The implementation of bike lanes in traffic-heavy areas is partially in response to the bump in biking that occurred during the pandemic. But not all bike lanes are competing for space in our roadways.
There are non-motorized bike and pedestrian trails stretching for miles through Virginia’s greenery. Not only are these paths safer, they’ve quietly raked in millions of dollars in economic activity.
The Capital Bike Trail
The Capital Bike Trail is one of the longest and most popular trails in Virginia, stretching for 51.7 miles through four separate jurisdictions:
- City of Richmond
- Henrico County
- Charles City County
- James City County
There are seven sections along the trail:
- Greensprings (2 mi.)
- Chickahominy Riverfront (5 mi.)
- Sherwood Forest (13.2 mi.)
- Charles City Courthouse (7.6 mi.)
- New Market Heights (10.4 mi.)
- Varina (12.2 mi.)
- Richmond (1.3 mi.)
There are multiple food and entertainment resources along the trail, from bike self-repair stations to restaurants. They’ve even established Rules of Etiquette for safety, including:
- Stay to the right, pass on the left
- Issue audible warnings
- Obey trail and road signs
- Yield to pedestrians
- Pull off the trail when stopped
The Three Notched Trail
The Three Notched Trail is a proposal set forth by the Rivanna Trails Foundation, a non-profit founded on the mission to “promote, create, and protect pathways, trails, and greenways in the Rivanna river watershed.” They are working to connect recreational and cultural opportunities through a non-motorized trail that extends through four areas:
- Charlottesville
- Ivy
- Crozet
- Blue Ridge Tunnel in Afton
The proposal suggests a 10’ wide paved pathway, which allows for two directions of pedestrian and cyclist traffic, and is part of a larger “Mountains to Sea” trail initiative, connecting to the Capital Trail. The path is designed to be approximately 25 mi. long and is meant to connect to multiple tourist attractions, such as:
- University of Virginia
- Blue Ridge Parkways
- Shenandoah National Park
- Skyline Drive
- Appalachian Trail
- ¾ mi. of trails will pass through Blue Ridge Tunnel
Additional trails in Virginia
If you or a loved one have been injured in a bike or pedestrian accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation. Call for a free consultation, at 866-388-1307.
