The VBF crew have re-told this story countless times, as best as we can.  Here it is straight from Bud, who posted it to a mailing list, with the subject, “Three Foot Passing Being Unenforceable.”

Time has gone by, and I think only Allen Muchnick and I, of the current VBF board were involved back in the 2004 Legislative Session, when Sen. Creigh Deeds was our patron for Senate Bill 252, which had I think 11 items in it, the most important of which was changing “bicyclists must ride single file at all times” to “may ride not more than two abreast, providing that they fall into single file formation when being approached by a faster moving vehicle from the rear.”

Also in that package was “tail lights required after nightfall” (which failed until passing the next year, when it was changed to “on highways with speed limits of 35 mph or higher”, so that kids in neighborhood cul de sacs were not included), permitted to signal a right turn with the right arm extended, overturned the mandatory sidepath ordinances, cyclists not required to wear the slow moving vehicle triangle, and some others I don’t remember off hand.

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From The Path’s Facebook page:

Reveal The Path will premiere in Harrisonburg, VA, at the Court Square Theater, 61 Graham St., in Harrisonburg on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance at www.courtsquaretheater.com. Or to go directly to the ticket purchase page, click on this link:

https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?m=7e6a2a2e58b1184ec4e8bcb84e04dfab&t=tix

Tickets the day of the event will be $15 at the door. This event is a benefit for the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition. To view the trailer, go to www.revealthepath.com.

Thanks largely to the work of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, Harrisonburg is designated a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community and an IMBA Ride Center.

Round Mountain Trail Map – click to download PDF.

The Facebook rumor mill has turned up a new trail system in southwest Virginia. Round Mountain is in Bland County, off I-77, a few miles north of Bland, about an hour’s drive southwest of Blacksburg. See the Round Mountain Riders Facebook Page. Thanks are due to Joe Wheeler of the US Forest Service, local riders and others who helped make this happen. Thanks Chris Scott and Ron Glowczynski for the tip.

The meeting scheduled for Wed., Jan 9 has been postponed. Champe’s response is below.

Dear Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Members,

As you are aware this is a very busy time for the transportation community in the Commonwealth as the General Assembly Session begins tomorrow. The opening day of the session is quite busy and events surrounding it are very fluid with respect to meetings. Due to unforeseen schedule conflicts, the decision has been made to postpone the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow until after the General Assembly session.

We apologize for the short notice of this announcement and look forward to meeting with you shortly after the session adjourns. In the interim, we will continue to distribute updates on statewide efforts promoting bicycle and pedestrian accommodations and safety.

We remain committed to the bicycle and pedestrian program and look forward to working productively with you this year.

Sincerely,

Marsha

Marsha Fiol
Transportation and Mobility Planning Director, VDOT
1401 East Broad Street, Richmond Virginia 23219
804 786-2985W 804 225-4785F

From VBF President Champe Burnley:

Marsha:

I hope we will reschedule this for the very near future. After waiting several years – is it three or four now- to reconvene the BPAC, this is disappointing.

Considering the state of flux with our transportation system (and our economic state of affairs, limiting many folks options to get to work, jobs etc), discussion of non-auto options is imperative.

Champe Burnley
President,
VA Bicycling Federation

A revised agenda was posted Monday, Jan. 7.