WABA BOARD
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WABA Thanks Eric for his Leadership “DC area cyclists have long benefited from his work and dedication; and now it’s time for us to share... ”
President Barbara Klieforth
Vice President Martin Moulton
Treasurer Paul d’Eustachio
Secretary Randall Myers
Board Members Casey Anderson Kendall Dorman Elissa Parker
Jim Titus Dana Wolfe Bruce Wright
WABA STAFF
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Interim Executive Director Dorcas Adkins
Membership & Development Manager Eve DeCoursey
Membership & Development Coordinator Jenn Bress
Events Manager Chantal Buchser
Events Assistant Greg Billing
Safety Education Program Director
Well, it had to happen sooner or later! WABA Executive Director Eric Gilliland is moving on to a ‘bigger and better’ job with the National Association of City Transportation Officials. At first I was dismayed by the news but soon realized that this change was long in the making and is ultimately for the greater good. Who would have thought that the former bike messenger hired in 1999 would take WABA to a size and scope that no one could have imagined? Bruce Dwyer, our acting ED at the time, says that when a struggling WABA needed a new director in 2004, “Eric showed he had fire in the belly for bicycling and was willing to work for scratch, a perfect fit with the search criteria for a new executive director at that time.” WABA has grown substantially since then! Eric not only ushered in this growth, he walked (or biked?) the talk as WABA became one of the preeminent bicycle advocacy organizations in the country. He came to be the face (albeit boyish!) of WABA who rode to events everywhere and would still be ready for the most formal of meetings. Eric’s passion for cycling mixed with his “Lance Armstrong-like” cool-headedness made him an effective communicator with the media, policymakers, members and general public. I believe his personal commitment to the validity of cycling as transportation led him to develop a keen awareness of all things that impact it, especially laws and lawmakers. He maneuvered WABA through challenges and triumphs way too numerous to list more than a handful here. He weathered the BikeDC
Eric Gilliland, Mayor Fenty and WABA board member Martin Moulton celebrating the opening of the Union Station Bike Station
weather jinx, helped strengthen WABA’s viability by diversifying its funding sources, inaugurated the inauguration bike valet, built collegial relationships with government and other partners, and moved WABA to “real” office space complete with full sized desks (a sure sign of legitimacy in the non-profit world!), etc, etc. When WABA staff grew big enough to need those offices, it was an adjustment for Eric to let go of doing everything himself. But he learned to delegate responsibilities and WABA now has many faces to effectively represent WABA! It wouldn’t have occurred to me, but I was telling a non-cycling friend about Eric’s vacation photos, and my friend responded “he even bikes on vacation!?” Of course he does! —Barbara Klieforth, WABA President
Glen Harrison
Safety Education Coordinator Henry Mesias
Education Grants Coordinator Dorcas Adkins
DC & Regional Safe Routes to School Network Coordinator Gina Arlotto
Maryland Safe Routes to School Network Coordinator Patrick MacMahon
DC Bike Ambassador Daniel Hoagland
Bike Parking & Valet Intern Danny Koniowsky
Office Volunteers John Campanile Bruce Dwyer Jon Fleming
Alison Horton Harvey Ollis John Telesco
» RIDE ON RIDEON is published quarterly by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, 2599 Ontario Road NW Washington, DC 20009 phone :: (202) 518-0524 fax :: (202) 518-0936 email :: waba@waba.org website :: www.waba.org Send requests, changes of address or general messages to the WABA office. Address submissions to RIDEON, or email: rideon@waba.org.
WABA Hires Two New Staff Members Daniel Hoagland Danny Koniowsky DC Bike Ambassador Bicycle Parking Intern Daniel Hoagland took over the position of DC Bike Ambassador, vacant since last fall, in early March. Daniel came to us from Cambridge, MA, where he worked for the city’s Environment and Transportation Department on a sustainable transportation program. Before that, he worked for the Boston Bikes program. He brings experience planning and promoting bicycling and sustainable transportation around the greater Boston area, as well as experience coordinating volunteers and organizing bike-themed events such as Boston’s Hub on Wheels ride. Daniel has a BA in English from Tufts University in Medford, MA as well as most of an MS in Political Science from Suffolk University in Boston. He spent the last ten years living and riding around Boston, but spent much of his free time in the District, getting to know the city and experiencing the difference in flavor of bicycling. In addition to his bicycling and urban policy experience in city government, Daniel has been published in the American Journal of Public Health, he’s designed and taught a Tufts University course on the history of coffee, spent five years as a Starbucks barista and sold high-end modern furniture. As the new DC Bicycle Ambassador, Daniel can be found at various community and municipal events all through spring and summer, as well as simply biking around town with the Ambassador trailer—a bike billboard with safety- and education-related messages for road users. His role is to be a two-wheeled resource for the District: visible, knowledgeable and accessible to everyone.
Danny joined WABA in March, taking over the management of the Bicycle Valet Program from the events staff. Danny will also work with organizations, government agencies and individuals on transportation and bike parking issues. Danny's experience working as a bicycle messenger in DC for the past five years gave him knowledge of both the DC streets and where the bike parking possibilities are all over the city. Danny grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, and graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax with a BA in Geography. The commute along the Custis/W&OD to work and school became his favorite part of the day, so he switched gears to ride all day instead, working full time as a bike messenger in DC during college and also after. Danny continues to serve as the Secretary of the DC Bicycle Courier Association. Through the messenger community, Danny became involved with WABA volunteering at Bike to Work Day, the WABA Gala, the Fifty States Ride, and numerous bike valets. You can find him on the weekend training for and racing in road and cyclo-cross races wearing a Route 1/Arrow Bicycle jersey.
www.waba.org
©2010 Washington Area Bicyclist Association.
WABA is a nonprofit advocacy group representing the metropolitan Washington area bicycling community. Coverage of an event not sponsored by WABA does not constitute an endorsement. Reproduction of information in RIDEON for non-profit use is encouraged. Please use with attribution. Printed with Eco-ink - low volatility vegetable oil-based ink on Ecoprint Offset 100 - 100% Post-consumer Recycled, Processed Chlorine Free using 100% Wind Energy in a Carbon Neutral Process.
