Join the District’s best Spring event and save big today!
The DC Bike Ride is the region’s only closed-road recreational bike ride. This is your only opportunity to cruise through the streets of D.C. completely car-free. Cruise through the streets of D.C. and enjoy seeing the most iconic views of the city from a different perspective.
Not an avid biker? No problem. The ride is not a race and it’s not competitive. DC Bike Ride is all about fun. Enjoy the ride at your own pace and with the comforts of entertainment and food rest stops along the course. All riding abilities are welcome.
Get the best price during Early Bird registration
Save $10 signing up now for the 2019 DC Bike Ride. Youth riders in the age group 8-17 are always 50% off and kids between 3-7 years old are free. Price increases on March 1.
Don’t miss the chance to join the most fun ride through the best sights of D.C. DC Bike Ride will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 8 a.m. EST.
*The price increases to $60/rider (18+) on Friday, March 1 at 12 a.m. EST. For more info visit dcbikeride.com.
Currently, e-bikes are not allowed on Fairfax trails, but that could be changing soon.
NOVA Parks regulations currently group motor-assisted bicycles in with motor vehicles, and they are only permitted where motor vehicles are allowed. The regulation was originally intended to regulate the use of mopeds and does not fully address e-bikes.
As a result, NOVA Parks is recommending a change in Fairfax County’s regulation to allow legal use of e-bikes where other pedal-powered bicycles are permitted.
The new regulations add a specific section — fittingly section “E”– governing e-bikes:
Electric power-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) equipped with pedals that allow propulsion by human power are considered bicycles and non-motorized vehicles for the purpose of these regulations, and are allowed in the same places that traditional, pedal-powered only bicycles are allowed.
Under federal law, e-bikes are broken up into distinct classes, but in Virginia, e-bikes are regulated by power with a maximum allowed speed of 25 miles per hour. In Fairfax, the new regulations would limit e-bikes to those with 750 watts of power or less and limit speed to under 20 miles per hour. E-bikes would be allowed anywhere pedal bikes are.
Like pedal bikes, guidelines say e-bikers should yield to pedestrians and equestrians.
A study by NOVA Parks found that e-bike users exhibit nearly identical behavior as regular bike users, with lower than standard bike speeds and a similar crash rate.
Allowing e-bikes in Fairfax can be a contentious topic, with safety concerns about the size and speed of the vehicles. Large vehicles fitting under the nebulous “e-bike” categorization have been spotted speeding along the trail.
But Alexis Glenn, a board member of the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB) and an e-bike rider, said it’s practically impossible for most bikes to go more than 10 or 15 mph and are often passed by other pedal-powered bikes on the trail.
“Safety on trails will always, always be an education and culture issue, not an equipment issue,” said Glenn. “The weight of e-bikes actually makes it take longer for a rider to get them up to or maintain high speeds. And, if an e-bike user is somehow able to buzz down a trail at 20 mph without encountering a curve, bump, or other users to slow her down, then the battery will drain fast, rendering the e-bike to just a bike.
“My inclinations aside, yes, speeds are a valid concern and NOVA Parks are working on regulations regarding this,” Glenn continued. “I’ll say it again, speed is a user education issue, not an equipment issue. When a driver speeds recklessly we don’t cite the make and model of his vehicle as the culprit, it’s his bad behavior.”
Glenn said FABB supports the proposed policy change as part of promoting greater use of bicycles for recreation and transportation.
Judy Pedersen, public information officer for Fairfax County Park Authority, said the Park Boards are likely to make a decision on the regulation in the spring.
But in the meantime, Pedersen asked e-bikers to obey current park rules and keep off the trails.
“Until the new regulation is approved by both Boards riding e-bikes on trails would be a violation of park regulations,” said Pedersen. “Current park regulations define any vehicle with a motor (gas or electric) as a motor vehicle, therefore excluding their use on park trails.”
Local Startup Raises $30 Million — “Fairfax-based real estate data and analytics company Remine,” which has offices in Tysons and Dunn Loring, “has closed a $30 million Series A funding round, bringing its total amount raised to $48 million.” [Washington Business Journal]
Officials Hold Meeting on E-Bikes — “The recent popularity [of] e-bikes and the fact they are not allowed on trails in Fairfax County and NOVA Parks prompted NOVA Parks and Fairfax County Park Authority to take steps to understand the issues and then share facts with the public and listen to their comments.” [McLean Connection]
Fairfax Home Market Flat to Start Year — “A modest increase in sales was offset by slightly lower average sales price in the January home-sales report for Fairfax County. And as a result, the total sales volume for the month stood relatively unchanged as the local market began to segue from winter to spring.” [InsideNova]
Falls Church Seeking BZA Member — The Falls Church Board of Zoning Appeals is looking to fill a vacancy for the position of Alternate Member. [City of Falls Church]
The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB) is hoping to rally local cyclists and pedestrians for a show of support for two bridges in a new planned urban center in Merrifield.
