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BY THE EDITORIAL PAGE STAFF OF THE FREE LANCE-STAR
INCLUDED in a raft of new laws passed by the General Assembly that go into effect this Thursday are two intended to increase bicycle safety in the commonwealth. The Virginia Bicycling Federation endorsed them, and weâll take their word for it that similar laws in other states have reduced cycling fatalities.
Hopefully, theyâll do the same in Virginia. But there are some lingering concerns.
One of the new laws, the 2021 Bicyclist Safety Act, requires drivers to change lanes to pass a cyclist if the lane theyâre in does not allow them to maintain a three-foot distance from the cyclist, even if that means crossing double yellow center lines.
New bicycle laws take effect in Virginia on July 1st
Sharing the road could be the difference between life and death
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LYNCHBURG, Va. – Two new laws are adding an extra layer of safety for cyclists across the Commonwealth.
“I had a good friend … who was killed about 10 years ago here on the road; so it’s become very important for us,” said Brad Malcolm, a Lynchburg cyclist.
“Some people don’t have the leisure of having a vehicle. Some people only have a bike,” said John Seinar, owner of Bikes Unlimited in Downtown Lynchburg.
Beginning July 1st, drivers are required to changes lanes when passing cyclists unless the lane is exceptionally wide.
You probably missed a couple of remarkable events Wednesday before sunrise in Roanoke. One was, Gary Duerk turned 75 â more about his atypical birthday plans below.
The second occurred just off Salem Avenue between First and Second streets downtown about 6 a.m. Shortly after Duerk and his wife, Barbara, arrived on their bicycles at Roanokeâs Amtrak platform, they dismounted and pushed them onto a passenger train.
That was a milestone â those were the first wheeled-on bikes ever in a Northeast Regional passenger car in Virginia. They wonât be the last. Beginning next month, itâll occur throughout the commonwealth.
A person bikes beside the James River in Rockett s Landing. (Photo: Alex Scribner/VPM News)
The Virginia Senate narrowly approved a set of new bicycle safety laws Wednesday after killing a similar bill earlier in the session.
The Bicycle Safety Act, sponsored by Del. Chris Hurst (D-Blacksburg), passed the Senate in a 21-18 vote. The bill would force drivers to move into the other lane when passing a cyclist if they are unable to provide three feet of space. It would also allow two cyclists to ride side-by-side, making them easier to overtake.
In a recent committee meeting, Hurst said he wasn’t proposing the bill because he wanted to give some sort of special treatment to cyclists, but because these reforms would make the roads safer for everyone.