The mission of this site is to provide for all those interested a resource that documents the current state of alternative transportation infrastructure for pedestrians, bicycles and mobility vehicles. I hope to provide information, videos and opinion about Alexandria’s progress toward equity and access in transportation as envisioned by Complete Streets and Vision Zero.
I’ll be comparing the aspirations encompassed by the 2016 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan and the reality of all of those routes on the ground.
I’m going to make videos in the style of BicycleDutch, i.e. anonymous, un-narrated, of all the routes in the Alexandria VA master plan. They’ll link to this blog.
In prep, there are three areas of research/skill sets required: a knowledge of website design and WordPress in particular, video recording equipment and the ability to operate it, and, at least basic video edition skills. I must include bike riding, of course. That’s the whole point: to create an elaborate excuse that will get me riding my bike every day!
Of all the above challenges, the most intimidating, at least in contemplation, is riding. Despite many years commuting to work in Chicago and from Alexandria to DC (by ebike), a few years and major health issues have contributed to an almost complete biking hiatus. During that time, much of it spent regaining my health, I walked quite a bit – it can be downright dangerous as a pedestrian in this town – and earned a hearty dislike of public transportation. It’s not the transport itself, I just can’t stand the waiting.
So can a 72 year old man with issues cycle safely through Alexandria’s streets? Probably a lot of them, with extreme caution some of them and a few of them not at all. From hell-bent-for-glory days in Chicago, I’ve become a very cautious traveler, observant of signals, signs and bad omens. To those passages that mandate biking in high speed traffic with no lane, I’ll use the sidewalk (it’s legal in this city), and if no sidewalk, I’ll use a detour. I leave the dangerous stuff to the young and more intrepid.
So I await my Gazelle Ultimate C380, soon to arrive from The Netherlands via the West Coast. It’s a purpose-built commuter Class 1 pedalec, by far the most luxurious vehicle I’ve ever owned – bike or otherwise. And in the meantime, test my GoPro, take some video editing tutorials and write some website content. So much to do; I think my retirement is about over!