Ashburn - The Connection Newspapers

By Bianca Mitchell
The Connection
With gas prices reaching
record highs many county
residents may find them
selves looking for an alternate
form of transportation. Luckily,
Loudoun County is home to some of the
most feasible and peaceful ways to get
around without the use of a gas-guzzling
car.
ONE OPTION for residents is the commuter
bus service, Loudoun County Transit.
These buses transport commuters from
park-and-ride lots all over the county to destinations
in the
Washington, D.C.-
metro area and
Metrorail stops.
“Riding the bus is an
option for anybody.
It gives them another
transportation
option and is also a
greener and more
relaxing choice,” Nancy
Gourley, Loudoun County
chief transit operator, said.
Pricewise, commuter buses
fit into the tightest budgets
with one ride costing 50 cents.
Riders can also use Smarttrip
cards to pay the fare.
A FIXED ROUTE and on-demand
bus service is provided
by Virginia Regional Transit.
This is a nonprofit organization
that works closely with
the Loudoun County Office of
Transportation. The fixed
route service provides speedy
transportation between key
points in the county and also
can drop commuters at the
Fairfax Connector and the
Metrobus 5A stops.
For individuals with disabilities,
or for those that are not
within three-fourths of a mile
of a fixed route, an on- demand
service is offered. The
bus must be scheduled at least
24 hours in advance and the
cost varies throughout the
county depending on the
length of the trip. Americans
with Disabilities Act rules and
regulations apply.
FOR RESIDENTS wishing to
get a little exercise during
their commute, bike riding is
a very relaxing and environmentally
friendly way to travel
between home and the office.
Community Guide
Gas Saving Transportation
Loudoun County Public Transport and bike
trails help residents save money on gas.
Loudoun County
Public Transportation
Visit www.Loudoun.gov and click on the
Transport link to learn more about public
transportation in Loudoun County.
Small recreational trails systems are located
in Cascades and Ashburn. The largest trail,
which stretches all the way from Arlington
to Loudoun, is the Washington and Old Dominion
Trail. “Bike riding on the Washington
and Old Dominion Trail is quite a popular
method of going to and from work,” said
Brian Baur, a representative with the Washington
& Old Dominion Railroad Regional
Park.
Paul McCray, the operations director for
the Northern Virgina Regional Park Authority,
which owns and operates the W &OD
Trail, has worked with the trail for 20 years
and has noticed a steady increase in commuters
over the years. “People who ride on
the trails will save gas and end up healthier.
Also, when you get
to work, you are in
better shape to start
working since the
trail is so peaceful
with all of the birds
and animals and interesting
plants and
flowers,” McCray
Biking is an increasingly popular form of transportation
in Loudoun County.
Riding the bus is a great way to save gas.
said. He estimated that on an
average nice day up to 400
people will make use of the
trail, which is very straightforward
and flat, making for an
easy ride.
Metrorail stations and
area buses cater to bike riders.
Park-and-ride lots encourage
the use of bike lockers
and transit buses are
equipped with bicycle racks.
Metro stations offer lockers
“Bike riding on the
Washington and
Old Dominion Trail
is quite a popular
method of going to
and from work.”
— Brian Baur,
Washington & Old Dominion
Railroad Regional Park,
representative
for a price of $70 a year and bike racks
for free.
AN ORGANIZATION called the Washington
Area Bike Association, or WABA, is a
large promoter of biking in the Washington,
D.C.-metro area. “Our association offers
things like commuter assistance, classes for
new cyclists and free access to paths. We
make it easy for people to ride,” Eric
Gilliland, WABA director, said. The
association’s Web site, www.waba.org, offers
all sorts of tools for people wanting to get
accustomed with the area’s biking paths.
ALTHOUGH THESE forms of transportation
are safer and cheaper, many worry
about what they would do if they needed
to get home in an emergency situation.
Loudoun County has already solved this
problem with the Guaranteed Ride Home
program. This free program provides
emergency rides to individuals who bicycle
or take other alternative transportation
to work. In order to qualify for a
ride, one must regularly — twice a week
— bike or ride the bus to work. Along
with the many easy to use forms of public
transportation, residents should feel
safe leaving their cars behind.
10 ❖ Loudoun/Ashburn Connection ❖ July 23-30, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Photos by Bianca Mitchell/The Connection