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<Bike/Ped Benchmark Study>

 

BikeWalk Virginia 2007 Bike/Ped Benchmark Study*

 

BikeWalk Virginia surveyed Virgina localities to determine how the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians were being met by the Commonwealth’s cities, counties, and incorporated towns. 40% of jurisdictions returned the survey and provide a baseline. Our goal is to influence all of Virginia's cities, counties, and towns to develop plans and advisory committees so that the number with plans will be 100% by 2015.

Summary of Key Questions

The Commonwealth of Virginia's 39 cities, 95 counties, and 159 incorporated towns were asked if they had (1) a bike plan (BP), (2) a pedestrian plan (PP), (3) a greenway plan (GP), (4) a bicycle advisory committee (BAC), and (5) a pedestrian advisory committee (PAC).

In Virginia’s cities, 36% have a bike plan, 10% have a pedestrian plan, 31% have a greenway plan, 15% have a bicycle advisory committee, and 8% have a pedestrian advisory committee.

Cities

BP PP GP BAC PAC
Alexandria
Bedford
Bristol          
Buena Vista
Charlottesville      
Chesapeake
Colonial Heights          
Covington
Danville      
Emporia
Falls Church           
Fairfax
Franklin          
Fredericksburg
Galax          
Hampton 
Harrisonburg          
Hopewell
Lexington      
Lynchburg
Manassas      
Manassas Park
Martinsville          
Newport News 
Norfolk      
Norton 
Petersburg        
Poquoson
Portsmouth          
Radford
Richmond        
Roanoke
Salem    
Staunton
Suffolk      
Virginia Beach
Waynesboro      
Williamsburg
Winchester          
     Total (of 39 Cities) 14 4 12 6 3
     Percent 36% 10% 31% 15% 8%

In Virginia’s counties, 27% have a bike plan, 9% have a pedestrian plan, 9% have a greenway plan, 9% have a bicycle advisory committee, and 5% have a pedestrian advisory committee.

Counties

BP PP GP BAC PAC
Arlington Co  
Albemarle Co
Accomack Co        
Allegheny Co
Amelia Co          
Amherst Co
Appomattox Co          
Augusta Co
Bath Co          
Bedford Co
Bland Co          
Botetourt Co
Brunswick          
Buchanan Co
Buckingham Co          
Campbell Co
Caroline Co          
Carroll Co
Charles City Co      
Charlotte Co
Chesterfield Co          
Clarke Co
Craig Co          
Culpeper Co
Cumberland Co      
Dickenson Co
Dinwiddie Co          
Essex Co
Fairfax Co
Fauquier Co
Floyd Co        
Fluvanna Co
Franklin Co    
Frederick Co
Giles Co        
Gloucester Co
Goochland Co      
Grayson Co
Greene Co          
Greensville Co
Halifax Co          
Hanover Co
Henrico Co          
Henry Co
Highland    
Isle of Wight Co
James City Co          
King and Queen Co
King George Co          
King William Co
Lancaster Co          
Lee Co
Lunenburg        
Loudoun Co
Louisa Co          
Madison Co
Mathews Co        
Mecklenburg Co
Middlesex Co          
Montgomery Co
Nelson Co    
New Kent Co
Northampton          
Northumberland Co
Nottoway Co          
Richmond Co
Orange Co          
Page Co
Patrick Co        
Pittsylvania Co
Prince Edward Co          
Prince George Co
Prince William Co          
Powhatan Co
Pulaski Co          
Rappahannock Co
Roanoke Co        
Rockbridge Co
Rockingham Co          
Russell Co
Scott Co          
Shenandoah Co
Smyth Co          
Southampton Co
Spotsylvania Co          
Stafford Co
Surry Co          
Sussex Co
Tazewell Co          
Westmoreland Co
Warren Co          
Washington Co
Wise Co          
Wythe Co
York Co          
     Total (of 95 Counties) 26 9 9 9 5
     Percent 27% 9% 9% 9% 5%

Of the incorporated towns, 8% have a bike plan, 8% have a pedestrian plan, 6% have a greenway plan, 3% have a bicycle advisory committee, and 2% have a pedestrian advisory committee.

