CommuterPageBlog

Biking in Galapagos

Ahoy! Bob and I have just returned from an AWESOME trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Suffice it to say that all you have heard is true -- the Galapagos islands are a wealth of natural wildlife, most of whom are perfectly content to treat us humans as mildly annoying paparazzi.

In my amateur opinion, Ecuador is doing a great job of preserving the islands as a nature sanctuary. So you won't be surprised to hear that biking is a popular way of getting around! Many of the islands are not inhabited, but there is a lovely village on the island of Santa Cruz, which served as our home base for the scuba diving portion of our trip.

There, we saw many biking residents and many sturdy bike racks. In the photo, you can see a bike rack, with the sea in the background. I was surprised and delighted to see a dedicated bike lane!!

The Free Ride Isn't Worth It

On days when the air quality is forecast to be "code red" by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), many bus systems in the D.C. area offer free rides. Good idea, right? Encourage people to ride the bus who otherwise would drive.

The problem is, it's very difficult to communicate how the program works. If the communication is successful, people who take advantage of it save $1.35 each time they ride the bus on the few (two so far this summer) code red days. That's if the bus drivers get the word -- many didn't on the first code red day this year.

If the communication fails, you've got people, perhaps trying the bus for the first time, who expect a free ride and don't get it. Even people that don't really mind paying the $1.35 are likely to be annoyed with the bus system, especially after they've been standing at a bus stop in the hot sun on a day that's over 90 degrees.

So what's so difficult to communicate? I wish it were just one thing.

First, it depends on the forecast. Air quality on a given day may actually get into the code red range, and you may hear that on the radio or get an email from MWCOG's alert system. But that doesn't trigger the free ride program. It's the FORECAST that counts, not actual air quality. But wait, there's more. MWCOG provides air quality forecasts several days in advance. A code red day may be forecast several days out, but still no free ride. It has to be forecast the day before. But not anytime the day before, it has to be the last forecast, which comes out in the late afternoon. Confused yet?

Second, the program is not uniform across the region. Northern Virginia has their act together pretty well, thanks to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. I think they pay for the free rides. Whether that's true or not, all local bus systems and all Metrobus routes in Northern Virginia offer free rides when a code red day is forecast. (With the caveats given in the previous paragraph.) D.C. does not participate, so Metrobus routes within D.C. are not free. Metrobus routes operating between D.C. and Montgomery County or Prince Georges County are free. Metro doesn't get into trying to explain which routes these are. The best anyone can seem to come up with is "if the farebox is covered, the ride is free." But by the time you're looking at the farebox, you're pretty much committed to riding the bus already. The situation is the same with many local bus systems in Maryland. Some offer free rides, but most of them don't say anything about it on their websites. So there's no way to know until you're getting on the bus.

Third, the program changes from year to year. Last year, free rides were offered in Northern Virginia when the forecast was code red or code orange. This year, it's just code red. Websites can be updated (although it was more trouble than you might think) but old bus schedules and other print materials are still out there.

So I suggest dropping the free ride program. We can still encourage people to ride the bus and take other extra measures to avoid polluting when the air quality is bad. Does the bus fare really make that much of a difference in whether people will do it?

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Joe Chapline is web manager for Arlington County Commuter Services.

America's Most Fuel-Efficient Neighborhoods

Forbes.com which regularly brings us fun Top Ten Lists, brings us another one today (America's Most Fuel-Efficient Neighborhoods, by Matthew Swibel, July 7, 2008). Forbes tells us that according to the nonpartisan Center for Housing Policy, for every dollar working families save on housing, it spends nearly $2 on transportation. Their research shows that 15 of the 20 fastest growing U.S. counties are located 30 miles or more from the closest central business districts. Yikes.

We find that owning a home in a walkable neighborhood saves residents $300 to $400 a month on gas expenses alone. So Forbes asked the Center for Neighborhood Technology to help identify cheap rides in America's largest metropolitan areas as energy usage can vary widely within the same market. For example in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the average household in urban East Isles, drives 9,420 miles per year and spends $620 compared to 21,684 miles per year in exurban Rosemount, where monthly transportation costs top $1,000. In most metro areas, including our own, you can do the same.

So where are America's most fuel-efficient neighborhoods? Here's the Top Ten List:

America's Most Fuel Efficient Neighborhoods

Rank, Neighborhood, Monthly Transportation Cost
1. Brooklyn Heights (New York, N.Y.)    $643
2. Koreatown (Los Angeles, CA)          $658
3. Logan Square (Chicago, IL)             $742
4. Arlington, VA (Washington, D.C.)   $747
5. The Mission (San Francisco, CA)      $746
6. Fishtown (Philadelphia, PA)             $674
7. Jamaica Plain (Boston, MA)             $728
8. Woodward Corridor (Detroit, MI)     $728
9. Greenville (Dallas, TX)                    $745
10. Montrose (Houston, TX)                $760

According to Forbes:

"You can't always rule out the suburbs. The central location of Arlington, Va., which doubles as a government-contracting hub and a D.C. bedroom community to Northern Virginia's high-tech firms and Washington's downtown section, makes monthly transit costs here cheaper than large sections of the nation's capital."

