It's no secret that the benefits of bicycling lead to healthier communities and promote a cleaner environment, so Virginia Beach is working to make our city a safer place to ride. The "Two-Way Street" campaign is the result of a combined effort by civically-minded residents, the mayor and city staff. The campaign is intended to educate both motorists and cyclists about ways they can safely share the road.
Give a minimum of two feet.
Motorists and bicyclists can share the road safely when everyone observes all traffic laws. When passing a cyclist on the road, drivers must give at least two feet clearance. Responsible cyclists must also ride with the flow of traffic, using proper hand signals and anticipating the actions of other road users. When riding two abreast, bicyclists cannot impede the movement of traffic, and need to move into single file when being overtaken from the rear.
Wear the proper gear.
The grim reality is that about 1,000 American bicyclists die in crashes every year, with approximately 75% of those being from head injuries. Children ages 14 and under are five times more likely to sustain bicycle crash-related injuries than any other age group. All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride as it is the single most effective way to prevent head injury in the event of a crash. Stay visible too; wear bright colors and use reflective equipment.
Don't be a bike salmon.
You know how salmon swim upstream to get to a particular destination? Turns out more and more bicyclists follow this example when riding against the flow of traffic. This wrong-way riding behavior endangers everyone - motorists, pedestrians and other cyclists. Let's make the roads safe for everyone by following the rules of the road and going with the flow of traffic.