This week six years ago FABB reported on the first meeting in nearly two years of the newly rebranded VDOT Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The committee, which began in1989 as the Bicycle Advisory Committee, had history of meeting sporadically, so we were happy to see it reconvene after its lengthy hiatus and happy to attend.
The committee was created to serve as a forum for open communication and information exchange between VDOT, other state agencies, federal agencies, advocates, and citizens regarding bicycling opportunities across the commonwealth. Discussions usually focus on VDOT policies, standards, and practices that affect the bicycling and walking community. Its meetings are open to the public, and over the years, FABB members have continued to volunteer to make the trek to Richmond to participate in the group’s conversations.
The 2013 meeting discussed a few Northern Virginia topics, including the Lawyers Road road diet project, the planned installation of Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs and shared lane markings, and Fairfax County’s application to VDOT that year for funding of a countywide Safe Routes to School coordinator position.
Over the years, the meetings have looked at issues ranging from updates on the VDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, traffic engineering, and highway safety to specific topics such as the Wiehle-Reston East Station Bike Room when it was still in the planning stages. The most recent meeting last January included discussions of the statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Program and best practices on notifications for group rides. The next meeting will be held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at 600 E. Main Street, 24thfloor, in Richmond.
More details can be found at the VDOT BPAC website. The committee also has a quarterly newsletter that has useful reports and helpful links about bicycling in Virginia. You can use this link to add your email to the distribution list.
