News and Events

Bike Month 2013
May is Bike Month. Get ready to celebrate bikes, bike people, and bike culture in southwest Virginia. From the Bike Shorts Film Festival to Fix Fest, the Clean Commute Challenge to Bike Ready, and the Regional Bike Awards, we've got something going on for everyone. Additional information - ridesolutions.org/bikemonth.

Roanoke Region to Host Bike Virginia Tour
The Roanoke Region has been selected to host the 2013 Bike Virginia Tour, an annual cycling event expected to draw 1,600 cyclists. The Bike Virginia Tour is scheduled for June 21-26, 2013 with the second leg of the tour, June 24-26, being based at the Greenfield Recreation Complex in Botetourt County. Additional information is available at http://bikevirginia.org.

Bikeway Plan for the RVAMPO- 2012 Update Approved
On March 22, 2012, the RVAMPO Executive Board approved the Bikeway Plan for the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization - 2012 Update (update of the 2005 Bikeway Plan). The Bikeway Plan covers the cities of Roanoke and Salem, the Town of Vinton, and the portion of Botetourt County and Roanoke County within the RVAMPO 2035 MPO study area. Click here to access the Bikeway Plan - 2012 Update.

Federal Transportation Bill - MAP 21 - Approved
On July 6 2012, President Obama signed into law P.L 112-141, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Funding surface transportation programs at over $105 billion for fiscal years (FY) 2013 and 2014, Map-21 is the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005 (SAFETEA-LU). Click here for additional MAP-21 information.

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Roanoke Area Cycling and Commuter Resources

 

Roanoke Valley Alleghany-Regional Commission Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenway Planning - Provides links to bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway planning data, guidance documents, mapping (printable and Interactive), safety, and other bike/ped resources.

 

RIDE Solutions - Offers a range of services and information to promote alternative transportation in the region (540.342.9393)

City of Roanoke - Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Program - In 2010, the City of Roanoke was designated as a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.

RoanokeOutside.com (Biking) - One-stop portal for cycling information in the greater Roanoke region.

Roanoke Valley Greenways - Official site of the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission.

VDOT Bicycling and Walking Program - Links to plans, maps, laws and safety tips, and other VDOT resources and guidance.

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Bikeway Plan for the Roanoke Valley Area MPO - 2012 Update

The Bikeway Plan for the RVAMPO - 2012 Update, approved by the RVAMPO Executive Board on March 22, 2012 is an update of the 2005 Bikeway Plan. The Bikeway Plan covers the cities of Roanoke and Salem, the Town of Vinton, and the portion of Botetourt County and Roanoke County within the RVAMPO 2035 MPO study area.

Cover, Resolution, and Acknowledgments
Table of Contents and Acronyms
Section 1: Bikeway Plan Introduction
Section 2: Bicycle Accommodations - Guidance and Resources
Section 3: Overview of Existing Bicycle Accommodations
Section 4: Corridors for Consideration of Bicycle Accommodation
Section 5: Bicycle User Survey Summary
Appendix A: VDOT Roadway Functional Classification Definitions and Maps
Appendix B: VDOT Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations
Appendix C: VDOT State Bicycle Policy Plan Recommendations Summary Table
Appendix D: Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee Representatives
Appendix E: City of Roanoke Complete Streets Policy
Appendix F: Roanoke County Code of Ordinances
Appendix G: League of American Bicyclists 2008 Bicycle Friendly Community Workshop Action Items
Appendix H: Virginia Logos Supplemental Guides Signs Program VDOT Traffic Engineering
Appendix I: Bicycle User Survey Open-Ended Responses and Comments

Bikeway Plan Mapping - All mapping associated with the Bikeway Plan is viewable on the RVARC Online Map.

Click here to download the entire document in one file (large file 22MB). Printed copies and CD/DVD copies of the Bikeway Plan for the RVAMPO - 2012 Update are available at the Regional Commission.

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Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
Professional Development Series

The Regional Commission will host the following APBP webinars in 2013. All webinars will be held at the Regional Commission (upstairs conference room) from 3:00 -4:00 pm. Webinars are open to all interested parties and individuals and are offered free of charge. Space is limited to approximately 25 participants. Most presentations offer credit for professional certification. Click here for more information on the APBP Professional Development Webinar Series and a description of each webinar.

February 20 - Driving Deaths Down: Proven Countermeasures that Work
March 20 - Dynamics of Effective Advisory Committees
April 17 -Economic Benefits of Walkable and Bike Friendly Communities
June 19 - What's in There for Me: Mining National Data for Information on Walking and Bicycling
August 21 - Getting Better Data for Better Decisions: Improving Performance Measures and Outcomes
September 18 - Integrating Spatial Data to Develop Community Priorities

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Regional Greenway and Trail User Count Program

The Regional Greenway and Trail User Count Program, initiated in 2009, uses automated counters (infrared and magnetic) to collect use data for area greenways and trail. Data collected include total number of counts; date and time of each count; and hourly, weekly, and yearly summaries, which can be displayed and downloaded in various tables, charts, and graphs. The goal is to obtain baseline (i.e., current use) data for general planning and maintenance purposes, and to compare to future use as the greenway network is expanded, connected, and promoted. To date, user counts have been conducted at the following locations: Roanoke River Greenway - 4 locations (near Rivers Edge Sports Complex; behind the IGA/Bennington; between Memorial Ave and Bridge Street; West Riverside Drive in Salem); Murray Run Greenway; Lick Run Greenway; Appalachian Trail (between Route 311 parking lot and McAfees Knob). Cycling counts (using magnetic counters) have also been conducted on the Four Gorges Trail in the Carvins Cove Natural Reserve.

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