Hat tip to Jeff Price for forwarding the article. Fishtown and Arlington are pictured.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a Metro/biking commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Greening Your Organic Shopping

How can environmentally oriented folks who want to do their grocery shopping for local meat and produce make their green practice even greener? Well, the Sierra Club's Hey Mr. Green says you can take fewer trips, ride your bike or best of all carpool and make grocery shopping an event (Thinking Outside (and Inside) the Car, June 25, 2008). Good to see the coming together of green living and green transportation. Enjoy!

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a Metro/biking commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Shaping the City

I regularly read Roger Lewis's column, Shaping the City, that appears about every other week in the Washington Post.  I always find it interesting.

This last week the article was titled: Lessons of Arlington's Urban Development Needn't Be Just History.  Here are a couple of excerpts to whet your appetite for the whole article:

"The phenomenal metamorphosis of Arlington County's Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, among the region's most dramatic real estate transformations, teaches a timely lesson: Successful urban revitalization requires long-range planning and long-range public investment that sparks private investment."

"The Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is a work in progress, although millions of square feet of buildings already have been developed, mostly since the 1980s. Its urban design is not flawless, and much of its architecture is less than exemplary.
But the corridor functions well. It offers pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, on- and off-street bicycle lanes, plazas and mini-parks. It takes less than 10 minutes to walk between any two adjacent Metro nodes on the corridor -- Rosslyn, Court House, Clarendon, Virginia Square and Ballston. People there can get along without cars."

"Why does visionary planning seem to be a thing of the past? Can America no longer afford to undertake farsighted initiatives. . ."

Enjoy!

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Steve Offutt, Arlington

The Last Mile

I live 1.1 miles from the East Falls Church metro, which can be a pleasant walk on a 75 degree day, but is pretty miserable on days like today or in the rain.  One of the hardest nuts to crack for transit providers has been that last mile.  Most of the way to and from my destination I can take a transit vehicle, but the last little bit to the front door I can't.  Watch this video for an idea whose time has more than come.

Although this is not appropriate for my neighborhood, there are lots of places in the greater DC area where a PRT (personal rapid transit) system like this could really work.  A few I can think of are: N. Bethesda/Medical Center, Tysons Corner (particularly after the rail is built, but there's no reason it can't be designed in now), Springfield, Silver Spring, National Harbor (cool if it could be extended over the river to Alexandria, too!), etc. 

Imagine how it could be used to transform some of our urban and suburban areas.  Well implemented it can reduce the need for parking lots, which can then be converted to better use: retail, office, parks, housing, etc. (any use is better than parking!).

More info here and here and here.

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Steve Offutt, Arlington resident

Bicycle Speed Limits (follow up)

As a follow up to my post the other day, interested persons may want to see the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's response to Montgomery County's proposal to impose a 15 mph speed limit on a 5.5-mile section of the Capital Crescent Trail: WABA Calls for Dialog Over New Trail Speed Limits.  It's definitely disturbing to learn that Montgomery County moved forward with this without engaging WABA at all in advance.  It would seem natural to get input from the local cycling community first.  Am I being too idealistic?

The Washington Post also printed two letters to the editor.

Also some discussion on the DC Triathlon Club blog.

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Steve Offutt, cyclist

Bike Me Out to the Ballgame

I recently attended my first game at the new Nationals ballpark and was very impressed. The ballpark is shiny and new, the food was good, the grass is green, yadda yadda yadda, but what I liked the best was the free valet bike parking.

Never heard of valet bike parking before? Well, it's just like its polluting cousin but friendlier, cooler, and you don't have to worry about the valet stinking up your car (a la Seinfeld).

The valet bike parking is about 200 feet from the main entrance to the ballpark at the intersection of 1st and N Streets SE. You ride a few feet into the garage and it's on the left. One of the bike valet will greet you, check your ID, and give you a valet ticket. The valet then parks your bike and you're off to the game. No bike locks are needed as the valet bike parking area is enclosed and the valet are always present at the facility during games. When you pick-up your bike, just show the valet your valet ticket and you're presented with your bike. No charge. Compare that with the $40 fee for valet vehicle parking at the ballpark. Save your money and buy a new helmet instead.

One of the best parts is when the tens of thousands of Nationals fans are leaving at the same time, you'll be out of the congested area in seconds. As you're rolling away from the ballpark, make sure to waive goodbye to everybody else stuck in traffic, so maybe next time they'll bike too.

Blogger WashCycle has put together a useful map of how to bike there.

View Larger Map

by Paul DeMaio, BikeArlington

Bicycle Speed Limits

This Sunday's Washington Post reported that Montgomery County will be posting speed limit signs along the 5 1/2 mile section of the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and the DC line.  15 mph.

