Comments on: Fairfax County to Eliminate Bike Program — Write to the Board of Supervisors Now http://www.vabike.org/fairfax-county-eliminate-bike-program/ Advocacy, Safety, & Education Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:39:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Brian http://www.vabike.org/fairfax-county-eliminate-bike-program/comment-page-1/#comment-8406 Brian Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:08:56 +0000 http://www.vabike.org/?p=2898#comment-8406 Ms Sampson: While I appreciate your views, I'm compelled to point out that they seem to suffer from a lack of logic and sense. It is true that all users of the roads should follow the rules. However, there are both law-abiding and law-breaking cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians. By your flawed logic, I should use my neighbor's getting hit by a red-light-running *driver* to fight for a ban on all cars. As to making the roads safer - which is a greater hazard, a distracted driver in a 3000lb SUV, or a guy on a bike? Further, the goal of expanding bike programs is to create safer ways for people to ride their bikes - recreationally and for transportation. Well-designed roads allow for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians to coexist much more easily and safely. If your goal is to enhance safety for all concerned, then you should support these programs. Regarding your confusion as to why bicycles need to be on roads: bicycling as a means of transportation is not a luxury but a necessity for many who can't afford a car. We can't all be 'the daughter of a very wealthy family.' The 'let them eat cake' attitude is certainly disappointing from someone of your wealth. If you find bicycles on the roadway to be bothersome, stay in the confines of your gated community. Ms Sampson:

While I appreciate your views, I’m compelled to point out that they seem to suffer from a lack of logic and sense. It is true that all users of the roads should follow the rules. However, there are both law-abiding and law-breaking cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians. By your flawed logic, I should use my neighbor’s getting hit by a red-light-running *driver* to fight for a ban on all cars. As to making the roads safer – which is a greater hazard, a distracted driver in a 3000lb SUV, or a guy on a bike?

Further, the goal of expanding bike programs is to create safer ways for people to ride their bikes – recreationally and for transportation. Well-designed roads allow for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians to coexist much more easily and safely. If your goal is to enhance safety for all concerned, then you should support these programs.

Regarding your confusion as to why bicycles need to be on roads: bicycling as a means of transportation is not a luxury but a necessity for many who can’t afford a car. We can’t all be ‘the daughter of a very wealthy family.’ The ‘let them eat cake’ attitude is certainly disappointing from someone of your wealth. If you find bicycles on the roadway to be bothersome, stay in the confines of your gated community.

]]> By: GT http://www.vabike.org/fairfax-county-eliminate-bike-program/comment-page-1/#comment-7702 GT Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:55:07 +0000 http://www.vabike.org/?p=2898#comment-7702 Supervisor Cook stated that “a bicycle is not a transportation device” .....can we all chip in to buy Supervisor Cook a plane ticket to Europe to see that when supported, a bicycle is perhaps the BEST transportation device. Jeez....we have too many political "leaders" that have a tiny little world view. Supervisor Cook stated that “a bicycle is not a transportation device” …..can we all chip in to buy Supervisor Cook a plane ticket to Europe to see that when supported, a bicycle is perhaps the BEST transportation device. Jeez….we have too many political “leaders” that have a tiny little world view.

]]> By: Teresa Sampson http://www.vabike.org/fairfax-county-eliminate-bike-program/comment-page-1/#comment-7595 Teresa Sampson Wed, 12 May 2010 14:24:04 +0000 http://www.vabike.org/?p=2898#comment-7595 I am a concerned citizen of Fairfax County and I am totally in favor of getting the bicycles off the highways or the county...and the state, for that matter. My next door neighbor was involved in an accident with a bicyclist that thought just because he was on a bicycle and had a helmet, he was entitled to ride the same roads that cars, trucks, and tractor-trailers travel on, but didn't feel he had to obey all the same laws the vehicles do. He rode between the lanes, passing two lanes of traffic that were stopped at a red light, ran through the intersection and into his path. I can't for the life of me see why bicycles need to be on the highway as crowded as our roads are. I am the daughter of a very wealthy family and will do everything in my power to make the streets and highways as safe as possible. I am a concerned citizen of Fairfax County and I am totally in favor of getting the bicycles off the highways or the county…and the state, for that matter. My next door neighbor was involved in an accident with a bicyclist that thought just because he was on a bicycle and had a helmet, he was entitled to ride the same roads that cars, trucks, and tractor-trailers travel on, but didn’t feel he had to obey all the same laws the vehicles do. He rode between the lanes, passing two lanes of traffic that were stopped at a red light, ran through the intersection and into his path. I can’t for the life of me see why bicycles need to be on the highway as crowded as our roads are. I am the daughter of a very wealthy family and will do everything in my power to make the streets and highways as safe as possible.

]]> By: K. Perez http://www.vabike.org/fairfax-county-eliminate-bike-program/comment-page-1/#comment-7148 K. Perez Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:05:59 +0000 http://www.vabike.org/?p=2898#comment-7148 Eliminating bicycle programs is detrimental to the future growth of Fairfax County in terms of quality of life the health of its' residents. I wonder if Supervisor Cook has taken into account the health costs of decreasing the livability of Fairfax County by eliminating the bicycling program. Why don't we follow the example of Arlington County who already has implemented numerous bike lanes and measures to make their county bike and pedestrian friendly? Eliminating bicycle programs is detrimental to the future growth of Fairfax County in terms of quality of life the health of its’ residents. I wonder if Supervisor Cook has taken into account the health costs of decreasing the livability of Fairfax County by eliminating the bicycling program. Why don’t we follow the example of Arlington County who already has implemented numerous bike lanes and measures to make their county bike and pedestrian friendly?

]]> By: Bruce Wright http://www.vabike.org/fairfax-county-eliminate-bike-program/comment-page-1/#comment-7099 Bruce Wright Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:26:12 +0000 http://www.vabike.org/?p=2898#comment-7099 The county executive is proposing to permanently cut operating funding for the bike program. The coordinator position will remain, but without funds to conduct a program. This is after Supervisor Cook stated that "a bicycle is not a transportation device" and Supervisor Herrity stated that the bike coordinator position should be cut. The Board as a whole has been supportive of bicycling in the past and now is time for them to respond to the proposed cuts by reinstating the funding for the bike program. The county executive is proposing to permanently cut operating funding for the bike program. The coordinator position will remain, but without funds to conduct a program. This is after Supervisor Cook stated that “a bicycle is not a transportation device” and Supervisor Herrity stated that the bike coordinator position should be cut. The Board as a whole has been supportive of bicycling in the past and now is time for them to respond to the proposed cuts by reinstating the funding for the bike program.

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