Incorporated Towns

BP PP GP BAC PAC
Abingdon          
Accomac
Alberta          
Altavista
Amherst          
Appalachia
Appomattox          
Ashland
Belle Haven          
Berryville
Big Stone Gap
Blacksburg
Blackstone          
Bloxom
Bluefield          
Bowling Green
Boydton        
Boykins
Bridgewater          
Broadway
Brodnax      
Brookneal
Buchanan          
Burkeville
Cape Charles          
Cedar Bluff
Charlotte Court House          
Chase City
Chatham          
Cheriton
Chilhowie          
Chincoteague
Christiansburg      
Claremont
Clarksville          
Clifton
Clifton Forge          
Clinton
Clintwood          
Clover
Coeburn          
Colonial Beach
Craigsville          
Crewe
Culpeper          
Damascus
Dayton          
Dillwyn
Drakes Branch          
Dublin
Dumfries          
Eastville
Edinburg          
Elkton
Exmore          
Farmville
Floyd          
Fries
Front Royal    
Gate City
Glade Springs          
Glasgow
Gordonsville          
Gretna
Grottoes          
Grundy
Halifax
Hallwood
Hamilton          
Haymarket
Herndon          
Hillsville
Honaker          
House
Hurt          
Independence
Iron Gate          
Irvington
Ivor          
Jarratt
Jonesville          
Kenbridge
Keysville          
Kilmarnock
Lacrosse          
Lawrenceville
Lebanon          
Leesburg
Louisa        
Lovettsville
Luray          
Madison
Marion          
McKenney
Middleburg          
Middletown
Mineral          
Montross
Mount Jackson          
Narrows
New Market          
Occoquan
Onancock          
Orange
Painter          
Pamplin
Parksley          
Pearisburg
Pembroke          
Pennington Gap
Phenix          
Port Royal
Pound          
Pulaski
Purcellville    
Quantico
Remington          
Rich Creek
Richlands          
Ridgeway
Rocky Mount        
Round Hill
Rural Retreat          
Saint Paul
Saltville          
Scottsville
Shenandoah          
Smithfield
South Boston     
South Hill
Stanardsville          
Stanley
Stephens City          
Stony Creek
Strasburg          
Stuart
Tangier          
Tappahannock
Tazewell          
The Plains
Timberville          
Toms Brook
Troutville          
Urbanna
Victoria          
Vienna
Vinton          
Wakefield
Warrenton          
Warsaw
Washington          
Waverly
Weber City          
West Point
White Stone          
Windsor
Wise          
Woodstock
Wytheville          
     Total (of 159 Towns) 12 13 10 5 3
     Percent 8% 8% 6% 3% 2%

Less than half of all Virginia municipalities returned the survey. City, county, and town officials should contact BikeWalk Virginia with updated information by downloading and completing a Locality Survey and returning it to us by fax at 757-259-2372.

 

All of the Locality Survey questions and responses are listed below.

Planning

 

Of the 40% of jurisdictions who returned surveys, we found that 85% included transportation in their Comprehensive Plan. Unfortunately, less than half included bicycles in their discussion of transportation and fewer still considered greenways and the needs of pedestrians.

 

Does your locality have a transportation element in its Comprehensive Plan?

 

Albemarle Co

Fairfax

Hillsville

Pulaski Co

Alexandria

Fairfax Co

Hopewell

Purcellville

Amelia Co

Falls Church

Irvington

Richmond

Arlington Co

Farmville

Isle of Wight Co

Roanoke Co

Ashland

Fauquier Co

King & Queen Co

Rockbridge Co

Augusta Co

Floyd Co

Leesburg

Rockingham Co

Bedford Co

Franklin

Lexington

Rocky Mount

Berryville

Franklin Co

Loudoun Co

Salem

Bland Co

Frederick Co

Louisa

Shenandoah

Bristol

Fredericksburg

Lunenburg

Smyth Co

Brodnax

Front Royal

Lynchburg

South Boston

Buchanan

Galax

Manassas

South Hill

Campbell Co

Giles Co

Mathews Co

Southampton Co

Cedar Bluff

Glade Springs

Montgomery Co

Stafford Co

Charles City Co

Glasgow

Nelson Co

Stanley

Charlotte Co

Gloucester Co

New Kent Co

Staunton

Charlottesville

Goochland Co

New Market

Suffolk

Chesapeake

Gordonsville

Newport News

Urbanna

Chincoteague

Greene Co

Norfolk

Virginia Beach

Christiansburg

Greensville Co

Norton

Waynesboro

Covington

Halifax

Orange

West Point

Culpeper Co

Hamilton

Patrick Co

White Stone

Cumberland Co

Hampton

Pearisburg

Williamsburg

Danville

Hanover Co

Petersburg

Windsor

Emporia

Henrico Co

Poquoson

Wise

Essex Co

Henry Co

Prince Edward Co

Wythe Co

Highland

Prince George Co

 

Has your locality adopted a Bicycle Plan?