Google Maps: Bike There Rocking the bicycle world in March, a team from Google announced that the much desired bicycling direction feature would be added to the popular online mapping service. Public bicycling information has been added to the maps such as on-street bike lanes, cycle tracks, multi-use recreational paths, etc. Google uses this information along with elevation and distances to determine the best route by bicycle. Bicycling directions have been added for over 150 cities with more on the way! Developers at Google are still working some of the kinks out of the algorithm used to route bicyclists, and the set
of bicycle paths, lanes and trails is not complete. Google needs the help of experienced cyclists with local bicycling knowledge to update their maps. Use their “report a problem” feature located in the lower right corner of the map to notify Google of an error on their maps. A small marker will pop up on the map that you can drag to the location of the issue and then write them a note about the problem. WABA is very excited to have bicycling directions on Google Maps because it will make it easier for all cyclists, including new riders, to get to their destination by bike and to see the comparison to other modes of transportation!
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THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS VASA RIDE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL Barry Miller Stephen Miller Miguel Ortega Jonathan Platt Mimi Pollow Bridget Pooley Philip Shanholtzer Hilding Tornerhjelm Daina Valatis Merissa Ward Matt Wittmer
Jeff Benson Jason Clock Paulo Couto Scott Dempsey Bob Diehl Andres Eraso Alison Horton Richard Koris Jennifer Lehman Louise Marshall Michael Messner
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WABA VOLUNTEERS are the muscle behind the machine!!
VOLUNTEER CALL Volunteer nights are a great way to meet other members of the local cycling community and maybe even run into some old friends. Volunteer nights typically occur on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Some volunteer nights are filled with admin tasks while others are trainings and meetings for future events. Check the volunteer calendar at www.waba.org/volunteer/ for accurate times and dates. WABA will provide food and beverages, and if you attend three volunteer nights in one year, you will receive a one-year WABA membership, or membership renewal!
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UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Visit waba.org/volunteer for more info. Bike Valet Parking at the Taste of Arlington, Ballston, Arlington VA
» FROM MY SADDLE Fare Thee Well As many of you know, I have recently resigned as executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Since this will be my last contribution to Ride On, I want to use this occasion to briefly reflect on what has occurred during my time with the association. Over ten years ago, I hobbled into the WABA office to hand my resume to Ellen Jones, then WABA’s executive director. At the time, WABA was looking for a part-time data entry person to help process registrations for a small bike ride called Bike DC 1999. I was hobbling because I was on crutches, still recovering from a bike crash suffered while working as a messenger. After nearly four years of spending 8-10 hours a day plying the streets of DC no matter what the weather, I’d been contemplating just how to get out of the business. A timely injury and timely job opening made the decision for me. Back then, the WABA office was two small rooms and two hardworking staff. DC had just a couple of miles of bike lanes, you needed a pass to take your bike on Metro, and the Met Branch Trail was still just a gleam in Pat Hare’s and Paul Meijer’s eyes. Bicycling was still a fringe activity, considered the territory of old school, lycra-clad environmentalists who, despite the lack of bike lanes and bike racks, education classes, share-theroad campaigns, still rode their bikes and urged others to do so as well. Those people, some of whom had seen WABA’s founding in 1972, made up the core of WABA’s small membership. Remarkably, many of these people are still active with the organization today. In the ten years since I began, the changes in both the organization and in the region have been tremendous. The WABA staff has grown from three to eleven full-time equivalents. Our budget has increased by over $700,000. We now boast over 5000 members and tens of thousands of supporters. WABA youth and adult education programs now exist in DC, MD and VA. The pass requirement to bring your bike on Metro has been eliminated, hours of access expanded, and all busses now have bike racks. There’s a new bike station at Union Station and a new trail along the Wilson Bridge. And
throughout the region bike racks are being installed, bike lanes are being striped, and the DC region continues the march toward one of the best trail networks in the country. The future is a bright one. Bike sharing will go regional in 2010. New, innovative facilities such as protected bike lanes will soon sprout up in downtown DC and, thanks to the hard work of WABA and of people like you, cycling is no longer alternative transportation, it’s just transportation and anyone elected in the region must speak to our issues. So after ten years of stale jokes about stale bagels at Bike to Work Day, and ten years of fighting hard to ensure that anyone who wanted to ride a bike for whatever reason would be treated as an equal user of the transportation system, it’s time to move on. While I will certainly be sad to leave WABA, I firmly believe that the organization will continue to be a strong, effective and vibrant agent of change in the DC area. I can’t say enough how amazing it has been to work with you, and my time with WABA will always be something that I’ll remember fondly. Among the staff, some of the hardest working (and best looking) people in advocacy, we quip that there is no “I” in WABA. We say that because it reminds us of who we work for and reminds us that we would not be where we are without the support of the bicycling community and the time, talents and treasure you commit to the cause. With your support, WABA has grown into one of the strongest bike advocacy groups in the country, one that is making a huge impact on the DC region. With your continued support, WABA will emerge from this transition as strong as ever and continue to lead the DC area to a place where anyone can get anywhere … by bike. Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you. I will miss you all greatly. Rubber side down.
Eric Eric Gilliland, WABA Executive Director
BIKE PROM Calling All Bike Party People! WABA is once again planning its annual Bike Prom to take place this June! Marking its third year as DC’s biggest bike party, the WABA Bike Prom is an event not to be missed. WABA’s Bike Prom is the best night of the year to dust off your powder blue leisure suit, 80’s bridesmaid dresses, tuxedo bike jersey, or pink gorilla suit. This year’s Prom will include everyone’s favorite features such as the Photo Booth, election of the Prom Court—to include Prom King, Prom Queen, Prom Prince, Prom Princess, and Court Jester, great raffle prizes, DJs spinning dance tunes all night, and more!
Sunday, May 16 Friday, May 21
This celebration of bike culture comes to life with the help of our extraordinary Prom Committee! The WABA Bike Prom Committee helps to coordinate decorations, logistics, sponsorship outreach, and promotion. If you’re interested in helping to plan this event, contact events@waba.org.
