Virginia Beach, VA —Virginia Beach officials and local residents will meet with representatives from Smart Growth America on April 24 and 25, 2013 as part of a free, grant-funded technical assistance program. The workshops will provide the city with the tools needed to create and implement a citywide complete streets policy.

“The City of Virginia Beach is looking forward to working with Smart Growth America,” said Mark Schnaufer, City of Virginia Beach Transportation Planning Coordinator. “Together, we hope to develop a framework for making our city’s street network more accommodating for all users. While we have done well planning for the automobile, we want to find ways to make our roadways more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. With the help of these transportation planning experts, we are taking the first step in developing streets that are compatible for everyone.”

Virginia Beach residents are invited to join the workshop’s first day for an introductory presentation that will feature a broad overview of complete streets. The event will be held Wednesday, April 24, 2013 from 7:00–9:00 PM at the Renaissance Academy, 5100 Cleveland Street, Virginia Beach, VA, 23462. [continue reading…]

Today Gov. Bob McDonnell, Mayor Dwight Jones, and Richmond 2015 partners, executives and staff announced that $11 million — over half the $21 million needed to stage the UCI World Cycling Championships — has now been raised.

Event planners project a $160 million return to the local economy, and visibility to over 300 million viewers worldwide.  “You see bicycles, I see tax revenue and jobs,” said Gov McDonnell.

Today’s event took place at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens’ Bloemendaal House. [continue reading…]

Juliellen Sarver is a resident of Richmond, an avid bicycle enthusiast, and a professional transportation planner with Simple Solutions Planning & Design, LLC .

Bike commuter Juliellen Sarver.

It looked like a summer hat straight out of Season 3 of Downton Abbey—pale green and breezy. But I was at a bicycling conference and I suspected there was more to that hat than first met the eye.

Sure enough, it was a bike helmet, one cleverly disguised as a summer hat. It was inspiring, and I bought it, even though it wasn’t in my budget and I already have a bike helmet (or two).

The next day, I decided to ride my bike to the conference, a trip of about eight or nine miles. I used to commute by bike almost daily when I lived in Washington, DC, 14 miles each way. Those miles were the sometimes the best part of my day!

My commute to the conference was entirely in dedicated bicycle lanes, including one that is a “protected” bike lane. I was treated as a real commuter by the drivers, accepted as just another person going to work, albeit on a bicycle. I got respect, and I wasn’t odd or in the way.

Since moving to Richmond, however, I haven’t commuted much by bike. And I miss it. I telecommute from home these days, so I don’t have a commute at all, by any means. But honestly, even if I worked in an office away from my house, I would need to work really hard to overcome some of Richmond’s bicycle commuting challenges.

In Richmond, when I ride my bike in the city, I’m in the way. The lack of bicycle infrastructure and the attitude of many drivers make sure I know that I’m not welcome. I dodge potholes and ride through sand and debris on the side of the streets. I get honked at and buzzed by cars and trucks passing too closely to me, and sometimes I get yelled at—all in the span of the three miles between my home and downtown Richmond. I can deal with it, having been a hardened bicycle commuter during the years I lived in DC. But what about those people who want to ride a bicycle to work in Richmond but for whom these challenges are too much to overcome individually?

What can Richmond do, collectively and as a community, to make bicycle commuting within reach of more people? [continue reading…]

2013 Cap 2 Cap Poster Final

Join over 2000 riders on Saturday, May 11, for one of Virginia’s largest cycling events — the Capital to Capital ride, aka Cap2Cap — a fundraiser for the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation.

When completed, the 55 mile Virginia Capital Trail will connect past and present capitals of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Richmond along the scenic Route 5 corridor.

Cap2Cap is a unique in having starts at both ends — Richmond and Williamsburg — with 15, 25, 50, and 100 mile out-and-back options. Pedal through 400 years of Virginia history, and help raise funds to make the Virginia Capital Trail a world-class experience. [continue reading…]