AoB Board Response to the Tragic Events of the Summer

To Our Members, Donors, and Supporters,

As the Board of Directors of Asheville on Bikes, we write with heavy hearts in the wake of the recent pedestrian and cyclist fatalities that have shaken our community. We grieve the lives lost and hold in our thoughts the families, friends, and neighbors mourning them.

The death of Jake Hill and Lennie Antonelli, the recent death anniversary of Alex Rosas, and the pedestrians Tyler Michael White and Claude Alie-Alexander McPherson Jr. killed on Patton Avenue will not be forgotten or in vain.

We also need to acknowledge the recent injuries and issues of harassment of cyclists in our community. The assault of the cyclist on Merrimon is senseless violence.

We stand with you in sorrow, in solidarity, and in shared determination.

Walking, biking, and other forms of active transportation should be expressions of connection, health, and belonging–not life-threatening risks. We recognize our community is missing the opportunity to enjoy safe and predictable connections to neighbors, necessities, attractions, and business districts because the issue of safe streets has been deprioritized. Each project delay is a missed opportunity for a better connected and resilient community.

Asheville continues to rank at the top of the list of the most dangerous cities for pedestrian and cyclist injuries and deaths. The Transportation page on the City of Asheville’s website states:

The City of Asheville was identified as one of the cities with higher rates of pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes in the document entitled “North Carolina Pedestrian Facts 2008-2012” that was published in 2014. (City of Asheville’s Transportation Department, 2025)

Given the recent incidents of violence, it’s likely this unfortunate distinction will continue through 2025. Without meaningful action, the pattern of harm and loss may persist.

We are grateful to local journalists at AVL Watchdog, WLOS, and The Asheville Citizen Times who have documented the human cost of unsafe street conditions with clarity and care. These stories break the hearts of our community, but they are not surprising given the historic reluctance of our political and business leaders to support continued investment in complete streets, greenways, and trails. While it’s necessary to document the lives lost and people injured, documentation won’t solve the issue. Political action however will. This is a solvable problem.

AoB’s board of directors cannot accept the existing conditions nor the entrenched reluctance to address longstanding issues of safety on our public rights of way as ethical. We cannot be passive when our neighbors, friends, and loved ones are at risk.

As a board, we commit to sustaining and intensifying advocacy for the timely implementation of state, regional, and city transportation plans, all of which speak directly to continued investment in active transportation and complete street facilities.

City of Asheville Plans & Policy

• GAP Plan, adopted in 2022
• Recreate Asheville, adopted in 2024
• Living Asheville: A Comprehensive Plan for Our Future, adopted in 2018 revised 2025
• Transit Master Plan, adopted 2018 currently being updated
• Asheville In Motion, adopted in 2016
• Asheville Complete Street Policy, adopted 2012
• Comprehensive Bike Plan, adopted in 2008
• Pedestrian Plan, adopted 2005

The plans and policy are in place, the blueprints for complete streets, greenways, and trails are codified, but our political leaders and transportation agencies at all levels are slow to implement the policy. City of Asheville leadership continually delays or misses opportunities to advance complete street investments due to small but influential pushback from community and business members who are reluctant to embrace the necessary change to establish safe transportation networks.

The Biltmore Ave resurfacing project and the College / Patton Ave Complete Street Project are two recent examples of missed opportunities to prioritize and elevate public safety in our city’s rights of way. Regarding the Biltmore Ave resurfacing, the City released the following statement:

Based on community and stakeholder input, the City has decided to take a phased approach to improving this section of Biltmore Avenue. In direct response to business concerns, the City will first work with the NCDOT to address immediate functional and operational issues related to loading and vehicle speeds…

Bike lanes will not be added at this time, rather the City will aim to enhance delivery access in the corridor by adding new loading zones and expanding existing ones. (City of Asheville announces Biltmore Avenue Striping Plan, 2022).

