| Our Vision |
A more active, safe, clean, and healthy Virginia
where all Virginians and visitors can enjoy the benefits of walking, biking, hiking, paddling, and horseback trail riding for recreation or transportation.
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| Upcoming Events |
Dec. 1, 2007
VCN Legislative Workshop
Richmond, VA
Dec. 11, 2007
Richmond, VA
Mar. 4-6, 2008
Washington, D.C.
May 16-18, 2008
June 20-25, 2008
Southwest VA/TN
Charleston, S.C.
Sept. 26-28, 2008
Kilmarnock, VA
Governor's Conference on Greenways & Trails
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| VDOT Complete Streets Effort Needs To Hear From You |
The Virginia Department of Transportation seeks public comments on an important regulation to ensure that new public streets include mandatory features to 1) provide roadway and pedestrian connectivity, 2) minimize runoff and impervious surface, and 3)include cost recovery measures.
The proposed secondary streets acceptance requirements push forward the realization of BikeWalk Virginia's vision for complete streets, which are vital to the safety, encouragement, and future of non-motorized transportation.
BikeWalk Virginia members and all citizens are strongly encouraged to send comments on this new regulation to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) at SSARComments@vdot.virginia.gov.
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Martinsville/Henry County Bike Rodeo |
On Saturday, November 3, new Fuji bicycles were presented to 40 smiling students as part of the Activate Martinsville-HenryCounty initiative, funded by the Harvest Foundation and administered by BikeWalk Virginia.
The winners were chosen randomly from students at the 8 Martinsville-HenryCounty schools that participated in International Walk to School Day in October. Five bikes were made available to each participating school.
Bikes were presented at Liberty Fair Mall and winners participated in safety events in the Mall's parking lot. The Martinsville Police and Henry County Sheriff's offices assisted with the event, and volunteers from the Henry County Bike Club helped with helmet fitting and safety instruction. Clarence Monday, Martinsville City Manager, just back from participation in the Marine Corps Marathon in the Washington D.C. area, expressed enthusiasm for the efforts.
Dave Abraham and staff from Hokie Spokes assembled bikes and Billy Feamster of Fuji delivered them to the Mall.
 Abagail Stephens and Courtney Robinette of Magna Vista High School received new bikes as part of the Activate Martinsville-Henry County initiative.
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| BikeWalk Virginia Executive Director |
BikeWalk Virginia is seeking a full-time Executive Director to be responsible for developing and managing a wide range of programs designed to fulfill BikeWalk Virginia's mission.
Specific duties include creating and supporting a network of local chapters, advocating for non-motorized transportation, conducting special programs and services, and building relationships across the state. See the full job description online. The position will be located in Richmond and will remain open until filled.
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| Bike-Sharing News From Arlington |
Bike-sharing has gained popularity as large fleets of high-tech public-use bicycles for short-term use have popped up throughout Europe. Such fleets are located around towns and are available to registered users who pay an annual fee of $10 to $40. With a quick wave of a smartcard or a mobile phone call, a member has access to a sturdy bike. In urban areas and on campuses, bike-sharing allows folks to hop on a bike instead of driving a car for short trips to work or school, to the grocery store, or for errands. A bike-sharing trip is a public transit trip where the vehicle just happens to be a bike!
 Today's bike-sharing is different than in the past. Early programs used donated bikes painted a uniform color. Because bikes were frequently stolen, these bike-sharing services were quickly ended. New generation bike-sharing programs require member accountability: registered users provide their name and credit card information. If a borrowed bike is not returned, the customer is charged for a replacement.
Arlington County aims to launch its own bike-sharing program based on this new model next year. Technologies and costs are being examined to determine if it can be coordinated with the Washington, D.C. SmartBike program or if another technology would allow more flexibility.
Updates on Arlington's bike-sharing program can be found online at BikeArlington.com/bike-sharing.cfm. To learn more about Bike-sharing, visit bike-sharing.blogspot.com.
Information from Paul DeMaio, MetroBike LLC
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| On Bike-sharing In Paris ... |
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"It has proved such a tremendous success that it is in danger of failing. ... we've noticed that everyone tends to bike the same routes. So we Parisians find outselves hurrying from one empty station to the next, equally empty station. All are filled with desperate commuters sharing the same delusion that surely the station after this will have some bikes. When, halfway to our destination, we do finally get hold of a bike, we pedal in ecstasy for 10 minutes or so, only to find that we must ride around for another 30 minutes before we can locate a free spot to park. The planners should have predicted that Murphy's Law would kick in: When you need to rent a bike, all the stations are empty; when you need to park one, all the stations are full." ~ Pierre-Yves Geoffard, Paris Liberation
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| Short Cuts |
Safety Demo - Washington region police hosted a pedestrian safety demonstration on November 7 to highlight stopping distances, blind spots, and technology as part of the Street Smart campaign that aims to reduce the number of traffic incidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. Drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and the media were invited.
Mountain Bike Trail Building School - The International Mountain Bicycling Association will be in Lynchburg for a trail building school on Saturday, December 2. For more information, contact Matt Lepcio.
New Partners for Smart Growth - The 7th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference will be held February 7-9, 2008 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.
RYPE - An African-American Women's Network, Realizing Your Potential Every Day, encourages participants to get more active to improve well being.
Encourage Others to Join Us - As an advocacy organization envisioning trails for biking, hiking, walking, paddling, and horseback riding as a means to achieve a cleaner environment and healthier population in Virginia, we need more like-minded members to add their voices to ours on statewide issues such as the Complete Streets regulation above. Please use the "Forward email" link below to send this to others and invite them to join us in maintaining the welfare of Virginia's trails for non-motorized transportation.
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