On Thursday, July 18th, Alex Rozos, age 26, tragically lost his life while riding his bicycle due to a hit and run on Swannanoa River Road. The incident occurred in the early afternoon, drawing immediate attention from both local authorities and the community. The Asheville Police Department apprehended the suspect motorist, who is now in custody and facing charges. 

For more details, you can read the full report on WLOS.

According to Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville Police Department spokesperson Rick Rice stated: 

After further investigation by officers, the vehicle and driver were located later that afternoon. Upon completion of the APD’s investigation and consultation with the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, the driver, Mauricio Roberto Melgar Delgado, 47, has been charged with felony hit and run causing serious injury/death.

In response to this tragic incident, Mike Sule, AoB’s executive director, issued the following statement on July 19th: 

“Alex Rozos was 26 and he was killed yesterday (7/18/24) on Swannanoa River Rd by a motorist who hit him with his truck and then failed to stop.

The motorist failed him as did our transportation system, its agencies, and our political leadership as this road is dangerous by design, plans exist to improve it, but the project is continually delayed.

Right now is the time to grieve the loss of Alex and support his family and friends as best we can.

Soon AoB will follow up with you on how best to honor Alex and advocate for continued investment in safe, dignified public rights of way so all people reach their destinations safely.

Together we roll forward.

Mike Sule

Sule is in communication with Alex’s family and will keep the AoB community updated as appropriate.

At Asheville on Bikes, we are committed to advocating for bike safety and creating safer streets for everyone. We work tirelessly to push for infrastructure improvements, community awareness, and policy changes that prioritize the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Your support is crucial in these efforts as we continue to strive for a city where everyone can travel safely.

Please share this information within your networks and continue to support our advocacy for safer streets.

The post Tragic Loss of Cyclist Alex Rozos: A Plea for Safer Streets appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Your response to this survey sends a clear message to City leadership that you value and support continued investment in streets that prioritize the safe and predictable movement of people in a variety of ways.

Survey Guidance

To help you provide useful input, AoB has created a survey guidance document to maximize support for the project. Please take the survey and share our guidance throughout your circles. Together, we can advance complete streets in Asheville. 

Questions 1 – 3

Answer these questions based on your experience in the corridor 

Question 4

Choose “I am interested but concerned.” This option acknowledges the potential for people to choose biking when safe and predictable facilities are installed. Consider how the Wilma Dykeman Greenway has made biking and walking in the River Arts District more popular. “Interested but concerned” is the “build it and they will come” option.

Question 5

Rank following option as the most important to you regarding the College/Patton corridor: 

1. Bicycle accommodations 
2. Pedestrian accommodations
3. Traffic calming to curb vehicular speeds

Question 6

Include “I visit shops, businesses, entertainment venues and/or dining establishments on or near this section of College St and/or Patton Ave,” in one of your three options. This is important because it shows that people on bikes want to connect with everything downtown Asheville has to offer. We’re not just riding through our City, we’re riding into it. 

Question 7

Include “Lack of dedicated bicycle facilities,” and “Hard to safely cross the street as a pedestrian,” in your selection because this project serves the needs of our pedestrians, too. It provides buffered bike lanes, improves pedestrian sight lines at crosswalks, and calms traffic.

Question 8

In this prompt for an explanation of your responses let the City of Asheville know that you appreciate ongoing investment in active transportation and complete streets.

Don’t leave it blank. Use the prompt as an opportunity to support multi-modal investments. A few ideas include: 

• I applaud the City of Asheville’s commitment to advancing safe and predictable conditions for all road users on our public rights of way. 
• My family and I use an e-cargo bike, this project welcomes us downtown and enables us to leave the car at home.
• Asheville’s Comprehensive and Close the GAP plans both outline the need to invest in multi-modal infrastructure. The College/Patton project is another step toward establishing a robust active transportation network. 

Questions 9 – 15

Answer these questions as they relate to you. 

Thank you for taking the survey and supporting this project. Please share our survey guidance within and throughout your circles.    

Take the survey →

Want to learn more?

