Bicycle/pedestrian improvements to be considered for Columbia Pike
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| Columbia Pike in Annandale. |
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is studying options for enhancing bicycling and pedestrian facilities along Columbia Pike between Little River Turnpike and the Arlington border.
Columbia Pike is classified as a “use caution” road within the Fairfax County bicycle network. That means the road is too narrow and there is too much traffic for on-road bike lanes. As a result, the enhancements proposed are expected to consist of a combination of bikeable sidewalks, the use of service roads, and crosswalks.
County officials will seek public input at two pop-up sessions on April 7. Staff will be at tables outside the Safeway in Bailey’s Crossroads (5821 Crossroads Circle) and the Annandale Giant (7137 Columbia Pike) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to get information from people on how they walk and bike along Columbia Pike. Korean, Spanish, and Chinese translators will be on hand.
The study will divide the 4.5-mile corridor into three “context zones” with similar profiles and land uses: Annandale, mid-Pike, and Bailey’s Crossroads. It will be similar to the bicycle/pedestrian study of the Little River Turnpike corridor, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors last summer.
A final report with recommendations is scheduled to be released this summer. Funding for the study comes from a Metropolitan Council of Governments grant.
Having useable bike paths on Columbia Pike would be great. Some of the sidewalks are too narrow for both bikers and pedestrians and can be as dangerous as biking on the roadway, those would have to be widened. Many times I have had to go onto the roadway in South Arlington because of the very narrow sidewalks. The improvements to the Pike would make the Pike a more vibrant pedestrian/bike experience. The path added at the Ambrose Hills townhouse development and the pedestrian bridge over the Holmes Run stream has helped allot.
In my opinion Columbia Pike should be the highest priority for commuting cyclists.
If there were bikeable sidewalks, service roads, and crosswalks on Columbia Pike to the Arlington border, it would very likely become a popular biking route. Currently, how do people walk and/or bike on Columbia Pike? Uh, maybe on a dare? Is public input necessary? How about those officials use the time between 10 and 2 to try walking and/or biking from Little River Turnpike to the Arlington border? That should give them all the input they need.
Knock, knock, I cannot imagine Sharon Bulova or Penny Gross on a bicycle. That would be a train wreck!
What does Penny Gross or Sharon Bulova on a bike have to do with this article? I can’t imagine most car driving Americans over 60 on a bike.
EV, if you had understood Anon 12:02 comment you would understand my reply. There are many seniors that bike and many more that would like too. Additionally seniors also like to walk to stay healthy. I see them walking all the time in the morning and early eve. But because we lack dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks for walking, their safety is put at risk. My sarcasm was to make a point that if Sharon B and Penny G actually participated in these cycling activities, they may get it. The problem is they are both stuck in 1970's solutions on many issues .
Columbia Pike not having a bike lane from Annandale to the Pentagon is a crime.
Its just shortsightedness on the part of the county's leadership. As 10:19AM said, they just dont get it.
Fairfax is so far behind with pedestrian and bike issues. Just look at the development around Mason that Penny pushes for, all car centric and things that allow drive thru . Arlington and their leadership is light years ahead of Fairfax on these issues and its hurting the county as people want to live shop and dine and places you can get around on foot/bike.
Today's event is postponed to next Saturday but comments are being accepted online. More feedback indicating support for a Columbia Pike bike bath could cause them to actually do something:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/study/columbia-pike/feedback