I was a regular commuter along that section of trail for more than a year, and I don't think imposing speed limits is the solution to what may or may not be a problem.  (I'm not the only one: DCist agrees)

Evidently there have been some anecdotal reports of conflicts with fast-moving cyclists and other users.  The article only mentioned a single reported collision this year, however, and that's with 23,000 weekly users.  It also cited "informal" reports of increased collisions, but I don't know what that means.  Also, do we know if speed is a factor in these collisions or if there is another problem?  I find it difficult to believe that Montgomery County would lower the speed limit on any street before gathering actual statistics of some kind, but seemingly they are determining that speed limits are appropriate here without any research.  Better would be to put up signs with a phone number to report accidents, injuries and emergencies.  That way they could start to track and determine whether or not there is actually a problem.

If there is a problem with crowding and speeding, it is limited to nice weather weekends and evenings only.  My experience is that the trail serves bike commuters and experienced runners and walkers (who rarely if ever have conflicts with the bikes, because they know how to maintain their space on the trail) for the morning hours, and there is no need for limiting speeds.  Likewise for all the colder months.  In  February, riding home at 7:30 in the evening, I might encounter one or two other human beings along that entire 5-mile stretch--sometimes none at all.  So if speed limits are the solution, limit them to those times when the trail is heavily used, which is probably less than 10% of the time.  Even when there are a lot of users, I never came close to any conflicts with others, even though I ride fast.  It has a lot more to do with paying attention and anticipating what will happen up ahead than with speed.

Also, how was the 15 mph determined?  In school zones you can drive a 3000 pound car 20 mph, which most drivers consider so slow they can't even get down to that speed, and it is considered the safe speed for traveling around children near a school.  Why would 20 not be a reasonable speed for a 30 pound bike and its rider?

So what's the big deal, slowing down a little on the trail, one might ask?  For a commuter like me, the difference would be about 7 minutes additional each way (if the limit were observed): more than an hour a week.  Time that adds up.  My commute from Arlington to Silver Spring was already almost an hour long, and that section was the quickest part.

So I'm opposed to creating speed limits and fines before any real research or statistics have been gathered and before any information about the magnitude of the problem is determined, if there even is a problem.  And there is definitely no need for a speed limit during morning commuting hours and in the colder months.
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Steve Offutt lives in Arlington and uses his bike a lot to get around.

Finding FUN Local Events Made Easy...Web 2.0

By: Brandon Carroll

In today's world, life moves faster than ever. Events are constantly occurring and it is often difficult to really know what is going on around you. It seems like if you blink, it is already the end of the week.

The problem? Web 2.0. The solution? Web 2.0

Learning Web 2.0 is key to being successful in life nowadays, but from a relevant perspective, learning Web 2.0 is imperative in terms of knowing what is going on around you. It is fast, but it is also necessary in today's fast-paced world.

So, through different social networks like meetup, facebook, linkedin, myspace, twitter, et cetera, one can find out what is going on in their community.

Going green is the way to go nowadays, which makes Web 2.0 that much better. There is no paper being thrown out, no flyers being distributed - it is all online, so no paper is needed!

I advise all of you to check out the social networks listed above.

There are cool events coming up like the Arlington Community Bike Ride on June 7th -> find out more at www.bikearlington.com. Also there is an international car-free day! You will find out more about that one later :P.  The point is: rather than searching through papers and constantly getting haggled for your time, go online, save time, help the environment, and research what YOU want to research.

Anyway, my motto from now on is: "Work together for a greener tomorrow." It starts with Web 2.0.

It all starts with you. Make a difference today....

Another Reason To Drive Less. Save Our Lungs

Earlier this month the American Lung Association released its Annual State of the Air Report. In issuing its list of most polluted cities, the bad news for us here is that the Washington/Baltimore area moved up in the rankings and we are now #10 in short-term particle pollution and #9 in ozone pollution. Not good news.

In its Tip Sheet for Protecting Your Family from Unhealthy Air, ALA says one of the best things we can do is: "Walk, bike or carpool. Combine trips and use buses, subways, light rail systems, commuter trains or other alternatives to driving."

Fortunately there are many resources for learning more about these pollutants and how you can help:

• CommuterPage.com has a great Air Quality and Transportation page for individuals.
• Arlington Transportation Partners has information for employers.
• Arlington's Car-Free Diet has a nifty calculator that can demonstrate to you how changing your driving habits can help clean the air (in addition to saving you money and burning more calories).
• Clean Air Partners is the Washington/Baltimore region's headquarters for information about air quality and they have a wealth of information and tools including the ability to sign up for Air Quality Alerts and Forecasts.
• And when the air quality is forecast to be bad (orange, red or purple) you can Ride the Bus Free in Northern Virginia on Metrobus and all the local systems!