Read AoB executive director’s open letter to the City of Asheville’s Downtown Commission in Support of the College Patton Project in our past blog. You can learn about the reasons we support this project and studies that show the economic impact of projects similar to College/Patton:

• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01441647.2021.1912849
• https://www.peopleforbikes.org/statistics/economic
• https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-08/for-store-owners-bike-lanes-boost-the-bottom-line
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200422151318.htm
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/biking-lanes-business-health-1.5165954
• https://www.ibigroup.com/ibi-insights/bike-lanes-good-small-business/

The post Call to Action: College/Patton Public Survey Responses Needed appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

You can review the latest design plans here.

We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to the future of Asheville’s bike infrastructure. Your input is valuable and needed, so save the date and spread the word to attend the Community Input event on April 19th! Find all the details in the press release below.

RSVP to the College / Patton via AoB’s facebook event.

Press Release:

College/Patton Multimodal Community Input event on April 19, 2023

The City of Asheville requests input from the community regarding the College Patton Bike Lane Project. The primary objective of this project is to increase multimodal connectivity, which includes expanding dedicated bicycle infrastructure throughout the city’s urban core. The City would like input from the community on the most recent draft design of the proposed project. 

The primary concerns heard throughout initial engagement events were related to loading and delivery access. The draft designs now include over 115 feet of additional loading zone area. City staff including Transportation, Planning and Urban Design, Fire, and Police will be present at the event to answer any questions the community may have regarding the development, safety, and implementation of the project. 

Event Details 

• Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023
• Time: 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. for business owners along the project corridors; 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. general public 
• Location: The Collider, Overlook Lounge, 1 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801

Ready to join us?

RSVP to the College / Patton via AoB’s facebook event.

Want to learn more?

Read AoB executive director’s open letter to the City of Asheville’s Downtown Commission in Support of the College Patton Project in our past blog. You can learn about the reasons we support this project and studies that show the economic impact of projects similar to College/Patton:

• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01441647.2021.1912849
• https://www.peopleforbikes.org/statistics/economic
• https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-08/for-store-owners-bike-lanes-boost-the-bottom-line
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200422151318.htm
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/biking-lanes-business-health-1.5165954
• https://www.ibigroup.com/ibi-insights/bike-lanes-good-small-business/

Read more here.

The post Call To Action: Give your input on the College/Patton Bike Lane Project appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

A number of instances of cyclist harassment have been reported to Asheville on Bikes and law enforcement this summer, most notably Buncombe County resident Bill Miller’s hit and run experience. Due to this rise in cyclist harassment and the growing aggression surrounding these events, it’s more important than ever for Asheville cyclists to stay safe and vigilant while biking our city’s roads.

Harassment is defined as “aggressive pressure or intimidation.”

Cyclist harassment by the numbers

In 2014, North Carolina was ranked one of the top 10 most dangerous states for cyclists. And though Asheville has gained a reputation as a cycling mecca, harassment of cyclists has been increasing in Asheville and Buncombe County over the past decade. Consider the following events:

North Carolina has been ranked one of the top 10 most dangerous states for cyclists.

You may remember in 2018 when an Asheville cyclist was forced off the road by a motorist who was trying to pass her in oncoming traffic. The driver, who was charged with a misdemeanor, verbally threatened the cyclist through the window of his pickup truck as he forced her into the grass. 

You may also recall the Asheville cyclist who was punched in the face at the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Sardis Road back in 2017. Thankfully, the incident was caught on camera by another driver, although the assailant was merely charged with simple assault. 

Then there was the 2009 incident where a former Asheville firefighter shot and nearly killed an Asheville cyclist because he thought the child bike seat his son was riding in was unsafe. The assailant got away with serving just 4 months in prison and paying $1,200 in medical expenses.

Most recently, we were informed of a few other incidences of harassment towards cyclists, including the following story:

Abby and Austin’s story

Just after 11 am on July 31, 2021, AoB’s Executive Assistant, Abby Walker, and her husband Austin were riding single file up a long stretch of hill on Turkey Creek Road, when a man driving a Honda CR-V began screaming at the group out of his car window. The man and his young child proceeded to follow Abby and Austin, berating them with obscenities as they climbed. 

The driver cursed at Abby and Austin, and prevented them from escaping by refusing to move his vehicle from the road.

