Example letter to kick off the VA legislative session

[Eliot Forster-Benson]

Hi BAC,

The Virginia Legislative session kicks off this Wednesday, so I am writing to my representatives about 3 bike issues that are important to me.  Below is an example letter that I mailed off to my representatives.  Feel free to directly copy paste or reword it as you see fit.  

Dear DELEGATE OR SENATOR NAME,

I am writing to urge you to support a comprehensive "Bicycling Super Bill" for Virginia. While cycling ridership is increasing across the Commonwealth, our traffic laws have not kept pace with the data regarding cyclist safety.

I am requesting that you introduce or co-sponsor legislation that codifies three specific, evidence-based practices: the "Safety Stop" (Idaho Stop), the use of Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) for cyclists, and the right to ride two abreast. These are not merely matters of convenience; they are proven safety countermeasures backed by data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and state departments of transportation.

1. The "Safety Stop" (Stop-as-Yield): Virginia should allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs when the intersection is clear.  When Idaho introduced this law, bicycle injuries dropped by 14.5% the following year. More recently, when Delaware adopted a similar law (the "Delaware Yield") in 2017, traffic crashes involving bicyclists at stop-sign intersections fell by 23% in the 30 months following passage.  The NHTSA released a fact sheet in March 2023 explicitly stating that "stop-as-yield" laws are associated with reduced crash rates and do not result in more conflicts with pedestrians. By allowing cyclists to clear intersections quickly rather than wobbling from a dead stop, we reduce their exposure to cross-traffic.  https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2023-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet_032123_v5_tag.pdf 

2. Cyclist Use of Leading Pedestrian Intervals: Legislation should explicitly permit cyclists to begin crossing on the pedestrian "Walk" signal (Leading Pedestrian Interval or LPI), rather than waiting for the green traffic light.  A pilot study conducted by the New York City Department of Transportation found that allowing cyclists to use LPIs resulted in zero observed conflicts or near-misses with pedestrians.  The LPI gives vulnerable road users a 3-7 second "head start." This physical separation places cyclists in the driver's field of view before the driver attempts a turn. This is critical for preventing the "right hook"—one of the most common and deadly types of car-bike collisions—where a turning vehicle strikes a cyclist going straight.  https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bike-lpi-study-memo.pdf 

3. Riding Two Abreast: Virginia code should clearly protect the right of cyclists to ride two abreast. Riding two abreast improves safety by increasing the visual footprint of cyclists, making them detectable from a greater distance. Furthermore, it encourages drivers to perform a safe, full lane change to pass rather than attempting to squeeze past cyclists within the same lane—a maneuver that often results in sideswipe accidents. Current "single file" expectations often invite drivers to pass with insufficient clearance. Two-abreast riding shortens the passing distance required for a vehicle (as the line of bikes is half as long) and forces safe passing behavior, aligning with Virginia’s "3-Foot Passing" law.

I ask that you look at the data from states like Idaho, Delaware, and New York, which proves that these policies save lives without costing taxpayers money. I hope I can count on your support to bring these common-sense updates to Virginia code.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

To find your exact legislator:  https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

Emails of your Senators:

If you are in the north of the County: Barbara Favola: senato...@senate.virginia.gov

If you are in the south of the County: Adam Ebbin: senato...@senate.virginia.gov

Emails of your Delegates:

If you are in the north of the County: Patrick Hope: DelP...@house.virginia.gov

If you are in the southwest of the County: Alfonso Lopez: DelA...@house.virginia.gov

If you are in the southeast of the County: Adele McClure:  DelAM...@house.virginia.gov

All the best,

Eliot FB

 

[Allen Muchnick]

Thank you, Eliot.  The Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF) has been teeing up these three proposed statutory changes for the 2026 legislative session over the past several months, and Delegate Rodney Willett (D, HD-58, Henrico) has filed HB661 today.  HB661 will be the only bill for the 2026 session with these three provisions (and it would not allow bike riders to treat red lights as stop signs).

At this time, Delegate McClure is the only Arlington legislator assigned to one of the two Transportation Committees that will hear testimony, discuss, and vote on HB661 before it can head to the House or Senate floor (but the committee assignments will change somewhat when the legislature convenes tomorrow). 

It's now most timely to ask your delegate and senator to sign onto HB661 as a co-patron.  Call their offices too to show that you're serious.

Also, WABA and VBF are partnering on this online petition, where Virginians can register their support for these changes: https://waba.quorum.us/campaign/151846/ .  Please add your name and contact info to the petition form and indicate whether or not you wish to be sent follow-up action alerts for HB661.

Best regards,

Allen

Allen Muchnick, VBF Board Member
Manassas VA
allen22204@gmail.com
703-625-2453 mobile

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