Bike DC
Stay tuned for more details!
Bike to Work Day - Freedom Plaza Pit Stop
Sunday, May 23 National Trails Day “Meet the Met” event - NE DC
Saturday, June 5
• Check out photos of current events.
flckr.com/photos/waba
• Share your photos in the WABA Event Photos pool
Join the WABA group on facebook.com • Connect with local riders.
facebook.com
2 RIDEON • Summer, 2010
• Have fun!
OFF SIDES RIDE with DC United On Saturday, April 3 WABA joined DC United in celebrating their first home soccer game of the season against the New England Revolution. This is the second year that WABA has organized a ‘Bike Me Out to the Soccer Game’ event with DC United to help kick off a busy spring events season in a fun and celebratory way! Since DC United faced off against the New England Revolution, local bike retailer, Revolution Cycles partnered with WABA to help promote the event. To show DC United fans that WABA is a force to be reckoned with, WABA organized a group ride from the Revolution Cycles location in Georgetown to RFK
Stadium where a tailgate awaited while local musician, Wale, performed a pre-game concert in front of the Armory. A great time was had by all!
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ADVOCACY
2010
Bike Projects Back in Montgomery County Budget
H Met Branch Trail Funding Restored! Thanks to the overwhelming support of local cyclists and WABA members, the Montgomery County Council voted to restore funding for the design and construction of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) in the County’s FY 2011-2016 budget. Earlier this year, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett’s budget included no funds for the MBT until 2013, and only included $6 million for design land acquisition. The Council decision included $12 million starting in the next fiscal year for design, land acquisition and construction of the trail west of Georgia Avenue. In another victory for the trail, the Montgomery County Planning board recommended (and the County Council approved) the addition of a new trail bridge over Georgia Ave to the MBT design. Earlier recommendations from the County Executive would have forced trail users to use an existing narrow pedestrian walkway. “This segment of the Met Branch is the key linking point in the entire trail network in Montgomery County, but it had been languishing for years,” said Eric Gilliland, WABA’s executive director. “We are extremely pleased that the County Council has recognized the importance of this trail to the people of Montgomery County and we hope they will continue to show their support during the final budget reconciliation.”
ADVOCACY CALENDAR
be constructed along with the Purple Line, existing sections of the trail near Montgomery County, and a new MBT section in the Silver Spring Transit Center.
In other good budget news: MacArthur Boulevard Bikeway Improvements The Executive had recommended pushing the completion of these improvements to FY13. Council has tentatively programmed funds to complete the project in FY12. Trail for Montrose Parkway East The Council has tentatively recommended funding the extension of this project west over Parklawn Drive and the CSX tracks to connect to the Rockville Pike/Montrose interchange now under construction. As part of this project the hiker-biker trail will also be extended, so that there will be a continuous off-road trail from I-270 to Veirs Mill Road, including a connecting path to the Rock Creek Trail. WABA would like to thank all of you who wrote letters of support for the trail and also thank Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin who advocated strongly for the trail at the County Council. Please note that the Council still needs to give final approval of the changes during the budget reconciliation process that will occur in May. Stay tuned to www.waba.org for action alerts.
The Met Branch Trail in Silver Spring will eventually connect to the improved Capital Crescent Trail that will
Safe Routes to School
Although it may seem perfectly normal to want to ride a bike to school, in fact, the number of children who walk or bike has plummeted over the past 40 years. At the same time obesity and associated childhood illnesses have risen steadily. The good news is that a federal program has been created to help schools create safe routes to schools and educate staff, kids and parents about how to use them. Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS), created in 2006, has since given out over $600 million for education and infrastructure improvements. In the DC Metro area many jurisdictions have availed themselves of these funds. Over the past five years the District has received $5 million for education and infrastructure while numerous communities in Maryland’s DC suburbs have received several hundred thousand dollars. Virginia has been a little slow on the uptake,
Safe Routes to Schools http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
Mark your calendars for the following recurring bicycle advocacy meetings throughout 2010.
H Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee First Monday of even-numbered months, 7:00 pm. Arlington County Govt. Center (#1 Courthouse Plaza), 2100 Clarendon Blvd. (Courthouse Metro), Azalea Conference Room. For more info: David Goodman, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, at (703) 228-3709 or dgoodman@arlingtonva.us.
H Coalition of the Capital Crescent Trail Board Meeting Second Monday of each month, 7- 9 pm. Normally at the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road. Second Monday of June in Elm Street Park, Bethesda. No meetings in August or December. See http://www.cctrail.org/CCT_News_ and_Events.htm
H D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council
H Past Can Be Prologue Some years ago our outdoors-loving fifth grader complained about being nearly the last kid dropped off by the school bus each afternoon. We suggested he investigate riding his bike to school, which is about a mile from our house. He found that the school had a bike rack but that the principal required his authorization to ride. We explored the route with him, taught him how to cross the one busy street and navigate the side-streets to school. He spent the last two years of elementary school empowered by his ability to get to and from school on his own terms. He is now in his mid-20s, fit, and still bikes as often as he can.
Find out what’s going on in your area, and share your concerns!
seeking only a small percentage of funds that might have been awarded. In fact, last year in Northern Virginia only a handful of schools in Alexandria and Arlington were awarded funds and these were strictly for education, no infrastructure improvements. The problem, particularly in Fairfax County, has been a school board that prefers busing and family car delivery to biking or walking. Some principals, when approached, have even said that under no circumstances will children be allowed to bike to school. That said, parents at a handful of schools in Fairfax County have taken the initiative and mobilized their kids. Students and parents at Louis Archer School in Vienna created a “bike bus” program. This student-led and parent supervised program has students regularly riding to school in groups along with a parent.
First Wednesday of odd-numbered months, 6-8 pm. For more info: DC Bicycle Coordinator, Jim Sebastian at (202) 671-2331 or jim.Sebastian@dc.gov.
H Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling Third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm, at the Vienna Community Center at 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, VA 22180 For more info: Bruce Wright at bruce.wright@comcast.net.
