Arlington County offers cyclists free lights to avoid tickets

Arlington County (Map, News) - Arlington County is offering to install free taillights and headlights for bikes so that cyclists are following Virginia law.

Cyclists who are caught riding in the dark without a light have to pay $72 to the state — a $15 fine, and a $57 processing fee.

With Eastern Daylight Time coming to an end this weekend, BikeArlington Program Manager Paul DeMaio said the risk of injury on a bike goes up.

“By giving the lights out, we hope to decrease injuries or fatalities when [cyclists] are coming home from work,” he said. “A large portion of crashes that occur do happen when it’s dark out. We’re trying to ensure cyclists are being seen my motorists.”

Lights are expected to be available on from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday on the Custis trail adjacent to Lee Highway between North Lynn Street and Fort Myer Drive.

DeMaio said about 45 accidents involving cyclists take place in Arlington each year.

He said he did not have an exact number of how many Arlington residents commute to work on a bicycle, but that it is well above the national average of 1 percent.

Arlington County has more than 36 miles of paved bicycle trails, as well as a number of unpaved trails. The county has long advocated for the use of bicycles to get around and formed BikeArlington to encourage bicycle riding.

dfrancis@dcexaminer.com