In January, it was the inauguration of President Obama, and the best way to get there was on foot. In February, it was the Clarendon Mardi Gras parade, and the best way to celebrate was on foot. And now at the tail-end of March (and early April), it's cherry blossom time in our nation's capital, and the best way to take in the blossoms is, of course, on foot!
This year's Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 28-April 12, 2009, serving up everything from parades to concerts to fireworks. And with the cherry blossoms come so many walking opportunities that we're dedicating this month's issue of the Pacer to this fleeting springtime rite of passage.
When the subject is cherry blossoms, what comes to mind first and foremost is the Tidal Basin--and all the wonderful (and free) walks hosted by the National Park Service. From daily Interpretive Cherry Blossom Talks to nighttime Ranger-Guided Lantern Walks to Bloomin' Junior Ranger Activities, these Park Service cherry blossom walks offer something for everyone.
There are also scores of guided cherry blossom walks around the Tidal Basin offered by private tour companies. Check The Washington Post Weekend Section calendar listings for all the offerings.
And for those of us who prefer to go off the beaten path, don't forget the National Arboretum at 3501 New York Avenue, NE, in D.C. Their flowering cherry tree guide will help you locate all 21 recommended stops. It's possible to take in the wide range of flowering trees on foot, but keep in mind that the Arboretum covers 446 acres. If you want to stop at all 21 viewing locations, you may want to bike or drive from one section to the next.
Whether on or off the beaten cherry blossom path, walk smart and happy Sakura Matsuri!
Wait for the Walk: Street Smart 2009
Last week, Arlington County and other participating municipalities helped kick off the 2009 Street Smart campaign. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), the seven-year-old public awareness and enforcement campaign is designed to educate drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and the general public about safely sharing the roads.
On March 25 at the busy intersection of 14th and U Streets, NW, elected officials and law enforcement leaders from northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, and the District of Columbia launched this year's Street Smart campaign. Representing Arlington was County Board Member J. Walter Tejada (see photo).
In opening remarks, Chairman of the Metropolitan Washington COG's Board of Directors and Vice Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Penelope Gross noted, “Pedestrian fatalities account for one-quarter of all traffic deaths in the metropolitan Washington region. That startling figure illustrates why education efforts, such as Street Smart, are so important.”
"Wait for the Walk," the key Street Smart message for pedestrians this year, reinforces the importance of using crosswalks and using them properly. A heightened focus on cyclist safety rounds out this year's overall education and enforcement effort.
Aimed at reducing the number of pedestrian injuries and deaths in the Washington metropolitan area, the Street Smart campaign uses creative radio advertising in English and Spanish to reach drivers, while targeting pedestrians through outdoor and transit advertising on bus shelters and bus sides. In addition, law enforcement and local, county and state agencies will be distributing handouts and tip cards to further spread awareness and educate drivers and pedestrians.
If you see a Street Smart poster at a bus shelter or hear a radio ad, let us know what you think at walkarlington@arlingtonva.us. And remember to Wait for the Walk!
Smart Projects Support Smart Growth
Good news for Arlington walkers! The latest round of neighborhood projects approved by the Arlington County Board includes new sidewalks and curbs, as well as gutters and improvements to two neighborhood parks. The seven approved neighborhood conservation projects will soon be under way in the following neighborhoods:
- Aurora Highlands
- Yorktown
- Clarendon-Courthouse
- Arlington Heights
- Highland Park-Overlee Knolls
- Penrose
- Tara Leeway Heights
The projects were recommended by the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee, which considered 19 first priority neighborhood projects. The committee rates and ranks projects according to a points system.
The Arlington County Board created the Neighborhood Conservation Program in 1964. It provides funding for a variety of capital improvement projects, based on written plans submitted to the County by neighborhoods for review and acceptance.
The program encourages community engagement by bringing citizens together to help plan the communities they live in. Because of this civic component, the program has been a model for other communities around the country.
Meanwhile, a new home-grown documentary highlighting another area where Arlington has recognized as a national model is now running on the County's Arlington Virginia Network (AVN) and on-line. Aptly titled "Arlington's Smart Growth Journey," the 52-minute program captures the forward-thinking decisions and commitment to community that have propelled Arlington to the forefront of smart growth movement nationwide--and made Arlington the walkable place it is today!
The documentary was produced in-house by AVN. Since 1981, AVN has been producing informative, educational, and entertaining programs about Arlington County services, programs and people. AVN can be found on Arlington's Comcast Cable on Channels 74 and 25, and Verizon Channel 40, as well as on the web.
Smar[er]Trips
Now that Metro has begun posting all its bus and rail schedules and routes on its web site, you can let your fingers and your PDA do the walking (at least after your feet do the walking to the Metro station or bus stop).
This move, which has been in the works for some time, allows third parties such as Google Transit to use Metro's data to offer online tools that help riders navigate the system. When talks between Metro and Google Transit about a possible arrangement broke down last fall, an online petition drive by riders helped force the issue, ultimately resulting in last week's decision.
Washington Post Staff Reporter Lena Sun provides more background on Metro's decision and its implications in her March 20 article. She quotes Arlington County Board Member Chris Zimmerman, who noted that "rider interest helped 'raise the profile' of the issue" and that "several Metro Board members had been pushing the idea well before the petition campaign." Zimmerman adds, "Getting as much information to make transit easier to use is the most valuable way to improve the experience for riders."
Metro's online Trip Planner continues to provide riders with information on how to get from Point A to Point B on bus, rail or both, as well as information from all regional transit providers. Arlington County Commuter Services' CommuterPage website (www.commuterpage.com) also offers online resources for riders.
Smart tips for a smart trip.
