Bicycling is both a means of transportation and a fun way to get exercise. The City already has great parks, community destinations and a unique downtown area. With a few small improvements, City residents could more easily take advantage of the city’s trails and on-road bike network and get to these places on two wheels.

George Mason University, the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County have been working together since 2010 to study bicycle improvements between Mason and the Vienna-Fairfax-GMU Metro station. The Fairfax Mason to Metro initiative includes recommendations for an improved sign system and map, on-road bicycle facilities and trail improvements.

Bicycle improvements on Old Lee Highway are among the projects singled out in the study. The city is installing shared-use lane markings on selected sections of the road. These markings, commonly known as “sharrows,” consist of two chevrons pointing forward with a bicycle symbol below. Sharrows are used to indicate to cyclists where they should ride in the road. Sharrows also let motorists know to expect bicyclists in the road. Some motorists and bicyclists are not aware that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities to use the road as do motorists. The city also plans to install signs reinforcing the message to share the road.

You can learn more about bicycling in the City on the Web at http://www.fairfaxva.gov/ParksRec/Biking.asp.