When the pair eventually found a driveway to pull into, the driver got out of his car and proceeded to tell Abby and Austin that they were “creating a dangerous situation” and being “disrespectful” because they were cycling. The man told them that biking was not considered “transportation” but rather “a hobby.” When another vehicle stopped to make sure the cyclists were okay, the man told her she should mind her own business and leave them alone. He continued cursing at Abby and Austin and prevented them from escaping by refusing to move his vehicle from the road.

Warning: This video contains explicit language and aggression.

It is clear that aggression and violence towards cyclists is a serious problem in the Asheville area, and dangerous motorists aren’t always prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Migration to Buncombe County, coupled with urban expansion into previously rural areas, has created a growing tension between motorists and cyclists. 

What to do if you’re harassed 

The unfortunate truth is that if you ride a bike in the Asheville area, you may experience harassment. While you may not be able to avoid confrontation with motorists, there are a few actions you can take if you are harassed:

1. Contact local law enforcement. If you are threatened by a motorist in any way while biking, immediately call 911. While this may feel like overreacting (and the driver very well may tell you it is), you never know when a situation is going to escalate out of control and necessitate a police officer.
2. Keep yourself safe. If you are threatened by an aggressive motorist, maintain your physical safety by being prepared to get off your bike and away from the aggressor, or biking away to a safe distance (unless you are injured). Do not engage the motorist, and use concise, neutral language (like Austin’s responses in the above video) to diffuse a situation, or say nothing at all.
3. Document as much as you can. Make a concerted effort to get the motorist’s license plate, vehicle make and model, and his or her physical description. If you’re unable to get this information yourself, ask a bystander to record this information. If you have a smartphone or other recording device, take video and/or photos of the incident to share with authorities. Also, try to collect the names and phone numbers of any witnesses present.
4. File a report with law enforcement. Once the authorities have arrived and you are safe, file a police report.
5. Fill out our Road Violence Report. Help AoB gather information about aggressive interactions between motorists and cyclists in Asheville by filling out our Road Violence Report. This data will help us raise awareness around bike safety and prosecute irresponsible motorists.

Take these steps to stay safe on the road

Practicing proper bike safety, like fitting your bike with lights and riding responsibly, can help prevent and mitigate some (but not all) dangerous motorist-cyclist interactions. To ensure your safety during every ride, make sure you:

• Wear protective equipment. More cyclists are starting to wear a combination of front and rear lights and video cameras to make themselves seen, and to record any adverse events with motor vehicles. And, of course, always wear a helmet!
• Claim your space. If you don’t have a bike lane, bike advocacy organization Bike Law suggests in their Ride Guide that you should ride far enough towards the center of the lane to make it clear to motorists that they must move into the next lane to pass you. If you’re not used to road biking, this may seem dangerous; however, a motorist is more likely to try to pass you when they shouldn’t (resulting in you getting hit or run off the road) if you try to ride on the shoulder or in the gutter. Riding closer to the center of the lane also makes you more visible to motorists, which is especially important when crossing driveways and intersections.
  
  Remember, cyclists have the right to the full width of the road (except interstates and highways) as long as they follow traffic laws, and drivers are legally required to give you 3 feet of room when passing.

For more bike safety information, read up on our tips for developing safe bike riding habits, and consider signing up for Buncombe County’s Cycle Smart bike safety course.

Asheville on Bikes is dedicated to increasing bike safety

Asheville on Bikes has been advocating for safe biking conditions and bike infrastructure for over 15 years. Learn more about our mission and how to get involved on our website. As always, stay safe and enjoy the ride!

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About Abby

Abby and her husband Austin moved to Asheville in the spring of 2003. The mountains, the people and the endless opportunities to ride bikes was too much of a draw to keep them away. Asheville quickly became home as she settled into life as an elementary teacher and then became the mother of two. While her children were young she started and managed a community garden in West Asheville for 10 years and then went on to create and teach FEAST classes at Francine Delany Charter School. Whether mountain, road, gravel or racing cyclocross, she gets as much time as possible on her bikes. She is also an invested member of the cycling community and has been a supporter of Asheville on Bikes since its inception. What really excites Abby is bringing people together through bikes, As much as she enjoys helping to promote and racing cyclocross for the i9 Masters Team, she is truly inspired by coaching the local NICA Mountain Biking Team, leading a local Women’s Mountain Bike Ride and as an ambassador for Kitsbow. Her all-around involvement in the cycling community ensures that she gets to encourage and connect those to a shared passion for bikes.

