The Observer Newspapers | Anti-Bike Policy Not Helpful for Town Residents

August 22 , 2008

Anti-Bike Policy Not Helpful for Town Residents

To the editor:

I am a 21-year Herndon resident and an avid bicycle rider. I ride to work and run errands to local groceries, pharmacies, libraries, and stores on my bicycle. My bicycle is an investment and to protect this investment I chain it before entering establishments.

That is why I note with concern and alarm the Town Council's aim to establish a policy prohibiting bicyclists like me from parking and chaining my bicycle on public rights-of-way.

I believe this potential policy is intrusive and an encroachment to everyone's (not just bicyclists) collective right to use public rights-of-way. One would think that a public right-of-way is open, available, and maintained for the benefit of the community as a whole.

I would suggest a less reactionary and far more proactive approach would be for the town to make bicycle racks available. I believe a similar precedent exists in the form of public benches placed at bus stops. Public benches have been approved by the town. Why not bicycle racks?

I am appalled that parking and chaining bikes is an issue. The bottom line is that I expect to be able to ride and protect my bicycle in Herndon and especially at public places and rights-of-way. The Town Council should carefully consider the unintended consequences of putting a voice to any such proposed policy. After all we are the town that is bisected by the WO&D trail. As a last note, are Herndon Police restricted from using these public right-of-ways with their bicycles?

John Findley

Herndon