2. Outline
• Who is a "senior?"
• Getting around Reston by bike
• Why ride bikes
• Types of bikes
• Carrying stuff
• Seniors and cycling
• Making Reston more bike-friendly
3. Who is a "Senior?"
• Wide range of ages from 50 (AARP), 62, or
66 (SS), all the way to 100+ (parents of
younger seniors)
• Baby Boomers - Grew up in the 60's and
many adopted bikes for transportation and
still ride - Environmental reasons.
4. Getting around Reston
• Bike commuting to USGS for 20+ years
• Run errands - Farmers markets, Y, Bread
store
• Most trips under 5 miles, many under 3 miles
o 3 mile trip takes about 20 minutes
o Bike/Car/Bus challenge - Bikes were fastest
• Bike vacations - Great way to see the world
5. Why travel by bike
• It's fun
• Low impact exercise
• Non-polluting
• Inexpensive
• Allows you to "smell the roses"
• Discover your community by using bike-
friendly routes
6. More People Riding are for
Transportation
• Seniors want walkable/bikeable communities
• Cycling promotes good health and benefits
people with certain conditions such as
Parkinson's or strokes
• Many seniors in Europe travel by bike
o Netherlands, 1 in 4 of their trips by bike
7. More bike choices available now
Recumbents: Two wheels and Three wheels
8. Recumbents
Pros
• Comfortable seat
• Less stress on wrists and neck
• Can ride comfortably for longer distances
• Trikes overcome balance problems
Cons
• Difficult to transport and store
• Expensive
9. Folding bikes are another good
option
Small wheels
Low to the ground
Easier to store and transport
10. Reston is not flat!
• Gradually build up to ride longer distances
over varied terrain.
• Most bikes have very low gears. Using all of
your gears helps.
• Electric-assist bikes are
becoming more
popular.
12. Portland Senior Cyclist Program
• Free program to encourage seniors to get
back into cycling.
• Trikes and helmets
are provided for free.
• Helps seniors stay fit,
healthy, and active.
13. How do we make Reston more bike-
friendly?
Reston Ped/Bike Committee recommendations
and the County Bicycle Master Plan
• Bike lanes
• Signed bike routes and shared lane
markings
• Better bike parking
• Bike education for everyone
• Incentives to get more people on bikes
• Bike Ambassadors?
•
14. More Information
• Bruce Wright - bikecommuter@gmail.com
• FABB website - www.fabb-bikes.org
o Cyclist Resources page - Maps, etc.
• RA Pedestrian & Bicycling Advisory
Committee
• Fairfax County Bicycle Program:
o www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/bike/