 

Accomack Co

Chincoteague

Giles Co

New Kent Co

Albemarle Co

Christiansburg

Glasgow

Newport News

Alexandria

Covington

Gloucester Co

Norfolk

Amelia Co

Culpeper Co

Goochland Co

Norton

Arlington Co

Cumberland Co

Halifax

Patrick Co

Ashland

Danville

Hampton

Petersburg

Augusta Co

Emporia

Hanover Co

Poquoson

Bedford Co

Essex Co

Henry Co

Purcellville

Berryville

Fairfax

Highland

Richmond

Big Stone Gap

Fairfax Co

Hopewell

Rockbridge Co

Bland Co

Falls Church

King & Queen Co

Salem

Bristol

Farmville

Leesburg

South Boston

Brodnax

Fauquier Co

Lexington

Stafford Co

Buchanan

Floyd Co

Loudoun Co

Staunton

Campbell Co

Franklin

Lunenburg

Suffolk

Cedar Bluff

Franklin Co

Lynchburg

Virginia Beach

Charles City Co

Frederick Co

Manassas

Waynesboro

Charlotte Co

Fredericksburg

Mathews Co

West Point

Charlottesville

Front Royal

Montgomery Co

Williamsburg

Chesapeake

Galax

Nelson Co

 

 

Has your locality adopted a Pedestrian Plan?

 

Alexandria

Brodnax

Leesburg

South Boston

Arlington Co

Christiansburg

Loudoun Co

South Hill

Ashland

Fairfax Co

Louisa

Stafford Co

Bedford Co

Franklin Co

Nelson Co

Suffolk

Big Stone Gap

Front Royal

New Kent Co

West Point

Boydton

Goochland Co

Purcellville

Williamsburg

Halifax

Salem

 

Has your locality adopted a Greenway Plan?

 

Albemarle Co

Chesapeake

Halifax

Purcellville

Alexandria

Danville

Highland

Richmond

Ashland

Fairfax Co

Hopewell

Roanoke Co

Bedford Co

Farmville

Leesburg

Rocky Mount

Big Stone Gap

Franklin Co

Lexington

Salem

Charles City Co

Front Royal

Lynchburg

South Boston

Charlottesville

Giles Co

Nelson Co

Virginia Beach

Glasgow

Petersburg

Waynesboro

 

Committees & Safety  

 

Responding jurisdictions reported that 17% have Bicycle Advisory Committees, 9% have Pedestrian Advisory Committees, and 32% have Transportation Advisory Committees. Only 18% of the responding jurisdictions require children 14 years of age and younger to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

 

Does your locality have a Bicycle Advisory Committee?           

 

Alexandria

Chincoteague

Halifax

Manassas

Arlington Co

Cumberland Co

Highland

Montgomery Co

Augusta Co

Essex Co

Irvington

Rockbridge Co

Big Stone Gap

Fairfax Co

Isle of Wight Co

Virginia Beach

Chesapeake

Fredericksburg

Leesburg

Williamsburg

 

Does your locality have a Pedestrian Advisory Committee?

 

Alexandria

Fairfax Co

Halifax

Montgomery Co

Arlington Co

Frederick Co

Isle of Wight Co

Norfolk

Big Stone Gap

Fredericksburg

Leesburg

 

Does your locality have a Transportation Advisory Committee?

 

Accomack Co

Chincoteague

Giles Co

New Kent Co

Albemarle Co

Christiansburg

Glade Springs

Newport News

Alexandria

Cumberland Co

Hanover Co

Petersburg

Arlington Co

Fairfax Co

Hillsville

Prince George Co

Augusta Co

Falls Church

Hopewell

Pulaski Co

Bedford Co

Fauquier Co

Leesburg

Salem

Big Stone Gap

Franklin

Manassas

Smyth Co

Charlotte Co

Frederick Co

Mathews Co

Stafford Co

Chesapeake

Galax

Nelson Co

Suffolk

Waynesboro

 

Does your locality have an ordinance requiring persons fourteen years of age or younger to wear a helmet when riding a bike?

 

Alexandria

Fairfax

Manassas

Purcellville

Arlington Co

Fairfax Co

Newport News

Quantico

Augusta Co

Falls Church

Norfolk

Salem

Bristol

Farmville

Norton

Virginia Beach

Chesapeake

Franklin

Pearisburg

Williamsburg

Hampton

Poquoson

Wise

 

Transportation Enhancement Grants

 

About half of the respondents reported having been awarded Transportation Enhancement grants for bicycle- and pedestrian-related projects in the past five years. 

