Well, it had to happen sooner or later! WABA ExecutiveDirector Eric Gilliland is moving on to a ‘bigger andbetter’ job with the National Association of CityTransportation Officials. At first I was dismayed by thenews but soon realized that this change was long in themaking and is ultimately for the greater good. Who wouldhave thought that the former bike messenger hired in1999 would take WABA to a size and scope that no onecould have imagined? Bruce Dwyer, our acting ED at thetime, says that when a struggling WABA needed a newdirector in 2004, “Eric showed he had fire in the belly forbicycling and was willing to work for scratch, a perfect fit with the search criteria for a new executive director at that time.”

WABA has grown substantially since then! Eric not onlyushered in this growth, he walked (or biked?) the talk asWABA became one of the preeminent bicycle advocacyorganizations in the country. He came to be the face(albeit boyish!) of WABA who rode to events everywhereand would still be ready for the most formal of meetings.Eric’s passion for cycling mixed with his “LanceArmstrong-like” cool-headedness made him an effectivecommunicator with the media, policymakers, membersand general public. I believe his personal commitment to the validity of cycling as transportation led him todevelop a keen awareness of all things that impact it,especially laws and lawmakers. He maneuvered WABAthrough challenges and triumphs way too numerous tolist more than a handful here. He weathered the BikeDC

weather jinx, helped strengthen WABA’s viability by diversifying its funding sources, inaugurated theinauguration bike valet, built collegial relationships with government and other partners, and moved WABA to “real” office space complete with full sized desks (asure sign of legitimacy in the non-profit world!), etc, etc.

When WABA staff grew big enough to need those offices,it was an adjustment for Eric to let go of doing everythinghimself. But he learned to delegate responsibilities andWABA now has many faces to effectively representWABA! It wouldn’t have occurred to me, but I was tellinga non-cycling friend about Eric’s vacation photos, and my friend responded “he even bikes on vacation!?” Of course he does!

—Barbara Klieforth, WABA President

»WABA BOARD

PresidentBarbara Klieforth

Vice PresidentMartin Moulton

TreasurerPaul d’Eustachio

SecretaryRandall Myers

Board MembersCasey AndersonKendall DormanElissa Parker

»WABA STAFF

RIDEON is published quarterly by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, 2599 Ontario Road NW Washington, DC 20009

phone :: (202) 518-0524fax :: (202) 518-0936email :: waba@waba.orgwebsite :: www.waba.org

Send requests, changes of address or general messages to the WABA office. Address submissions to RIDEON, or email: rideon@waba.org.

©2010 Washington Area Bicyclist Association.WABA is a nonprofit advocacy group representing the metropolitan Washington area bicycling community. Coverage of an event not sponsored by WABA does not constitute an endorsement. Reproduction of information in RIDEON for non-profit use is encouraged. Please use with attribution.

RIDE ON»

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WABA Thanks Eric for his Leadership

Daniel Hoagland took over the position of DC BikeAmbassador, vacant since last fall, in early March. Danielcame to us from Cambridge, MA, where he worked for thecity’s Environment and TransportationDepartment on a sustainable transportationprogram. Before that, he worked for theBoston Bikes program. He brings experienceplanning and promoting bicycling andsustainable transportation around thegreater Boston area, as well as experiencecoordinating volunteers and organizing bike-themed events such as Boston’s Hubon Wheels ride.

Daniel has a BA in English from TuftsUniversity in Medford, MA as well as most of an MS in Political Science from SuffolkUniversity in Boston. He spent the last ten years living andriding around Boston, but spent much of his free time in the District, getting to know the city and experiencing thedifference in flavor of bicycling.

In addition to his bicycling and urban policy experience incity government, Daniel has been published in the AmericanJournal of Public Health, he’s designed and taught a TuftsUniversity course on the history of coffee, spent five yearsas a Starbucks barista and sold high-end modern furniture.As the new DC Bicycle Ambassador, Daniel can be found atvarious community and municipal events all through springand summer, as well as simply biking around town with theAmbassador trailer—a bike billboard with safety- andeducation-related messages for road users. His role is to be a two-wheeled resource for the District: visible,knowledgeable and accessible to everyone.

Danny joined WABA in March, taking over the managementof the Bicycle Valet Program from the events staff. Dannywill also work with organizations, government agencies

and individuals on transportation and bikeparking issues. Danny's experience workingas a bicycle messenger in DC for the pastfive years gave him knowledge of both theDC streets and where the bike parkingpossibilities are all over the city.

Danny grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, andgraduated from George Mason University in Fairfax with a BA in Geography. Thecommute along the Custis/W&OD to workand school became his favorite part of theday, so he switched gears to ride all dayinstead, working full time as a bike

messenger in DC during college and also after. Dannycontinues to serve as the Secretary of the DC Bicycle Courier Association. Through the messengercommunity, Danny became involved with WABAvolunteering at Bike to Work Day, the WABA Gala, the Fifty States Ride, and numerous bike valets. You can findhim on the weekend training for and racing in road andcyclo-cross races wearing a Route 1/Arrow Bicycle jersey.

Interim Executive DirectorDorcas Adkins

Membership & DevelopmentManagerEve DeCoursey

Membership & Development CoordinatorJenn Bress

Events ManagerChantal Buchser

Events AssistantGreg Billing

Safety Education Program DirectorGlen Harrison

Safety Education CoordinatorHenry Mesias

Education Grants CoordinatorDorcas Adkins

DC & Regional Safe Routes toSchool Network CoordinatorGina Arlotto

Maryland Safe Routes to SchoolNetwork CoordinatorPatrick MacMahon

DC Bike AmbassadorDaniel Hoagland

Bike Parking & Valet InternDanny Koniowsky

Office Volunteers

John CampanileBruce DwyerJon Fleming

Alison HortonHarvey OllisJohn Telesco

Jim TitusDana WolfeBruce Wright

WABA Hires Two New Staff MembersDanny Koniowsky

Bicycle Parking InternDaniel Hoagland

DC Bike Ambassador

“DC area cyclists have long benefitedfrom his work and dedication; and now it’s time for us to share... ”

www.waba.org

Google Maps: Bike ThereRocking the bicycle world in March, a team from Googleannounced that the much desired bicycling direction feature would be added to the popular online mappingservice. Public bicycling information has been added tothe maps such as on-street bike lanes, cycle tracks, multi-use recreational paths, etc. Google uses this information along with elevation and distances to determine the best route by bicycle. Bicycling directionshave been added for over 150 cities with more on the way!

