CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Bicyclists across the state will soon experience safer roads to travel on, as part of National Bike Month.
West Virginia Connecting Communities launched the “Give em’ 3 Feet” campaign Monday afternoon at a press conference in Charleston. The campaign is centered around the passing of the Bicycle Safety Law (HB 4304) last year that requires motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of passing distance while on the road.
The bill was signed into law in June 2014. Since then, WVCC has been working to inform drivers with how to go about approaching and passing bicyclists on the road, as well as other safety issues.
Dennis Strawn, president of WVCC, said they’re going to continue to spread awareness. He said he knows several people who don’t want to ride their bikes due to the fear of getting hit by a car.
“It’s not normal for them, but it could be if we just devote a little bit of attention to it,” Strawn said, “We just want to get the word out there that it’s normal to get on your bike and ride.”
Nate Orders lives in Charleston and rides his bike on state Route 60 twice a week to his job in Saint Albans. He said he’s been hit by a car three times.
“It’s a little bit scary being on a bike out on the roads with these giant metal cars zipping past you,” said Orders.
Orders said he’s excited about the campaign because it promotes awareness for both cyclists and drivers. He said it will have a great impact on his life and hopefully others.
“Most people think I ride to work to stay in shape and that’s a happy side effect, but that’s not why I do it,” he said, ” It’s so much fun to get out on a bike and feel like I’ve accomplished something when I get to the office at 7 o’clock and I’ve already ridden 13 miles.”
Throughout the month of May, WVCC will be involved with many activities encouraging more people to get out on their bikes. The next event, Bike to Work Day, will be May 15 at 7 a.m. at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, as an initiative to promote bicycling as a reliable way to commute to work. Cities nationwide will also be participating in this event as well as other National Bike Month activities.