Bicycle Safety
- Dan Rose
- Oct 13, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 15, 2025
This is a reminder about Bicycle safety and making sure everyone wears a helmet when riding. We share the roads with cars, walkers and pets. Let's make sure we are all safe.
Bike Safety, Laws and Codes
Bicyclists and motorists basically have the same rights, responsibilities and duties, and the laws governing traffic regulation apply equally to both.
Bicycle Helmets
Many jurisdictions in Northern Virginia require the use of bicycle helmets. Fairfax County is one of them. Fairfax County Code Section 82-6-38.1 defines the use of a protective helmet while operating a Bicycle: Any person under the age of fifteen years of age shall wear a protective helmet that meets the standards promulgated by the American National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation while riding or being carried on a bicycle on any highway, sidewalk, or public bicycle path.
Equipment
Virginia code requires that every bicycle ridden between sunset and sunrise must have at least one white headlamp visible for at least 500 feet.
The bicycle must have a red reflector mounted on the rear visible for at least 600 feet.
Additionally, on roads with a posted speed of 35 mph or higher, the bicycle must be equipped with at least one red taillight visible for at least 500 feet. Taillights may be steady or flashing, are allowed under all conditions and may be attached to either the cycle or rider.
For more detailed information regarding laws for bicycling, rights and duties, and riding/safety tips, visit the Virginia Department of Transportation’s bicycle site: www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/bk-laws.asp
Ebikes
Virginia sets clear age and safety guidelines based on the ebike class:
Class 1 and 2: No minimum age requirement. Helmets are encouraged but not legally required.
Class 3: Riders must be at least 14 years old, and anyone under 15 must wear a helmet while operating or riding as a passenger.
Even though helmet use isn’t mandatory for adults, it’s strongly recommended, especially when traveling at higher speeds or riding in traffic-dense areas. Head injuries remain one of the leading causes of serious bike-related accidents, and ebikes—especially Class 3—can reach speeds where helmets make a significant difference.
Parents should also consider enforcing helmet use for younger riders regardless of class, particularly in high-traffic or off-road environments.
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