So there's no excuse. Learn a little and do your share to clean the air and help save our lungs.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a Metro/biking commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

The Carbon Emissions of Biking vs. Driving

Just in time for Bike To Work Day this Friday, May 16, the Sierra Club's Answer Guy Hey Mr. Green puts to rest the silly notion that fueling a bike (by feeding a person food that has been grown with fossil fuel inputs and transported to the consumer) is worse for the environment than fueling a car (Is Driving Better Than Cycling, April 29, 2008). Says Hey Mr. Green:

"Of course it takes some energy to make and propel a bike, but nowhere near what's required to make and propel cars that weigh 70 or 80 times as much and demand vastly greater energy for maintenance, from oil changes to tires to new fenders and grilles when they get banged up."

Now that we've cleared that up, we hope to see you out on the trails on the 16th. I'll be riding to the Rosslyn pit stop. With 26 pit stops in all, there should be one close to your home or office. Its not too late to sign up to participate. See you on Friday!

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a Metro/biking commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

The Fastest Way There

The other day my wife drove over to Washington Hospital Center for a routine medical test while I was at home in Arlington.  She called after her test to let me know that some medication she had received made her uncomfortable driving home and would I mind coming to pick her up (plaudits for her sense of responsibility: not taking a chance driving while not feeling right).  She had the car, though.  She suggested I take a cab (I could have Metroed there, too), but I countered that by the time I waited for the cab I could probably bike there. . .and it was a nice day out, to boot.  I estimated it would take about 45 minutes to ride; if I waited 15 minutes for a 25-minute cab ride, that would be 40 minutes--a wash in terms of time; big savings on the cab fare.

So I biked over.  It was a bit shorter than my estimate: 38 minutes.  She was amazed that I had arrived so quickly when I called from outside the hospital to ask where to come get her.  She told me later that it had taken her about that long to drive over herself.

Travel in urban areas by bicycle is often the fastest and most efficient way to travel.  This has been my experience for years as a bike commuter.  It's always faster than transit.  And often faster than cars--especially during rush hour.  Here are some links supporting this point:

- Average speed of a car in London is just 7mph, says Citroen
- Travelling by bicycle is faster than you think
- Proof that biking is the fastest way to get around town (Scroll down to page 4)
- Crosstown traffic in New York City was 5.2 mph in 2000 (you can almost walk this fast!)
- This European Commission study indicates trips of 5 km or less are fastest by bicycle.

We have a foldable bike rack that we keep in the trunk of the car, which I can mount in a minute or two.  I got my wife, we put the bike on the car, and I drove her home.  We hit a bit of traffic on N. Capitol Street which bogged us down.  So guess how long it took us to drive home (and not even rush hour yet)?  That's right - 38 minutes!

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Steve Offutt, Arlington resident who has a stopwatch and is not afraid to use it.

Every Day is Earth Day When You Take Transit

In honor of Earth Day we recycle below an article from last year (Want to Fight Global Climate Change? Take the Bus, October 6, 2007). Enjoy.

According to a just released report by APTA (American Public Transit Association), the most powerful weapon you can use to combat global climate change may be a daily transit pass. The Study, Public Transportation's Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction, which was prepared by Science Applications International Corporation for APTA, points out that commuting by public transit is one of the most significant actions a household member can take to reduce their carbon footprint. According to the report:

"New research shows that a person who rides public transportation instead of driving reduces his or her carbon dioxide output, a harmful greenhouse gas, by more than 20 lbs a day and 4,800 lbs annually. That saves more than weatherizing a home, adjusting a thermostat, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and replacing older appliances with higher efficiency models, combined. A national climate change strategy that doesn't embrace public transportation has simply missed the bus."

Regarding land use impacts the report says:

"Investments in public transportation have the benefit of supporting higher density land uses that allow for fewer vehicle miles of travel...The results range from a reduction in VMT of between 1.4 miles and 9 miles for every transit passenger mile traveled. The outcome would be more efficient use of roadways, reduced road maintenance, shorter highway commute times and reduced need for street and off- street parking."

APTA is using the report to call on Congress to provide additional funding, to provide additional tax credits to employers who spend resources to support transit ridership programs and to provide tax credits to developers of mixed used transit oriented development projects.

Public Transportation's Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fact Sheet

Public Transportation's Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Full Report

Related Article: Taking Transit: The Most Effective Route to Cutting Carbon, September 27, 2007; Erica Barnett, WorldChanging.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a Metro/biking commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Earth Day To Do's

Tomorrow is Earth Day and this year, for the first time in a long time, there seems to be a real interest and a real push to make something happen. Maybe it's that gas is heading toward four dollars a gallon faster than OJ leaving Las Vegas. Maybe it's that more and more corporations are touting how green they are.  Stodgy old Walmart is even running ads showing off the environmentally sensitive products it's developed.  Local and network television programs are showing us all how to be more "green" in our day-to-day lives.  There is a real push to not just become environmentally aware but to actually do something.

