A family rides on bicycles. (Photo: Brett Sayles) Virginia lawmakers are considering a bill that would require drivers to give cyclists more room in the roadways. Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) and Del. Chris Hurst (D-Blacksburg) are proposing the Bicycle Safety Act. The act has three main components: It allows for cyclists to ride side-by-side in one lane, permits them to treat stop signs as yield signs and mandates drivers change lanes when overtaking. That’s a change from Virginia’s current law, which requires drivers to give three feet of clearance when passing. Speaking at a committee meeting this week where the bill was approved 11-4, Morrissey said the changes to how drivers overtake cyclists are meant to promote safety and allow for types of riding that already occur.