Educational Resources

The laws regulating bicycling on Virginia’s public highways define the rights and duties of bicyclists, as well as the motorists with whom they share the roadway. Bicyclists and motorists basically have the same rights and duties, and the laws governing traffic regulation apply equally to both. The Virginia Department of Transportation provides a summary to help road users understand the laws that apply to the operation of bicycle in Virginia. You can also find many maps and routes, places to bike, and resources for designing and funding bike infrastructure on the VDOT website.

One of our primary goals is to advocate for more laws that protect cyclists. We want to provide the tools for anyone to advocate for safer laws and more bicycle infrastructure, so we have put some together:

The PeopleForBikes Advocacy Academy is an online video series and resource library for city leaders, decision makers and advocates. It provides the necessary tools and information to understand how cities are evaluated through the PlacesForBikes City Ratings program and how to make cities better for bikes.

Video Series 1 – Lessons from the Best Biking Cities

Video Series 2 – City Ratings: What it is & How it Works

Video Series 3 – How to make a City Great for Bicycling

Tips for Meeting Elected Officials by Alliance for Biking and Walking – From your local town council to your senators and representatives in Washington, meeting with your elected officials is important to advancing bicycling and walking— and it’s easier than you think! The Alliance for Biking and Walking has put together this short PDF guide on what to do before, during, and after a meeting with your officials.

Winning Campaigns Training Materials – The Winning Campaigns workbook and campaign blueprint worksheet are available in English and Spanish. The Winning Campaigns Training is designed to aid advocacy organizations in the development of effective advocacy campaigns.

Top 10 Tips for developing effective grassroots bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations by Alliance for Biking and Walking – These recommendations come from the Alliance’s many years of experience developing bicycle and pedestrian advocacy. The Alliance for Biking and Walking ceased operations in 2016, but visit their archive to find other great documents about cycling and advocacy, like information about Building Equity and an Open Streets Guide.

Smart Cycling Materials from the League of American Cyclists – The League offers a variety of educational materials for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re an educator, a business owner, or a parent, they have developed tools to help you bring more joy to bicycling. They have a Smart Cycling Quick Guide, a series of public Smart Cycling Videos, and an outline of Smart Cycling Tips to keep you riding safe.

  • Bike Drivers Education
  • Bike Infrastructure
  • Interacting with Virginia Transit

– How to use bike racks at GRTC

How to build and install a ghost bike memorial for a bike rider killed by a motorist (Bicycling magazine article from December 2020).

Bicycle Safety Lesson Plans from the Virginia Department of Education – Lesson plans for a variety of topics including English, Math, Science, and History for grades K-12.

Bicycle Safer Journey by the Federal Highway Administration – Bicycle Safer Journey helps educators, parents and others who care about bicycle safety to get the conversation started with children and youth. Three videos — one for each of three age groups — accompanied by a quiz or discussion and an educator’s resource library can be used as an introduction to bicycle safety skills or to augment a comprehensive curriculum.

U.S. Department of Transportation – provides information and videos pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian safety and associated statistical data.

Federal Transit Administration – publishes several guides to design bicycle and pedestrian resources and provides grants for a variety of projects.