One of the biggest impacts we can have on the environment is to change our commutes. I say this knowing that it's really not as easy or as comfortable as some would make it sound. Walking out of the house while it's still dark to catch a bus two and a half blocks away is not as easy as jumping into a pre-heated car that's been sitting in the garage. Taking that bus on a circuitous route to a Metrorail station takes time. Standing on the platform, once you get past the inevitable escalator repair, can be uncomfortable if it's raining or if the wind is blowing. Grabbing a seat on the train can be a test of one's social upbringing. It takes time to use transit and that means making a commitment.

As we well know, there are millions of people in and around Washington who have made the commitment to use transit everyday. Their efforts are to be recognized and applauded. As Kermit the frog said: it's not easy being green.

Here are some factoids from APTA, the American Public Transit Association: An individual switching to public transit can reduce his or her daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds; that's more than 4,800 pounds in a year, a figure that is more than the combined carbon emissions reduction that comes from weatherproofing your home and using energy efficient appliances and environmentally-friendly light bulbs.

If just one commuter of a household switches from driving to using public transportation, the household's carbon footprint will be reduced by 10 percent. If a household gives up its second car altogether, a household can reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent.

Around the country public transit agencies are doing some interesting things: In St Cloud, Minnesota they will unveil a 40-foot bus that is powered by a mixture of 80 percent recycled vegetable oil and 20 percent diesel fuel. It is believed that this is the first transit bus system in the nation to use waste vegetable oil to power a public transit bus. In Minneapolis the transit system will power the entire Hiawatha light rail system by wind for the day.

So what is our own Metro system doing to celebrate Earth Day and to tout the advantages of public transportation? Are they offering free rides? No. Are they giving seminars to employers looking for the best ways to encourage employees to take public transit? No. On Earth Day, 2008, Metro will be handing out chocolate bars to thank riders for helping reduce emissions by 20 pounds. It's a great idea for a system that bans food to be handing out candy bars at two of its stations.

 

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Steve Eldridge is a long-time reporter, observer and commentator on the Washington region's transportation issues. You can contact him directly by writing to: Steve@SprawlandCrawl.com. Unless otherwise requested, letters or portions of letters can be used within future columns. Letter writers will be identified by their first name and city/neighborhood.

Our new hybrid - Update #3 (1 year)

It's now been about 13 months since we purchased our 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid.  I've had 3 previous posts about it (Our New Hybrid, Update 1, Update 2).  It's almost up to 10,000 miles and we have had no mechanical or reliability issues whatsoever (which is what one would expect from any new car).

Economics analysis coming up soon, but I want to make one point loud and clear: IF YOU LIVE IN ARLINGTON AND ARE BUYING A NEW CAR, YOU SHOULD BUY A HYBRID! Why?  Because of the tax advantages.  I just did my taxes, and it's very likely that the incremental cost we paid for our hybrid will be completely paid for in tax savings over less than the life of the car.  That makes the hybrid upgrade free and the gas savings are pure gravy on top of that.

Here's how it worked for our car:

We bought it last March, which qualified it for a $1,300 federal tax credit (we actually hurried to get it before April 1, 2007, because the credit went down to $650).  Our Arlington property tax bill was reduced by $750 (first $20,000 is tax free--in our case for 9 months).  Total tax savings year 1 - $2050.

Although it's hard to do a perfect apples to apples comparison, I think we paid about $4,000-$5,000 extra for the hybrid--let's say $4,500.  Making some reasonable assumptions about future values of our car and a 2007 regular Camry, we will save about $3,000 in Arlington property taxes over 7 years (click here for information about the Arlington tax break).  Add in the $1,300 federal tax break for a total of about $4,300 savings, and the hybrid upgrade was free.

Please note that the federal tax breaks are different for different cars and are phasing out on Toyotas and Hondas.  Fueleconomy.gov has the details.

How about gas savings?  Our experience has been that our mileage is a bit lower than the EPA estimate.  We've been getting about 32 MPG.  Assuming our driving in the regular Camry would also be a bit lower than average mpg, I'll assume 24 mpg.  Last year we drove about 9000 miles.

So our annual savings will be $300-$400 or more if gas prices continue to rise beyond $4 per gallon in the future.

Friends we have spoken with are mostly unaware of the Arlington tax break for hybrids, so clearly the information needs to get out there better.  The bottom line is that if you live in Arlington and are shopping for a new car, the hybrid option is much more affordable considering the tax advantages than just looking at the price tags would indicate.  Even if you don't live in Arlington, some hybrids are still eligible for a $2,600 federal tax credit, which should be taken into account while you are shopping.
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Steve Offutt, Arlington resident, Hybrid Camry owner and bicyclist.

