Winter Biking, Walking, and Driving
Winter brings a change to our road conditions and the light, making roads even more challenging to share and use.
- Remember to take lighting and reflective gear so you don't get caught out in the dark.
- Watch for people walking and biking as the light gets low in the evening. The sun setting at rush hour makes the visibility even more challenging than usual.
- If your walking when the weather is inclement adjust your footwear for good traction. Manufacturers make chains for shoes and boots that improve traction and can help reduce falls. Some examples of vendors include: http://www.shoechain.com/ and http://www.cabelas.com
SharE the Road Every Day in Virginia
Bicycling and walking are inexpensive and efficient ways to take short commutes, go shopping, and see friends, especially when driving a vehicle can often take just as long due to traffic congestion or lack of parking. Riding a bicyle and moving by foot travel are great ways to get exercise, especially in an age when we spend too many hours sitting – at a computer, on a telephone, in an airplane, or in front of the television.
By choosing to walk, run, or ride a bike or riding a bicycle instead of driving a motor vehicle, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s citizens reduce traffic congestion, road wear and tear, and the need for more and more roads and parking. Virginians can save money on fuel and breathe less CO2.
Bicycling and walking: great ways to reduce stress, exercise, save money, and save the planet!
Start Biking and Walking Today
Don't be afraid to get started. When all users of the transportation system know the law and respect their mutual rights and responsibilities, sharing the road is safe and predictable.
Consulting this web site is a good place to start learning the rules and the most common safety practices for sharing Virginia’s roadways with all types of travelers. Also visit the BikeWalk Virginia website for many more resources. Join a community of health and safety-conscious, like-minded citizens.
Safety Tip: How to Avoid the Right Cross
A car is pulling out of a side street, parking lot, or driveway on your right. QUICK! How do you avoid a crash?
1. Honk. Get a horn and use it when you see a car approaching or waiting to the right. If you don't have a horn, yell "Hey!" or "Bike coming!"
2. Slow down. If you can't make eye contact with the driver, slow down so that you're able to stop if you have to.
3. Ride further left. You're probably used to riding close to the curb, but the farther left you ride the more likely a driver will see you. If the motorist doesn't see you and starts pulling out, go farther left or if you're too far along to avoid the vehicle speed up and get out of the way. But note that riding to the left makes you more vulnerable to cars behind you and this may not be smart in all instances.
Ride Prepared! Get a headlight. If riding at night, a headlight is required by law. Even for daytime riding, a bright white light in flashing mode can make you more visible to motorists. Look for LED headlights, which last much longer. Helmet- or head-mounted lights are the best, because when you can look directly at the driver, your light shines on him.
What's New?
January 2010
We had a great Virginia Bicycle & Pedestrian Awareness Week on September 13-20, 2009 so we are excited to bring that event back for a second, even better year. Start making plans now for how your community, organization, or business can be involved in making an even bigger event. Check out the details on our What's New page.
September 2009
Richard "Dick" Nehring of Alden, Iowa, was able to celebrate Virginia Bicycle & Pedestrian Awareness Week with us in Yorktown, Virginia. He rode into town at about 1:30 p.m. upon completing the TransAmerica Trail, established by the Adventure Cycling Association in 1976 as part of the United States bicentennial celebration.
The Route 76 bike trail runs from Astoria, Oregon, to Yorktown, Virginia, and covers 4,262 miles. He reported seeing lots of other bicyclists crossing America. They enjoyed ocean coastline, lush forests, high desert, mountain passes, snow capped peaks, sweeping vistas, expansive plains, fertile farmlands, rolling hills, and wide rivers. He traveled through Kentucky with Skip Bailey, who biked to raise $8,816.80 for Parkinson's Disease research and made it to Yorktown about 3 hours later.
Dick liked the scenic ride through Virginia and particularly enjoyed meeting a convenience store owner in the Waynesboro area who shared his home and a meal. Dick says there were fewer lose dogs barking at him in Virginia but, unfortunately, we share the prize with a couple of other states for having some of the narrowest road shoulders of any that he encounter.
Interested in taking to the trail? Experts suggest bicyclists allow at least three months for the crossing. Some traverse the route quicker, but have less time for sightseeing. The route can be ridden safely from May through September. Bicyclists traveling east, like Dick, celebrate completing the ride by ceremoniously dipping their wheels into the York River.
Make a Donation to the Kevin M. Flock Memorial Fund
The family of Kevin Flock established this fund as a memorial to the avid bicyclist who enjoyed Virginia’s roadways. Donations to the education fund established in his memory support our Share the Road campaign.
Make a tax deductible donation today to help us spread the word to users of Virginia’s transportation system through this website, other outreach materials, and educational activities. Respect and awareness of our rights and responsibilities as motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians make the transportation system safer for all.
Make a donation online - Mail a donation to:
- Kevin M. Flock Memorial Fund, BikeWalk Virginia, 4801 Hermitage Road, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23227