It is the first constructed natural surface trail open to mountain bikes on BLM-managed land east of the Mississippi River, and one of the few natural surface trails open to mountain bikes on federal land in the greater Washington D.C. area.
The BLM is constructing up to three miles of mountain bike specific trails to connect with the South Branch Loop that will create a diverse, unique, and progressive riding experience for all skill levels. Construction is underway and is expected to be completed by late August 2013. [click to continue…]
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Cognitive Bias and the Real Risk of (Not) Riding Your Bike
by admin on March 15, 2013
Despite loads of statistical evidence that cycling is safe, the impression of danger is still the greatest impediment to people riding their bikes. Why the disconnect?
In this talk from the 2013 Bike Summit, Tom Bowden explains the cognitive bias that keeps people from thinking rationally about the relative safety of cycling.
It was great to meet Commute By Bike’s Ted Johnson at the Summit. Ted added Tom’s slides to this video, and wrote about it a bit too. Thanks Ted!
Tom Bowden is a regular contributor to Commute By Bike, Chairman of the Board of Bike Virginia, and Vice President of the Virginia Bicycling Federation.
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Cars, Bikes, & Pedestrians Do Coexist
by admin on March 13, 2013
Thank you, Mikael Colville-Anderson.
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Virginia Beach’s Shore Drive Gets New Bikeable Shoulder
by Bruce Drees on March 12, 2013
Attached is Virginia Beach’s press release regarding the opening of the new westbound shoulder along Shore Drive. Nice quote from Mayor Sessoms about bicycling.
Many thanks to Bill Conoscenti with TriPower for getting the ball rolling with the mayor in the aftermath of two hit & runs. Thank you for saying “enough already!” and driving the problem toward a solution.
Also, kudos to the Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) and their member civic leagues for their work on improving the safety of all users. Programs such as the Shore Drive Safety Initiative (SDSI) helped set the stage for this and many other improvements now nearing reality. Over many years and many meetings with the city SDCC has consistently pushed their resident’s vision for a safer Shore Drive for everyone. Dave, Grace, Todd, Empsy, June, Ed and Tim- thank you from all of us!
If you haven’t already, you will want to bike this wonderful improvement at the first opportunity.
See you on the road,
Bruce
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Legislative Articles Recap (2013 GA Session)
by Michael on February 24, 2013
Between us, BikeVirginia, RideRichmond, WABA, RABA, TBA, and other groups across the Commonwealth, we put a lot of energy into getting cycling-friendly legislation through during the 2013 General Assembly session. Unfortunately, none of it came to fruition.
We must coordinate, communicate, and advocate together. Many of the proposed laws or changes to the laws never mentioned the words bike, bicycle, cyclist, or bicyclist. Many are universal vehicular safety issues. But that did not stop them from being defeated.
Below are a collection of articles (in chronological order) both for and against some the proposed legislation. Read the ones against and understand the other viewpoint. Read the ones for and know how much harder we’ll have to try next year. [click to continue…]
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Senate Passes Texting Bill; Now Awaits Governor’s Signature
by admin on February 19, 2013
As the Associated Press reports, the Senate has passed HB1907, making texting while driving a primary offense, and increasing penalties for doing so. Now passed by both houses, the bill awaits Gov. McDonnell’s signature to become law.
Currently, texting is a secondary offense — drivers can be cited only while stopped for something else. Fines are only $20 for a first offense, $50 for subsequent offenses. The new law would raise fines to $250 and $500 respectively. Additionally, drivers convicted of reckless driving would face a $500 fine if they were texting at the time of the offense.
A 2009 Virginia Tech study showed that texting drivers were up to 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision.
HB1907 has received little press coverage or fanfare. Note the above report is from the AP, not local or regional press. Have mobile phone companies — with their tremendous advertising budgets — been effective in keeping things quiet? Or are Virginians too involved with their mobile phones to be interested in this crusade?
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SB1060, “Don’t Follow Too Closely,” Defeated 42-55
by BudVye on February 18, 2013
SB1060 defeated by House vote, 42-55.
YEAS–Anderson, BaCote, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carr, Cole, Comstock, Dance, Fariss, Filler-Corn, Garrett, Greason, Habeeb, Herring, Hester, Hope, Howell, A.T., James, Keam, Kory, Krupicka, Lewis, Lopez, May, McClellan, McQuinn, Minchew, Morrissey, Plum, Rust, Scott, J.M., Sickles, Spruill, Stolle, Surovell, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Ward, Ware, O., Watts–42.
NAYS–Albo, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Cline, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Cox, M.K., Crockett-Stark, Dudenhefer, Edmunds, Farrell, Gilbert, Head, Helsel, Hodges, Iaquinto, Ingram, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, Kilgore, Knight, Landes, LeMunyon, Lingamfelter, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, Merricks, Miller, Morefield, Morris, O’Bannon, O’Quinn, Orrock, Pogge, Poindexter, Purkey, Putney, Ransone, Robinson, Rush, Scott, E.T., Sherwood, Tata, Villanueva, Ware, R.L., Watson, Webert, Wilt, Wright, Yancey, Yost, Mr. Speaker–55.
ABSTENTIONS–0.
NOT VOTING–Hugo, Peace, Ramadan–3.
30 D’s (all but Joannou of Norfolk/Portsmouth, and Johnson of Abingdon) voted for the bill, along with 12 R’s. [click to continue…]
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