From the Virginian-Pilot:

Virginia Beach wants to become a “Bicycle-Friendly City” in the next six years.

Seriously.

Officials in my sprawling suburban city, a place ruled by the automobile, see the advantages of making Virginia Beach a safe place to bike.

It’s an audacious goal, as any Hampton Roads cyclist – actually, anyone who read the paper last week – knows.

Read the full article: Confronting the perils of biking in the resort city

Your comments are appreciated.

We’re a little late in posting this, but better late than never! Slideshow courtesy of Joe Morgan, who also did a great job documenting route issues along Bike 76; and jazz musician Bob Peckman, who came along this year and last. We’ll have the 2011 slideshow posted soon.

Storm Levels Scenic Railroad Trestle

Trestle 7 on the Virginia Creeper

A tornado touched down on the Virginia Creeper Trail on April 27,  destroying the 680′  Trestle #7 located about six miles from the Abingdon trailhead.  That section of the trail has been temporarily closed.

After the Storm Photo Courtesy Kevin Worley

According to Kevin Worley, Director of Parks and Recreation for Abingdon,  debris from the destroyed structure has been removed and provisions are  are being made to route the trail thought the open field.  They hope to have the trail officially open, weather permitting, by June 17.

For more pictures of the destroyed bridge and the latest trail updates, click here or here.

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To commemorate National Trail Days, columnist Andy Thompson, outdoor writer for the Richmond Times Dispatch had a great column on the state of trails in Virginia.

According to Thompson, “As the state makes headway on these long-distance trails and Richmond advances its plan to connect communities and natural areas with greenways, it’s tempting, and not unreasonable, to imagine a time when every day is trails day.”

Learn more about the statewide system of trails, bikeways and blueways here.