H Metropolitan Branch Trail Coalition Second Thursday of each month, 6:30-8:30 pm. For more info: Paul Meijer at 202-726-7364 or meijer@cua.edu.
H Montgomery County Bicycle Action Group (MCBAG)
The point is that we must catch kids early to teach them good habits that last a lifetime. A new study out of the University of Essex in England shows that in a sampling of 6,000 kids, those that bike to school were the fittest while those who were driven were the least fit. WABA urges parents of elementary- and middle-school aged children to contact their schools or their state coordinator’s offices. If your school doesn’t have a program ask what you can do to get one started. There is money available but these programs will only succeed if parents take the initiative in encouraging their schools. —Bruce Wright, Chairman, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
SafeRoutes
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Safe Routes to Schools • http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/contacts/DC.cfm Jennifer Hefferan • jennifer.hefferan@dc.gov • (202) 671-2227. MARYLAND Safe Routes to Schools http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/contacts/MD.cfm Joe Pelaia • jpelaia@sha.state.md.us • 410-787-7620 or 1-800-323-6742. VIRGINIA Safe Routes to Schools • http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/contacts/VA.cfm Sarah Weisiger • sarah.weisiger@vdot.virginia.gov • 804-371-4868
RESOURCES
Third Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:30 pm, 100 Edison Park Drive, 4th Floor, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
H Prince Georges County Bicycle & Trails Advisory Group (BTAG) Meets quarterly. Contact Fred Shaffer for details at Fred.Shaffer@ppd.mncppc.org.
H WABA Board Meeting Second Monday each month, 6:30- 8:30 pm. Contact the WABA office for location and agenda at (202) 518-0524 or waba@waba.org.
For a bi-weekly update on advocacy activities, sign up for WABA’s e-bulletin “Quick Release” by sending a message to waba@waba.org.
www.waba.org RIDEON • Summer, 2010 3
H BICYCLING EDUCATION & OUTREACH
WABA Offering Confident City Cycling Classes in 2010
Safe Routes to School Network
In keeping with its mission to promote safe bicycling throughout the Washington region, WABA is pleased to announce that it has scheduled a series of FREE Confident City Cycling (CCC) and Learn to Ride (L2R) classes (for which a fee of $10 will be charged). These classes, which are open to all, regardless of residency, are designed to provide cyclists with the skills they need to incorporate bicycling into their daily routines, on city streets for errands, commuting, and fun.
This past month has been a very productive one for our SRTS Network Coordinator, Gina Arlotto. Focusing on building the Greater Washington regional SRTS network, she has been attending MWCOG Bike/Ped Subcommittee meetings, meeting with individual MWCOG staffers and conducting research on the regional transportation planning process. Through these efforts, it has been confirmed that neither VA nor MD SRTS projects are listed in the Transportation Improvement Plan or in the Constrained Long Range Plan. Washington DC SRTS projects are included as a line item in the TIP, however. Since SRTS is a federally funded project through the federal transportation bill, all SRTS projects must be included in the TIP and CLRP. More research is pending, but this would appear to indicate that VA and MD SRTS funds are being spent in other areas of the state and NOT in the immediate Washington region. Since the member jurisdictions of MWCOG include many counties throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland (in Virginia: the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Arlington County, City of Falls Church, Prince William County, City of Fairfax, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and in Maryland: Town of Bladensburg, City of Bowie, City of Gaithersburg, Prince George’s County, City of College Park, City of Greenbelt, City of Rockville, Montgomery County, City of Takoma Park, Frederick County, and the City of Frederick) it is troubling to find that this money is not being spent in the most populous and congested areas of these states. Gina has made this her main priority for the coming months. The funds now available through the HIRE act should flow into the Greater Washington region and be included in the regional planning documents. Gina will continue to work with the MWCOG staff and the region’s transportation departments to promote and advocate for SRTS funding in the close-in Washington DC counties.
WABA offers three types of CCC classes: CCC1 is a 2-hour basic skills class and CCC2 is a 4-hour vehicular cycling and avoidance maneuver class. Both types of class involve in-class and on-bike elements. Additionally there is a 3-hour CCC3 class which is a written and riding evaluation for those who want to go on to become League Cycling Instructors (LCI). CCC1, 2 and 3 all add up to what is known as a Traffic Skills 101 class, which students need to pass before going on to obtain an LCI certification. There will be one 20-hour LCI Seminar scheduled later this year.
In addition to these, WABA also offers 3-hour L2R classes for non-riding adults who want to learn how. We also offer Commuter Seminars designed to encourage groups or employees to commute to work or make short trips by bike. There is also a 3-hour advanced class called Group Riding Skills designed to introduce regular bicycle riders to beginning peloton skills for use during group or mass start charity rides. “As weekend recreational cyclists contemplate taking the next step to using their bikes on city streets alongside motorized traffic, this class can provide much-needed help. We hope you will enjoy getting to class by bike and transit, and discovering the city’s diverse system of Libraries and Recreation Centers at the same time” says Glen Harrison, WABA’s Director of the Safety Education
C&O CANAL Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live along the C&O Canal, surrounded by the historical intrigue of bygone(s) eras and the captivating beauty of nature? Canal Quarters, a new joint effort between the C&O Canal National Historical Park and the C&O Canal Trust, offers visitors the chance to find out for themselves by staying overnight in a historic lockhouse. Initially established in an effort to preserve the historic lockhouses, Canal Quarters also showcases and gives voice to the stories of the locktenders and their families who called these places home. The furnishings in Lockhouse 49 at Four Locks near Clear Spring in Washington County, Maryland, reflect the period of the early 20th century, toward the end of the canal’s operations. Lockhouse 22 at Pennyfield Lock near Potomac, Maryland, will show what life was like during the establishment and construction of the canal in the 1830s. Lockhouse 6, near the Brookmont community in Bethesda, is furnished as it may have been in the 1950s to tell the story of the campaign to preserve the canal led by Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. After a day of biking, kayaking, birding, hiking, or enjoying other recreational activities, you will have the unique opportunity to cook over a campfire, play games from centuries past, flip through scrapbooks of historic photos, and listen to the river and sounds of wildlife as you fall asleep in period furniture as locktenders did generations ago. Each lockhouse can accommodate up to eight guests and has ample storage to house bikes overnight. Groups may stay in the lockhouses for a maximum of three consecutive nights. To begin your journey, please visit www.canalquarters.org.
