CommuterPageBlog

Keep Donating Canned Goods!

The canned food drive on the ART buses and at the Commuter Stores is off to a great start! Since the canned food drive began on November 14, Arlington Transit has received 100 canned and 60 boxed food items!

Donations as of Nov. 29

If you haven't donated yet, there's still plenty of time! The food drive will continue until December 16. Boxes are on all ART buses and at Commuter Stores for customers to put canned foods and non-perishable items in. All donations will be given to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) to help Arlington residents who are in need.

Not sure what to donate? Here are some ideas:

• Canned vegetables and fruits
• Cans of low sodium soups
• Boxes of macaroni and cheese
• Bags of rice
• Bags of dry beans
• Boxes of low sugar cereal
• Cans of tuna, chicken, salmon, sardines
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Bags of masa (corn flour)

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the food drive. Both Arlington Transit and the Arlington Food Assistance Center appreciate your generosity and help for making the food drive a success so far.

Follow ART on Twitter and Facebook to receive updates and info about service and events.

Jennifer Wagar is a Transit Marketing Specialist with Arlington County Commuter Services.

WalkArlington’s Holiday Walking Gift Guide

The holidays are upon us, so whether you are a walker or have a dedicated walker in your life, we’ve put together this guide to some inexpensive walking-related gift ideas that you might want to give--or receive--this year.

 

Geocaching Kit – A must for all those who enjoy this outdoor on-foot treasure-hunting activity

 

 

 

Foldable, Reusable Bag – For all those walking trips to the grocery store or mall, easy to pocket when not in use, and preferably in a bright, reflective or highly visible color

 

 

Lip balm – Keep your lips from drying and chapping from the cold, brisk air this winter or in the blistering sun in summer

 

Pedometer – A great way to keep track of all the walking you’ll do in the new year

 

 

Reusable Water Bottle – Help save the planet and stay hydrated in one step

 

Socks – A good pair of socks will help you keep your stride in all weather conditions

 

 Hand or Foot Warmers – Keep your walking routine going and your hands and feet warm during the winter months

 

 

Reflective Wristband – “Be safe and be seen” while you’re out and about

And don’t forget, while you’re out shopping or exercising or taking a nice long stroll—stay safe. Visit WalkArlington’s website for Safe Walking Tips.

 

 WalkArlington, an initiative of Arlington County Commuter Services within the Department of Environmental Services, gets "more people walking more of the time" by promoting the health, environmental, community-building, and commuting benefits of walking.

Lighting Up Arlington County!

Monday night BikeArlington held another “Lights for Bikes” giveaway.  We staked out a different location so we weren’t giving out bike lights to all the same people again (though you can never have too many bike lights).  We chose the W&OD and 4 Mile Run crossing with Columbia Pike because it’s a common route used by bikers and joggers commuting to and from work.  We asked our honorable members of the bike forum to help out with the giveaway – we had 8 volunteers show up with smiles on their faces, ready to hand out lights to strangers, despite the cold and rainy conditions.

Look at that reflectivity!

The volunteers lit up our night…literally!  But also because they really supported our cause and didn’t let the chilly drizzle dampen their spirits!  They helped us hand out around 100 sets of lights to the “Ninja [bikers, joggers, walkers]”, (ya know, those people dressed in dark clothing without any reflective gear or lights?) in an attempt to make Arlington’s bike trails safer.  Oh, I also had the pleasure of lighting up one tiny chihuahua – may his collar lighteth his path!

The volunteers really made our night – we could not have done it without them.  They arrived with smiles and open hands and left with even bigger smiles and hands full of lights for distributing on their own time.  Since Monday our volunteers have reported back on the bike forum that "I lit up my first ninja tonight!” and “I managed to convert two unenlightened souls” during their bike travels. 

The official BikeArlington lights giveaway may have ended, but thanks to our dedicated and loyal forum members, the good deed lives on!

Spanish Bicycle Commuting Seminar a Success!

Last week BikeArlington teamed up with WABA to provide a Bicycle Commuting Seminar - completely in Spanish!  The seminar was given at the Shirlington Employment & Education Center (SEEC) which helps a predominantly Spanish speaking group of day laborers find temporary labor.

Last year, BikeArlington showed up outside the SEEC with free bike lights AND a free tuneup courtesy of Revolution Cycles.  This event was so successful because the majority of the group made their daily commute by bike.  So we decided that this year, not only would we provide lights and reflective pant straps, but we would also put on one of WABA's Bicycle Commuting Seminars as an additional, and longer lasting resource for safe cycling in Arlington.

