French Broad River MPO

Why Plan for Walking and Bicycling?

Walking and cycling are important for mobility, access, sustainability, economic development and public health.  Providing good sidewalks, crosswalks and bicycle facilities ensures that citizens of all ages, incomes and physical ability levels can participate in the life of the community. Providing safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities can decrease congestion, improve air quality, decrease a community’s auto-dependence and increase the amount of money circulating in the local economy.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Studies and Links of Interest

February 28, 2012 is the first meeting of the Executive Committee for the Blue Ridge Bicycle Plan.  See more information about the Regional Bike Plan Study. Email mpo@landofsky.org to be added to the mailing list and fill out our survey.

City of Hendersonville  Ecusta Rail to Trail Planning Study is finishing up, come to the final presentation on March 28th, 2012 at 6 PM, at West Henderson High School. For more information, visit City of Hendersonville page.    (this study funded by the FBRMPO)

Buncombe County Greenways Master Plan is ongoing and will hold another series of public meetings in Spring 2012. See further info here.

Haywood County Bike Plan was adopted by the County Commissioners on November 7, 2011. FBRMPO helped fund the study. Read more here and on BicycleHaywoodNC site.

Chattanooga has launched a 300-bike Bicycle Share program in late 2011, complete with solar-powered locking bicycle racks and self-pay kiosks.  Read further. 

NCDOT Continues work on Complete Streets Guidelines (see presentation here), to expand and complement the NCDOT Complete Streets Policy.

Clyde Received a Bike Ped Planning Grant from NCDOT (June 2011). See more info here.

Black Mountain Town Square Study Now Finished.  Read details at http://blackmountaintownsquare.com/ (this study funded by the FBRMPO)

Madison County Adding New Mountain Bike Trails.  Read more here.

Wima Dykeman Riverway: check out the news from RiverLink here.

FHWA granted Interim Approval of green colored bicycle lanes (not mandatory) on April 15, 2011. See memo.   Examples of colored bike lanes available in NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide.

Land-of-Sky Greenways Plan (2008) and initiative:  see more here and check out the map.

Bicycle Commuter's Guide published by the City of Asheville  and the Asheville Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force:  see here.



Local Groups and How to Get Involved

Asheville Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force is a citizens advisory committee to the city of Asheville; for meeting times and useful links see here.

Asheville on Bikes is a group that "cultivates the culture of commuting and urban cycling within our city through celebration and advocacy." See the website here.

Live in West Asheville?  Get involved in Haywood Road Corridor Committee visioning work here.

BicycleHaywoodNC is a cycling education, safety and advocacy group for Haywood County and the four municipalities within Haywood.  Website.

Friends of Ecusta Trail:  a nonprofit organization organized in support of  the Ecusta Trail, a planned rail-to-trail project connecting Hendersonville and Brevard, as well as other multi-use paths in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. Website.

Walk Wise, Drive Smart:  a community-based pedestrian safety program in Hendersonville, NC.  http://www.walk-wise.org/

French Broad River MPO Complete Streets Subcommittee:  Complete Streets Subcommittee makes recommendations to TCC and TAC on matters related to regional Complete Streets policies and other bicycle and pedestrian issues. Contact lyuba@landofsky.org to be added to the mailing list.