Bicycle Advisory Committee Streamlines Bicycle Rack Process For Businesses

There are plenty of bikers in and around Vienna.

But up until recently, there wasn't an easy way to get them the number of bicycle racks they needed.

To incentivize businesses owners to add safe structures on their properties around town, and encourage riders to spend time biking, eating and shopping in Vienna instead of just riding through it, the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee decided to step in and help.

Now, after an ordinance approved by the town's board of architectural review, the BAC acts as a liaison between businesses and the Town of Vienna, locating potential places to put the racks and sometimes helping business owners fill out forms. The town's planning and zoning department now treats bike rack applications as a minor site plan review, eliminating the lengthy approval time and site plan review fee.

The move was a response to the , in which residents asked for better facilities around town, among other things.

“There was such a great response to our survey,” said Cris Janoski, co-chair of the BAC. “Most of the bike racks around town are outdated I think, and these new racks provide safety and convenience especially for bike enthusiasts, and biking families, which there are a lot of in Vienna.”

The inverted U rack is replacing the familiar "wavy" rack often seen around the area.

So far, one business, , has been approved for the new racks, but organizers expect more businesses to follow. , Giant and all have applications in progress.

Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling has committed to providing two racks free of cost, using a 2010 grant they received through he Transurban Fluor Community Grant program.