Developers at Google are still working some of the kinksout of the algorithm used to route bicyclists, and the set

of bicycle paths, lanes and trails is not complete. Googleneeds the help of experienced cyclists with local bicyclingknowledge to update their maps. Use their “report a problem” feature located in the lower right corner of themap to notify Google of an error on their maps. A smallmarker will pop up on the map that you can drag to the location of the issue and then write them a note about the problem.

WABA is very excited to have bicycling directions on Google Maps because it will make it easier for all cyclists, including new riders, to get to their destination by bike and to see the comparison to othermodes of transportation!

Eric Gilliland, Mayor Fenty and WABA board member Martin Moulton celebrating the opening of the

Union Station Bike Station

2 RIDEON • Summer, 2010

Fare Thee WellAs many of you know, I have recently resigned asexecutive director of the Washington Area BicyclistAssociation. Since this will be my last contribution toRide On, I want to use this occasion to briefly reflect onwhat has occurred during my time with the association.

Over ten years ago, I hobbled into the WABA office tohand my resume to Ellen Jones, then WABA’s executivedirector. At the time, WABA was looking for a part-timedata entry person to help process registrations for asmall bike ride called Bike DC 1999. I was hobblingbecause I was on crutches, still recovering from a bikecrash suffered while working as a messenger. Afternearly four years of spending 8-10 hours a day plying the streets of DC no matter what the weather, I’d beencontemplating just how to get out of the business. A timely injury and timely job opening made the decision for me.

Back then, the WABA office was two small rooms andtwo hardworking staff. DC had just a couple of miles ofbike lanes, you needed a pass to take your bike onMetro, and the Met Branch Trail was still just a gleam inPat Hare’s and Paul Meijer’s eyes. Bicycling was still afringe activity, considered the territory of old school,lycra-clad environmentalists who, despite the lack ofbike lanes and bike racks, education classes, share-the-road campaigns, still rode their bikes and urged othersto do so as well. Those people, some of whom had seenWABA’s founding in 1972, made up the core of WABA’ssmall membership. Remarkably, many of these peopleare still active with the organization today.

In the ten years since I began, the changes in both theorganization and in the region have been tremendous.The WABA staff has grown from three to eleven full-timeequivalents. Our budget has increased by over$700,000. We now boast over 5000 members and tensof thousands of supporters. WABA youth and adulteducation programs now exist in DC, MD and VA. Thepass requirement to bring your bike on Metro has beeneliminated, hours of access expanded, and all bussesnow have bike racks. There’s a new bike station at UnionStation and a new trail along the Wilson Bridge. And

throughout the region bike racks are being installed,bike lanes are being striped, and the DC regioncontinues the march toward one of the best trailnetworks in the country.

The future is a bright one. Bike sharing will go regionalin 2010. New, innovative facilities such as protected bikelanes will soon sprout up in downtown DC and, thanks to the hard work of WABA and of people like you, cycling is no longer alternative transportation, it’s justtransportation and anyone elected in the region mustspeak to our issues.

So after ten years of stale jokes about stale bagels atBike to Work Day, and ten years of fighting hard toensure that anyone who wanted to ride a bike forwhatever reason would be treated as an equal user ofthe transportation system, it’s time to move on. While Iwill certainly be sad to leave WABA, I firmly believe thatthe organization will continue to be a strong, effectiveand vibrant agent of change in the DC area.

I can’t say enough how amazing it has been to work withyou, and my time with WABA will always be somethingthat I’ll remember fondly. Among the staff, some of thehardest working (and best looking) people in advocacy,we quip that there is no “I” in WABA. We say thatbecause it reminds us of who we work for and remindsus that we would not be where we are without thesupport of the bicycling community and the time, talentsand treasure you commit to the cause. With yoursupport, WABA has grown into one of the strongest bikeadvocacy groups in the country, one that is making ahuge impact on the DC region. With your continuedsupport, WABA will emerge from this transition asstrong as ever and continue to lead the DC area to aplace where anyone can get anywhere … by bike.

Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you. I will miss you all greatly.

Rubber side down.

EricEric Gilliland, WABA Executive Director

» FROM MY SADDLE

flckr.com/photos/waba

facebook.com

• Check out photos ofcurrent events.

• Share your photos in the WABA EventPhotos pool

Join the WABA groupon facebook.com

• Connect with localriders.

• Have fun!

HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HHHHHHHHHHHHH

Jeff BensonJason ClockPaulo CoutoScott DempseyBob DiehlAndres ErasoAlison HortonRichard KorisJennifer LehmanLouise MarshallMichael Messner

Barry MillerStephen MillerMiguel OrtegaJonathan PlattMimi PollowBridget PooleyPhilip ShanholtzerHilding TornerhjelmDaina ValatisMerissa WardMatt Wittmer

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Visit waba.org/volunteer for more info.

Bike Valet Parking at the Taste of Arlington,Ballston, Arlington VA

Sunday, May 16

Bike to Work Day - Freedom Plaza Pit Stop Friday, May 21

Bike DC Sunday, May 23

National Trails Day “Meet the Met” event - NE DC

Saturday, June 5

THANKS TOVOLUNTEERS

WABA VOLUNTEERSare the muscle behind the machine!!

VOLUNTEER CALLVolunteer nights are a great way to meet other membersof the local cycling community and maybe even run intosome old friends. Volunteer nights typically occur on the1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Some volunteernights are filled with admin tasks while others aretrainings and meetings for future events. Check thevolunteer calendar at www.waba.org/volunteer/ foraccurate times and dates. WABA will provide food andbeverages, and if you attend three volunteer nights in oneyear, you will receive a one-year WABA membership, ormembership renewal!

