On Tap: Projects to Make Arlington Even More Bicycle-Friendly

Winter not only takes a lot of people off their bikes, it also put a lot of the improvements to cycling infrastructure on pause. Striping is harder to apply, new construction is harder to manage in the cold, and labor is often scarce. But spring brings back the work, and Arlington’s got a number of bike-related projects on tap.

Last month, Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) finally expanded to Columbia Pike. This long-awaited expansion will help extend the range of Arlington’s existing CaBi network, providing something of a middle ground between its well-established locations in Crystal City and the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. Two of the new stations are along Columbia Pike, and one is near the Gunston Community Center. As the year progresses, the expansion will move into Shirlington.

[Map: Capital Bikeshare Expanding in Arlington]

In the very near term, the Clarendon Metro plaza reconstruction will be complete when the last of the covered bike racks are installed. The final result should add spaces to the total bike parking available, even if the number of bike lockers is reduced. This represents a step forward, in my opinion, as first-come-first-serve covered bike parking will probably encourage more cycling than the rented lockers offered by WMATA, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

[More: Board OKs $765K Contract for Clarendon Metro Plaza Upgrades]

This year should also see the completion of the Washington Boulevard Trail. It will put a much-needed north-south connection in place for Arlington cyclists and pedestrians. Despite what the (generally uninformed) opposition from some local voices would have you believe, this project is already funded and approved, and the next step is construction. The Arlington County tradition of consensus is important, but continually revisiting set plans when a few folks make loud noises just invites further abuse of the “Arlington Way.”

[Blacknell: Build the Washington Boulevard Trail]

On the other side of things, not yet funded is the Army Navy Drive cycle track that appeared before the Arlington County Board this past weekend. The plan is to provide physically separated lanes for cyclists on Army Navy Drive, providing an easy connection between the north ends of the Crystal City and Pentagon City neighborhoods. While the cycle track — as a concept — has long been approved, the county has struggled to find funding for it. Saturday’s vote should help that process along.

When constructed, the Army Navy Drive cycle track will be Arlington’s first significant step into cycle tracks, which many believe to be an essential part of the solution to reducing motorist-cyclist conflicts. The idea is that by providing for a physically separated space for both modes of transportation, confidence is increased and misunderstandings are reduced. It's not a universal solution, for sure, but in a space like Army Navy Drive — where there’s loads of room for everyone — it’s a good approach to take.

2012 was a great year for cycling in Arlington. 2013 should be even better.

Mark Blacknell is a member of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee, president of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and a League Cycling Instructor.