Confident City Cycling

Do you enjoy riding a bike on Arlington's trails, but haven't felt as confident riding on streets? We have the right class for you! BikeArlington and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association have teamed-up to offer FREE Confident City Cycling classes, the first offering is tomorrow, April 5. The class is only three hours and course topics include:                         

• Rules of the Road: Knowing is half the battle! Did you know that you have to adhere to the same rules of the road as a car does? Did you know that you have the same rights that the operator of a car does? Well its true, you do. Our course offers some great tips and tricks for safely and legally using our roadways.
• Avoiding the Common Causes of Crashes: Believe it or not, most crashes are avoidable. Learn what to do if a car turns suddenly in front of you, if you have to stop suddenly, what to do to avoid the dreaded car door and much more!
• Lane Positioning: Do you ever feel like cars are passing you too closely or running you into the gutter? Learn proper lane positioning to encourage drivers to pass you at a safe distance. Also learn how to safely cross lanes of traffic in order to make turns or avoid obstacles in the road.
• Improving Pedaling Efficiency: Bicycling shouldn’t be backbreaking work! The bicycle is one of the most efficient inventions of all time, make the most of it! Learn how to shift gears in anticipation of a hill, achieve a good cadence, and minimize the wear and tear on your knees.
• Useful Accessory Equipment: We all know you need a helmet, but learn some other   helpful and handy equipment to make your ride more enjoyable.
• Basic Bike Maintenance and Repair: Everyone who rides a bike should know some basic repair and maintenance skills. Learn how to change a flat tire and other emergency repair tips.

The classes we're offering this spring in Arlington are below. If you've been wanting to become a safer and more confident cyclist, this is the class for you.

April 5: 1 - 4 pm, Shirlington Library
April 26: 1 - 4 pm, Walter Reed Community Center
May 24: 1 - 4 pm, Aurora Hills Community Center
May 31: 1 - 4 pm, Arlington Central Library
June 28: 1 - 4 pm, Fairlington Community Center

For more information, visit the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's Website. To register, click on the date from above that works best for you. Classes fill-up, so register soon to ensure your seat.

Paul DeMaio, BikeArlington

Street Smart Safety Enforcement

The following is a Media Advisory from the Arlington County Police Department, a partner of the regional Street Smart Safety Campaign:

"On Wednesday, March 26, 2008, the Arlington County Police Department’s Special Operations Section will conduct a pedestrian safety enforcement detail at four busy intersections. Two of the locations were selected because they are near elementary schools. The other two are along the Columbia Pike corridor which has a lot of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

"Officers will ticket motorists who speed or do not yield for students and other pedestrians in crosswalks. They will also be on the lookout for walkers and bikers who don’t obey the walk signals and traffic laws, and public service aides will be on hand to distribute safety information.

"The detail is part of the 2008 Street Smart Pedestrian, Driver, and Bicyclist Safety Campaign. In support of the campaign, Arlington officers have stepped up their enforcement and education efforts during the month of March.

"From 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. tomorrow, officers will be at the intersection of N. Veitch Street and Key Boulevard, near Key Elementary School, and in the 1300 block of S. George Mason Drive, near Randolph Elementary. Then, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., officers will be stationed on Columbia Pike at S. Scott Street and S. Frederick Street. Members of the media are invited to attend to cover the detail."

http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/Police/news/printarticle.asp?ID=539

Contact us for more information about the region's Street Smart campaign or for copies of the useful Safety Tips brochure or Use Crosswalks card. Both are available in many languages.

Paul DeMaio, BikeArlington

Wheels4Wellness in the House

According to The Bike-sharing Blog: "This past week saw the National Bike Summit here in Washington, D.C. where advocates, transportation professionals, and others came together to discuss all things bike-related and share ideas. There, the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives (see photo) made an announcement about their plans for an employee bike fleet. BikePortland.org
reports:

'Just hours after news outlets reported that oil prices have hit an all-time record high, at a rally for the National Bike Summit on Capitol Hill this morning, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Dan Beard, Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced a new [employee] bike-sharing program. Dubbed 'Wheels4Wellness,' the new program will initially place 30 bikes at three locations around the U.S. House offices on Capitol Hill and will be available for free to the House’s 7,000 DC-based employees.

'Beard says they hope to have the program in place by Earth Day (April 22) and that 'Plan B' would be to have it ready by National Bike Week (May 31st).'

While not of Velib' size, it's an important start for the nation which will lead to bigger and better things, such as the 435 elected representatives and their staffs taking the concept with them back to their home jurisdictions.

 The audio of the House announcement can be found here.

Paul DeMaio, BikeArlington

Escape from the Suburban Fringe

The Brookings Institution's Christopher Leinberger has an awesome article in the March Atlantic Monthly (The Next Slum?) about what the future may hold for the outer suburbs and their McMansions. He posits that they may become tomorrow's slums.