VASA RIDECHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

OFF SIDES RIDEwith DC United

On Saturday, April 3 WABA joined DC United incelebrating their first home soccer game of the seasonagainst the New England Revolution. This is the second year that WABA has organized a ‘Bike Me Out to the Soccer Game’ event with DC United to helpkick off a busy spring events season in a fun andcelebratory way! Since DC United faced off against theNew England Revolution, local bike retailer, RevolutionCycles partnered with WABA to help promote the event. To show DC United fans that WABA is a force to bereckoned with, WABA organized a group ride from theRevolution Cycles location in Georgetown to RFK

Stadium where a tailgate awaitedwhile local musician, Wale, performed a pre-game concert in front of the Armory. A great timewas had by all!

BIKE PROMCalling All Bike Party People!

WABA is once again planning its annual Bike Prom to take place this June! Marking its third year as DC’s biggest bike party, the WABA Bike Prom is an event not to be missed. WABA’s Bike Prom is the bestnight of the year to dust off your powder blue leisure suit, 80’s bridesmaid dresses, tuxedo bike jersey, or pink gorilla suit. This year’s Prom will include everyone’s favorite features such as the Photo Booth,

election of the Prom Court—to include Prom King, Prom Queen, Prom Prince, Prom Princess, and Court Jester, great raffle prizes, DJs spinning dance tunes all night, and more!

This celebration of bike culture comes to life with the help of our extraordinary Prom Committee! The WABA Bike Prom Committee helps to coordinate decorations, logistics, sponsorship outreach,

and promotion. If you’re interested in helping to plan this event, contact events@waba.org.

Stay tuned for more details!

RIDEON • Summer, 2010 3

Thanks to the overwhelming support of local cyclists andWABA members, the Montgomery County Council votedto restore funding for the design and construction of theMetropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) in the County’s FY 2011-2016 budget. Earlier this year, Montgomery CountyExecutive Isiah Leggett’s budget included no funds forthe MBT until 2013, and only included $6 million fordesign land acquisition. The Council decision included$12 million starting in the next fiscal year for design,land acquisition and construction of the trail west ofGeorgia Avenue.

In another victory for the trail, the Montgomery CountyPlanning board recommended (and the County Councilapproved) the addition of a new trail bridge over GeorgiaAve to the MBT design. Earlier recommendations fromthe County Executive would have forced trail users to use an existing narrow pedestrian walkway.

“This segment of the Met Branch is the key linking pointin the entire trail network in Montgomery County, but ithad been languishing for years,” said Eric Gilliland,WABA’s executive director. “We are extremely pleasedthat the County Council has recognized the importanceof this trail to the people of Montgomery County and wehope they will continue to show their support during thefinal budget reconciliation.”

The Met Branch Trail in Silver Spring will eventuallyconnect to the improved Capital Crescent Trail that will

be constructed along with the Purple Line, existingsections of the trail near Montgomery County, and a new MBT section in the Silver Spring Transit Center.

In other good budget news:

MacArthur Boulevard Bikeway ImprovementsThe Executive had recommended pushing the completionof these improvements to FY13. Council has tentativelyprogrammed funds to complete the project in FY12.

Trail for Montrose Parkway EastThe Council has tentatively recommended funding theextension of this project west over Parklawn Drive andthe CSX tracks to connect to the Rockville Pike/Montroseinterchange now under construction. As part of thisproject the hiker-biker trail will also be extended, so that there will be a continuous off-road trail from I-270 to Veirs Mill Road, including a connecting path to theRock Creek Trail.

WABA would like to thank all of you who wrote letters ofsupport for the trail and also thank Montgomery CountyCouncilmember Valerie Ervin who advocated strongly for the trail at the County Council. Please note that theCouncil still needs to give final approval of the changesduring the budget reconciliation process that will occurin May. Stay tuned to www.waba.org for action alerts.

2010ADVOCACY CALENDAR

HH ADVOCACY

Bike Projects Back in Montgomery County Budget

Met Branch Trail Funding Restored!

Safe Routes to School

Past Can Be PrologueSome years ago our outdoors-loving fifth gradercomplained about being nearly the last kid dropped off by the school bus each afternoon. We suggested heinvestigate riding his bike to school, which is about a milefrom our house. He found that the school had a bike rackbut that the principal required his authorization to ride.We explored the route with him, taught him how to crossthe one busy street and navigate the side-streets toschool. He spent the last two years of elementary schoolempowered by his ability to get to and from school on hisown terms. He is now in his mid-20s, fit, and still bikes asoften as he can.

Although it may seem perfectly normal to want to ride abike to school, in fact, the number of children who walk orbike has plummeted over the past 40 years. At the sametime obesity and associated childhood illnesses have risensteadily.

The good news is that a federal program has been createdto help schools create safe routes to schools and educatestaff, kids and parents about how to use them. SafeRoutes to Schools (SRTS), created in 2006, has sincegiven out over $600 million for education andinfrastructure improvements.

In the DC Metro area many jurisdictions have availedthemselves of these funds. Over the past five years theDistrict has received $5 million for education andinfrastructure while numerous communities in Maryland’sDC suburbs have received several hundred thousanddollars. Virginia has been a little slow on the uptake,

seeking only a small percentage of funds that might havebeen awarded. In fact, last year in Northern Virginia only a handful of schools in Alexandria and Arlington wereawarded funds and these were strictly for education, noinfrastructure improvements.

The problem, particularly in Fairfax County, has been aschool board that prefers busing and family car delivery to biking or walking. Some principals, when approached,have even said that under no circumstances will childrenbe allowed to bike to school. That said, parents at ahandful of schools in Fairfax County have taken theinitiative and mobilized their kids. Students and parentsat Louis Archer School in Vienna created a “bike bus”program. This student-led and parent supervised programhas students regularly riding to school in groups alongwith a parent.

The point is that we must catch kids early to teach themgood habits that last a lifetime. A new study out of theUniversity of Essex in England shows that in a sampling of 6,000 kids, those that bike to school were the fittestwhile those who were driven were the least fit.

WABA urges parents of elementary- and middle-schoolaged children to contact their schools or their statecoordinator’s offices. If your school doesn’t have aprogram ask what you can do to get one started. There ismoney available but these programs will only succeed ifparents take the initiative in encouraging their schools.

—Bruce Wright, Chairman, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

Find out what’s going onin your area, and share

your concerns!

