Getting Around Reston by Bike

Bruce Wright

Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

Outline

• Who is a "senior?"

• Getting around Reston by bike

• Why ride bikes

• Types of bikes

• Carrying stuff

• Seniors and cycling

• Making Reston more bike-friendly

Who is a "Senior?"

• Wide range of ages from 50 (AARP), 62, or

66 (SS), all the way to 100+ (parents of

younger seniors)

• Baby Boomers - Grew up in the 60's and

many adopted bikes for transportation and

still ride - Environmental reasons.

Getting around Reston

• Bike commuting to USGS for 20+ years

• Run errands - Farmers markets, Y, Bread

store

• Most trips under 5 miles, many under 3 miles

o 3 mile trip takes about 20 minutes

o Bike/Car/Bus challenge - Bikes were fastest

• Bike vacations - Great way to see the world

Why travel by bike

• It's fun

• Low impact exercise

• Non-polluting

• Inexpensive

• Allows you to "smell the roses"

• Discover your community by using bike-

friendly routes

More People Riding are for Transportation

• Seniors want walkable/bikeable communities

• Cycling promotes good health and benefits

people with certain conditions such as

Parkinson's or strokes

• Many seniors in Europe travel by bikeo Netherlands, 1 in 4 of their trips by bike

More bike choices available now

Recumbents: Two wheels and Three wheels

Recumbents

Pros

• Comfortable seat

• Less stress on wrists and neck

• Can ride comfortably for longer distances

• Trikes overcome balance problems

Cons

• Difficult to transport and store

• Expensive

Folding bikes are another good option

Small wheels

Low to the ground

Easier to store and transport

Reston is not flat!

• Gradually build up to ride longer distances

over varied terrain.

• Most bikes have very low gears. Using all of

your gears helps.

• Electric-assist bikes are

becoming more

popular.

Options for carrying items

Panniers

Baskets

Trailers

Cargo bikes

Portland Senior Cyclist Program

• Free program to encourage seniors to get

back into cycling.

• Trikes and helmets

are provided for free.

• Helps seniors stay fit,

healthy, and active.

How do we make Reston more bike-friendly?

Reston Ped/Bike Committee recommendations

and the County Bicycle Master Plan

• Bike lanes

• Signed bike routes and shared lane

markings

• Better bike parking

• Bike education for everyone

• Incentives to get more people on bikes

• Bike Ambassadors?

•

More Information

• Bruce Wright - bikecommuter@gmail.com

• FABB website - www.fabb-bikes.org

o Cyclist Resources page - Maps, etc.

• RA Pedestrian & Bicycling Advisory

Committee

• Fairfax County Bicycle Program:

o www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/bike/