A recent national study places Virginia in the bottom half of states for bike-friendliness, but robust local infrastructure in the Roanoke Valley tells a more promising story for area cyclists.
A new state-by-state analysis on the best environments for bicycle commuters has ranked Virginia 29th in the nation. The study, conducted by specialty bicycle insurance provider Velosurance, scored states on a 100-point scale based on ridership levels, infrastructure, safety laws, and federal funding.
While Virginia’s overall score of 35.82 suggests a middle-of-the-road experience for cyclists statewide, the Roanoke Valley stands out with a significant and growing network of trails and on-road lanes. This local investment provides a safer and more accessible environment than the statewide ranking might imply, highlighting a key success story within the commonwealth.
How Virginia measures up
The Velosurance study evaluated states across four key metrics, revealing a mixed performance for Virginia. The commonwealth’s highest score was in Road Law & Safety, earning a near-perfect 14 out of 15, indicating strong legal protections for cyclists are already in place. The state also showed a solid financial commitment, scoring 14 out of 25 for its Federal Highway Administration funding, which translates to $7.75 per capita invested in biking and walking projects.
However, according to the study, Virginia’s scores were lower in developing infrastructure (7 out of 30) and in current ridership, where it scored 6.3 out of 30 with 12,205 bike commuters among its 4.3 million total commuters.
Roanoke Valley a bright spot for local cyclists
While the statewide infrastructure score is low, the Roanoke Valley offers a much stronger local network. According to Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the area’s greenway system features over 30 miles of paths popular for biking, walking, and running. In addition to the greenways, the City of Roanoke maintains 43 miles of dedicated on-road bike lanes, providing critical infrastructure for commuters.
This local focus on cycling is further underscored by neighboring Botetourt County’s designation as a Silver-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, making it one of the top destinations on the East Coast for mountain biking.
A national look at commuting trends
The study’s organizers note that a state’s cycling environment is shaped by many factors. A spokesperson from Velosurance said, “Transportation planners observe that cycling infrastructure investment patterns correlate with factors such as population density, geographic characteristics, and federal funding distribution, which influence how different states develop their transportation networks.”
This insight helps explain why a region like the Roanoke Valley, with focused local planning and investment, can offer a superior cycling experience.
The path forward for Virginia cyclists
For Virginia to improve its national standing, the success of local networks like those in the Roanoke Valley may offer a blueprint. Leveraging the state’s strong safety laws while focusing on expanding and connecting infrastructure could encourage more Virginians to choose cycling for their daily commute.