Mark your calendars for the following recurring bicycle advocacy meetings

throughout 2010.

HArlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee

First Monday of even-numbered months, 7:00 pm.Arlington County Govt. Center (#1 CourthousePlaza), 2100 Clarendon Blvd. (Courthouse Metro),Azalea Conference Room. For more info: DavidGoodman, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, at(703) 228-3709 or dgoodman@arlingtonva.us.

HCoalition of the Capital Crescent TrailBoard Meeting

Second Monday of each month, 7-9 pm. Normally at the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road. Second Monday of June in Elm Street Park, Bethesda.No meetings in August or December.See http://www.cctrail.org/CCT_News_and_Events.htm

HD.C. Bicycle Advisory Council

First Wednesday of odd-numbered months, 6-8 pm. For more info: DC Bicycle Coordinator,Jim Sebastian at (202) 671-2331 or jim.Sebastian@dc.gov.

HFairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

Third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm, at theVienna Community Center at 120 Cherry St. SE,Vienna, VA 22180 For more info: Bruce Wright atbruce.wright@comcast.net.

HMetropolitan Branch Trail Coalition

Second Thursday of each month, 6:30-8:30 pm.For more info: Paul Meijer at 202-726-7364 ormeijer@cua.edu.

HMontgomery County Bicycle Action Group (MCBAG)

Third Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:30 pm, 100 Edison Park Drive, 4th Floor, Gaithersburg,MD 20878

HPrince Georges County Bicycle & Trails Advisory Group (BTAG)

Meets quarterly. Contact Fred Shaffer for details at Fred.Shaffer@ppd.mncppc.org.

HWABA Board Meeting

Second Monday each month, 6:30-8:30 pm. Contact the WABA office for location and agendaat (202) 518-0524 or waba@waba.org.

For a bi-weekly update on advocacy activities, sign up for WABA’s e-bulletin“Quick Release” by sending a message to

waba@waba.org.

www.waba.org

H

H

RESOURCES

SafeRoutesSafe Routes to Schoolshttp://www.saferoutesinfo.org/

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Safe Routes to Schools • http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/contacts/DC.cfmJennifer Hefferan • jennifer.hefferan@dc.gov • (202) 671-2227.

MARYLAND Safe Routes to Schools http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/contacts/MD.cfmJoe Pelaia • jpelaia@sha.state.md.us • 410-787-7620 or 1-800-323-6742.

VIRGINIA Safe Routes to Schools • http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/contacts/VA.cfmSarah Weisiger • sarah.weisiger@vdot.virginia.gov • 804-371-4868

4 RIDEON • Summer, 2010

H BICYCLING EDUCATION & OUTREACH

WABA Offering Confident City CyclingClasses in 2010

Safe Routes toSchool Network

In keeping with its mission to promote safe bicyclingthroughout the Washington region, WABA is pleased to announce that it has scheduled a series of FREEConfident City Cycling (CCC) and Learn to Ride (L2R)classes (for which a fee of $10 will be charged). Theseclasses, which are open to all, regardless of residency,are designed to provide cyclists with the skills they need to incorporate bicycling into their daily routines,on city streets for errands, commuting, and fun.

WABA offers three types of CCC classes: CCC1 is a 2-hour basic skills class and CCC2 is a 4-hour vehicularcycling and avoidance maneuver class. Both types ofclass involve in-class and on-bike elements. Additionallythere is a 3-hour CCC3 class which is a written andriding evaluation for those who want to go on to becomeLeague Cycling Instructors (LCI). CCC1, 2 and 3 all addup to what is known as a Traffic Skills 101 class, whichstudents need to pass before going on to obtain an LCIcertification. There will be one 20-hour LCI Seminarscheduled later this year.

In addition to these, WABA also offers 3-hour L2Rclasses for non-riding adults who want to learn how. We also offer Commuter Seminars designed toencourage groups or employees to commute to work or make short trips by bike. There is also a 3-houradvanced class called Group Riding Skills designed tointroduce regular bicycle riders to beginning pelotonskills for use during group or mass start charity rides.

“As weekend recreational cyclists contemplate takingthe next step to using their bikes on city streetsalongside motorized traffic, this class can provide much-needed help. We hope you will enjoy getting toclass by bike and transit, and discovering the city’sdiverse system of Libraries and Recreation Centers atthe same time” says Glen Harrison, WABA’s Director ofthe Safety Education

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This past month has been a very productive one for our SRTS Network Coordinator, Gina Arlotto. Focusingon building the Greater Washington regional SRTSnetwork, she has been attending MWCOG Bike/PedSubcommittee meetings, meeting with individualMWCOG staffers and conducting research on theregional transportation planning process. Throughthese efforts, it has been confirmed that neither VA nor MD SRTS projects are listed in the TransportationImprovement Plan or in the Constrained Long RangePlan. Washington DC SRTS projects are included as aline item in the TIP, however. Since SRTS is a federallyfunded project through the federal transportation bill, all SRTS projects must be included in the TIP and CLRP.More research is pending, but this would appear toindicate that VA and MD SRTS funds are being spent in other areas of the state and NOT in the immediateWashington region. Since the member jurisdictions ofMWCOG include many counties throughout NorthernVirginia and Maryland (in Virginia: the City ofAlexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, ArlingtonCounty, City of Falls Church, Prince William County, City of Fairfax, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Parkand in Maryland: Town of Bladensburg, City of Bowie,City of Gaithersburg, Prince George’s County, City ofCollege Park, City of Greenbelt, City of Rockville,Montgomery County, City of Takoma Park, FrederickCounty, and the City of Frederick) it is troubling to findthat this money is not being spent in the most populousand congested areas of these states. Gina has madethis her main priority for the coming months. The fundsnow available through the HIRE act should flow into theGreater Washington region and be included in theregional planning documents. Gina will continue towork with the MWCOG staff and the region’stransportation departments to promote and advocate forSRTS funding in the close-in Washington DC counties.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live along the C&O Canal,surrounded by the historical intrigue of bygone(s) eras and the captivating beauty of nature?Canal Quarters, a new joint effort between the C&O Canal National Historical Park and the C&O Canal Trust, offersvisitors the chance to find out for themselves by staying overnight in a historic lockhouse.

