BikePed Committee Procedures
How to be an advocate
Our locality staff must weigh the needs and desires of all citizens. They want to provide better accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians, but they know that taking away travel lanes or parking from cars and trucks can generate backlash. When citizens and elected officials ask for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure or programs, they give locality staff the confidence to provide what they know is needed.
Ken McLeod shared remarks to City Council he gave at a Roanoke City Council meeting. (This is provided for educational purposes; RVARC does not endorse nor oppose the views in these remarks.)
Check locality websites for procedures to speak at council or board meetings.
Members of the public may sign up to speak at an RVARC Board or RVTPO Policy Board meeting for up to three minutes by emailing rvarc@rvarc.org. Meeting schedules and agendas are available here.
Repaving Schedules
Repaving is great opportunity to make changes to lane configuration that can have a powerful positive effect on pedestrian and bicyclist safety and comfort. Bike lanes that are part of repaving projects are 40% the cost as bike lanes implemented alone. It’s not just bike lanes either. This is a good time to add crosswalks and make other adjustments that make it easier and safer for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross the street or travel along the street.
Citizens can help by knowing what’s on the paving schedule, comparing it to bicycle and pedestrian plans, and let elected officials and locality or VDOT staff know that they support this opportunity to implement the plans.
The paving schedule for Roanoke City is on the City Transportation website.
VDOT’s repaving schedule for 2020 and 2021 is here. Contact VDOT each spring to get the latest paving schedule.