Tomorrow evening (Tuesday) at 7 p.m., the Merrifield Study Task Force is scheduled to host a meeting at the Providence District Office and Community Center at 3001 Vaden Drive in Fairfax to discuss the bicycle and pedestrian connectivity of the new plan.
The plan is to transform 203 acres of land at the Beltway-Arlington Boulevard interchange southeast of the Mosaic District into a new development that may contain office, hotel or residential buildings.
According to the organization’s website:
FABB is advocating for improved bicycle access as part of the comprehensive plan amendment. This includes two bike/ped bridges over the Beltway (one south of Route 50 at the Inova site and one north of Route 50) and improved connections to the Providence Recreation Center, Holmes Run Park, and the Cross County Trail.
Analysis of the plan’s impact will continue through the group’s March 5 meeting, after which the group will begin drafting recommendations for a final staff report estimated for June.
FABB is also scheduled to host a meeting on Feb. 20 at 7:30 to discuss the latest trail improvements through the Virginia Department of Transportations Transform I-66 project and discuss upcoming bicycling developments for the Tysons area.
Photo via Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning
Tune up the bike and break out the spandex, the Tour de Tysons is returning for its fifth annual competition this March.
On Feb. 20 at 12:15 a.m., registration is scheduled to open for the 2019 race around the Tysons area. The entry fee is $35 for men and women’s races and $15 for younger ages.
The event is hosted by the Tysons Partnership and the National Capital Velo Club.
Races vary from 30 minutes to one hour in length. The race starts on Westpark Drive, then turns onto Jones Branch Drive and Westbranch Drive.
Cyclists who are not registered with the Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association will be required to purchase a one-day license with cash at the race.
The event, featuring 10 races from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., has drawn 300 competitors in previous years.
Photo via Facebook
As the national chain files for bankruptcy, the Performance Bicycle Shop in Pike 7 Plaza is going out of business.
Like the nearby Pier 1 Imports, the imminent closure of the store also means much of the store’s supply is on steep sales. Helmets and other equipment normally sold for over $100 is priced at around $30.
Items in the store range from bicycles, including specialized recumbent bicycles, to smaller bicycle accessories like bells and chain lube. Yesterday (Thursday) was the first day fixtures in the store were also on sale, from wall racks to the vacuum cleaner.
A manager at the store said the business likely has a week or two before it fully closes. He estimated Jan. 27 will be the store’s final day.
Despite the impending closure, staff at the store still maintained a bit of gallows humor. The manager at the store was directing customers to items with the highest sales and asking if any of the people stopping by for accessories needed a bike-rack capable of storing 12 bicycles.
When one woman walked in with a bike broken into three pieces, staff told her that the store was no longer accepting maintenance work and that the shop’s repair team had been recently laid off.
But when she mentioned one of the staff by name, the discombobulated bicycle was recognized as a “special project” and she was directed to the back of the store where the few remaining employees were still helping Tysonians with their bicycle problems.