• Bicycling Accident Attorney • Avid Commuter & Cyclist
THOMAS G. WITKOP Criminal & Traffic Defense, Personal Injury, Business 27 West Jefferson Street Rockville, Maryland 20850
TomWitkop@Juno.com (301) 294-3434
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Montgomery County
If There’s a Will, There’s a Way “The people of Montgomery County like their cars.” This was what the sleeping giant, Art Holmes, who is the director of Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation, announced rather loudly after 45 minutes of listening as Bruce Johnston and I discussed various future bike paths. The meeting quickly ended thereafter. The meeting had actually come about quite easily, which was a surprise to me. I had spoken at a couple of Montgomery Council Meetings, regaling them with statistics like “40% of all trips in America are two miles or less, 74% of which are traveled by car.” I pointed out that “Maryland has seen a 70-100% increase in bicycle commuting from 2000 to 2008.” “And that’s with the lousy state of our bike paths?” “If we want to decrease congestion, we really ought to build more bike paths and make them connect to something.” Along with each of these statements, they invariably nodded their collective heads and smiled at me. We seemed to be on the same side. Montgomery County has had a bike path plan since 1977, and has already adopted the functional master plan, so what was the big problem? Where were all the bike paths? I asked the staff director of the county council about setting up a meeting, and he suggested that I meet with the Director of Transportation of Montgomery County, Art Holmes. Upon calling Mr. Holmes’ office I found myself suddenly set up with a 30-minute meeting. I was convinced this was a plot. What could the Director of Transportation of Montgomery County possibly want to say to me for 30 minutes? I was expecting five or maybe ten minutes. I would just pop in and say “by the way, we need more bike paths,” and he’d say “Ok” and that would be it. But 30 minutes is a lot of responsibility. 30 minutes seemed to imply I had better have a presentation ready. But it wasn’t Art Holmes I spent most of the time talking to. It was Bruce Johnston who is the division chief for Transportation Engineering. He walked in and opened the
big budget book and started pointing out various bike paths they were planning on building in Montgomery County. He explained some important things that most Montgomery County bicyclists probably don’t know. I certainly didn’t. For instance, it’s only when a bike project costs less than 300k that it’s called a bike project and isn’t folded into a bigger project where it never gets the recognition it deserves. And gaps in paths often happen because a developer puts in a path for his development and even though there may be something in the master plan for it to connect up with, it waits for whoever owns the next bit of land to develop it and complete the path. Bruce was pointing out a path that had just been “green lighted” that would cut out a dangerous intersection. “This is great,” I said. “But what happens when the bicyclist gets here?” and I pointed to the end of the path. “Where’s that bicyclist supposed to go? We need a network of paths to get around on just like cars do.” That’s when Art, who had seemed so comfortable sitting there following along as Bruce and I talked, jumped in and told me in no uncertain terms what the people of Montgomery County wanted. “The people of Montgomery County like their cars.” He even repeated himself just to make sure I got the point.
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6.7.10 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) 6.14.10 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) 6.21.10 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
I think Mr. Homes is dramatically missing the point. I think the people of Montgomery County, especially those of us who do not live near the Capital Crescent Trail, would love a network of bike paths to get around on safely. And if you do too, call him up and tell him. We’re never going to get a network of bike paths if the director of Transportation is allowed to continue thinking that we don’t want it. His phone number is 240-777-7170. Oh, and money is available for things like this. It’s called the Active Transportation Act of 2010. I gave them a copy while I was there. —Alison Horton, WABA Member and Office Volunteer
6.28.10 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) 7.5.10 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) 7.12.10 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) 7.19.10 Star Trek: Generations (1994) 7.26.10 Star Trek: First Contact (1996) 8.2.10 Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) 8.9.10 Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) 8.16.10 Star Trek (2009)
www.crystalcity.org
» BIKE COMMUTER SPEAKS we hang positive-reinforcement messages for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians. This third part also combines aspects of the other two, as I take any opportunity out there to educate and answer questions that people might have. RideOn: So, how have people been responding to you out on the streets? Daniel: Great! Like most cyclists, after a few years out there, I’ve experienced my share of harassment by motorists, and the first time I took the DCBA trailer out, I thought “Wonderful, now I have a giant target attached to my bike.” But the reality is that people seem excited to see me. The majority of the comments I’ve gotten have been along the lines of “It’s good to see you out here” or “What a great idea!” Those come from cyclists of course. Pedestrians seem mostly curious, while drivers seem mostly not to care as long as I’m not slowing them down. RideOn: What makes you, a Bostonian, qualified to represent bicycling in Washington?
Daniel Hoagland is the latest full-time addition to WABA’s rapidly growing staff. He took over the DC Bicycle Ambassador position in March and is looking to kick off a successful second season of bicycling diplomacy between WABA and the people of the District. Although Daniel is the only Ambassador at the moment, he will be joined by a corps of volunteer Ambassadors and a part-time assistant who will help increase the visibility of the program and the accessibility of these community bike enthusiasts. RideOn: How did you become the DC Bike Ambassador? Daniel: Living and working up in Boston, I realized that I wanted to make a career out of being on a bike, so I toiled away at internships and part-time jobs for the city, working for bike programs that were consistently undervalued and underfunded. When I saw the WABA
job posting, I knew that I had to make this full-time bikecareer thing happen, and I jumped at the opportunity. RideOn: And what does a Bike Ambassador do, exactly? Daniel: Aside from the occasional diplomatic mission to the United Nations, my job consists of three big areas. First, I’m a bike educator. Businesses, nonprofits and government agencies can request a bike commuter workshop from the DCBA website. This is a brown-bag style lunch hour seminar where we use a League of American Bicyclists-designed curriculum. Second, I’m a highly mobile bike information booth. I go to WABA events, city-sponsored events, community events, really any event where people could possibly be talking or thinking about bicycles and I act as a resource for anyone to approach and ask questions. Third, and maybe most important, I’m a visible role model of best practices out on the streets of DC. I have a bike trailer billboard where
Daniel: My enthusiasm! The fact is, I’m no stranger to DC as I lived and worked here before. Cities have different characters, but the problems we face as cyclists and as cycling advocates are very similar. We have the same car-first mentality to struggle against in Boston and we have the same issue with cyclists running red lights and biking on the sidewalks. Education and outreach (and enthusiasm) are just as effective and helpful in Boston as they can be here in the District. RideOn: What is the future of the DC Bike Ambassador program? Daniel: The program was designed after successful Bike Ambassador initiatives in Philadelphia, Chicago and elsewhere. One of the key components in these other programs has been recruiting and training a knowledgeable, enthusiastic team of volunteer Ambassadors. We hope to have the first of our incredible volunteers out on the street soon to spread the gospel of bicycling faster and farther than I can alone.
