The 2026 Virginia General Assembly session is underway, and the Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF) has reported that Delegate Willett’s HB661, the Omnibus Bicyclist Safety Bill, is moving forward. The bill has been referred to the House Transportation Committee, and although it hasn’t yet been assigned to a subcommittee, hearings can happen with less than 24 hours’ notice—so now is the time to act!
This important legislation combines multiple proven safety measures that will make biking safer and more accessible across the Commonwealth. If passed, HB661 would advance long-overdue changes like:
- Safety Yield: Allows bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs when safe to proceed (already law in 11 states and DC).
- Proceed on Walk Signal: Enables bicyclists to move with the pedestrian walk signal, reducing dangerous intersection conflicts.
- Two Abreast Riding Reform: Clarifies that parents can legally ride alongside children and improves safety guidance for low-speed roads.
What You Can Do Right Now
If your Delegate is on the House Transportation Committee, please reach out as soon as possible and ask them to support HB661.
Send an Email
Here are links to the House Transportation committee member pages for delegates from our area with their contact information: Delaney (Chair) District 9 (Fairfax Co); Reid (Vice Chair) District 28 (Loudon); Watts, District 14 (Fairfax Co); McClure, District 2 (Arlington Co); and Bennett-Parker, District 5 (Alexandria).
Draft your own message or personalize the sample one below. Be sure to thank your Delegate if they previously supported similar legislation (e.g., 2024 HB1077, HB657), express your support for HB661, and urge them to vote in favor of it and to consider co-patroning the bill
When emailing, please also cc VBF officials to let them know who has been contacted by a constituent:
- John Hamilton: [email protected]
- Brantley Tyndall: [email protected]
- Jim Durham: [email protected]
If you can, please follow up with a call to your Delegate’s Richmond office. Thank them for their service, summarize your support for HB661, and refer them to your email for more details.
Not Sure Who Represents You?
Fairfax County’s My Neighborhood app can help you to find your Delegate (and Supervisor District, School Board Member, and federal representative).
Why This Matters
Fairfax riders know that safer intersections, clearer rules, and better biking laws are not just about convenience—they’re about protecting lives and making biking a normal, family-friendly option for everyday trips. Legislators need to hear from riders like you. Let them know that Fairfax County supports safer streets and smarter laws for people who bike.
Email your Delegate today and help move HB661 forward!
Sample Email
Subject: Please Support HB661 for Safer Biking in Our Communities
Dear Delegate [Name],
As a local resident and someone who bikes in Northern Virginia, I’m writing to ask you to support Delegate Willett’s HB661, the Omnibus Bicyclist Safety Bill. This bill would make our roads safer and more welcoming for people like me who ride bikes for commuting, errands, exercise, and just getting around.
I strongly support the bill’s three common-sense updates to Virginia law that are already in place in other states and that would help prevent crashes and make it easier for adults and kids alike to ride safely:
- Safety Yield: Allows people on bikes to treat stop signs as yield signs when it’s safe to do so—already the law in 11 states and D.C., and proven to reduce crashes.
- Proceed on Walk Signal: Lets cyclists move through intersections when the pedestrian WALK sign is on, helping us get out ahead of traffic.
- Ride Side-by-Side: Lets parents or experienced riders safely ride next to children or newer riders on neighborhood streets.
Many of us are doing our part to ride more and drive less—but we need the law to catch up with how people actually move through our neighborhoods. I hope you’ll support this bill and, if possible, consider signing on as a co-patron.
Thank you for your service and your past support for safer streets.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Home Address or Zip Code] (to confirm you’re a constituent)