Initially established in an effort to preserve the historic lockhouses, Canal Quarters also showcases and gives voice to the stories of the locktenders and their families who called these places home. The furnishings in Lockhouse 49 at Four Locks near Clear Spring in Washington County, Maryland, reflect the period of the early 20th century, toward theend of the canal’s operations. Lockhouse 22 at Pennyfield Lock near Potomac, Maryland, will show what life was likeduring the establishment and construction of the canal in the 1830s. Lockhouse 6, near the Brookmont community inBethesda, is furnished as it may have been in the 1950s to tell the story of the campaign to preserve the canal led bySupreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

After a day of biking, kayaking, birding, hiking, or enjoying other recreational activities, you will have the uniqueopportunity to cook over a campfire, play games from centuries past, flip through scrapbooks of historic photos, and listen to the river and sounds of wildlife as you fall asleep in period furniture as locktenders did generations ago. Each lockhouse can accommodate up to eight guests and has ample storage to house bikes overnight. Groups may stay in the lockhouses for a maximum of three consecutive nights. To begin your journey, please visitwww.canalquarters.org.

C&O CANAL

RIDEON • Summer, 2010 5

“The people of Montgomery County like their cars.” This was what the sleeping giant, Art Holmes, who is the director of Montgomery County’s Department ofTransportation, announced rather loudly after 45 minutesof listening as Bruce Johnston and I discussed variousfuture bike paths. The meeting quickly ended thereafter.

The meeting had actually come about quite easily, whichwas a surprise to me. I had spoken at a couple ofMontgomery Council Meetings, regaling them withstatistics like “40% of all trips in America are two miles or less, 74% of which are traveled by car.” I pointed outthat “Maryland has seen a 70-100% increase in bicyclecommuting from 2000 to 2008.” “And that’s with thelousy state of our bike paths?” “If we want to decreasecongestion, we really ought to build more bike paths andmake them connect to something.” Along with each ofthese statements, they invariably nodded their collectiveheads and smiled at me. We seemed to be on the sameside. Montgomery County has had a bike path plan since1977, and has already adopted the functional master plan, so what was the big problem? Where were all thebike paths?

I asked the staff director of the county council aboutsetting up a meeting, and he suggested that I meet withthe Director of Transportation of Montgomery County, Art Holmes. Upon calling Mr. Holmes’ office I foundmyself suddenly set up with a 30-minute meeting. I wasconvinced this was a plot. What could the Director ofTransportation of Montgomery County possibly want tosay to me for 30 minutes? I was expecting five or maybeten minutes. I would just pop in and say “by the way, weneed more bike paths,” and he’d say “Ok” and that wouldbe it. But 30 minutes is a lot of responsibility. 30 minutesseemed to imply I had better have a presentation ready.

But it wasn’t Art Holmes I spent most of the time talkingto. It was Bruce Johnston who is the division chief forTransportation Engineering. He walked in and opened the

big budget book and started pointing out various bikepaths they were planning on building in MontgomeryCounty. He explained some important things that mostMontgomery County bicyclists probably don’t know. Icertainly didn’t. For instance, it’s only when a bike projectcosts less than 300k that it’s called a bike project andisn’t folded into a bigger project where it never gets therecognition it deserves. And gaps in paths often happenbecause a developer puts in a path for his developmentand even though there may be something in the masterplan for it to connect up with, it waits for whoever ownsthe next bit of land to develop it and complete the path.

Bruce was pointing out a path that had just been “greenlighted” that would cut out a dangerous intersection.“This is great,” I said. “But what happens when thebicyclist gets here?” and I pointed to the end of the path.“Where’s that bicyclist supposed to go? We need anetwork of paths to get around on just like cars do.”That’s when Art, who had seemed so comfortable sittingthere following along as Bruce and I talked, jumped inand told me in no uncertain terms what the people ofMontgomery County wanted. “The people of MontgomeryCounty like their cars.” He even repeated himself just tomake sure I got the point.

I think Mr. Homes is dramatically missing the point. I think the people of Montgomery County, especially thoseof us who do not live near the Capital Crescent Trail,would love a network of bike paths to get around onsafely. And if you do too, call him up and tell him. We’renever going to get a network of bike paths if the directorof Transportation is allowed to continue thinking that wedon’t want it. His phone number is 240-777-7170.

Oh, and money is available for things like this. It’s calledthe Active Transportation Act of 2010. I gave them a copywhile I was there.

—Alison Horton, WABA Member and Office Volunteer

Montgomery County

If There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Daniel Hoagland is the latest full-time addition toWABA’s rapidly growing staff. He took over the DC BicycleAmbassador position in March and is looking to kick off a successful second season of bicycling diplomacybetween WABA and the people of the District. AlthoughDaniel is the only Ambassador at the moment, he will be joined by a corps of volunteer Ambassadors and apart-time assistant who will help increase the visibility of the program and the accessibility of these communitybike enthusiasts.

RideOn: How did you become the DC Bike Ambassador?

Daniel: Living and working up in Boston, I realized that I wanted to make a career out of being on a bike, so Itoiled away at internships and part-time jobs for the city, working for bike programs that were consistentlyundervalued and underfunded. When I saw the WABA

job posting, I knew that I had to make this full-time bike-career thing happen, and I jumped at the opportunity.

RideOn: And what does a Bike Ambassador do, exactly?

Daniel: Aside from the occasional diplomatic mission tothe United Nations, my job consists of three big areas.First, I’m a bike educator. Businesses, nonprofits andgovernment agencies can request a bike commuterworkshop from the DCBA website. This is a brown-bagstyle lunch hour seminar where we use a League ofAmerican Bicyclists-designed curriculum. Second, I’m ahighly mobile bike information booth. I go to WABAevents, city-sponsored events, community events, reallyany event where people could possibly be talking orthinking about bicycles and I act as a resource for anyoneto approach and ask questions. Third, and maybe mostimportant, I’m a visible role model of best practices outon the streets of DC. I have a bike trailer billboard where

we hang positive-reinforcement messages for cyclists,motorists and pedestrians. This third part also combinesaspects of the other two, as I take any opportunity outthere to educate and answer questions that people might have.

RideOn: So, how have people been responding to you outon the streets?

