Use this information to complete the following two questions.
Virginia Beach is Virginia’s largest city with 259 square miles of land, 51 square miles of waterways, and over 3,400 lane miles of roadways. We also have 152 miles of off-road paths and widened sidewalks, plus 142 miles of on-road bikeways . Just 7 years ago, we had only 120 miles off-road & 21 miles on-road.
Anywhere you go, you are likely to see someone walking or biking. Biking is very popular at the Resort area and the Bayfront, and it’s quite common everywhere in Virginia Beach. Even in places where it seems hazardous, you can see worn paths where people walk or bike. Bikeways & Trails Map
What do you like about walking and biking around Virginia Beach?
* required
What do you dislike about walking and biking around Virginia Beach?
* required
Use this information to answer the following question.
Virginia Beach’s system of off-road paths and sidewalks includes:
1 mile of unpaved paths
58 miles of paved paths
54 miles of wide sidewalks (8’)
This doesn’t count “normal” sidewalks that are about 5 feet wide
Virginia Beach allows riding bikes on any sidewalk except in Resort Area or Town Center.
What are the best improvements we can make to our sidewalks and off-road paths?
* required
Use this information to answer the following question.
Virginia Beach’s system of on-road bike facilities includes:
114 miles of 13’ outside lanes
22 miles of 14’ outside lanes
47 miles of paved shoulders
20 miles of bike lanes
0.16 miles of buffered bike lane
What are the best improvements we can make to our on-road bike facilities?
* required
Focusing now on laws and customs, many report problems with sharing roads and paths. In 2011, people said that “Cyclists and motorists alike do not know or abide by the rules of the road or how to share the road.” For answering the last question, here’s a quick reminder and update about some of Virginia’s laws.
Motorists:
Must give at least 3 feet at a reasonable speed when passing bikes, mopeds and animals
May cross a double yellow line to pass bikes and pedestrians when they can do it safely
Pedestrians:
Must walk on sidewalks wherever available, or on the left of roads without sidewalks
Should cross roads only at intersections and marked crosswalks
May not cross roads in disregard of traffic
Cyclists:
Have the same rights and duties as motorists, so they must obey all traffic signs and signals
Must ride as close as safely practicable to the right edge of roads, with some exceptions
From dusk to dawn, must use a front white light & a rear red reflector; on roads ≥35mph, must use a rear red light
How can we make walking and biking safer for all?
* required
Guidelines for Civility
By posting on City of Virginia Beach electronic communications tools, users acknowledge to have read and agreed to the following Terms of Use. Virginia Beach residents are encouraged to read and comment about issues affecting the city and its residents. We encourage discussion and varying viewpoints; however, the City of Virginia Beach page will not feature any of the following and reserves the right to delete posts, comments, pictures or video that includes such items.
Solicitations or advertisements of any kind that are not officially sponsored by the City of Virginia Beach
Nudity or pornography
Profanity or vulgar language
Personal attacks or threats against any person or group; libelous, harassing or abusive statements
Posting someone else’s personal information such as home address or phone number without their written consent
Establishments where the distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages is a primary business function
Activities restricted to adults
Tobacco and tobacco products
Firearms or other weapons
Hostility or violence toward any individual or group, including personal insults, libel, defamation of character
Attacks on ethnic, racial, gender or religious groups
Illegal or inappropriate use of firearms or drugs, or any illegal activity
Sexual overtone or innuendo
Posts by persons who are impersonating city officials or using false identities
Information harmful to children or is of a nature to frighten children, either emotionally or physically
Cruelty to animals
Online casino gaming, gambling or betting
Information affiliated with or promoting political campaigns
Posts that do not include individual’s legal first and last name.
Posts that purport to represent the views of an organization, business, or any type of group or committee, unless the poster has been authorized to speak on behalf of the organization, business, group, or committee.
In summary, users should feel free to post thoughts and opinions, whether positive, negative or indifferent, but must do it respectfully. If they use hateful, obscene or insulting language or launch personal attacks, we will delete the post. The City of Virginia Beach reserves the right to block users who repeatedly violate our terms of use.
Fields marked with * are required
Translate
What do you like about walking and biking around Virginia Beach?
Exercise and healthy
What do you dislike about walking and biking around Virginia Beach?
Some are dangerous. Poor condition, small, and no separation from high speed traffic
What are the best improvements we can make to our sidewalks and off-road paths?
Add more
What are the best improvements we can make to our on-road bike facilities?
Wider lanes, mark them better, buy more street sweepers to increase cleaning frequency
How can we make walking and biking safer for all?
Change state laws to give pedestrian right of way prior to stepping into roadway. Similar to other states.