Halstead Glen residents call for balance between bike lanes and parking needs

by Gene Powell, Staff Writer

Photo contributed by Halstead Glen residents.

Residents of the Halstead Glen townhome community on Reston’s north side are asking local and state officials to reconsider the streetside bike lanes and “no parking” zones created in 2024 near Aldrin Elementary School. The striped lanes run along both sides of Center Harbor Road between Wiehle Avenue and Reston Parkway, in some cases replacing curbside spaces once used for parking.

In August, after additional “no parking” signs were installed, Fairfax County police reportedly began issuing written warnings to cars parked in the lanes. Residents have asked that enforcement be paused while the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) or Fairfax County officials conduct a parking impact study to measure actual usage and community needs.

Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn, who represents the Hunter Mill District, told The Reston Letter in an Aug. 28 email that he has asked transportation engineers “to look into whether more on-street parking could be added in that immediate area and still maintain a safe bicycle travel lane.”

The lanes were installed as part of 2024 countywide paving and striping improvements by VDOT in cooperation with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT). Alcorn said a parking study conducted before the work found only “between two and four vehicles” parked in the area at various times. Residents argue, however, that parking demand spikes during school events, elections, evenings, weekends, college breaks, and when contractors are working in the neighborhood. Limited parking is already an issue, they note: the 67-unit community, built in the early 1990s, has one-car garages and only 26 visitor spaces.

In a July 25 note to Alcorn, residents said proposed alternatives for parking are impractical because of overnight restrictions or the need to “walk along unlit paths after dark.”

Angie and Mike O’Grady told The Reston Letter that residents support bike lanes but hope to reach a compromise that restores some parking near the community. They said a neighbor’s recent measurements suggest there is enough room on one side of Center Harbor for both parking and bike lanes.

The disputed area is centered on the Heritage Oak Way entrance to Halstead Glen, across from Aldrin. In letters to officials, residents also cited “a significant communications gap during the planning process for the bike lanes” and requested a public meeting or hearing to address their concerns. They argue that road safety must be balanced with impacts on neighborhood appeal, marketability, and property values.