Press Releases
Richmond 2015 and DRIVE SMART Virginia Encourage Sharing the Road
Richmond, VA – May 29, 2015 – Richmond 2015 and DRIVE SMART Virginia have partnered to deliver an important safety message to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in the months before and during the 2015 UCI Road World Championships – Be Aware. Be Safe. Share the Road.
This fall, more than 1,000 elite cyclists from more than 70 countries will compete in Richmond from Sept. 19-27 in one of cycling’s pinnacle events. The race courses will span Henrico County, Hanover County and the City of Richmond.
“By partnering with DRIVE SMART Virginia, we will deliver this important message of awareness and safety in the months before the race and during the event, encouraging residents and guests alike to be vigilant while traveling the Commonwealth’s beautiful roads,” said Wilson Flohr, CEO of Richmond 2015, the nonprofit organization responsible for organizing, managing and promoting the 2015 UCI Road World Championships. “The global scale of this event represents an opportune time to communicate this vital safety message.”
DRIVE SMART Virginia created Virginia Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Month seven years ago in recognition of the increasing number of people cycling, running and walking on Virginia roadways. Over time, hundreds have signed on as partners, including businesses, schools, law enforcement agencies and cycling clubs.
“Our message is really about sharing the road – we all have the right to use Virginia roadways, and we encourage road users to be respectful,” said Janet Brooking, executive director of DRIVE SMART Virginia. “We’ll be using a variety of strategies to deliver our message, from social media to distributing free materials to public engagement, and we will encourage companies, schools and residents to sign on to help us spread the word.”
This initiative is funded by a grant from DMV: the Virginia Highway Safety Office.
“With the world’s eyes on Central Virginia this summer, we have an opportunity to show the world our collective commitment to bicycle safety,” stated Virginia DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “Helmet use, bright reflective clothing choices and a shared respect amongst all road users are values of the international cycling community. Those values should be the same for the recreational bike riding community. Let’s all get into the action and show the world how safe Virginia is and can be.”
The 2015 UCI Road World Championships will occur from Sept. 19-27 in Richmond, Va. Preparation for Virginia Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Month begins now. For more information on how to get involved in this safety campaign, please visit www.drivesmartva.org.
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About Richmond 2015, Inc.
Richmond 2015, Inc., is the independent nonprofit corporation responsible for the organization, management and promotion of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships. Partners of Richmond 2015 include Altria, Anthem, CarMax, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer, Davenport & Company, Dominion, Genworth, Hourigan Construction, Kings Dominion, Lansing Building Products, MARTIN’S Food Markets, MWV, McGuireWoods, Norfolk Southern, PIASCIK, The Community Foundation, TowneBank, VCU Medical Center and Williams Mullen.
In addition to its corporate partners, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of Richmond, Hanover County and Henrico County are all key partners of Richmond 2015. For more information about Richmond 2015 visit http://richmond2015.com/and connect on Twitter and Facebook.
About the 2015 UCI Road World Championships
The 2015 UCI Road World Championships, cycling’s pinnacle event, will be held Sept. 19-27, 2015 in Richmond, Va., and is expected to attract as many as 450,000 onsite spectators from the Richmond region and across the globe over the course of the nine-day event as well as a worldwide TV audience in the hundreds of millions. More than 1,000 cyclists – Elite Men and Women, Under-23 Men and Junior Men and Women – from more than 70 countries will compete in three disciplines: the traditional Road Race, Individual Time Trial and Team Time Trial. The event, which is being held in the United States for the first time since 1986, culminates with the traditional road races on Sept. 26 (women) and Sept. 27 (men).
About DRIVE SMART Virginia
DRIVE SMART Virginia is a nonprofit organization charged with raising awareness and changing driver behavior in order to improve the safety of the roadways of the Commonwealth. We have endeavored to improve the lives of all Virginians through our public information and education initiatives. Founded in 1995, the organization is led by a diverse board representing safety advocates, the insurance industry and law enforcement. Our mission is advanced by fostering community partnerships, creating educational campaigns, designing and distributing educational materials, making presentations, attending outreach events, and advocating for traffic safety initiatives. Learn more about DRIVE SMART Virginia by visiting www.www.drivesmartva.org.