Spring Update from Bike Walk RVA
By: Brantley Tyndall, Bike Walk RVA Director of Outreach
Here are some of the latest updates and projects we’ve been working on as 2021 becomes the year of Changing Lanes*.
Fall Line Website Up / T shirts
Check out the newly launched website for the Fall Line! The new one stop online shop can be found at FallLineVA.org. And our Fall Line shirts are back by popular demand — you can purchase one at the Sports Backers Store.
Legislative update
The Virginia General Assembly approved new legislation to allow lower speed limits in residential and business districts and a new Bicyclist Safety Act, and Governor Northam signed both bills! That means starting in July, we’ll see a new law to require drivers to change lanes to pass bicyclists and other low speed vehicles. There is also a new $10 million budget for new paved trails around the state. See our February legislative blog post for more.
Not only that, the Hands Free law took effect in January, so make sure to put your phone down when you’re driving!
Pedestrian Fatalities
Despite a significant drop in driving in 2020, traffic fatalities actually increased in Virginia, and pedestrian fatalities increased a tragic 39% in the Richmond region. Read our deep dive on the numbers and why.
RVA Bike Month rescheduled
Vaccines are rolling out, and it looks like October is the best month for optimizing in-person events like the old days. Read more now and throughout the development process at www.rvabikemonth.com!
* Changing Lanes: our official teaser for this year’s theme reflects a year of making adjustments, the year we will require drivers to change lanes to pass people on bikes, and our continued focus on changing lanes to bike lanes.
Lobbying on Capitol Hill
Bike Walk RVA attended the League of American Bicyclists’s National Bike Summit to support Transportation Alternatives funding for biking and walking infrastructure. We were able to meet several of our Congressional representatives to talk about the need for more safety for biking and walking.
Bike Walk Hanover launches a Bike to School program
Hard not to like that, right? More info here.