Daniel: Great! Like most cyclists, after a few years outthere, I’ve experienced my share of harassment bymotorists, and the first time I took the DCBA trailer out, I thought “Wonderful, now I have a giant target attachedto my bike.” But the reality is that people seem excited tosee me. The majority of the comments I’ve gotten havebeen along the lines of “It’s good to see you out here” or“What a great idea!” Those come from cyclists of course.Pedestrians seem mostly curious, while drivers seemmostly not to care as long as I’m not slowing them down.

RideOn:What makes you, a Bostonian, qualified torepresent bicycling in Washington?

Daniel: My enthusiasm! The fact is, I’m no stranger to DCas I lived and worked here before. Cities have differentcharacters, but the problems we face as cyclists and ascycling advocates are very similar. We have the same car-first mentality to struggle against in Boston and wehave the same issue with cyclists running red lights andbiking on the sidewalks. Education and outreach (andenthusiasm) are just as effective and helpful in Boston as they can be here in the District.

RideOn:What is the future of the DC Bike Ambassadorprogram?

Daniel: The program was designed after successful Bike Ambassador initiatives in Philadelphia, Chicago and elsewhere. One of the key components in these other programs has been recruiting and training aknowledgeable, enthusiastic team of volunteerAmbassadors. We hope to have the first of our incrediblevolunteers out on the street soon to spread the gospel ofbicycling faster and farther than I can alone.

» BIKE COMMUTER SPEAKS

Mondays at Sundown

June 7 - Aug 1618th & Bell St, Crystal CityCrystal City Metro Stop

An Outdoor Film Festival

6.7.10 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

6.14.10 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

6.21.10 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

6.28.10 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

7.5.10 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

7.12.10 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

7.19.10 Star Trek: Generations (1994)

7.26.10 Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

8.2.10 Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

8.9.10 Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

8.16.10 Star Trek (2009)

www.crystalcity.org

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6 RIDEON • Summer, 2010

Don’t belong to a Credit Union? Now you can through the WABA card.

PIT STOPSBIKE TO WORK DAY 2010

Take to the streets on Friday, May 21, 2010, for the DC region’s largest bicycling event!Thousands of area cyclistswill pedal to work tocelebrate bicycling as

a clean, healthy and fun mode of transportation.Participants will have the choice of 35 regional “pit stops” during their morning bicycle commuteswhere organizers will have snacks and drinks,entertainment, raffles for bikes and accessories andmore. Bike to Work Day is a FREE event and all arewelcome. The first 8,500 people to register at waba.org will receive free Bike to Work Day T-Shirts at the pit stops they register to attend.

WABA will be organizing the Freedom Plaza Pit Stopwith a crowd of over 1,000 cyclists expected to attend,even more if the sun is shining! A full schedule of localand national leaders will be speaking on stage from 8am to 9am. There will also be representatives on site from Whole Foods, Potomac Pedalers, BikeDC,SmartWool, Honest Tea, Downtown BID and more. If yourorganization or business is interested in exhibiting at orsponsoring the Freedom Plaza Pit Stop, please contactWABA at events@waba.org.

If your bike has been lonely lately, you may want tospend some time together in preparation for Bike toWork Day. Below are a few tips for getting yourself andyour bike ready:

» Prepare your bike – check tire pressure and brakes. If your bike needs a tune-up, do it now before the bikeshops are too busy. Remember, WABA members getdiscounts at most area bike shops.

» Prepare your equipment – Find your helmet or get anew one even though it’s not legally required, it’s asmart idea! Pack a water bottle and maybe a rainjacket and pants (just in case).

» Prepare your route – Google Maps now has bicyclingdirections. Take some time to familiarize yourselfwith the best route from home to work.

» Prepare your self – Go for a short ride after work or on the weekend as a warm up.

Are you thinking 2010 might be the year to start ridingyour bike to work but you’re unsure how to start? WABA has organized almost 30 “commuter convoys”throughout the region. Experienced bicycle commutingvolunteers will lead commuters along predeterminedroutes, most ending in downtown DC. The convoyleaders will be able to assist participants with basic tips for safe riding and commuting routes. We are still in need of a few more convoy leaders. If you feelexperienced enough to lead a convoy route, pleasecontact Greg at greg@waba.org. If you not feeling quiteready for bicycling in traffic, WABA has a set of FREEConfident City Cycling classes to prepare you for safeand efficient bicycling commuting. Sign up online atwww.waba.org.

As Bike to Work Day approaches, check the WABAwebsite for the latest information and news about thisexciting event. WABA also invites you to share your Bike to Work Day experiences with other riders onFacebook via the WABA Fan Page (search WABA) or onTwitter with WABA (twitter.com/WABADC) or Bike toWork Day (twitter.com/biketoworkday). Hope to see you out there!

WASHINGTON, DC

• Freedom Plaza

• Buzzard Point-U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

• Nationals Park

MARYLAND

• Bethesda-Downtown

• Bethesda-NIH-Building One

• Bethesda-NIH-Executive Blvd

• Bethesda-Naval Medical Center

• Bowie Town Center

• Bowie Old Town

• College Park

• Frederick

• Hyattsville

• Indian Head

• North Bethesda-White Flint Mall

• Oxon Hill

• Rockville-Rockville Town Center

• Rockville-Falls Grove Transportation Center

• Silver Spring-One Discovery Place

• Silver Spring-FDA White Oak

VIRGINIA

• Alexandria

• Arlington-Ballston

• Arlington-Rosslyn

• Arlington-Crystal City

• Burke

• Fairfax Corner

• Fairfax City Downtown

• Herndon

• Leesburg

• Manassas

• Merrifield

• Reston

• Springfield/Metro Park at Walker Lane

• Sterling

• Tysons Corner

MAY 212010

BIKE TO W RK DAY

Register Online at www.waba.org!

