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One
avenue to increase pedestrian safety and slow down the traffic roaring
through our neighborhood is to ally with bicycle riders. They have their
own Arlington Bicycle
Advisory Committee and are far better organized than walkers.
- When Williamsburg
activists – pleading for the safety of walkers – proposed
installation of landscaped median strips on Sycamore and Williamsburg
Boulevard (following recommendations in our Neighborhood Plan), County
staffers dismissed the idea with references to the needs of motorists.
- The bike people,
however, have succeeded in getting the County Board to adopt a long-term
plan for a network of bike lanes that would (at least in the case
of Williamsburg Boulevard) involve paring off one lane of motorized
traffic in each direction!
This
is good news for Williamsburg walkers! The bike lane plan, adopted by
the County this summer, calls for the conversion of Williamsburg Boulevard
from a four lane road to a two lane road plus bicycle lanes and (where
needed) turn lanes.
- According to
Ritch Viola, the Arlington
Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, the extra road space would be
converted to painted median area would could eventually be turned
into landscaped area or raised pedestrian refuge islands.
- Williamsburg
Boulevard is not one of the roadways slated for immediate conversion,
but it is in the amended Arlington Bicycle Transportation Plan.
- Prior to actually
making any changes to Williamburg Boulevard or other roads, County
staff will work with the affected communities to explain the proposal
and address concerns.
Implementation
of the bike lane plan on Williamsburg Boulevard would promote several
goals:
- Converting Williamsburg
to one lane in each direction would help calm traffic – a top-priority
goal in our Williamsburg Neighborhood Plan – by narrowing the
roadway.
- It would also
allow creation of larger landscaped median strips which would add
needed green space and beautify the neighborhood – another high
priority neighborhood goal.
- The move likely
would improve motorist safety. Currently, Williamsburg Boulevard narrows
to one lane just before Old Dominion, creating a hazard where drivers
must merge from two lanes to one. Making the street one lane in each
direction would remove this hazard.
- Implementation
of the bike lane network is also good news for those of us who cycle
to work.
- An expanded bike
lane system will also help get people out of their cars and into a
more neighborhood-friendly form of transportation.
More
Information:
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