The non-cyclist’s guide to getting around Richmond on a bike
Joining a group ride is a great way to meet fellow cyclists and get comfortable on River City roads. | Gif by RICtoday
It’s no secret that Richmond is a haven for mountain bikers, city speedsters, and casual bike riders alike. But for less experienced bicyclists, ditching your Subaru for a Schwinn can be intimidating.
While the city is making an effort to improve protected bike infrastructure around Richmond, experts agree that bike accessibility has a lot of room to improve. In fact, a recent breakdown of Virginia’s best communities for biking, the River City only ranked No. 31 in the state.
As infrastructure continues to catch up, we collected tips from our readers on the best way to get around the city safely.
Map a course beforehand
If you’re new to two-wheel commuting, the best thing you can do is plan ahead before hitting the road. Consult a map to learn more about your area’s bike infrastructure, and — if possible — walk or drive the route first to get a sense of the road.
Online map services can be helpful, but as one reader put it, “you can’t always trust Google Maps to give you the safest biking directions.”
Find your favorite lanes
Bike infrastructure around the city varies from protected bike lanes like those along stretches of East Franklin Street to designated Bike/Walk streets like Floyd Avenue. Everyone has their own comfort level and, once you start riding regularly, you’ll find your favorite routes.
One of our readers gave this tip on navigating the Southside:
“To get downtown, Westover Hills is a pretty neighborhood to ride through. On the return trip, ride through Woodland Heights (another beautiful neighborhood). Makes for a nice ride.”
Join a group
One way to get more comfortable biking around the city is to start with a group — as a reader put it, there’s “safety in numbers.”
Farmacy RVA Farmers Market | Tuesday, July 30-Wednesday, July 31 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, 5801 Bremo Rd., Richmond | Free entry | Shop local veggies and learn about the health benefits of Virginia’s bee pollen and honey from Farmer Greg.
Trivia in the Park | Tuesday, July 30 | 7-8 p.m. | Brambly Park, 1708 Belleville St., Richmond | Cost of purchase | Bring your crew and compete for prizes at this trivia throwdown.
Wednesday, July 31
Eviction Help: Eviction Defense Center | Wednesday, July 31 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | RPL Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St., Richmond | Free | Get guidance from the Richmond Public Library and learn how to use the Virginia Poverty Law Center’s new online Eviction Defense Center.
Record Night | Wednesday, July 31 | 6-9 p.m. | Reservoir Distillery, 1800A Summit Ave., Richmond | Cost of purchase | Bring a record to spin and enjoy $2 off your drink at this night for vinyl lovers.
Thursday, Aug. 1
The Oasis: A High Noon Summer Concert Series | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 12-1 p.m. | The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond | Free | Relax in the historic green space and enjoy some live music with the Funk Masters.
Friday, Aug. 2
804 Day: Richmond’s Biggest Block Party | Friday, Aug. 2 | 4-9 p.m. | 17th Street Market, 100 N. 17th St., Richmond | Free entry | Celebrate all things local with 15+ music performances across three stages, headlined by Nickelus F.
Saturday, Aug. 3
Pitch’n A Fit and South Hill Banks | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 7 p.m. | Dogwood Dell, 600 S. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free | Enjoy an evening of bluegrass as part of the city’s Festival of Arts.
🍺 A festival to celebrate Virginia Craft Beer Month
Guests must be 21+ to attend the sixth annual Virginia Brews craft beer festival, formerly known as BrewHaHa. | Photo provided by Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Local label Shockoe Records is rolling out a Richmond-only streaming service on Friday. The Sound of Richmond is a subscription-based platform featuring only artists with ties to the River City. The label plans to market it to small businesses that want their playlists to feature hometown talent. (Richmond BizSense)
Community
The Valentine has put out a call for stories from members of Richmond’s Asian American community. Selected participants will be featured in a 2025 exhibit in partnership with the Asian American Society of Central Virginia and the 1882 Foundation. Submit your story online.
Health
Did you see the commotion around VCU last Thursday? Don’t worry, that was just drill. The city conducted a full-scale hazmat spill training exercise on the Monroe Park campus featuring over 150 participants and 17 volunteer “victims.” (VCU News)
Arts
Art Works is accepting submissions to “Color Theory — the Richmond Queer Art Experience.” The all-media exhibition will celebrate Richmond’s LGBTQ+ community through visual art. Submit pieces online before 12 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12.
Pets
The people have spoken — Bunky Kelley, a 13-year-old Chihuahua mix, has been elected as the Official Dog of 804 Day. Style Weekly describes Bunky as “a half-blind rescue dog with a job, a three-doctor medical team, and acting credits that include two Super Bowl commercials.” (Style Weekly)
Read
Eugene Maurakis, former chief scientist at the Science Museum of Virginia, has published a cookbook. “Foods are Memories” delves into Maurakis’ Greek lineage and features some of his family’s recipes, as well as his own artwork. (VPM)
Fun Fact
Dissection and plastination of an entire human body takes about 1,500 hours to complete. See the results during “BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness,” an exhibit featuring full-body specimens that illustrate the connection between happiness + health at the Science Museum of Virginia. Plan your visit.*
Shop
Ditch the men’s dress pants — the Dealmaker Pant is the ultimate pant for work or play, with an impeccable fit and feel. Save 15% with code READ15.*
Real Estate
🏡 Local history is still for sale
Local history is still for sale on West Main Street
The Ellen Glasgow house has stood on West Main Street since 1841. | Photo by RICtoday
If you want to own — or just ogle at — a piece of local history, the Ellen Glasgow House is on the market for just shy of $1.4 million. The Greek Revival style mansion was built in 1841 and was home to Pulitzer-winning author Ellen Glasgow for almost 60 years.
The house at 1 W. Main St. has been on the market for several years now. The ~11,500-sqft mansion, which has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1972, last sold for $3.5 million in 2020.
The elaborately-designed home features 14-foot ceilings, Doric columns, and a carriage house around back.
Ellen Glasgow was a Richmond native and acclaimed novelist best known for her 1941 book “In This Our Life.” Glasgow moved into the mansion on West Main at 13 and lived there until her death in 1945.
The Buy
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These quick drying women’s water shoes — they’re perfect to slip on during any aquatic adventure, from summer beach trips to waterfall hiking.
My life changed completely when I found out how bike-friendly Floyd Avenue is. Especially in the fall, I think a cruise down Floyd is by far the prettiest way to get across the city.
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