RIDESunday, March 7 brought DC’s first beautiful springweekend and WABA’s cyclists took note arriving in largenumbers to the fourth annual Vasa Ride! The Vasa Ridefirst came about through a partnership with the Houseof Sweden to celebrate the famed Vasaloppet crosscountry ski race that takes place in Sweden every yearduring the first weekend of March. This ride has quicklybecome a spring rite of passage attracting over 650riders this year taking on the 56-mile Vasa Ride,

28-mile Halv Vasa, and 15-mile Kort Vasa. As riderscompleted their tours and returned to the House ofSweden for the traditional hot blueberry soup, the lawnin front of the building quickly filled up with riders andbikes enjoying their soup and the beautiful sunshine! A big thank you to the House of Sweden for hosting theevent again this year, to Spokes Etc. for providingmechanical support for our riders, and for everyone who came out this year to join us!

VASA

RIDEON • Summer, 2010 7

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TELL A CYCLING BUDDY!Do your cyclingfriends a favor –tell them about

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2009With heartfelt thanks fromWABA Board and Staff for your support and generosity.

TRAIL BLAZERS ($100+)Linda BaileyRichard BeahmJim BenderJim & Angela BentonSally & Sanders BerkStephen BickelIlona BlanchardMcCann Bloomfield FamilyNancy BreenChris BrownMatt ButcherRalph CarterJoe ClarkCathleen CoffeyEd CornerJerome ConlonNicolas DaminelliMarybeth DegraveTom DorsetOlivier DurandJonathan ElkindCraig EmdenWilliam EwingGannon & Witkop, AttorneysDavid GarlockCharles GarretMartin GellertDaniel GoelzerArthur Watson & Carol GolubockCarol GoodloeJohn GoodmanDavid GossettNeal & Janice GregoryChris HartenauTodd HerwigWalter HolemansPatrick JohnstonNathaniel KelsoElizabeth KingeryWalt KnightJeremy LavineRichard Lindstrom

CHAMPIONS ($200+)Michael BerissDee ClarkinNeil CohenMark & Marci CookFannie Mae FoundationDrew FaubionJonathon GlassBucky GreenMargaret GreeneMonica IrmlerSergio Kapfer & Daphna KrimJohn KingBarbara KlieforthKarol KrotkiDebbie LeavensMolly Ann MarchKeith McConnellJeffrey MooreAlex RothVan SeagravesJulie SegreCary ShawGary SingerConnor SmithAndrew TarrJoe & Mikel WitteGlen Worrell

PLATINUM PEDALERS ($300+)John ChessonMarck CurrieSusan DeryJenniver FischerPaul FormanPeter HarknessLinda KnutsenRichard MandellMichael MannJames MonroeDonald L. RicePhilip M. Teigen

WABA’s LIFE MEMBERS($500+)Dale AbramsBoris AllanCasey AndersonJ.J., Pearl, Elana & Brenda Bailes

Cliff Majersik & Anne-Marie Bairstow

Leslie BaldwinJim BertineEdward BlantonDavid BonoDerek BushJohn ButlerThomas BuzasRob CahillJohn Capozzi, Jr.Mark Perry & Wendy CaronJohn CarterDaniel CiccarelliJudith CorleyEric CzanderEve DeCourseyCharlie DenneyLoren DentonBruce DwyerJon FlemingDavid FrankelBrian FreburgerKindy FrenchChristopher FrostRiley & Marilyn GearyMilton GottesmanJaydee HansonRichard HartgerWilliam HorneRichard HoyeMarcia InsleyChip JohnsonRobert JonesStacie KeenanPeter KentJulie KurlandSeung-Hee LeeAlan LevinClay & Kathleen McCuistionPaul MeijerRobert MihalekChan MohneyRick MorganChris MoriarityJon MorrisonAllen MuchnickAndreas MunoBonnie NevelBill NorwoodDoug OatesScott OsbergRobert PattenMarc ResslerLynn RocheMichael SalzbergLinda SchwartzsteinPaul SegelCary ShawJulian ShepardC.K. SimpsonDennis SlackLawrence SmallCraig H. SmithMichael & Alison SmithDouglas StewartDavid TalmageNancy TaylorPhilip M. TeigenGenevieve UngarKen UyeharaSteve Van PeltJohn WaitmanJim WernerDavid WestJames Wight*as of 12/31/09

MEMBERHIPSBIG WHEELS ($100+)Mary AlexanderSam AlvordKeith AllenTom AmrheinTucker, Karen & Heather Andersen

Todd AngerhoferAllison ArchambaultDouglas BarkerWilliam BarnsJim BeckMaurice BelangerJim BertinePeter BeutlerNed & Jill BicksAnn BissellMelissa BloomDiane BoltonCynthia BradyNancy BreenJosie BriggsMargot BrinkleyMichael BrownLester BrownThomas BurnettMatt ButcherLaura Byerlee Jennifer CarterWilbur ChaseJoe ClarkAntoine CrewsStephen DanielsPaul Dempsey-ChiamPaul D’EustachioMorris DeutschYvonne DoerreRobert DonaldsonStephen DoyleAlaine DuncanFrank DunnNancy EggertLinda FaganMichael FarrellJay FisetteGerald FisetteJesse FoxStuart Frisch & Robin ChernoffAdam FroehligMatthew GamserRalph BarboushianThomas GarnettCharles GarrettChristopher GilsonJonathon GlassLois GloorDaniel GoelzerAbel GomezCarol GoodloeWilliam GreenKaren & David GrissenLaurel HaakEric HallstromMarshall HarperDiane HarrisHeidi HenningRoger Hillas, Jr.Shelley Hoogstraten-MillerMegan HullMonica IrmlerDavid JamesPatrick JohnstonCecile JonesScott JordanDennis KirschbaumGreg KisselEdward KleinbardLouis KokonisPage KyleDavid La MarPeter Larkin & Barbara PowerDaniel Lipsky-KaraszSam LongstreetAriane LottiWilliam LueckeJeff MaddreyWalt MalloryJames ManningSho MaruyamaJennifer MarshJennifer MayloneDenise McCabeKeith McConnellGail MessierTom MetcalfAnke MeyerThomas MillerKevin MillsJeffrey MooreStephen MosierPatricia NewkirkJohn NorthropTodd ParsonsRichard ReisSteve RichardsonAaron RichardsonClaudia RizzoDavid RockwellAllan RogersThomas RosenkoetterBen RossJane RoushMike RyschkewitschLinda SchwartzsteinScott ScudamoreVan SeagravesPaul SegelJohn SengElaine ShallElisabeth Sherwood

