“Fall in Love with Bike Lanes”
Richmond is sharing their love of cycling during RVA Bike Month! Running from April 29 through May 31, Richmond will feature over 40 events for cyclists of all ages. This includes events taking place in the City of Richmond, Ashland, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney designated May as Richmond Bike Month. Leaders from both Richmond and Henrico made a point of encouraging all residents to share the road safely.
The program is spearheaded by Bike Walk, who since 2012 has been working towards creating a safe environment for active modes of transportation. This year they are asking the community to sign the Vision Zero Pledge.
Vision Zero is a program that strives to reduce the number of traffic deaths and severe injuries to zero. Over 3,000 people every year are seriously injured in a cycling accident, with 75% taking place at a road junction, and 80% occurring during daylight hours. Richmond has recently moved to expand bike lanes, add new bike paths, and introduce a new bike sharing program for its residents. These projects aim to increase bike safety and lower these statistics, while encouraging the community to use bicycles as a reliable mode of transportation and exercise.
Here at Reid Goodwin we encourage our community to remain aware while driving or cycling. Cyclists should always wear safety gear, including lights and reflectors at night. As Bike Month kicks off, we would like to remind everyone that wearing a helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment that you can wear.
Wearing a helmet reduces the odds of head injury by 50% , and the odds of head, face, or neck injury by 33%. Drivers should always keep the 3-foot rule in mind when passing a cyclist, as it drastically reduces the chance of an accident. If you or a member of your family has been injured in a cycling incident, contact our office and let one of our attorneys assist you.