Have you written a letter to City Council asking them to resurrect the SDSTF? 

Posted unedited with permission:

Dear Vice Mayor Jones and Council Wood,

My name is Steve Zeligman and I am a Virginia Beach resident. I am also president of the Tidewater Bicycle Association (TBA), a 650 member bicycle club. Many of TBA’s members also reside in Virginia Beach.

I am writing because TBA would like to express it continued concern regarding safety for bicyclists and pedestrians along the Shore Drive corridor. In December 2005, the Virginia Beach City Council established the Shore Drive Safety Task Force (SDSTF), which benefited from Councilman Wood’s participation, as well as the involvement of other current Council members. The SDSTF was established to specifically advise City Council with respect to safety issues along Shore Drive and to recommend short, mid and long term safety improvements. TBA would like to join Grace Moran and the Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) in requesting the City of Virginia Beach consider reinstituting the SDSTF to recommend solutions to current safety issues plaguing the Shore Drive corridor.

It has been publicly argued on the Virginia Pilot website that Shore Drive is a major corridor that should be reserved solely for motorized traffic. This can be disputed by the fact that Shore Drive transverses through several residential and beach front communities, and the number of people who have been injured and killed while trying to enjoy the neighborhoods they call home. It is TBA’s position the new 35 mph speed limit should become permanent and additional safety improvements, as recommended by a reinstituted SDSTF, be seriously considered as well.

As Virginia Beach grows, traffic congestion will continue to increase unless alternative methods of transportation, such as bicycling, are encouraged by providing on-road bicycling facilities to do so safely. For example, if Shore Drive were upgraded with appropriate on-road bicycling facilities, numerous cars would be taken off the road and out of congested parking areas at Little Creek NAB, Ft Story and the Oceanfront because it would become safer for local residents to become bicycle commuters.

Additionally, new shops and eateries and eateries could become a great magnet to bring hundreds, possibly thousands, of bicyclists to the Shore Drive Corridor if adequate on-road bicycling facilities existed to make the trip a safe one. This would enable Virginia Beach to compete with our neighboring cities, such as Norfolk and Portsmouth, which are already incorporating on-road bicycling facilities into their city rejuvenation projects. Businesses in these cities are already enjoying increased revenue from bicyclists and young professionals relocating to these cities because they use bicycles as their primary form of transportation. It is even possible that Virginia Beach could eventually host a major bicycling event similar to the first annual Coast Guard City Century, hosted by City of Portsmouth this coming August – yet another potential new source of tourist revenue. Of course this would require coordinated planning efforts and interconnections with other projects, such as a Laskin Road Gateway if it were upgraded to become bicycle friendly.

The five foot sidewalks, that Virginia Beach tends to favor for bicycles, are not a viable solution to increase revenue or encourage the additional bicycle traffic and events that would bring new tourist dollars into our city. Wide sidewalks are great for a family ride around the block, but they will never decrease automobile traffic or encourage alternate forms of transportation. They are also part of the obsolete concept that travel along Shore Drive MUST occur in an automobile. Other local cities have already begun to rejuvenate by changing this paradigm and encouraging bicycling as an alternative form of transportation that removes cars from their roads and congested parking areas. It is time for Virginia Beach to enter the 21st Century and do what we can to take cars off our congested roads.

TBA realizes that creating on-road bicycle facilities is expensive, yet roads such as Shore Drive can be made more bicycle friendly for minimal expense. Bruce Drees, TBA’s Legislation and Advocacy Committee Chairman, advocates that Virginia Beach should include painted shared use arrows, or “Sharrows”, in MUTCD terminology, on key roads that are already used by cyclists, such as Shore Drive.  His supporting reasons are that planned roads of insufficient width for cars and bikes to safely share a lane. Bicyclists are already legal users of existing roads. They will also be present as legal users of the rejuvenated roads. MUTCD “Sharrow” markings do a much better job of alerting motorists to the presence and legitimate use of a road by cyclists compared to traditional signage. Additionally, a reinstituted SDSTF could be charged with the responsibility of making recommendations that will make our roads safer for all users.

Sincerely,

Steve Zeligman, TBA President

Have you written a letter to City Council asking them to resurrect the SDSTF? 

Posted unedited with permission:

Dear City Council Members:

I am writing to thank you for lowering the speed limit on Shore Drive in the wake of several pedestrian fatalities over the past year.  I believe this is a very important step in our continued effort to make Shore Drive safer.  Many folks that I have talked to who opposed lowering of the speed limit have changed their minds when they learned that pedestrians are afforded greater protection under the law on roadways where the speed limit is lower than 45 mph.  Lowering the speed limit is not the only solution, but again, it is a very important step.  Unfortunately, we still have alot of work to do!