Thanks to WABA and our talented Spanish speaking instructor Ed Magiri, we successfully crammed 30+ day laborers into a small room and taught them the importance of safe bicycle commuting. We plan to follow up with the group and provide them with helmets to make their ride even safer!

Check out the great blog post by Daniel Hoagland of WABA about the seminar!

 

BikeArlington is an initiative of Arlington County, Virginia to encourage and enable more people to go by bike more often. To stay up to date on biking in Arlington, follow BikeArlington on Twitter or visit the Washington Area Bike Forum.

BikeArlington Does LCI Training

Last weekend, the BikeArlington team surrendered our Friday night, entire Saturday and Sunday for the sake of bike safety.  We attended a 3 day League Cycling Instructor (LCI) seminar so we could be certified by the League of American Bicyclists (the League) to instruct others on bicycle safety. 

There were 14 people who dedicated their weekend to bike safety and we all came from the Mid-Atlantic region, representing DC, VA, MD, PA and NC (debatable whether NC is Mid-Atlantic or Southern…).  It’s worth mentioning that the class was exactly 50% female - this is very encouraging because as was stated in a great article about Women bikers, women are a good indicator of a healthy community, so "The more you see women riding bikes and families riding bikes, the more you can be pretty well-assured you’re in a safe, healthy, livable community."

During the 3 day seminar we conducted student led presentations, performed some bike handling and hazard avoidance drills and we tested our road riding skills!

Some memorable moments include:

• Fitting 12 bikes and bikers on an elevator

• Being interrupted in our hazard avoidance drills by a golden retriever ecstatic by all of the tennis balls on the ground
• Finally being able to accurately (if not beautifully) execute the tricky "insta-turn" or quick turn drill
• Having an intelligent conversation about biking infrastructure in suburban areas with my teammates
• The night ride - seeing everyone all geared and lit up!
• The road ride through the 18th St and Columbia Rd intersection...it is a very busy intersection
• And finally, enlightening some other members about the wonderful biking infrastucture that exists in Arlington County

So needless to say after several presentations, several drills and countless pedal revolutions we faced the LCI panel where we were granted our certificate.  Well actually, we aren’t certified just yet…all students must first attend 2 safety courses with another LCI before we are awarded the venerable title and number.  I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m really anxious to get my LCI number.  

For the full post, visit the BikeArlington website!

 

BikeArlington is an initiative of Arlington County, Virginia to encourage and enable more people to go by bike more often. To stay up to date on biking in Arlington, follow BikeArlington on Twitter or visit the Washington Area Bike Forum.

Cyclists/peds alert: Arlington looking for help with bollard locations

Arlington County has created a public Google Map that people can edit with bollard locations and issues.

View Arlington Bollards in a larger map

In particular, they are asking for locations where bollard collars (that part in the ground that holds the bollard post) may be sticking up causing a hazard. Since we have the map, it will also be useful for identifying other bollard-related locations, such as where bollards are needed or where they should be removed, broken ones and safety or hazard issues.

I have posted on this topic before (here and here). Those who know me know that I am opposed to bollards in general and believe they should only be installed where there is documented need, rather than at every intersection just as a policy. The W&OD trail removed all its bollards along the entire 45 miles some years back and experiences few problems with cars. Not zero, though. However, they have decided that the positive aspects of better aesthetics and safer travel for cyclists outweigh the negatives of a rare car encroaching on the trail.

Please check the map out and add any locations that you believe could use attention. It's easy, just click on the EDIT button and you will be able to edit the map. Remember to save when you are done. Thanks for your help.

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Steve Offutt is a member of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee

Arlington’s Finest Remind Pedestrians and Runners to Be Vigilant

Whether you commute or exercise on foot in Arlington, the Arlington County Police Department wants to remind everyone to be vigilant about pedestrian and traffic safety. With the recent Daylight Savings time change, the environment in which we walk or jog has also changed—so it’s more important than ever to be aware of your surroundings.

Here are some additional pedestrian safety tips to follow while you’re out and about, courtesy of
Arlington Police:

• Run with others if possible.

• Always be aware of your surroundings. Know what route you are traveling, especially while
  walking or running in the dark.

• Do not listen to music or talk on the phone while walking or running—you cannot hear
  other people approach you.

• Carry a cell phone with you. If you are assaulted, calling police immediately increases
  the chance the suspect will be apprehended.

• Listen to your instincts. If a passerby makes you feel uncomfortable, walk or run to a
  well-lit area.

If anyone has been the victim of an assault while walking or jogging, and has not reported it, please call the Police Department Non-Emergency line at (703) 558-2222.

For more safety information, visit WalkArlington. Also, don’t forget to visit WalkArlington’s Facebook page and friend us to receive a FREE reflective “Be Seen Be Safe” wristband to improve visibility while walking or running!