Mr. Leinberger finds that the recent decline of some of these places is usually attributed to the subprime-mortgage crisis and its wave of foreclosures. And while true, he believes that in the future, that a structural change in the housing market, in the way that more Americans want to live and work, is what will really work against these places. Says Leinberger:

"Twenty years ago, urban housing was a bargain in most central cities. Today, it carries an enormous price premium. It is urban life, almost exclusively, that is culturally associated with excitement, freedom, and diverse daily life. It’s crucial to note that these premiums have arisen not only in central cities, but also in suburban towns that have walkable urban centers offering a mix of residential and commercial development. People are being drawn to the convenience and culture of walkable urban neighborhoods across the country—even when those neighborhoods are small. "

He says builders and developers have noticed and are responding to accommodate the demand by providing an alternative to conventional car-based lifestyles. They do so by developing infill in the cities and inner suburbs and even finding a way to bring the city to the newer suburbs. He calls these new places "lifestyle centers." Think Reston. He says demographic changes and increases in gasoline and heating costs will only hasten this change in development patterns that favor new and traditional downtowns aligned with transit. He also echos much recent data that says the turn towards more walkable living means better health. So as America moves toward these changes he paints a sad picture that awaits many of today's sprawling outer burbs:

"... much of the future decline is likely to occur on the fringes, in towns far away from the central city, not served by rail transit, and lacking any real core. In other words, some of the worst problems are likely to be seen in some of the country’s more recently developed areas—and not only those inhabited by subprime-mortgage borrowers. Many of these areas will become magnets for poverty, crime, and social dysfunction."

If you live there now, escape while you still have time.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a biking/Metro commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

How It All Ends

One of the goals of people who work so hard on transportation issues, like the hosts of this blog, is to reduce the consumption of fuel, which reduces emissions, which helps reduce greenhouse gases and the threat of global climate change.

If you've never seen this video, I think it is one of the most powerfully convincing efforts to help people understand the need to take action on climate change.  If you like it, you can also watch the more than 6 hours of additional supporting video in the "Expansion Pack." . . . . . but you don't have to.

If you are committed to fighting global climate change and liked the video, feel free to pass it on.
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Steve Offutt, Arlington Resident and climate change battler

London's Two-wheel Transformation

In an article titled "City's two-wheel transformation" of the UK's The Guardian, London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, is quoted saying, "We want nothing short of a cycling transformation in London. We are announcing the biggest investment in cycling in London's history, which will mean that thousands more Londoners can cycle in confidence, on routes that take them quickly and safely to where they want to go." This investment in cycling includes $800M for the conversion of existing city streets into dedicated bicycle "super-cycleways" with the goal of increasing bicycling by 400% by 2025.

According to the article, the super-cycleways will link residential areas to the city center. The routes that have been selected "are based on a 12-month study of the most popular roads already used by cyclists and will have continuous, wide cycle lanes, dedicated junctions and clear signs."

"Planners hope the changes will encourage a 'critical mass' of cyclists to use the routes, creating a safe and accessible environment as well as cutting congestion and pollution across London."

Imagine Arlington with bicycle super-cycleways. These bike facilities wouldn't just be for fast riding, but for all cyclists and would accommodate people enjoying the day with a slow bike ride, running errands, and children riding to school. I'm sure more people would bike in Arlington with dedicated bike streets, where there were fewer potential conflicts with motorists. Afterall, safety is key and dedicated bikeways are the best way to ensure this.

by Paul DeMaio, BikeArlington

Envirocabbing

Well, the Envirocabs are on the streets.  I took this picture of one at the East Falls Church metro station taxi stand last week.  With this photo I was the winner of the contest over at the Green Miles blog.

Then on Friday I needed to catch a cab from Ballston to Georgetown.  There was a line of four cabs at the stand on Fairfax Drive, and an Envirocab was last in line.  I boldly strode to his cab and got in.  I know the protocol is to take the first cab in line, but as an environmentalist, I preferred to take the Prius.  I told the driver to tell the cabs ahead of him that--no offense to them--I chose his cab because it was an Envirocab.  Hopefully it will get some of those other drivers thinking about switching over (I know the company is still seeking more drivers).  I had a nice conversation with my driver.  He said he was pleased to be driving an Envirocab and he was now spending only about $15 per day in gas instead of $60.  He did note that his miles were down because he was working stands and not dispatch (in which he would be getting more airport and longer distance calls).  However, even assuming he would only save $20 per day, that's $5000/year he keeps in his pocket.  Not bad.

He got me to my appointment right on time, and I told him I hoped to be riding with him again soon.   For more info, go to their website at http://www.envirotaxicab.com/.
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Steve Offutt, Arlington Envirocab user

AAA - Good or Bad for Bicyclists?

Are you a member of the American Automobile Association and a cyclist? If so, have you ever thought about the connection between AAA and cycling? An article titled "Bicycle Respect" from the Pacific Northwest's Sightline Institute discusses this connection with the premise: "AAA chapters spend part of each membership fee lobbying and advocating for driving and cars [to the detriment of cyclists]." While the article doesn't prove that AAA is actually anti-bike, it makes for an interesting read.

by Paul DeMaio, BikeArlington

Mars & Venus (Earth loses)

I'm often amazed at how really smart people can't seem to put 2&2 together.  This last Sunday's Washington Post had a long, in-depth article about the BRAC relocations.  It included a great graphic shown here (click on it for a larger view).  At the same time, virtually every day brings additional news about the need to take immediate and significant actions to battle global warming.  Most of the nations of the world met in Bali recently for the yearly Conference of the Parties that guides the international dialog on climate change.  Europe, for one, was pushing for 25-40% reductions in greenhouse gases by 2020 (the U. S. 'succeeded' in watering down much of the language).