Vienna Mulling Economic Development Push — “Vienna is the only Northern Virginia locality without personnel expressly devoted to economic development, but that may change soon. Vienna Town Council members, in a joint work session Dec. 3 with their Planning Commission counterparts, supported town staff’s proposal to hire a consultant (for about $100,000) who would develop an economic-development strategy and conduct a market study.” [InsideNova]
NBC4 Covers Vienna Bike Corral — The Vienna Town Council’s concern about a bike corral potentially taking up a single parking space on Church Street was the subject of an Adam Tuss story on NBC4 yesterday. Via Twitter, the bikes@vienna store said in response: “Needless to say, we at bikes@vienna support the move. Will the Town get on board with providing much needed bike infrastructure, or will cars still rule?” [Twitter, Twitter]
Photos: Reindogs in McLean — “The 2018 Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce Reindog celebration, which took place Dec. 1… brought out the creativity of local residents and the understanding of canines who found themselves dressed up in holiday-themed costumes.” [InsideNova]
Fairfax Approves Funds for Tech Firm’s Tysons Move — “Cloud computing company Appian Corporation will receive $4 million from Fairfax County for the company’s expansion and new headquarters in Tysons… The Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors approved the Development Opportunity Fund grant from the Commonwealth at its meeting on Tuesday (Dec. 4).” [Reston Now]
Shoppers Pack Local Malls — Despite the popularity of online shopping, the holiday season is still a busy one for local malls. Shoppers packed Tysons Corner Center on Friday, and National Public Radio was there interviewing mall-goers about why they decided to brave the crowds rather than shop in the comfort of their own home. [NPR]
Teens Suspected of Marco Polo Arson — Police believe a pair of teens deliberately set the empty former Marco Polo restaurant in Vienna on fire. The teens are also suspected of separate acts of vandalism, arson and making fake bomb threats, according to WJLA’s Tim Barber. [Twitter]
Council Worried About Bike Corral Taking Up Parking Space — Members of the Vienna Town Council “voted unanimously Nov. 19 to table their decision about potentially relocating a bicycle ‘corral’ on Church Street until other alternatives become available,” because the proposed place for the corral to be relocated would eliminate a parking space. [InsideNova]
More on Falls Church Murder-Suicide — “Officers responded to the 7300 block of Parkwood Court at 10:48 after a relative discovered 51-year-old Judith Garcia Gonzales de Gudiel and her husband 60-year-old Ever Gudiel dead. Preliminarily, it appears Gudiel attacked Garcia, causing trauma to her upper body before hanging himself.” [FCPD]
Tysons is working towards being a more bike friendly community, but as anyone who’s pedaled through the area could tell you, it’s not quite there yet.
The Fairfax County Bicycle Map ranks streets throughout the county on a “most comfortable” to “use caution” scale. Nearly all of Tysons is colored in the yellow “less comfortable” indicator.
Some of the major thoroughfares, like Westpark Drive, International Drive, and Leesburg Pike are all listed as “use caution,” though many of those streets are categorized as having bikeable sidewalks.
But on the periphery of Tysons proper, Nicole Wynands, Bicycle Program Manager for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, said there are several neighborhoods and trails that are perfect for biking.
“The Pimmit Hills area of Tysons is the most bikeable neighborhood with calm residential streets and good internal connectivity,” said Wynands. “The Jones Branch Connector will open shortly to pedestrians and cyclists, connecting Pimmit Hills and the McLean Metro with downtown Tysons via a shared-use path.”
Whether that bike-ability lasts as the northern edge of the neighborhood faces redevelopment remains to be seen.
Wynands had additional Tysons area cycling suggestions.
“Another great residential cycling area is Tysons Green, west of Route 7, with a good connection to the W&OD Trail and a beautiful stream/valley trail (Foxstone Park & Waverly Park),” said Wynands, via email. “The Vesper Trail is in the final stages of construction and will connect Tysons Green to downtown Tysons.”
Some caution is still urged at the eastern end of Old Courthouse Road in Tysons Green. Earlier this week a man died crossing the street.
For those willing to brave bicycling through downtown Tysons, Wynands said there are a few corridors cyclists can ride on more comfortably.
- Greensboro Drive — The street parallel to Leesburg Pike that runs along The Boro development.
- Park Run — A street that runs from the Tysons Galleria Shopping Center to the Freddie Mac headquarters.
- Westbranch Drive — A street east of Tysons Galleria along the planned The Mile development, right past the Tysons Republik Coffee.
Tysons Car Dealership Properties for Sale — “Perhaps the largest concentration of vehicle dealerships in Tysons is on the market. McLean-based Capital Automotive has retained Newmark Knight Frank Capital Markets to sell a large portion of Dominion Square, its long-planned redevelopment of a collection of dealerships adjacent to the Spring Hill Metro station.” [Washington Business Journal]
Unusual Bike Theft Near Vienna Metro — Fairfax County Police investigated a burglary at a townhouse development not far from the Vienna Metro station last week. Police say someone rummaged through an unlocked car and used a garage door opener to break into a house and steal a bike. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Overeager Trash Collector Cited in Vienna — From the Town of Vienna Police Department’s crime blotter: “While on routine patrol Sgt. Ruddy observed a trash truck emptying dumpsters prior to 7:00 a.m. Sgt. Ruddy made contact with the driver and issued him a summons to the 49-year-old man from Dartford Place in Bristow, Virginia charging Noise Violation. The man was released on his signature.” [Town of Vienna]