Vera SisolakJohn SkeeleBarry SkidmoreTanya SnyderWilliam SpinazzolaJoseph StelmachRichard StocktonThomas SuarezMary SzpankaMarian TaliaferroCharles TaylorJohn Taylor & Takako NagaraBrad ThayerJim TitusJari TuomalaThomas VIlmsJim VolleArthur Watson & Carol GolubockJill WeissenbergerSuzanne WellsPaul WengertMarchant WentworthJohn, Martha, Emma & HelenWhittyDavid WilcoxBill WilkinsonKendall WilsonDana WolfeAlan YoungAndres ZbikowskiBill ZlotnickAmerica’s Charities

BIG WHEELS ($200+)Casey AndersonDon BakerLiz Barratt-Brown & Bos DeweyDavid & Cathey BelliSally & Sanders BerkStephen BickelJim CavanaughDavid ChojnackyJohn CibinicDee ClarkinMichael ConnellyKatherine CudlippDon CumingMai-trang DangMartha Edens-SchmidtAndrea FersterCharles FigginsPaul FormanRobert FoxSteve GardnerPeter GrayAllen GreenbergPeter HarknessDiane HarrisPhil HeinrichAdrienne HopkinsBarry JacobsPeter JanssensMartin & Carolyn KarcherLinda KnutsenJames LamiellMichael MannPaul MeijerEric & Betsy MendelsohnNancy OliverSusan OrlinsElissa ParkerBarbara PowerDan SheesleyLinda SherBrian SisolakCarol Schaffer & Randall SwisherPhilip M. TeigenChristopher WalkerJim WeissTom WitkopReston Bicycle ClubSan Francisco Bicycle CoalitionSisco Family Fund

BIG WHEELS ($300+)Matthew BieschkeGary BurchMargaret CahalanAdrian ParsegianDennis SlackMargaret Jones

BIG WHEELS ($400+)Leslie ArminskiPat Munoz & Dorcas AdkinsSydney Ulvick

BIG WHEELS ($500+)Neal KrucoffBill MichieRick MorganCharles PekowJim Sebastian

BIG WHEELS ($1,000+)Emily Littleton

BIG WHEELS ($2,000+)Charlie DenneyKindy French

BIG WHEELS ($5,000+)World Bank Community Connections Fund

BIG WHEELS ($9,000+)United Way of the National Capital Area

DONORS

Peter M. BaskinATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW

2300 CLARENDON BLVD, SUITE 700ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22201

TEL: (703) 528-8000 • (703) 276-6800FAX: (703 ) 522-4570

Josh Bennett, Rest In Peace

With the warmest heart, I rememberJoshua Bennett, a regular volunteerwho graced the WABA office for over a year. Josh arrived at our office oneafternoon and offered his time to

help with whatever administrative needs we had. We assured him we needed help on plenty of projectsand he assured us he was amenable to helping with anyof them. He agreed to come in every Thursday to help with our ever-mounting pile of data entry.

Over the course of the year I worked with him, we became friends. We discovered a similar love of music. He disclosed that he has once worked at the 9:30 Club as the business manager, a music venue I sometimesfrequent. I would run into him when I was out andfriendly chats would drift into meaningful and longconversations. He was always kind and a good listener.

As a volunteer, Josh was always punctual, reliable andeasy-going. He was the perfect compliment to the fast-paced WABA office, a nice breath of fresh air whenever he visited us, and he was well liked by the entire staff.

During a discussion about his decreasing volunteeravailability, it was revealed that he was sick, and hadbeen struggling with cancer for years. This made aprofound impression on me, not only because it was such sad news, but because he was such a positive,cheerful person.

Eventually, his volunteer schedule became erratic due to health complications. He remained positive,assuring me he would be out for a little while, butwould be back in the office in a month or so. A coupleweeks went by and I thought to drop him a line tocheck in on him. The next day, we received thedevastating news that Josh had passed away.

Josh never made it to our new office. We would haveloved to see the look on his face when we saw our“real” kitchen and private office for the E.D. Josh was adedicated volunteer who we will all miss dearly. WABAmeant a lot to him and he meant a lot to us. Thank youto all the family and friends who have made donationsto WABA in his honor. Josh, we miss you and willalways remember you with the highest regards.

—Jenn Bress, Membership & Development Coordinator

VOLUME 38 | No 2

SUMMER 2010

WWW.WABA.ORG

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E W A S H I N G T O N A R E A B I C Y C L I S T A S S O C I A T I O N

Washington Area Bicyclist Association

2599 Ontario Road NW

Washington, DC 20009

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Washington, DC

Permit 6803

RIDE ON«

2010 BIKE TO WORK DAY»MAY 21

WABA ED in Demand – Good Luck, EricMet Branch Trail Funding Restored

RIDE ON«

www.waba.org« « «

www.waba.org

BIKE VALET at the TASTE OF ARLINGTON JSUNDAY, MAY 16Ride your bike over to the Taste of Arlington, a lively street festival, complete with noteworthy restaurants, live entertainment, and children’s activities. WABA will be offering free bike valet parkingfor the duration of the event. More info available at http://tasteofarlington.com/

Bike to Work Day! JFRIDAY, MAY 21Join thousands of other bicycle commuters to celebrate Bike to Work Day 2010! With 35 regional pit stops and 20 commuter-led convoys, this is an event for the experienced and novice bike commuter alike!

Bike DC JSUNDAY, MAY 23Join Bike DC as the signature spring bicycling event on the Washington, DC event calendar. Sunday morning, May 23rd, will be your opportunity to experience the beauty and grandeur of our nation’scapital from the best possible vantage point: the seat of your bicycle pedaling along car-free streets.Registration available at www.bikedc.net

Meet the MET! A Celebration of the Metropolitan Branch Trail JSATURDAY, JUNE 5Come celebrate the newly completed section of trail and its connection to several neighborhoods inWard 5 with Rails to Trails Conservancy and WABA with a community-wide event on the trail with tonsof family-friendly activities. Celebrate National Trails Day with a ride along the new sections of the Met Branch Trail!

EVENTS CALENDAR: H

Get Ready for Another Great Bike to Work Day!

BIKE DCMAY 23