The Fairfax County Bicycle Master Plan and ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan guide bike lane construction; Va. Code Title 46.2 sets statewide rider rules including the three-foot passing law.
Adopted in 2014 and updated through ActiveFairfax (2023), the Bicycle Master Plan identifies a 1,500-mile network of on-street lanes, buffered lanes, and shared-use paths. VDOT owns most county roads, so lane installation is coordinated through the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) under VDOT's Smart Scale and revenue-sharing programs. State law requires motorists to pass cyclists by at least three feet, prohibits dooring, and allows cyclists to ride two abreast. Motorized e-scooters and Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are permitted in bike lanes.
Motorists violating the three-foot passing rule face fines up to $250 under Va. Code 46.2-839; obstructing a bike lane is a $50 to $100 traffic infraction.
See how Herndon's bike lane rules rules stack up against other locations.
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