Home Charlottesville Safe Streets Pilot Initiative to resume on Belmont Bridge
Local News

Charlottesville Safe Streets Pilot Initiative to resume on Belmont Bridge

Contributors
safe streets pilot project
Photo courtesy City of Charlottesville.

Charlottesville will continue its pilot project utilizing the existing bicycle lane on the Belmont Bridge as a shared space for both bicycles and pedestrians to facilitate improved physical distancing.

The pilot will restart on Tuesday, with the placement of traffic barrels to keep vehicles off the shared use area on the Belmont Bridge. The safety measures will be in place until the COVID-19 emergency is lifted, or until the construction of the replacement bridge commences.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many communities are taking advantage of the reduced traffic volumes in order to reallocate the roadways to give citizens more space to walk, bike and exercise while still maintaining recommended physical distancing guidelines.

The Belmont Bridge has a sidewalk only on one side of the road. People walking on the bridge are not able to pass each other safely without stepping off a high curb into the roadway. Due to the vertical curve of the bridge, it is difficult to see oncoming traffic. People walking on the bridge will be able to use this additional space for walking and those biking will have additional separation from vehicle traffic.

Implementation details

  • Southbound bicycles are only permitted on the asphalt section of the path.
  • Northbound bicycles shall use the northbound vehicular travel lane.
  • The additional space in the roadway is being provided so pedestrians can safely pass with 6 feet of distance, bicycles shall yield to pedestrians on the path.
  • When passing others, please pass on the left and give an audible signal.
  • The ADA accessible route will be maintained along the existing sidewalk.

Feedback on the pilot can be submitted to [email protected].

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

tony bennett
Basketball, Sports

Bad news, UVA Basketball fans: No, Tony Bennett isn’t coming back

wally walker uva basketball
Basketball, Sports

UVA Basketball: ‘Hoos, on Tony Bennett Day, dispatch Georgia Tech, 75-61

With UVA Basketball royalty – De'Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome, among other NBA alums – in the house for Tony Bennett Day, Virginia raced past Georgia Tech to a 75-63 win on Saturday night in front of a sellout home crowd.

newspapers
Virginia News

Lee Enterprises faces ‘cybersecurity’ attack affecting news operations

The parent company of a print and digital news conglomerate has revealed that a “cybersecurity” event is the cause of paused newspaper and digital publications in 24 states, including Virginia.

coffee in hand in car
Local News

Coffee wars? Micah’s buys land in Waynesboro, 200 feet from Kline’s planned espresso bar

elon musk donald trump
Politics, U.S. & World News

Democratic AGs win injunction blocking Trump/Musk raid of federal Treasury

economy
Local News

Shenandoah County: Plastics manufacturer investing $25.7 million, bringing 45 new jobs

drug trafficking arrest
Virginia News

Charlotte man gets 25 years after fentanyl discovered in Jeep in I-95 crash