University of Virginia Library

Action Line

O: There are so many more
bicyclists this year, and they are
not obeying safety laws—running
red lights, no hand signals, crossing
double lines. Please publish
regulations in the Cavalier Daily
and the Daily Progress. H.B.C.

A: Va. Code 46.1-171 states
"Persons riding bicycles...subject to
traffic regulations.—Every person
riding a bicycle...upon a
roadway...shall be subject to the
provisions of this chapter (Motor
Vehicles) applicable to the driver of
a vehicle, unless the context of the
provision clearly indicated
otherwise."

Va. Code 46.1-229. "Riding or
driving on sidewalks.—If any person
ride or drive any vehicle, including
bicycles..., on the sidewalks of any
city or town of this State, he shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor and
upon a conviction shall be fined not
less than five dollars nor more than
twenty-five dollars..."

Va. Code 46.1-263. "Lamps on
bicycles.—Every bicycle when in
use between sunset and sunrise shall
be equipped with a lamp on the
front which shall emit a white light
visible in clear weather from a
distance of at least 500 feet to 300
feet to the rear when directly in
front of lawful upper beams of
head lamps on a motor vehicle. A
lamp emitting a red light visible in
clear weather from a distance of
500 feet may be used in lieu of or
in addition to the red reflector."

City Code 6-1. "Registration
required. It shall be unlawful for
any person to operate or use a
bicycle propelled wholly or in part
by muscular power upon any of the
streets or public highways of the
city without first obtaining a
certificate of registration from the
chief of police of the city and
attaching to such bicycle a metallic
registration number."

City Code -3. "Transfer of
ownership. It shall be unlawful for
any person to sell or transfer
ownership of any bicycle without
reporting it to the chief of police
within 48 hours from the time
thereof full, complete information
relative to such a transfer, so that
such bicycle may be registered in
the name of the transferee. The
purchaser or transferee of such
bicycle shall apply for a transfer of
registration therefor within 5 days
from the time the same is acquired
by him."

City Code 6-7. "Penalties.
Every person convicted of a
violation of this chapter shall, upon
conviction thereof, be punished as
provided in section 1-5, (1-5 calls
for a fine not exceeding $1,000 or
up to 12 months in jail!) In lieu of
a fine, or in case such fine is not
paid, or in addition to such fine,
the court may require that any
bicycle operated by the owner or
other person lawfully in control
thereof, in violation of the
provisions of this chapter, be
removed from the streets of the
city and that the person operating
the same in violation of this chapter
not be permitted to operate such
bicycle on the streets of this city.

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