RIDEON • Summer, 2010 5
BIKE TO W RK DAY Take to the streets on Friday, May 21, 2010, for the DC region’s largest bicycling event! Thousands of area cyclists will pedal to work to celebrate bicycling as a clean, healthy and fun mode of transportation. Participants will have the choice of 35 regional “pit stops” during their morning bicycle commutes where organizers will have snacks and drinks, entertainment, raffles for bikes and accessories and more. Bike to Work Day is a FREE event and all are welcome. The first 8,500 people to register at waba.org will receive free Bike to Work Day T-Shirts at the pit stops they register to attend.
MAY 21
2010
If your bike has been lonely lately, you may want to spend some time together in preparation for Bike to Work Day. Below are a few tips for getting yourself and your bike ready:
» Prepare your bike – check tire pressure and brakes. If your bike needs a tune-up, do it now before the bike shops are too busy. Remember, WABA members get discounts at most area bike shops.
» Prepare your equipment – Find your helmet or get a new one even though it’s not legally required, it’s a smart idea! Pack a water bottle and maybe a rain jacket and pants (just in case).
» Prepare your route – Google Maps now has bicycling directions. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the best route from home to work.
» Prepare your self – Go for a short ride after work or WABA will be organizing the Freedom Plaza Pit Stop with a crowd of over 1,000 cyclists expected to attend, even more if the sun is shining! A full schedule of local and national leaders will be speaking on stage from 8am to 9am. There will also be representatives on site from Whole Foods, Potomac Pedalers, BikeDC, SmartWool, Honest Tea, Downtown BID and more. If your organization or business is interested in exhibiting at or sponsoring the Freedom Plaza Pit Stop, please contact WABA at events@waba.org.
on the weekend as a warm up. Are you thinking 2010 might be the year to start riding your bike to work but you’re unsure how to start? WABA has organized almost 30 “commuter convoys” throughout the region. Experienced bicycle commuting volunteers will lead commuters along predetermined routes, most ending in downtown DC. The convoy leaders will be able to assist participants with basic tips for safe riding and commuting routes. We are still in need of a few more convoy leaders. If you feel experienced enough to lead a convoy route, please contact Greg at greg@waba.org. If you not feeling quite ready for bicycling in traffic, WABA has a set of FREE Confident City Cycling classes to prepare you for safe and efficient bicycling commuting. Sign up online at www.waba.org. As Bike to Work Day approaches, check the WABA website for the latest information and news about this exciting event. WABA also invites you to share your Bike to Work Day experiences with other riders on Facebook via the WABA Fan Page (search WABA) or on Twitter with WABA (twitter.com/WABADC) or Bike to Work Day (twitter.com/biketoworkday). Hope to see you out there!
PIT STOPS BIKE TO WORK DAY 2010 WASHINGTON, DC • Freedom Plaza • Buzzard Point-U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters • Nationals Park
MARYLAND • Bethesda-Downtown • Bethesda-NIH-Building One • Bethesda-NIH-Executive Blvd • Bethesda-Naval Medical Center • Bowie Town Center • Bowie Old Town • College Park • Frederick • Hyattsville • Indian Head • North Bethesda-White Flint Mall • Oxon Hill • Rockville-Rockville Town Center • Rockville-Falls Grove Transportation Center • Silver Spring-One Discovery Place • Silver Spring-FDA White Oak
VIRGINIA • Alexandria • Arlington-Ballston • Arlington-Rosslyn • Arlington-Crystal City • Burke • Fairfax Corner • Fairfax City Downtown • Herndon • Leesburg • Manassas • Merrifield • Reston • Springfield/Metro Park at Walker Lane • Sterling • Tysons Corner
Register Online at www.waba.org!
Don’t belong to a Credit Union? Now you can through the WABA card.
VASA
RIDE
6 RIDEON • Summer, 2010
Sunday, March 7 brought DC’s first beautiful spring weekend and WABA’s cyclists took note arriving in large numbers to the fourth annual Vasa Ride! The Vasa Ride first came about through a partnership with the House of Sweden to celebrate the famed Vasaloppet cross country ski race that takes place in Sweden every year during the first weekend of March. This ride has quickly become a spring rite of passage attracting over 650 riders this year taking on the 56-mile Vasa Ride,
28-mile Halv Vasa, and 15-mile Kort Vasa. As riders completed their tours and returned to the House of Sweden for the traditional hot blueberry soup, the lawn in front of the building quickly filled up with riders and bikes enjoying their soup and the beautiful sunshine! A big thank you to the House of Sweden for hosting the event again this year, to Spokes Etc. for providing mechanical support for our riders, and for everyone who came out this year to join us!
2009
With heartfelt thanks from WABA Board and Staff for your support and generosity.