Abby and AoB

For the last two years, Walker served on AoB’s board of directors and chaired the events committee while serving on the development committee. She was instrumental in transforming AoB’s community rides to conform to social distance requirements and essential to AoB meeting its end-of-year funding goals.

In her staff position, Walker will support AoB’s executive director with a focus on event planning and membership management.

Be on the lookout for Abby at the upcoming Bike of the Irish on Saturday, March 20th. Legend has it, she’ll be sporting her “Rainbow Connection” kit.

The post AoB Welcomes Abby Walker as Executive Assistant appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

What’s your favorite type of riding?

There isn’t a style of riding I dislike to be honest! Like many Midwestern kids, I started out on BMX bikes traveling as far as my legs would take me. As an undergrad athlete I fell in love with mountain biking and the escape it gave me from school and soccer—also what a better place for it than WNC?

As I got older and met my future wife, I started road cycling more and more to the point of racing. Now you can find me racing, commuting to work, playing in Pisgah or pulling my son in his trailer in Bent Creek.

Why Do You Support AoB?

I support AoB because of the work they do to pull the cycling community together. AOB has made extensive efforts to increase access for all pedestrians, whether it be walkers or bikers.

It’s mind blowing that we have so few sidewalks and bike lanes. We have such an active community and one can easily see with the RAD protected bike lane and greenway that if you build it, people will use it!

What would you like AoB to accomplish in the next 5 years?

I hope to see AoB to keep doing what they are doing. Specifically, helping collaborate with local communities and helping get more infrastructure built and maintained to increase access and safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

Experience the benefits of AOB membership

Jay may have won our latest raffle, but there are plenty of reasons for cyclists in WNC to join AOB now. You’ll be invited to all of our (in)famous events, connect with the regional cycling community, and have a chance to help shape positive cycling and pedestrian infrastructure changes in our community. Join now!

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Dear Kim Bereis, 

The post Initial Designs…have disregarded the opinions of business owners, our local government, and our community appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Dear Kim,

I am writing regarding the NCDOT Merrimon Avenue Widening Projects U-5781, U-5782 Initial Designs. The proposed designs must be re-evaluated given several issues with the initial designs. I urge NCDOT’s Division 13 to partner with the City of Asheville’s (COA) Transportation Department and incorporate existing COA plans into NCDOT planning. Several existing COA plans were not incorporated into NCDOT’s proposed Merrimon improvements (e.g. Asheville in Motion, Asheville CIty 2025 Plan, etc).

Additionally, the proposed design does not incorporate active transportation standards and best practices for safety. Please see the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines and standards pertaining to active transportation infrastructure. I urge you to work with active transportation content experts, such as Asheville on Bikes, to incorporate best practices and that prioritizes public safety.

Thank you,

April Brown

The post April: Proposed design does not incorporate active transportation standards and best practices for safety appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Kim,
I am writing to echo the sentiments of so many other Asheville residents who do not support the current plan for changing the Merrimon Ave corridor.

We are a community that values active transportation and SAFETY on our roadways. Increasing the speed and adding a turning lane does not move us toward our goals, but further away. The current plan does not include adequate infrastructure for pedestrians or cyclists or anyone who is not able bodied to move safely.

I am continually disappointed by NCDOT division 13’s performance and lack of collaboration with Asheville’s elected city officials, staff and residents with regard to the roads that we use everyday. In this particular instance, the fact that NCDOT has ignored its own  Complete Streets guidelines as well as the City of Asheville Bicycle Comprehensive plan, that there was no alternate plans  presented, no collaboration with city officials or neighborhoods nor does the design adhere to federal design standards (AASHTO) makes this plan particularly disgusting.

We want safe roads with the focus on moving all people, all modes!    I strongly encourage you to listen to the voice of the Asheville community and go back to the drawing board on the Merrimon Ave re-design, and invite input from the people who have the most at stake, who’s neighborhoods and safety you so profoundly impact with your decisions.

Sincerely,
Emily Muscarella
Asheville resident

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