The implementation of loading zones was a higher priority than the inclusion of complete street facilities for the City of Asheville in regards to Biltmore Ave.

The College / Patton Complete Street project has been delayed twice. The recent delay was justified by the City as “an effort to support economic recovery and minimize disruption in the upcoming year” in the wake of Helene (Downtown Asheville College, Patton bike lanes delayed until 2026; Sidewalk work resumes).

The culture of delay must be overcome and there are current trends that suggest safer streets are gaining momentum.

Most recently, our community voted overwhelmingly for the GO Bonds that earmark $20 million for transportation improvements. While the public continues to support complete street investments, the City continues to resist complete streets unless intense advocacy is applied to City leaders and public resisters.

We acknowledge that change is, at times, complex. We are committed to approaching our advocacy and projects with an equity lens, especially in regard to Legacy neighborhoods where our fellow community members have made it clear that bike lines represent the threat of gentrification. We hear and empathize with those concerns. Where there are intersections of unsafe conditions and legacy neighborhoods, we will work directly with the neighborhood community to ideate possible solutions rather than push ahead on our own.

We believe that safe, dignified public space is a cornerstone of a thriving community. We’ve recently adopted the core value of “Create Safe Spaces.” This includes holding safe spaces for challenging conversations. We believe there are always solutions to be found when everyone comes together. Asheville on Bikes welcomes everyone and every voice to be part of creating safe spaces.

There are a variety of projects to create safe spaces that Asheville on Bikes has been active, which advance active mobility:

• Merrimon Ave resurfacing project that resulted in a variety of safety improvements.
• The planned Haywood Rd Resurfacing Project, which will implement a variety of complete street improvements recommended by AoB’s policy and advocacy committee in partnership with East West Asheville Neighborhood Association, West Asheville Business Association, and Strong Towns Asheville.
• The likely passing of AVL Unpaved which will double Asheville’s natural surface trails and provide access into Asheville’s forested areas via transit, sidewalks, bike facilities and public parking.
• The opportunity to collaborate with NCDOT, the City of Ashville, the I-26 Citizens’ Coalition to include robust active transportation facilities that will not only better connect our City but also serve as the backbone to the future Hellbender Regional Trail System.

AoB’s leadership is firm in our resolve to elevate safety and dignity in our public rights of way through a complete streets approach and we invite you to participate in our advocacy, accountability, investment, and follow-through. There is always something to do. Right now, you can:

• Email Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Leaders to share your support for continued investment in greenways, complete streets, and trails. Share that these facilities are central to our region’s Hurricane Helene recovery.
  • Email Asheville City Council: ashevillenccouncil@ashevillenc.gov
  • Use the Buncombe County Commissioner directory to find and contact your commissioner.
• Submit Public Comment to the Elevate 2050 Regional Active Transportation Plan – Public comment is open until July 27th.
• Take full advantage of AoB’s bike valet program and attend a public event by bike. If an event doesn’t include a bike valet, let the organizers know you’d appreciate bicycle parking.
• Share the joy of riding the City with people in your community. Invite people to Summer Cycle ‘25 hosted on Saturday, August 23rd. This community event is open to the public and includes three routes. The Cruiser route is perfect for newer or younger cyclists as it features protected bike facilities, greenway connections, and is mostly flat.
• Donate to Asheville on Bikes. Your financial support enables AoB to influence design, fund projects and education programs like Smart Cycling and our youth cycling program, Bike Club.

We are proud of our community. We are proud to serve it. We know there is a better future for our community; it’s a matter of effective commitment over time – project by project and mile by mile, year after year. We believe in a community where everyone can move safely and with dignity.

With deep gratitude,

The Board of Directors, Asheville on Bikes

Brian Randall, Board President
Kent Cranford, Board Treasurer
Jen Thompson, Board Secretary
Jesse Dingle, Board Member
Ben Hanna, Board Member
Sophie Mullinax, Board Member
Laura Richardson, Board Member
Emily Richter, Board Member