An award-winning, 'Bicycle Friendly Community,' Virginia Beach has over 300 miles of bikeways and trails, including trails in over 230 parks and natural areas, 27 miles of unpaved paths in two state parks, and a federal wildlife refuge.
Steve Lambert - Active Transportation Senior Planner
Virginia Relay TTY
“Active transportation” is a means of getting around that is powered by human energy, primarily walking and bicycling. Often called “non-motorized transportation,” Parks & Recreation has adopted the term “active transportation” since it is a more positive statement that expresses the key connection between healthy, active living and our transportation choices.
Learn MoreVB ParkFinder allows you to search for parks and facilities by name, proximity, and specific features like playgrounds, ball fields, kayak launches, and more. At home or on the go, you can find the nearest park, get driving directions, view hours, and see available amenities.
Virginia Beach has several beautiful paved and soft trails for you and your entire family to enjoy and explore. Our city park system provides a refuge from everyday stress where you can get out and experience fresh air and sunshine.
As part of our Active Transportation Network, the City of Virginia Beach has over 169 miles of paved bike and pedestrian transportation routes that are classified within the Active Transportation Plan as follows:
Take these self-guided tours for a dose of local culture, history, and even a few stops at our popular breweries. View all Virginia Beach Cycling & Bike Trails.
Federal and State laws say that bicycles are vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. Bikes may be ridden on roadways except where prohibited, such as I-264 and other highways. If you ride on roads, exercise defensive driving skills and common courtesy.
City ordinance allows bicycles to be ridden on any City sidewalk, except at Town Center and at the Oceanfront Resort Area.
The Virginia Bicycle Safety Act became effective July 1, 2021 (paraphrased below):
Riding safely makes biking better for everybody – even people who aren’t riding.
The Bikeways and Trails Advisory Committee was established by City Council in October 2004. It was renamed the Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) in June 2022. The mission of this committee is to:
If you’re a high school student interested in planning improvements for walking, biking, running, and rolling in Virginia Beach, then consider applying for two newly-created positions on the City's Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC). Formerly the Bikeways & Trails Committee, ATAC meets at 3:30 p.m. on the second Monday of most months and advises City Council.
File a Student Talent Bank application with the City Clerk's Office to be considered.