DONORS BIG WHEELS ($100+) Mary Alexander Sam Alvord Keith Allen Tom Amrhein Tucker, Karen & Heather Andersen Todd Angerhofer Allison Archambault Douglas Barker William Barns Jim Beck Maurice Belanger Jim Bertine Peter Beutler Ned & Jill Bicks Ann Bissell Melissa Bloom Diane Bolton Cynthia Brady Nancy Breen Josie Briggs Margot Brinkley Michael Brown Lester Brown Thomas Burnett Matt Butcher Laura Byerlee Jennifer Carter Wilbur Chase Joe Clark Antoine Crews Stephen Daniels Paul Dempsey-Chiam Paul D’Eustachio Morris Deutsch Yvonne Doerre Robert Donaldson Stephen Doyle Alaine Duncan Frank Dunn Nancy Eggert Linda Fagan Michael Farrell Jay Fisette Gerald Fisette Jesse Fox Stuart Frisch & Robin Chernoff Adam Froehlig Matthew Gamser Ralph Barboushian Thomas Garnett Charles Garrett Christopher Gilson Jonathon Glass Lois Gloor Daniel Goelzer Abel Gomez Carol Goodloe William Green Karen & David Grissen Laurel Haak Eric Hallstrom Marshall Harper Diane Harris Heidi Henning Roger Hillas, Jr. Shelley Hoogstraten-Miller Megan Hull Monica Irmler David James Patrick Johnston Cecile Jones Scott Jordan Dennis Kirschbaum Greg Kissel Edward Kleinbard Louis Kokonis Page Kyle David La Mar Peter Larkin & Barbara Power Daniel Lipsky-Karasz Sam Longstreet Ariane Lotti William Luecke Jeff Maddrey Walt Mallory James Manning Sho Maruyama Jennifer Marsh Jennifer Maylone Denise McCabe Keith McConnell Gail Messier Tom Metcalf Anke Meyer Thomas Miller Kevin Mills Jeffrey Moore Stephen Mosier Patricia Newkirk John Northrop Todd Parsons Richard Reis Steve Richardson Aaron Richardson Claudia Rizzo David Rockwell Allan Rogers Thomas Rosenkoetter Ben Ross Jane Roush Mike Ryschkewitsch Linda Schwartzstein Scott Scudamore Van Seagraves Paul Segel John Seng Elaine Shall Elisabeth Sherwood
Not yet a member of the movement?
Join Now! WABA Getting people there by bike since 1972
MEMBERHIPS Vera Sisolak John Skeele Barry Skidmore Tanya Snyder William Spinazzola Joseph Stelmach Richard Stockton Thomas Suarez Mary Szpanka Marian Taliaferro Charles Taylor John Taylor & Takako Nagara Brad Thayer Jim Titus Jari Tuomala Thomas VIlms Jim Volle Arthur Watson & Carol Golubock Jill Weissenberger Suzanne Wells Paul Wengert Marchant Wentworth John, Martha, Emma & Helen Whitty David Wilcox Bill Wilkinson Kendall Wilson Dana Wolfe Alan Young Andres Zbikowski Bill Zlotnick America’s Charities
BIG WHEELS ($200+) Casey Anderson Don Baker Liz Barratt-Brown & Bos Dewey David & Cathey Belli Sally & Sanders Berk Stephen Bickel Jim Cavanaugh David Chojnacky John Cibinic Dee Clarkin Michael Connelly Katherine Cudlipp Don Cuming Mai-trang Dang Martha Edens-Schmidt Andrea Ferster Charles Figgins Paul Forman Robert Fox Steve Gardner Peter Gray Allen Greenberg Peter Harkness Diane Harris Phil Heinrich Adrienne Hopkins Barry Jacobs Peter Janssens Martin & Carolyn Karcher Linda Knutsen James Lamiell Michael Mann Paul Meijer Eric & Betsy Mendelsohn Nancy Oliver Susan Orlins Elissa Parker Barbara Power Dan Sheesley Linda Sher Brian Sisolak Carol Schaffer & Randall Swisher Philip M. Teigen Christopher Walker Jim Weiss Tom Witkop Reston Bicycle Club San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Sisco Family Fund
TRAIL BLAZERS ($100+) Linda Bailey Richard Beahm Jim Bender Jim & Angela Benton Sally & Sanders Berk Stephen Bickel Ilona Blanchard McCann Bloomfield Family Nancy Breen Chris Brown Matt Butcher Ralph Carter Joe Clark Cathleen Coffey Ed Corner Jerome Conlon Nicolas Daminelli Marybeth Degrave Tom Dorset Olivier Durand Jonathan Elkind Craig Emden William Ewing Gannon & Witkop, Attorneys David Garlock Charles Garret Martin Gellert Daniel Goelzer Arthur Watson & Carol Golubock Carol Goodloe John Goodman David Gossett Neal & Janice Gregory Chris Hartenau Todd Herwig Walter Holemans Patrick Johnston Nathaniel Kelso Elizabeth Kingery Walt Knight Jeremy Lavine Richard Lindstrom
CHAMPIONS ($200+) Michael Beriss Dee Clarkin Neil Cohen Mark & Marci Cook Fannie Mae Foundation Drew Faubion Jonathon Glass Bucky Green Margaret Greene Monica Irmler Sergio Kapfer & Daphna Krim John King Barbara Klieforth Karol Krotki Debbie Leavens Molly Ann March Keith McConnell Jeffrey Moore Alex Roth Van Seagraves Julie Segre Cary Shaw Gary Singer Connor Smith Andrew Tarr Joe & Mikel Witte Glen Worrell
PLATINUM PEDALERS ($300+) John Chesson Marck Currie Susan Dery Jenniver Fischer Paul Forman Peter Harkness Linda Knutsen Richard Mandell Michael Mann James Monroe Donald L. Rice Philip M. Teigen
WABA’s LIFE MEMBERS ($500+) Dale Abrams Boris Allan Casey Anderson J.J., Pearl, Elana & Brenda Bailes Cliff Majersik & Anne-Marie Bairstow Leslie Baldwin Jim Bertine Edward Blanton David Bono Derek Bush John Butler Thomas Buzas Rob Cahill John Capozzi, Jr. Mark Perry & Wendy Caron John Carter Daniel Ciccarelli Judith Corley Eric Czander Eve DeCoursey Charlie Denney Loren Denton Bruce Dwyer Jon Fleming David Frankel Brian Freburger Kindy French Christopher Frost Riley & Marilyn Geary Milton Gottesman Jaydee Hanson Richard Hartger William Horne Richard Hoye Marcia Insley Chip Johnson Robert Jones Stacie Keenan Peter Kent Julie Kurland Seung-Hee Lee Alan Levin Clay & Kathleen McCuistion Paul Meijer Robert Mihalek Chan Mohney Rick Morgan Chris Moriarity Jon Morrison Allen Muchnick Andreas Muno Bonnie Nevel Bill Norwood Doug Oates Scott Osberg Robert Patten Marc Ressler Lynn Roche Michael Salzberg Linda Schwartzstein Paul Segel Cary Shaw Julian Shepard C.K. Simpson Dennis Slack Lawrence Small Craig H. Smith Michael & Alison Smith Douglas Stewart David Talmage Nancy Taylor Philip M. Teigen Genevieve Ungar Ken Uyehara Steve Van Pelt John Waitman Jim Werner David West James Wight *as of 12/31/09
