Alternative Transportation

Bicycling

New Bike Policy (PDF)

New bike trails are on their way

Transportation and Campus Services at Virginia Tech has been awarded funding for a bicycle pathways project called the "Hokie Bikeways." This funding is provided through TEA-21 Enhancement grants. The VT bike trail map (784 kb PDF) shows the locations of existing and proposed trails.

Through enhancement grant funding we have added bike lanes on West Campus Drive, connecting the Washington Street Shared Pathway to the Duck Pond Trail. In addition, the bike lanes continue on the east side of West Campus Drive up to Prices Fork Drive. Cyclists can now ride all the way on bike lanes, trails or shared pathways from the Hethwood community, through the Virginia Tech Campus onto the Huckleberry Trail and to the NRV Mall in Christiansburg.

Enhancement grant funding was used to construct the trail that starts at the Cranwell Center, goes behind Lane stadium, and connects to the Southgate Drive Huckleberry Trail Spur.

The next trail built with enhancement grant funds awarded to Virginia Tech will be a collaborative effort between Friends of the Huckleberry, Town of Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech. This leg of Hokie Bikeways will connect the Huckleberry Trail to the trails at Hethwood, which link to the Virginia Tech bike trail network.

So, tune up your bike, put on your helmet, and get ready to start enjoying the campus on a bike.

Bicycle Registration

Bicycle registration is free, easy and required. Bicycles not registered may be fined or impounded. New Bike policy Here.

Register your bike online with Parking Services. You will need the serial number from your bike in order to complete the registration form. The serial number is normally located on the bottom of the bike frame.

Bicycle registration aids in owner notification of abandoned/lost/found/stolen bicycles.

Campus Bicycling Rules

• Bicycling is allowed on all asphalt paved surfaces, as well as other designated routes.
• When operating on roadways, bicycles must observe all rules applicable to moving vehicles.
• Obey all traffic regulations, lights, stop signs, signals, etc.
• When operating on shared use pathways, bicyclists must yield to pedestrians.
• Virginia state law requires a rear reflector and a headlight when riding at night.
• Virginia state law prohibits the use of headphones or earphones when operating a bicycle.

Safety Advice

• Always wear a helmet.
• Watch for people exiting from vehicles.
• Yield to motor vehicles, even if you have the right of way.
• Remember that most accidents occur at intersections.
• Always signal to indicate a turn.
• Alert pedestrians when passing from behind.

Bicycle Parking

• Bicycles must be parked at bicycle racks, except when permission has been granted to keep a bicycle inside a campus building.
• Bicycles may be kept inside of residence hall rooms with the permission of the roommate. Bicycles may not be kept in other areas of residence halls.
• A department head may grant permission for a bicycle to be kept in an office.
• Bicycles may not be parked at any structure other than a bicycle parking rack.
• Do not leave your bicycle on the sidewalk, the lawn, next to a building, in a parking space designed for a motor vehicle, or chained to a tree, post, parking meter, light post, banister, or other available structure.
• Bicycles chained to handicap access areas will be impounded.

Theft Prevention

• When locking your bike always secure both the frame and the quick release wheel to the rack with your lock.
• Invest in a lock that will provide adequate security in relation to the cost of the bicycle. A $2 chain lock on a $1,000 bike is not a wise investment.

• All Bicycles on Virginia Tech Campus must be registered with Parking Services. A New Bicycle Registration Form is available for easy registration.

• Keep a record of the bicycle's serial number, make, model, and registration.

If your bicycle is stolen and recovered, or impounded, you must be able to provide the serial number, or Parking Services registration information as proof of ownership.

THE CLOSEST PARKING SPACE TO YOUR OFFICE, CLASS, OR DORM IS A BICYCLE RACK.

Questions? Comments?

Contact us at dfreed@vt.edu or 231-0248.