New paths, trails envisioned

James Clements
Published: August 3, 2008

If you ever find yourself lost in one of the more remote areas of our county, or any county for that matter, look for a bicyclist to show you the way. You’d be amazed by how many small country roads cyclists will commit to memory in their quest to find a safe place to ride.

Fortunately for those in Culpeper County who enjoy riding (or for those who find the need to switch to a gas-free mode of transportation), some progress is being made. I attended a public meeting held last week as part of the “Culpeper County Bicycle Study” to discuss recommendations for a variety of road and signage improvements and to create a dedicated master plan for bicycle and pedestrian routes.

Thanks to a $45,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation received by the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission and the County of Culpeper, consultants from HNTB Corporation of Arlington have been leading the exercise. After an initial meeting and process where they met with cyclists, law enforcement, and other local officials, the consultants were able to determine what routes were already popular.

According to their draft report released last week, they found that currently “there are no dedicated bicycle lanes or separate bike paths in Culpeper County outside of the Town of Culpeper.” (I’m sure this didn’t come as news to the cycling community.) 

Of the routes that are currently popular, many have me saying a prayer for those who would travel them on two wheels. Roads like U.S. 522, U.S. 15, and U.S. 229 each offer beautiful scenery, Civil War landmarks and the chance to be killed by speeding motorists.

Phase two of the study is underway and includes a public comment period open until Aug. 15. The goal is to deliver a “bicycle master plan for Culpeper County to aid VDOT and developers in planning for future improvements” by mid-September of this year.

According to the Culpeper County website:

“The master plan will provide much needed information for staff to apply for future grants. As the contents of the plan become a reality, new bicycling corridors, placement of signage and the widening of roads to accommodate bikers and walkers will encourage residents, tourists, and overnight visitors to explore Culpeper’s unique business district and historical attractions. In cooperation with the Town of Culpeper, both plans will provide citizens with an alternative transportation mode for work, shopping, recreational purposes and other needs.”

Because the natural geography of bicycle routes doesn’t always take political boundaries into account, it’s also refreshing to know that the county is working with the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission and their “Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan” as well as building off the “Sidewalk, Bikeway, and Trail Master Plan,” completed by the town in July 2007.

Last week, I highlighted the great summer reading program recently completed by our county library. And in many ways, the issues of supporting our local libraries and bicycle routes are related. (Aside from the obvious connection, that it would be great if our kids could safely ride their bikes to check out books.)

Libraries and bike routes each provide a fundamental service to those who may have no other options, and yet both are sometimes considered “luxury” items in the county budget. But services like these (and others like public hospitals, buses, and pools) speak volumes about the quality and character of a community. Even if you never check out a single book or get on a bike (I can’t decide if my own bicycle is sitting in the garage because I’m out of shape or scared of the traffic), knowing that the community you live in is dedicated to improving your quality of life makes a positive impact on the lives of all of our residents.

I wish the cycling community and the county good luck in these endeavors. Hopefully one day, VDOT coffers and developer dollars will overflow again and much of what is now just a vision on paper will become a reality.

And in the meantime, if our county leaders are looking for any advice or direction on how to improve the quality of life for all our residents, it wouldn’t hurt to try asking a cyclist.

James Clements is a Culpeper resident and independent columnist who appears each Monday.
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