WALKING & BIKING
Our Commitment
Ensuring safe and equitable access to walking and biking transportation options.
THE ISSUE
Every trip in Virginia starts off on foot. Walking and biking are important modes of transportation on their own but prove even more critical as first- and last-mile connections to rail and transit. Most Virginians don’t walk or bike nearly as much as they would like because our infrastructure does not allow them to do so safely and conveniently. Biking on our roads often feels unsafe and pedestrian fatalities have surged across the Commonwealth over the last decade. Virginia needs to dedicate funding and enact policies that not only keep us safe while walking and biking but actually expand access to these two healthy, affordable, and sustainable ways of getting around.
New Laws: Safely Bicycling and Walking to School
On July 1st, all bills from the 2024 General Assembly session became law in Virginia, including one that streamlines the process for improving bus stops. This law allows local building officials to review and approve plans for bus shelters, benches, and sidewalks.
Bill of the Day: Simple Solutions for Safer Streets
VCN is supporting efforts to support pedestrian and bicyclist safety, further reducing fatalities on Virginia's roads.
Land Use & Transportation Policy: 2023 General Assembly Review
Policies to defend Clean Car Standards, make streets safer for people who walk and bike, and support public transit funding.
ROUNDUP: Virginia Conservation Community on the State Budget
Governor Northam's outgoing budget proposal prioritized our natural resources through historic investments in Virginia’s natural resources - fully funding nearly all of the Virginia conservation community’s budget asks which we outlined in Our Common Agenda.
Bill of the Day: Safe Walking & Biking
VCN supports HB1841, HB1903, and HB2262 in order to make biking and walking both safe and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
RESOURCES
Resource Guide: Creating Walkable Piedmont Communities
Piedmont Environmental Council and the Coalition for Smarter Growth released a guidebook for local governments and stakeholders to implement projects to promote walkable communities.
Multi-Use Trails Initiative Report
See the Multi-Use Trail Initiative, a report on multi-use trail master planning, prioritization, and funding.