I urge you to resurrect the Shore Drive Safety Task Force (SDSTF), as requested by the Shore Drive Community Coalition.  Many short term improvements were made to Shore Drive as a result of the hard work the original SDSTF accomplished, but progress has waned since 2007, and we have lost at least 5 more people since the SDSTF disbanded.  In addition, several new issues have emerged, making the reformation of the SDSTF even more critical.  I know that the Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) would rather the issue be addressed in a BAC subcommittee, but I know from personal experience, as a former member of BAC and the SDSTF,  that BAC simply does not have the resources or the where-with-all to accomplish such an important and complex task in a timely manner.  I have told Kal Kassir I will willingly and enthusiastically work with any group who is devoted to improving safety on Shore Drive, but that this critical issue should not be relegated to volunteer groups who meet when time allows.  As hard as all of us are working out here to make Shore Drive safer, we can’t effectively do it alone.  We need you!  Please consider re-appointing a SDSTF so that we can review the previous recommendations, determine what has been done, and map out an updated plan for getting both short and longterm safety improvements to Shore Drive.  I believe that City staff can provide the resources, experience, and expertise necessary to get this done.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

June Barrett-McDaniels
Ketch Court

Please take the Poll at ShareShoreDriveDay.net – upper right corner of page.

Grace,

As of this morning, 7 of the 9 Beach Accesses are substantially complete and currently being utilized by the public.

Whaler Ct. will be completed today – remaining work is debris clean up.

Sandalwood Rd.  & Great Neck Rd. Accesses – Still waiting for the railing fittings to be delivered to install the ADA handrail & non-skid strips on the ramping at Sandalwood Rd. and the steel handrail and fittings at Great Neck Rd.

Velzey Ave. – Construction to begin tomorrow and should be completed by this weekend.

Delays have been due to specialized material deliveries from manufacturers and , specifically this week, contractor equipment breakdown.

Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Very truly yours,

Karl L. Smithson, APM
PW/Operations – Technical Support
385-1540 (Office)
403-3821 (Cell)

From VCAN:

Link to Pier opening at Pilotonline.com.

And as an extra added bonus the first 10 VCAN members that show up this Friday June 25th (between 4-5pm) for the pier’s re-opening, we will pay for your pier pass to fish.

Our non-profit will also cover the walk-on sight seeing fee for both the first dozen VCAN members and non-members/the general public that just want to check things out.

We look forward to seeing you all this Friday at the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier!

Tights lines,

VCAN

Please take the Virginia Beach Bikeways & Trails Survey now:
Please take it right now at VBGov.com – make a difference.

Last time it was done, guess which road ranked #1 by far for more bike lanes?

…increased!

Can you imagine how much it will increase thanks to 35?

How about when there’s bike lanes and multi-use paths on all of Shore Drive?

More about FHA’s report at The Hampton Roads Cyclist:
“This report demonstrates what we’ve been saying here at the Department,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “Americans want and need safe alternatives to driving. And by making biking and walking safer and more accessible, we’ll be able to provide Americans with more choices and help foster more active, livable communities.”

Cross posted at ShareShoreDriveDay.net.

What is CASPER?

CASPER = Coastal Action Storm Plan Emergency Response

Stay tuned.

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                            MEDIA CONTACT:

June 7, 2010                                                         Faith Christie, (757) 385-4621

                                                                  Marc Davis, (757) 385-4308

Bayfront Advisory Committee to Meet June 17, 2010

The Bayfront Advisory Committee will hold its annual retreat on Thursday, June 17th, at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive, from 11:00am to 3:00pm. The Committee will be continuing discussions regarding recommendations for revisions to the Shore Drive Corridor Plan, the Shore Drive Design Guidelines, and private encroachments on City right-of-way, pedestrian access issues, parking issues, and related matters.

The meeting will be open for the public to observe; however, there will not be an opportunity for the public to participate in the Committee’s deliberations.

The Bayfront Advisory Committee will then hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 3:30 p.m., at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive.

The agenda for the meeting will include the following:

Ø    Update on Public and Private Projects in the Bayfront Area

Ø    Update on Committee Activities in the Bayfront Area

There will be an opportunity for presentations from the public on projects in the Bayfront area. The Committee generally concludes its deliberations around 4:30 p.m. The meeting is then opened to the public for comments.

For additional information or to obtain a copy of the draft agenda prior to the meeting, call Faith Christie in the Planning Department at (757) 385-4621 or email at fchristi@vbgov.com.

For more information regarding the Bayfront Advisory Committee please visit vbgov.com/Bayfront

From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:

On Friday morning, June 11 at 3:00 a.m., a house in the 2700 block of Ocean Shore Ave was burglarized.  A white male, approx. 5’10 – 6’, thin build, dark hair, suntanned, wearing dark shorts and no shirt removed the electric meter from the box and cut cable and telephone wires from the side of the house, then went to the back of the house and broke a window to gain access.  Two flower pots on the inside window ledge fell on the floor which woke the owner.  When the burglar saw the owner, he ran and did not enter the house.  A police report was filed and the electric meter was not found.  If anyone has any information, or finds the electric meter (don’t touch, it may have fingerprints), please call the police.