 

Has your locality received any Enhancement Grant(s)? If so, what is the approximate dollar amount?

 

Fairfax Co

$4,000,000

Glade Springs

$570,000

Norfolk

$2,500,000

Pearisburg

$550,000

Petersburg

$2,000,000

Newport News

$500,000

Urbanna

$2,000,000

Giles Co

$500,000

Boydton

$1,488,309

New Market

$500,000

Nelson Co

$1,300,000

Orange

$479,000

Arlington Co

$1,100,000

Bristol

$440,000

Charlottesville

$1,000,000

Quantico

$409,000

Carroll Co

$1,000,000

Hillsville

$362,000

Hanover Co

$1,000,000

Middlesex Co

$350,000

Montgomery Co

$1,000,000

South Hill

$287,000

Christiansburg

$1,000,000

Cedar Bluff

$283,000

Farmville

$1,000,000

King & Queen Co

$258,000

Purcellville

$1,000,000

Chesapeake

$250,000

Virginia Beach

$950,000

Emporia

$250,000

Bland Co

$900,000

Lawrenceville

$230,000

Lynchburg

$800,000

Falls Church

$225,000

Charles City Co

$800,000

Galax

$200,000

Roanoke Co

$800,000

Greensville Co

$200,000

Waynesboro

$750,000

Goochland Co

$180,000

Prince Edward Co

$712,400

Brodnax

$180,000

Rocky Mount

$700,000

Front Royal

$163,000

Alexandria

$660,000

Loudoun Co

$158,670

Gloucester Co

$659,286

Leesburg

$150,000

Highland

$659,000

Henrico Co

$124,000

Fauquier Co

$650,000

Amelia Co

$120,000

Louisa

$650,000

Ashland

$108,374

Cumberland Co

$613,000

Rockbridge Co

$100,000

Stafford Co

$600,000

Pound

$23,000

West Point

$600,000

Chincoteague

$1,500

 

Trails and Lanes

 

About half of the respondents have trails in their jurisdiction, although many are part of National Forests and other parks. Fewer jurisdictions (about 17%) have bike lanes.

 

Miles of Trails

 

Charlotte Co

150

Alexandria

13

Greene Co

3

Carroll Co

100

Gloucester Co

12

Isle of Wight Co

3

Rockbridge Co

100

Lee Co

10

New Kent Co

3

Nelson Co

80

Manassas

8

Berryville

3

Virginia Beach

75

Roanoke Co

8

Galax

2.8

Bland Co

56

Fauquier Co

6.5

Ashland

2.31

Cumberland Co

50

Buchanan Co

6.2

Charlottesville

2

Altavista

45

Bristol

5

Falls Church

2

Lynchburg

40

Accomack Co

5

Lexington

2

Arlington Co

36

Charles City Co

5

Petersburg

2

Giles Co

30

Big Stone Gap

5

Hanover Co

2

Albemarle Co

28.5

Irvington

5

Stafford Co

2

Chesapeake

25

Fredericksburg

4

Brodnax

2

Henrico Co

22

Patrick Co

4

Christiansburg

2

Danville

21.5

Henry Co

3.6

Farmville

2

Fairfax

21

Hillsville

3.5

Chincoteague

1.4

Franklin Co

17

Leesburg

3.5

Campbell Co

1

Newport News

14

Norfolk

3

Cedar Bluff

1

 

Miles of Lanes

 

Arlington Co

25

Chincoteague

7.1

Rockbridge Co

2

Charlottesville

10

Hampton

4

Stafford Co

2

Williamsburg

9.3

Alexandria

3

Manassas

1.63

Chesapeake

9

Purcellville

3

Danville

1

Norfolk

9

West Point

3

Galax

1

Albemarle Co

8.9

Newport News

2

Vinton

1

Virginia Beach

8

Amelia Co

2

Ashland

0.46

 

*Don't see information about your locality here?

BikeWalk Virginia wants every city, town, and county to have plans and advisory committees in place. If you have updated information to share, please download the Locality Survey and send it to us by mail (Attention: Bike/Ped Survey, BikeWalk Virginia, P.O. Box 203, Williamsburg, VA 23188) or fax (757-259-2372).

 

BikeWalk Virginia · A 501(c)(3) Organization  · 4801 Hermitage Road, Suite 101  ·  Richmond, VA 23227
(804) 261-0507  ·  Fax (888) 308-9427