Richmond, Virginia trying to become bike-friendly

[tulip]

Just the fact that a public forum was held (and was standing room only) says alot. I know Richmond is trying hard, but I hope they make some visible progress soon. People have to see that the city is serious about becoming bicycle (and pedestrian) friendly, not just continually hear about it.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2012/sep/18/4/public-square-participants-discuss-responsibilitie-ar-2215986/

[tealtreak]

We have a long way to go- Lanie's death really shook up the cycling community - and caught the attention of some non cyclists as well...

[tulip]

We have a long way to go- Lanie's death really shook up the cycling community - and caught the attention of some non cyclists as well...

A very long way to go, indeed. Lanie's death was a real tragedy and there's been alot of talk about it and I'm hopeful that the leaders (city and regional) will take some visionary and real action very soon. There's a whole lotta talk and very little happening as far as I can tell...actions speak much louder than words.

[SFLiz]

I lived in Richmond for several years back in early 2000s, and it did seem very unfriendly even for pedestrians in some parts. Many roads didn't even have any shoulders for walkers or bikers. Especially in the older parts of Henrico County. Back then, I hadn't discovered the wonderful sport of cycling yet. I was a marathon runner and would train both in the city and in the backwoods areas toward Ashland. Often no sidewalks or shoulders for runners. I lived a few years in Glen Allen (Wyndham) and a few in the Fan district on Hanover and Rowland. Ran with the Sportsbackers in the city for years. The Fan was much more friendly for running and biking than Henrico Co. There are a lot of VCU students commuting by bike. I used to love watching them ride by from my bedroom down the middle of wide Hanover St. in the dead of the night; they looked like they really enjoyed themselves. I know Glen Allen area has since developed and urbanized much more and hopefully bike lanes have been added since Wholefoods/REI/Trader Joes arrived?

[tulip]

I know Glen Allen area has since developed and urbanized much more and hopefully bike lanes have been added since Wholefoods/REI/Trader Joes arrived?

HAHAHAHAHAHA!! Yeah, nothing could be farther from your hope. Glen Allen is the worst of the worst example of car-centric development. Worse than that, even. Henrico has no desire to do anything for bicycling or walking. Oh wait, I take that back. The Virginia Capital trail will go through eastern Henrico...eventually. It's the last bit; it's already built from Jamestown to the Henrico-Charles City Count line and the short segment in Richmond city was finished a couple of years ago. So yeah, Henrico isn't even pretending to support anything but car culture. That is soooooooo 20th century!

I do have high hopes for Richmond on the bicycle front, however. Mtn biking is already very good, and I love riding on the country roads in eastern Henrico (despite the county's car-only leadership), and I do enjoy riding in the city. But I'm very comfortable in traffic and it's not people like me they need to get on bikes.

The 2015 UCI World Road Championships will be a game changer. Hopefully.

[tealtreak]

I lived in Richmond for several years back in early 2000s, and it did seem very unfriendly even for pedestrians in some parts. Many roads didn't even have any shoulders for walkers or bikers. Especially in the older parts of Henrico County. Back then, I hadn't discovered the wonderful sport of cycling yet. I was a marathon runner and would train both in the city and in the backwoods areas toward Ashland. Often no sidewalks or shoulders for runners. I lived a few years in Glen Allen (Wyndham) and a few in the Fan district on Hanover and Rowland. Ran with the Sportsbackers in the city for years. The Fan was much more friendly for running and biking than Henrico Co. There are a lot of VCU students commuting by bike. I used to love watching them ride by from my bedroom down the middle of wide Hanover St. in the dead of the night; they looked like they really enjoyed themselves. I know Glen Allen area has since developed and urbanized much more and hopefully bike lanes have been added since Wholefoods/REI/Trader Joes arrived?


I wish that was so!!! The whole foods/Trader Joe corridor is 6 to 8 lanes of insanity with no crosswalks and to attempt to cycle there would be suicide ): I live in Glen Allen and ride out in Hanover and Goochland, but the journey from Glen Allen to good biking is always a scary adventure. I have blinky lights on all the time, wear neon and have half seriously joked about getting a flag of some sort (don't run me over I'm a nice lady....)