If you look at the map you will see that the jobs are primarily moving away from places where transportation options are more plentiful to places where they are not.  There is no question that the number of miles driven in the DC area will go up with this realignment.  The article points out the need for hundreds of millions of dollars of additional transportation infrastructure just to accommodate the additional traffic.  All of it is more roads.  Does the BRAC commission read the news about global warming?  Are they living on another planet?

What you might hear from them is, "Our job was to blah...blah...blah.  Once we met those objectives, then global warming might be a secondary issue, but it wasn't our job."  I once attended a presentation in which the presenter posed the question, "Who is in charge of climate change?"  The answer is, well, no one really.  Which means that we all are.  Including the BRAC.

It's probably too late to change the relocations, but it's not too late to make opportunities out of them.  Knowing that all these jobs are moving, what changes can be made that will reduce the traffic and greenhouse gases at the same time?  The most obvious is to look at which jobs can be done without needing the people to actually be there.  Having workers telecommute 2-3 days per week (or full time) would reduce driving and congestion tremendously and also reduce terrorism risk by spreading out the workforce.  Comprehensive additional planning should take place immediately, including starting work on extending rail (VRE and Metrorail to the Proving Ground and Fort Belvoir and MARC direct to Fort Meade).  Other land use planning needs to be much smarter, both on the bases themselves and in areas that will attract workers.  The forts themselves should make themselves examples of places that people can get around without needing a personal car.  That way those who come by the train or bus or carpool can get where they want and need to be.  One way might be to put in PRT (personal rapid transit), which I'll cover another day.

In any case, it would be great to see the Defense Department take the lead on being forward thinking and progressive on how to achieve their realignment goals without exacerbating global warming.
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Steve Offutt, Arlington

What it's Going to Take

The Washington, D.C. area is ranked #2 nationwide for traffic congestion. Nationwide, we rank #1 for the amount of global warming pollution Americans produce. With concerns about both traffic congestion and global warming, it's time to realize that the way things have been done aren't the way things need to be done.

As The CommuterPageBlog pointed out on Dec. 15, Copenhagen is doubling its bicycle budget from $15 million to $30 million per year. With this commitment to cycling, Copenhagen will surpass a 40% bicycle mode split in the city to become one of the most, if not THE most, bicycle-friendly city in the world. A 40% bike mode split means that 40% of travel trips made in Copenhagen are done so by bike.

What does a 40% mode split look like?

Imagine how a bike mode split of even 5% or 10% would affect traffic congestion and pollution levels in the D.C. area, let alone a 40% split. Copenhagen was once an auto-dominated city, however, they made a concerted effort to become a bike-friendly city. It doesn't happen by accident. The D.C. region and especially Arlington are also taking grand steps to be more bike-friendly with multiple sheltered bike parking locations, bike-sharing, and miles of new trails scheduled for 2008. This is all a part of creating a bicycle-friendly region.

Paul DeMaio is manager of Arlington County's BikeArlington program

Splash a little green into your holiday season

Tired of giving slippers and sweaters?  Are you having a difficult time coming up with gift ideas? Do you want your gift to be different and also make a difference? 

The Washington Post's Holiday Guide shares "Eco-Wise: Gifts of Green," which offers gift suggestions that are environmentally friendly. Gaiam Smart Power Strip and Gecko Trader Bags are just some of the article's suggestions to jump start your shopping.

And if none of those ideas get your creative juices flowing, the Post's travel section also features "travel gifts," which suggests Mark Ovenden's "Transit Maps of the World." Inspire your friends and family to explore the world while showing them how easy it can be to make a memory.

The holiday season can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be that way.  Online shopping and walking to local stores can also save some hassle too.  What ideas do you have to make your holidays greener? 

Carly Nider, Arlington Transportation Partners

How Much Is Your Commute Costing You and Our Environment?

Local news station Fox 5 posed that question to viewers at 5 and 10 pm on Monday, November 26 in an interview with County Board Member Jay Fisette about Arlington's Car-Free Diet. Says Fox 5: "Arlington County leaders are urging people to get out and walk by going on the car-free diet, cutting inches from your waste line and minutes off your commute." There are two minute-and-a-half versions of the interview on YouTube at the links below:

Car-Free Diet on Fox 5 News at 5:00 pm, Monday, Nov. 26

Car-Free Diet on Fox 5 News at 10:00 pm, Monday, Nov. 26

Enjoy.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a biking/Metro commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Congestion charge, commuter tax and Metro

Last week a Washington Post reader named Bill Suffa wrote a letter to Dr. Gridlock in which he suggested that:
1) a congestion charge is essentially nothing more than a commuter tax and,
2) that Metro would be incapable of handling th