WalkArlington, an initiative of Arlington County Commuter Services within the Department of Environmental Services, gets "more people walking more of the time" by promoting the health, environmental, community-building, and commuting benefits of walking.

We Have To Make Better Use of the Transportation Networks Already In Place

Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton says the solutions are slim for the area's traffic problem so "the approach is going to have to be one that makes better use of transportation networks that are already in place" (Secretary: Solutions slim for area traffic boon, November 14, 2011, by Adam Tuss, WTOP). He goes on to say "I don't have the physical ability to expand the system anymore." And he's right. So shouldn't localities, the region, State and Federal Governments put more emphasis and money into TDM (transportation demand management), which according to an increasing body of evidence would indeed make better use of the transportation network we have today? The answer of course is yes.

TDM is the most cost-effective way to deliver transportation benefits for the dollar, getting maximum use of existing infrastructure by shifting drivers into transit, carpools, vanpools, walking, biking, and avoiding trips through telework. Yet ironically, the economic downturn has resulted in a shortage of resources for TDM that could help to fill the gap when little infrastructure can be built to deal with growing congestion.

Over the coming weeks and months we'll highlight some TDM programs and services that research shows are having a big impact on reducing congestion and speculate on how expanding these programs and trying some new demand side innovations or low-cost infrastructure can have even more impact for our region and State. And visit our new think tank on the subject at MobilityLab.org.

Chris Hamilton is the Commuter ServicesTransportation Bureau Chief for Arlington County in the Department of Environmental Services and a biking/Metro commuter from the LeDroit Park neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Follow me at Twitter @ChrisRHamilton.

Be Safe, Be Seen, and Be Street Smart

Daylight Savings Time ended last weekend, and with the time change comes a particularly dangerous season for pedestrians. Dark commutes, hazardous weather, and holiday traffic patterns can create a perilous combination for pedestrians and bicyclists.

In fact, a study by two Carnegie Mellon University researchers says adjustment to earlier nighttime leads to a 37 percent increase in the risk of pedestrian deaths. The study also says that at 6 p.m. in November, the risk for pedestrian deaths is far greater than at that time in any other month.

To get a jump on these seasonal safety issues, the Metropolitan Council of Governments’ Fall 2011 Street Smart campaign kicks off next week with a focus on the safety of all modes and all commuters-from pedestrians to bicyclists to drivers.

Aimed at reducing the number of pedestrian injuries and deaths in the Washington metropolitan area, the Street Smart campaign is sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board. For the past nine years, Street Smart has emphasized education of motorists and pedestrians through mass media while complementing the efforts of state and local governments and agencies to build safer streets and sidewalks, enforce laws, and train better drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

On Monday, November 14, local elected officials and law enforcement leaders from the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland will gather at Piney Branch Road and Flower Avenue in Silver Spring to launch this Fall’s Street Smart campaign.

Arlington County’s participation in this bi-annual campaign includes Arlington County Police conducting live pedestrian safety enforcement at notoriously busy intersections in Arlington. Law enforcement officers will also be encouraging proper yielding among pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers alike.

The Fall Street Smart campaign continues for a few weeks throughout the region, with ads on-line, on air, and on billboards, trains, and buses in English and Spanish.

And to help you stay safe during the dark winter months ahead, WalkArlington is distributing “Be Safe and Be Seen” bright orange reflective pedestrian wristbands to anyone who “likes” WalkArlington on Facebook.

So as you adjust to Standard Time, wear your reflective wristband; pay attention to the Street Smart ads; be aware of pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers; and be smart--Street Smart. For more information on pedestrian safety in all seasons, visit WalkArlington.com.

 WalkArlington, an initiative of Arlington County Commuter Services within the Department of Environmental Services, gets "more people walking more of the time" by promoting the health, environmental, community-building, and commuting benefits of walking.

New Art on the ART Bus Exhibit

The next Art on the ART Bus exhibit has hit the streets and is on a roll! The third installation of this popular mobile exhibit features artwork from Victor Ekpuk. The artist used contemporary and familiar symbols to express the humorous side of our social and personal issues that bus passengers might recognize.

The Art on the ART Bus exhibit is a joint effort between Arlington Transit and the Artisphere.

One ART bus has been designated for the exhibit and will rotate bus routes so that all riders can enjoy the artwork. Remember to look up next time you board an ART bus. There might be a colorful surprise waiting for you!

Some of Victor Ekpuk's work on the ART bus:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow ART on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date service info and news.

Jennifer Wagar is a Transit Marketing Specialist for Arlington County Commuter Services.