Please remember to call 911 if you see a crime in action and call 385-5000, option 1, to report crimes after they have occurred or to report any suspicious activity. 

Read the 7 page ordinance.

The following was received from Chris Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for Cape Henry Shores:

Residents of Cape Henry and Cape Story suffered another power surge today (Thursday, June 10).  As many have suffered damage the last two times, it would be wise to check your electronics and appliances again today.  If you have any damage, please send it to me and i will forward to Dick Robbins who is working on our behalf with Dominion Power. 

Chris W.
Neighborhood Watch Coordinator

Editorial in the Pilot for Friday June 11th:

The vote last week was the fastest and least expensive way to make the four-lane road less deadly, and the council, lately a sharply divided group, was smart to speak in a united voice.

[Note: This Editor believes it is absurd that some people have written that they think this was a negative decision and a 25 MPH Speed Limit is next. Also, when the data is made public, people will see drunks crossing Shore Drive was never the issue.  Speed, driving distracted, poor decision making and more all contributed. Finally – killing the image that Shore Drive is an interstate needed to die. Not more people. If you don’t want to help make Shore Drive safer – go around.]

Dear Vice Mayor Jones and Councilman Wood,

Please accept our thanks for your bold initiative in reducing the speed limit from N. Great Neck Road to Pleasure House Road recently.  We understand that this is not a permanent measure, and that studies must be performed and other safety improvements made to the infrastructure of Shore Drive.  However, your action to implement a speed reduction in the interim has made many feel that at least some effort is being made by the City to improve safety conditions.

We realize that this has been a contentious move, and we would have you to know that for all the negative comments posted online and in the newspaper, we have heard just as many (if not more) positive responses from the residents along the Corridor.  You have both been in public service long enough to know that the “aginners” are typically more vocal than the proponents.

The Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) would like to lodge a formal request that the City Council resurrect the Shore Drive Safety Task Force (SDSTF) which did such fine work from 2005-2006.  We respectfully request that the revitalized SDSTF take the same form as the original.  That is to say, that the appropriate City Staff, representatives from the Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC), SDCC and representatives from the bicyclist community comprise the panel, under the oversight of a Deputy City Manager.  Other members might be assigned at the discretion of the Deputy City Manager in charge.  I believe that Charles Meyers was the Deputy City Manager assigned this role in the original SDSTF.
Once again, we thank you for the courage and concern you have demonstrated in this matter, and your enduring service in all matters of benefit to the City of Virginia Beach.

Very respectfully,
Grace Moran
President, Shore Drive Community Coalition

More at League of American Bicyclists:

To register for this course, contact:

  Bruce Drees
  Phone: 757-647-3987
  Contact Email:
  Website: http://www.hrcyclist.info

Signup required in advance? Yes
Special signup instructions: Please contact the instructor at to reserve your seat today!

Equipment required: bicycle, bike helmet

Take a minute and click here.

From Mike & Rick:

Ocean Park Friends and Neighbors,

          I hope everyone had a terrific Memorial Day weekend.  Through the weekend we have collected just over $3500.00, cash in hand towards our deposit for the professional fireworks show on the beach this 4th of July.  We need $6000.00 total to put down the deposit for the fireworks by the end of the week.  I know many of you are sitting on the fence, or a taking a wait and see attitude.  I’ve had folks pledge well over the amount we need for our deposit, but I haven’t actually received the money yet.  If you want to see a professional fireworks show on our beach this 4th of July it’s time to act.  Please go to OPCL.org and click on the “Fireworks” tab to donate via Paypal.  We greatly appreciate everyone’s support thus far, there’s no donation that’s too small, every cent helps.  Band with your neighbors and make this grassroots effort a success and honor the founding of our country with a community fireworks show.  If you have any questions about this show, or just want to get more details, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me.

Thanks again,

Rick Mercadante
President
Ocean Park Civic League
mercadante@cox.net

35!

From Pilotonline.com:

“The slight inconvenience is certainly worth the enhanced safety,” Wood said.

Thanks to every one involved in getting the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility walkway completed in time for this weekend.

Op-Ed in in Pilot today entitled Slow down on Shore Drive, read & comment at Pilotonline.com:

As long as vehicles use Shore Drive as a highway while throngs of people cross it to get to the beach, restaurants or bars; as long as cars fly past runners and cyclists on the way to the state park; as long as the scenic connection between Chic’s Beach and the Oceanfront continues to be a fully developed community bisected by a speedway, we will continue to see casualties.

City engineers argue that more speed reductions aren’t necessary, that expanding the 35-mph zone to west of the Lesner Bridge wouldn’t keep people safe. But it would give drivers – and pedestrians – more time to adjust to the fact that they’re on a four-lane road in the middle of a commercial and residential district, not on a highway in the country.