Sustainable Access Score
A
The Bluemont Safeway is one of Arlington's smallest full service grocery stores. But what it may lack in product selection, it more than makes up in ease of access by those arriving on foot, by bike or by bus. The store entrance is just steps away from Wilson Blvd's sidewalk. With a direct connection with a covered walkway, one never needs to interact with motor vehicles. For those who need to cross from the other side of Wilson Blvd, there is a rapid flashing beacon crossing directly at the entrance. As this is where Wilson is just 2 lanes wide with a median, the street is easy to cross here. But if one wants a fully controlled crossing, there is a traffic signal a short walk away at N. Edison St.
There are multiple low-stress bike routes to the store. The store is one block away from the always pleasant Bluemont Junction Trail using N. Emerson St. One can also access the store from points north such as the W&OD Trail by using quiet neighborhood streets to the parking lot entrance on N. Edison St. Finally Wilson Blvd itself has on-street bike lanes although these are not protected from motorists.
There is a single U-rack for bikes at the sidewalk on Wilson next to the entrance walkway. An additional U-rack is located across Wilson at N. Emerson St. If these are occupied, then bikes have been seen locked to the railing along the walkway to the store's entrance. But do take care not to block the walkway itself if locking your bike there. A Capital Bikeshare station is just a couple of blocks away at the intersection of Wilson Blvd and George Mason Dr on the Bluemont Junction Trail behind the fire station.
Well kept bus shelters for the Metrobus 1A & 1B (Ballston - Seven Corners - Merrifield - Vienna) and ART 75 (Shirlington - Wakefield HS - Ballston - Virginia Square) are just outside the store's entrance.
So while there are some larger grocery stores in nearby Ballston & Virginia Square, the ease of getting to and around the Bluemont Safeway should not be overlooked.
Walking - 5 points (A+)
Entrance directly from sidewalk (don't have to cross parking lot) (2 points)
Have to cross parking lot to enter, but there's a dedicated place to walk (striped walkway, etc) (1 point)
Adjacent sidewalk is even, comfortably wide, has curb ramps where necessary, and has street trees and street lights (1 point)
Not adjacent to a 4+ lane road, or if it is then there is a controlled crossing of that road on the same block (signal, stop sign or HAWK) (1 point)
BONUS! Sidewalks on this stretch of Wilson were relatively recently rebuilt to be wide with street trees coupled with the road diet a year or two ago, makes it comfortable to walk along or cross. (1 point)
Biking & Scooting - 4 points (A)
Nearby bike racks (1 point)
Nearby bike racks have 2 points of contact for each bike & enough clearance to be easily usable (no wave racks, no wheelbender racks, no racks jammed right up against a building) (1 point)
Nearby Capital Bikeshare Station (1 point)
Adjacent protected bike lane, trail, or quiet neighborhood street (1 point)
Transit - 3 points (B)
Nearby bus stop (1 point)
Nearby bus stop has a shelter and a bench (1 point)
Served by a Bus Line that comes at least every 15 minutes and runs 7 days per week (1 point)
Served by at least 2 bus lines with different destinations (1 point)