Braddock bike lane plan includes roads in Annandale area
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| A “road diet” and bike lanes are proposed for Guinea Road. |
Last month, we
reported on the Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s plans to
implement bike lanes on roads VDOT plans to repave this summer in Mason
District. FCDOT also plans to carry out similar projects in the Braddock District, including the following roads in the Annandale area.
reported on the Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s plans to
implement bike lanes on roads VDOT plans to repave this summer in Mason
District. FCDOT also plans to carry out similar projects in the Braddock District, including the following roads in the Annandale area.
- Braeburn Drive
between Guinea Road and Wakefield Chapel Road – A bike lane would be added in
each direction. The road is wide enough to maintain the existing two traffic
lanes and parking lanes, states the proposal from FCDOT Bicycle Program Coordinator
Adam Lind.
- Patriot Drive from
Heritage Drive to Americana Drive – Like Braeburn, there would be one driving
lane, one bike lane, and one parking lane in each direction.
- Queensberry Avenue –
Between Braddock Road and Ravenel Lane, there would be one driving lane, one
bike lane, and one parking lane in each direction. Between Ravenel Lane and
Hemming Avenue, there isn’t enough room for bike lanes, so the plan calls for shared-lane
markings in the road, known as “sharrows,” to indicate the lane is for both
drivers and bicyclists.
- Guinea Road between Braeburn
Drive and Ashmeade Drive – A “road diet” would be implemented on this section,
where there’s a history of crashes. Instead of two lanes in each direction,
there would be one traffic lane and one bike lane in each direction with a turn
lane in the center.
The bike lanes will
be accomplished by striping, not road widening. The Braddock Road plan also includes bike lanes for Ravensworth Road and Heritage Road, which were also covered in the Mason District plan, along with John Marr Drive, McWhorter Place, and Markham Street.
The bike plan design
should be completed by June, and the work will take place this summer. FCDOT is accepting comments on the Braddock bicycle plan through May 3.
Submit comments online or via email to [email protected].
should be completed by June, and the work will take place this summer. FCDOT is accepting comments on the Braddock bicycle plan through May 3.
Submit comments online or via email to [email protected].
I hate the idea of "road diets" at least on roads where busses frequent. Case in point – I can't tell you how many times I get stuck behind busses after Wilson Blvd went on its diet between 7 corners and Ballston.
It seems as if the goal of militant urbanists is to force you out of your vehicle by any means possible.
If WMATA would take a hard line and stop letting people reload fare cards as they are boarding, things would move a bit faster. I often sit in fury on my bus as people are dropping coins into the fare machine, taking up precious time as the bus sits in ever amassing traffic.
Characteristic of DC area drivers: My time is more important than anything you are doing. Get out of my way!
Time to get a bike…
Do it.
Warning: If you bike to work or to get around then you will have this impulse to tell your family, friends and co-workers about every detail: nature seen, cyclists encountered, traffic congestion that you avoided, new routes discovered and so forth.
It sounds ridiculous, but, I have to keep my mouth shut because I realize that most people don't care about that fox that I saw along the CCT or the three cars that ran a red light at Wolftrap Road or the two drivers who were yelling at each other or the adorable toddler who wouldn't stop waving at me. It's an adventure every time.
So, yes, get a bike.
Adding bike lanes to the corner of Heritage and Patriot is an accident waiting to happen during rush hour or on a busy Saturday. It is already chaotic there.
Adding bike lanes doesn't add bikes, the bikes are already there, it just makes it more clear to all involved (bikes and cars) where the bikes are supposed to go.
I'm all for bike lanes, just not on that corner in rush hour.
The lovely rendering doesn't show the massive amount of street parking on Patriot blocking sight lines at parking lots entries either.
Anything we can do to encourage people to get out of their cars is a good thing. I can tell you I will be using these bike lanes a lot to shop at H Mart on my ride home from work. Progress!