Yes! I want to support bicycling by: n Becoming a member and/or n Making a $
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Individual memberships: $35 One year $50 Two years $20 Student (School: $25 Non-profit (Org: $25 Seniors (60+)
) )
Over $100, get a WABA T-Shirt and listed in RideOn! Please indicate size: S n M n L n XL n $100 Trail Blazer (One year) $200 Champion (Two years) $300 Platinum Pedaler (Three years) $500 WABA Lifetime Jersey Club Jersey: S n M n L n XL n n Please do not list my name in the WABA newsletter. Family memberships: $45 One year
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TELL A CYCLING BUDDY! Do your cycling friends a favor – tell them about
WABA! Peter M. Baskin ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW 2300 CLARENDON BLVD, SUITE 700 ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22201 TEL: (703) 528-8000 • (703) 276-6800 FAX: (703 ) 522-4570
BIG WHEELS ($300+) Matthew Bieschke Gary Burch Margaret Cahalan Adrian Parsegian Dennis Slack Margaret Jones
BIG WHEELS ($400+) Leslie Arminski Pat Munoz & Dorcas Adkins Sydney Ulvick
BIG WHEELS ($500+) Neal Krucoff Bill Michie Rick Morgan Charles Pekow Jim Sebastian
BIG WHEELS ($1,000+) Emily Littleton
BIG WHEELS ($2,000+) Charlie Denney Kindy French
BIG WHEELS ($5,000+) World Bank Community Connections Fund
BIG WHEELS ($9,000+) United Way of the National Capital Area
Josh Bennett, Rest In Peace With the warmest heart, I remember Joshua Bennett, a regular volunteer who graced the WABA office for over a year. Josh arrived at our office one afternoon and offered his time to help with whatever administrative needs we had. We assured him we needed help on plenty of projects and he assured us he was amenable to helping with any of them. He agreed to come in every Thursday to help with our ever-mounting pile of data entry. Over the course of the year I worked with him, we became friends. We discovered a similar love of music. He disclosed that he has once worked at the 9:30 Club as the business manager, a music venue I sometimes frequent. I would run into him when I was out and friendly chats would drift into meaningful and long conversations. He was always kind and a good listener. As a volunteer, Josh was always punctual, reliable and easy-going. He was the perfect compliment to the fastpaced WABA office, a nice breath of fresh air whenever he visited us, and he was well liked by the entire staff.
During a discussion about his decreasing volunteer availability, it was revealed that he was sick, and had been struggling with cancer for years. This made a profound impression on me, not only because it was such sad news, but because he was such a positive, cheerful person. Eventually, his volunteer schedule became erratic due to health complications. He remained positive, assuring me he would be out for a little while, but would be back in the office in a month or so. A couple weeks went by and I thought to drop him a line to check in on him. The next day, we received the devastating news that Josh had passed away. Josh never made it to our new office. We would have loved to see the look on his face when we saw our “real” kitchen and private office for the E.D. Josh was a dedicated volunteer who we will all miss dearly. WABA meant a lot to him and he meant a lot to us. Thank you to all the family and friends who have made donations to WABA in his honor. Josh, we miss you and will always remember you with the highest regards. —Jenn Bress, Membership & Development Coordinator
RIDEON • Summer, 2010 7
H EVENTS CALENDAR:
www.waba.org
BIKE VALET at the TASTE OF ARLINGTON J SUNDAY, MAY 16 Ride your bike over to the Taste of Arlington, a lively street festival, complete with noteworthy restaurants, live entertainment, and children’s activities. WABA will be offering free bike valet parking for the duration of the event. More info available at http://tasteofarlington.com/
Washington Area Bicyclist Association 2599 Ontario Road NW Washington, DC 20009
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Washington, DC Permit 6803
Bike to Work Day! J FRIDAY, MAY 21 Join thousands of other bicycle commuters to celebrate Bike to Work Day 2010! With 35 regional pit stops and 20 commuter-led convoys, this is an event for the experienced and novice bike commuter alike!
Bike DC J SUNDAY, MAY 23 Join Bike DC as the signature spring bicycling event on the Washington, DC event calendar. Sunday morning, May 23rd, will be your opportunity to experience the beauty and grandeur of our nation’s capital from the best possible vantage point: the seat of your bicycle pedaling along car-free streets. Registration available at www.bikedc.net
Meet the MET! A Celebration of the Metropolitan Branch Trail J SATURDAY, JUNE 5 Come celebrate the newly completed section of trail and its connection to several neighborhoods in Ward 5 with Rails to Trails Conservancy and WABA with a community-wide event on the trail with tons of family-friendly activities. Celebrate National Trails Day with a ride along the new sections of the Met Branch Trail!
RIDE ON «
www.waba.org
« « «
BIKE DC MAY 23
WABA ED in Demand – Good Luck, Eric
Met Branch Trail Funding Restored
2010 BIKE TO WORK DAY » MAY 21 A PUBLICATION OF THE WASHINGTON AREA BICYCLIST ASSOCIATION
RIDE
« ON
WWW.WABA.ORG SUMMER 2010 VOLUME 38 | No 2
Get Ready for Another Great Bike to Work Day!