Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

"A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most intrinsic and enduring characteristic." [Katz, EPA] This blog focuses on place and placemaking and all that makes it work--historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy--along with doses of civic engagement and good governance watchdogging.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Organized community and/or neighborhood bike rides

Bicycles, Brown's Court
Do we have such in DC? Shouldn't we do this within various neighborhoods as a way to promote greater bicycle usage?

From "I wanna bike," by Diana Sun, Communications Director for Arlington County, in the CommuterPage Blog:

My husband and I rode in Arlington's Community Bike Ride last year, and had a great time. Through the Ride, I learned how bike-friendly it is in our community. And the range of sights! Everything from tree-covered trails to that gorgeous view along the Potomac to the marked bike lanes in "downtown" Ballston. (The Arlington Community Bike Ride is June 3rd this year -- mark your calendar!)

Not sure yet if I'll sign up just to experience it, but maybe...

This is something we need to do. Separately, I realized (and wrote) that all neighborhood commercial districts probably should create bike tours (downloadable) for their districts. And it's now on my list of things to get done for the Brookland Main Street program.

Note to David of Washcycle, I've been thinking this is the kind of thing that can be done jointly with a blog like yours and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. (The Brookland Community Development Corporation is already involved with WABA and the Metropolitan Branch Trail--I haven't been party to those activities and hard work over the past many years.)

Also check out Arlington's Bike Arlington program, and DC's Department of Transportation Bicycle Program webpage.
DC Bicycle trails
DC Bicycle trails. Washington Post graphic. Click through for a larger version.

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