By Robert B. Case, PE, PhD
Hampton Roads residents are likely familiar with the boardwalk at Virginia Beach, but do you know there’s a bike path parallel to the boardwalk?
As shown below, for the comfort of each user, Virginia Beach provides two options along the ocean: a 24’ concrete boardwalk for pedestrians, joggers, and rollerbladers; and a 10’ asphalt path for cyclists. Both options—separated from each other by a landscaped strip—run 39 blocks from Rudee Inlet to 40th Street, a distance of 2.7 miles.
Bike Path and Boardwalk at Va. Beach
Source: VirginiaBeach.gov
Bike Path and Boardwalk at Va. Beach
Source: Microsoft Bing
According to the Virginia Beach Visitors Guide (https://virginiabeach.guide):
- The boardwalk was first built in 1888, made of wooden planks
- In 1926 a concrete boardwalk was opened
- A new seawall and boardwalk was built in the 1990s.
Bike Path at Oceanfront
Source: VBgov.com
The boardwalk and parallel bike path run along the entire commercial strip of Virginia Beach.
As shown below, municipal parking and bike rentals are available at several locations. (Note that many of these rental businesses are seasonal.)
Municipal Parking and Bike Rentals near Boardwalk and Bike Path
Source: Google My Maps programmed by HRTPO staff
According to VirginiaBeach.gov website, city-controlled parking is free under select circumstances, listed below:
- Free Parking - Allowed on streets in neighborhoods surrounding the Resort Area from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free parking is also available at some on-street locations that don’t have meters and that aren’t covered by Residential Parking Permits.
- Handicap Parking - Free for the first four hours in all metered street spaces.
- Off-season Metered Parking - Free at on-street spaces from Nov. 1 to March 31.
- Off-season Surface Lot Parking - Free at all municipal parking lots from Nov. 1 to March 31.
Couple sitting on the beach
Source: HRTPO staff
See you at the beach!